What you should know about Budapest before your trip

From and to Budapest airport commute options

• There are direct shuttles (which look exactly like regular Budapest city buses) running straight from the airport to the very center of Budapest – Deak Ferenc square. They cost 900 Forints (a little less than 3 EUR) and take about 50 minutes. You can get a ticket right by the airport exit from the ticket vending machine, and you can pay by card.
• You can get a cab, and the best way to do it is by walking outside and coming to a special booth, where they will assign a taxi to you. Taxis ordered that way are the safest, and won’t charge you extra. All taxi services in Budapest are charging the exact same price per kilometer which is 350 Ft now (slightly more than 1 EUR). The trip from airport to the center of Budapest will cost you roughly 7000-8000 Ft (20-25 EUR).
• You can pick public transport, which is also very convenient and organized. First take the bus 200E and then the blue line of the metro. Each ticket costs 300 Ft, so the trip will cost you 700 Ft per person (slightly more than 2 EUR).

Budapest geography

• Budapest stands on the Danube river. There are 7 bridges, they are all beautiful in their own way, and you will most likely have to cross some of them in your journey.
• Buda is on the west of Danube, Pest is on the East
• Pest is fun and dynamic, urbanized, and most of the Budapest sightseeing locations are there.
• There are a few landmarks and shopping malls on the Buda side, but most of Buda is pretty quiet.

Districts and zip codes

• There are 23 districts in Budapest
• The central districts are V, VI, VII, and VIII on Pest side, I on Buda side.
• Zip codes are important – there are many streets with the same name in different districts of Budapest

Architectural patterns

• Budapest has an astonishing mix of Renaissance, Baroque, Classicism and other architecture styles. You can easily make your entire trip to Budapest an architectural adventure.
• Budapest center has many square-shaped buildings with mostly empty inner yards. A lot of apartments only have windows facing those yards, usually such apartments are darker and cheaper.
• Buildings in Budapest city center typically have 4m+ high ceilings. Many apartment owners build galleria floors inside their apartments.

Public transport and tickets

• Budapest has a very reliable public transportation infrastructure. Buses, trams, and metro are always on schedule. Schedule can be found on every bus or tram stop for the relevant routes.
• Single tickets cost 350 Ft (a little more than 1 EUR) if bought on the station from the ticket machines, and 450 Ft if you buy them from the bus or tram driver.
• Budapest metro is closed between 11:30 PM and 4:30 AM. However, there are always night buses that run with reduced frequency (approximately every hour).

Taxi

• Taxi prices in Budapest are universal across all companies and times of the day. They charge 700 Ft as a base and 300 Ft per kilometer of a ride.
• Cab drivers in Budapest often trick tourists into paying more. It is best not to pick a cab from the street. Either order one on the phone or via an app like Bolt.
• There is no Uber in Hungary.

Parking

• If you’re planning your trip to Budapest with a car, keep in mind that public parking is very busy in here. Sometimes it takes longer to park than to ride, especially in the center.
• Many people living in the suburbs simply leave their cars nearby the metro stations. Then they use public transportation in the city.
• Between 8 PM and 8 AM and on the weekends parking in Budapest is free.
• There are three parking zones in Budapest. The first one being the city center will cost 525 Ft per hour, second – 440 Ft per hour, and third – 350 per hour. You can find the details on the parking authority’s official site.
• It is cheaper to use private parking garages if you leave your ride for extended period of time during the weekdays. Luckily there’s plenty of them.

Cycling, scooters, segways

• As our free Budapest walking tour suggests, Budapest is very convenient for getting around without a car, however, a bicycle or scooter may become handy if you want to shorten the time between the locations. There are dozens of rental services in the city, and many bike paths along the sidewalks that you can take in between the Budapest sightseeing places.
• MOL Bubi provides not only bikes but also scooters as a service. Check out the map of their stations – the convenience of them is that you don’t have to bring the rented bike to the original location.

Forints and Exchange booths

• Hungarian national currency is not Euro, and it’s not expected to change in the foreseeable future. Hungarian Forint (HUF or Ft) is the national currency.
• At the beginning of 2020 the exchange rate is approximately as follows: 1 EUR = 330 HUF, 1 USD = 300 HUF, 1 GBP = 390 Ft.
• Most exchange booths are rather safe, but there are exceptions: keep in mind that the deviation from the official rate shouldn’t be more than 5%. If the official rate is 330 HUF for a Euro, don’t exchange your Euros for 300 Ft – it’s a rip off. Pay attention to it to avoid making your trip to Budapest pricier than it has to be.
• Most exchange places charge commission – they must have information about the commission rates available. Read it before you give your money to them.

Food pricing, palinka, national food

• Majority of restaurants will charge you between 6000 and 8000 Ft for a meal with a drink (20-25 EUR).
• Business lunch costs about 1700 Ft (6 EUR).
• About the same price goes for fast food meals – 1500 to 2000 Ft for BigMac meal or whopper menu.
• National alcoholic beverage is Palinka – it is not for everybody due to its strength. But if you are offered a shot of homemade palinka – it is a worthy experience.
• Hungarian mass production beer is not advisable, but craft beers are good.
• Wines in Hungary are very good.
• Every restaurant will offer goulash, and you may find quite a variety in some places. Nevertheless, do not limit yourself to Hungarian cousin – Budapest is very rich on international restaurants. Fantastic Italian, Greek, Turkish, and Russian restaurants and cafes are easy to find in the center of the city.

Baths

• If you haven’t considered it yet, thermal baths in Hungary and in Budapest specifically are very worth a visit. So, pack up your swim suit and flip-flops no matter which season of the year you are planning your trip to Budapest.
• If you want to go for full experience, pick Szechenyi thermal baths, however all of them are pretty nice, so if you want to pick one closer to your location – go for it.
• Price ranges are slightly different between the places, but the difference is neglectable. Most baths do have different packages of services based on the variety of spa and saunas you may want to add to your day in Budapest.

Tags: Budapest tips, safety in Budapest, Budapest thermal baths, Budapest taxi, Budapest airport, Budapest food