Budapest's Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) is 16 km from the center. Options: Bus 100E (Airport Express) — fastest, 35 min, $5; Bus 200E + M3 metro — budget, 50 min, $1.20; fixed-tariff Főtaxi (the only official airport taxi) — 25-40 min, $40-55.
🚇 Ways into the center
- Bus 100E (Airport Express) → Deák Ferenc tér (center): 35-45 min, $5 (HUF 2,200)
- Bus 200E + M3 metro → Deák Ferenc tér: 50-65 min, $1.20 (HUF 530)
- Bus 200E + Bus 93M → center: 60 min, $1.20
- Főtaxi (official) → center: 25-40 min, $40-55 (HUF 14,000-20,000)
- Bolt: $30-45 (HUF 11,000-16,000)
🚌 Bus 100E — Airport Express
Bus 100E is BKK's (Budapest transit) express. From the arrivals exit it runs to Deák Ferenc tér — the central interchange (M1/M2/M3).
Every 5-10 min; running 04:00-01:00.
- 100E → Kálvin tér → Astoria → Deák Ferenc tér: 35-45 min
- Ticket: 100E Single Ticket $5 (HUF 2,200) — a special ticket that doesn't cover other transit
- Buy at BUD's BKK vending machine or onboard
Buy the 100E ticket on arrival — drivers rarely accept cash and the cabin machine only takes HUF cash.
🚌 Bus 200E + M3 — budget strategy
Bus 200E + M3 is the 'cheaper but slower' strategy. 200E gets you to Kőbánya-Kispest M3 station (20 min), then M3 to the center (15 min).
- 200E → Kőbánya-Kispest: 20 min, ~$0.80 (HUF 350)
- M3 → Deák Ferenc tér: 15 min, ~$0.80 (HUF 350)
- Single Ticket $0.80; Transfer Ticket (1 change) $0.95
- 24-Hour Ticket $5.50 (HUF 2,500) — full city transit
- Ticket validation required — at the validator inside the bus or metro entrance
🚖 Főtaxi — the only official
Főtaxi is BUD's only official taxi — fixed tariff. $40-55 (HUF 14,000-20,000) to the center, with a 25% night surcharge.
From arrivals look for the Főtaxi counter at Lane 1 — they print a ticket with the fixed price.
Don't accept 'Taxi?' offers in the arrivals hall — they're usually unlicensed and not Főtaxi. Use the Főtaxi counter only.
📱 Bolt — Budapest's number-one
Bolt is very active in Hungary — $30-45 to the center, often cheaper than Főtaxi. Uber left Budapest in 2016 and hasn't returned.
Pickup zone: Terminal 2A arrivals exit, Lane 4.
💡 Tips
- The 100E fare ($5) is fixed and separate — don't mix with city tickets
- Hungarian forint (HUF) is volatile — use a city ATM rather than the airport (airport rates are 5-10% worse)
- For late-night Wizz Air KUT-BUD flights — 100E runs until 01:00, then the 900-series night bus
- Bolt is fixed-fare and often cheaper than Főtaxi at night
Full Budapest guide on Travel365's Tbilisi → Budapest article.
Tags
