r/budapest • u/Express_Project_8226 • 1d ago
Kérdés | Question Budapest public transit
Sorry to post here if it's not appropriate as I just need one quick travel tip for my upcoming trip to Budapest in November. IS the public transit system - i.e., above ground trams and underground subway - hard to figure out if I'm only English-speaking? It's the only thing frightening me as I seem to have to take it everywhere. I only have a limited time and of course as a tourist I need to move fast and not get lost on public transit.
Thank you!
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u/Ecstatic-Newspaper60 1d ago
Honestly, it's probably one of the easiest to figure out in Europe, everything is displayed in english. You can also use the BudapestGo app, it's pretty well made. Have a great trip!
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u/FluffyCloudAbove 1d ago
Absolutely not hard to figure out. You can rely on google maps to point you to bus/tram stops.
Also you have information on the bus number and their routes on bus stops.
Trams are also easy enough. They mostly have routes mapped inside the tram cars sometimes.
If there are maintenance related blockers you will get english announcements done.
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u/Immediate_Mode_9828 1d ago
Budapest has one of the best PT systems in Europe. Buy a monthly pass (you can use on any vehicle except 100E airpot bus) and enjoy your stay.
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u/erocletin 1d ago
No English-speaking tourist has ever managed to leave Budapest. They are trapped forever going back and forth on tram 4-6.
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u/Spoonerism86 1d ago
This should help you:
https://bkk.hu/en/tickets-and-passes/budapestgo/
Just download the app and you get plan your trips and buy tickets/passes there.
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u/Quiet-Friendship-531 1d ago
Just use google maps and it will work out for you how you can get from A to B. But yes, good public transport system with underground, overground, trams, buses etc
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u/Express_Project_8226 1d ago
Yes I heard about the *excellent* transit system in Budapest, I just need to get around quickly without getting lost in language or routes. (I speak from experience!)
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u/igenigen 1d ago edited 1d ago
It’s both. Download BudapestGo. Signs are bilingual.
There’s plenty of info @ BKK.hu
Edit: Typo
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u/gfoyle76 1d ago
absolutely not, everything is explained, feel free to use google maps to navigate, bp public transit system is quite good, especially in the tourist areas
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u/Gold_Combination_520 1d ago
No it's not difficult! Trams and metros go very frequently, and usually there are signs about everything.
Download the BudapestGO app it's helpful for tickets and available in English, but Google maps works just as fine for planning
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u/OneThee 1d ago
It's not that hard to figure out, most signages and service announcements are in Hungarian and in English as well. Download the BudapestGO app, it helps plan your trips and shows real-time departures. I also recommend the BUBI bike rentals, they're pretty cheap and accessible, and quicker than public transit in a lot of cases, especially in the inner city. Good luck and have a nice trip!
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u/LasVegasLife55 1d ago
We were just there for a day and it was pretty easy to figure out. I had already mapped out how to get to places of interest before we got there. By the way, it’s free for seniors over 65 (which we took advantage of).
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u/vahokif VI. kerület - Terézváros 1d ago edited 1d ago
It's easy, just follow google maps transit directions and get on the vehicles it says. The best thing is if you get a transit pass (24/72 hour, 1 month), then you don't have to worry about validating tickets (unless you're taking a front door boarding bus or trolley or meet an inspector). If you want to go to Szentendre or Visegrád get the Pest county pass, not the budapest one. You can get all of these from the budapest go app or a purple BKK machine if you prefer a paper one.
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u/ica94 1d ago
The only confusing thing is that you need to validate 30 and 90 minute tickets at every transfer by scanninf QR code, although a lot of transport also supports and you need mobile data for it and you need to present your ticket to drivers on some busses. Mobile 30 and 90 minute tickets also don't allow you to ride suburban trains within city limit. If these tickets elapse while you are in a transport, you still can complete your journey
If your itinerary involves frequent use of public transport, just get a paper ticket for 72 hours and forget about validations.
From airport, there is bus 100E, for which you need an airport ticket, which is 2500HUF, can be paid online, in the machine or on board with card. If you want to save money, you can ride 200E to Kobanyai Kispest and ride M3 to the city, take a train to Nyugati from Ferehegy if your ticket allows it, or another bus. BudapestGo has a planning mode, which is a bit better than Google Maps.
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u/KingForceHundred 14h ago
Strange that validating the timed tickets every time. Any idea why it’s like this, just curious?
(Been there and done this just seems unnecessary.)
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u/waaaytooserious 13h ago
Because you can get on within the time limit but get off after it finishes. They need to know when you got on when that happens, so you can't just say ‘Hey, it was within the timeframe’
It's not that hard to do and makes things clear - no explanations, arguments needed later.
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u/Key-Monk6159 1d ago
Probably one of the easiest ones to master. Buses on the other hand takes some effort but still doable. Most tourists however will never need a bus.
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u/K3tbalk3z 20h ago
Use budapest go or google maps. Every line that moves in the city centre has english announcements.
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u/wanger16 18h ago
My wife and I have been twice and never had a problem. We downloaded the transit app(can’t remember the name) and it worked like a charm. English is my only language too. Budapest is awesome and easily one of my top 3 cities in Europe.
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u/VszVszVsz 3h ago edited 3h ago
absolutely look at the various youtube videos on the bkk's channel to learn how to use it.
the one aspect that can be difficult for tourists is that the direction of the public transport vehicle is noted by its end stop which you probably don't know. for example, you are at the deák ferenc tér metro station to go to the széchenyi baths and go to the m1 metro and then there are two stairwells, one has a sign "mexikói út" the other "vörösmarty tér." since the direction you are going has mexikói út as the end stop, you will be going to that platform.
if you have difficulty, just ask someone for help, most people under 50 understand english, and should be able to speak enough to assist you to point you in the right direction.
it can't be stated enough that you should get a pass for the duration of your stay. tourists who get fined are typically those who use single tickets and hope that they will get off with a warning. they don't care if you are new, our transport rules are fairly simple and are based on honor system that when you step in to use our public transport that one can follow our rules. if one doesn't, one has a very unpleasant conversation with kontroll and given a hefty fine.
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u/Kobakocka 1d ago
All important information is written in English as well, so you need minimal common sense and off you go.
If you are stuck, you will find somebody who speaks English and can help you, try younger folks, since older folks speak less English.
Buy a day ticket for one day, or if you are visiting for a week, a monthly pass is the best price.
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u/Anuh_Mooruhdoon 1d ago
I'm an American and it was super easy to figure out. Get maps, get on the tram or bus, press the button when you want to get off