Getting there and around

Airport
Ferihegy international airport is 24km (15mi) southeast of Budapest.
The Air Traffic and Airport Authority (LRI) operates Centrum buses between the city (Erzsébet tér) and the terminals. They depart every 30 minutes from 5.30 to 21.00. Journey time is 45 minutes. Airport Minibuses, run by LRI as well, are a kind of collective taxi at a reasonable price, which travel between any requested destination in town and the terminals. On arrival, you should go to the Airport Minibus Counter, and you can already book your return trip over the phone.

Bus
The bus is also a popular means of getting to Budapest. There are three main stations, with all international buses and some domestic ones to/from Hungary's south and west arriving at and departing from Népliget bus station. Buses to/from destinations in Hungary east of the capital, leave from the Népstadion bus station. Buses to the Danube bend and parts of the Northern Uplands arrive and leave from bus station Árpád híd. The main carrier is Volánbusz/Eurolines with connections to all major continental European cities.

Train
The Hungarian State Railway (MÁV) links to the European rail network, with different stations handling various destinations. Most international trains arrive at and leave from Keleti station, but always check the station when making bookings. Hungarian trains are clean and punctual but hardly luxurious, so bring along snacks and drinks for longer voyages.

Getting Around
Budapest has an ageing but safe, inexpensive and efficient public transport system that won't have you waiting more than five to 10 minutes - which will be more than long enough if you're there in winter. It is by far the supreme way of getting around Budapest, with links between the metro, HÉV (green trains), yellow trams, red trolleybuses and blue buses abounding. Tickets are readily available from kiosks, newsstands or metro entrances.