Arrival

AIRPORT

Budapest is connected to over a 100, mostly European, cities with direct flights.

The easiest way to get to anywhere in town from the airport is by taxi.  Just walk out of the building and find a small booth in front of the taxi queue. A single ride to central Budapest costs around HUF 8000 (26€).  Taxi drivers are not allowed to solicit their services in the airport building. If a driver approaches you, it’s a scam and you will probably be overcharged up to 3 times.

A pre-ordered minivan costs the same, and can take up to 8 passengers at a time.  So if there are several people arriving at around the same time, and all going to the same destination in town (i.e. conference hotel), this is a viable option.

Changing money

Most taxis and minivans take credit cards, but ask in advance.  You should avoid changing cash at the airport, as the exchange rate they use is about 20% below market rate.  Withdraw cash from an ATM, or use your card for payment until you get downtown.  There are many exchange booths in town that offer very good rates (usually with only a 2% spread between sell and buy rates for major currencies).

Public transport from the airport

First you need to buy tickets. The local transport authority, BKK, has a large shop and information centre at the airport.  A single ticket costs HUF 350 (1.15€), a block of 10 tickets cost HUF 3000 (9.50€). A pass for 72 hours costs HUF 4550, while a weekly pass costs HUF 4950.  You can pay for these with a bank card.

You need to use a new ticket every time you change (except when changing between metro lines; in this case you can use the same ticket all along). Make sure you validate your ticket as soon as you board the bus/tram, or before using the metro.

Once you leave the airport building, you’ll need to find bus 200E.  This takes you in 22 minutes to metro terminus Kőbánya-Kispest.  Walk upstairs to a footbridge that takes you to the metro line.

If you stay at Hotel Aréna, you have two options: (i) take the metro all the way to Deák Ferenc tér, change to line 2 in the direction of Örs Vezér tere, and get off at Puskás Ferenc Stadion. Here, take the exit on the left: the hotel is about a 100 meters to the right from the exit. For this route you’ll need a total of 2 tickets from the airport.   (ii) Take the metro up to Népliget, change to tram 1 in the direction of Bécsi út, then get off at Puskás Ferenc Stadion. The hotel is about 250 m from the tram stop behind the metro station.  This route takes a bit less time, but you need 3 tickets (or a 3- or 7-day pass).

KELETI RAILWAY STATION

There’s an ATM inside the railway station hall and you can also change money.  To find the metro, walk downstairs from inside the main hall, then turn left.  (If the unlikely event you need line M4, just walk across the large plaza below street level.)

There are vending machines before the metro entrance. You can select your language, and it’s fairly straightforward from there.  Pick your ticket or pass type (most probably either a block of 10 tickets, a 3-day pass or a 7-day pass), then select means of payment.  Several vending machines accept card only, and even if they do accept cash, you’re better off paying with a card. (In some of the vending machines the coin path is blocked by scammers.)

To reach Hotel Aréna, take the metro in the direction of Örs Vezér tere, then get off at the first stop, Puskás Ferenc Stadion. Here, take the exit on the left: the hotel is about a 100 meters to the right from the exit.

If you stay in town, take the metro in the opposite direction.  Alternatively, depending on the location of your hotel/apartment, you may want to take a bus from the railway station.  The bus stop is to right as you leave the station building, about 100 meters away.   Here’s a map of all public transport lines in the centre of Budapest.

NÉPLIGET BUS TERMINUS

Both Eurolines and Orangeways buses arrive at the same metro stop (Népliget).  There are vending machines before the metro entrance. You can select your language, and it’s fairly straightforward from there.  Pick your ticket or pass type (most probably either a block of 10 tickets, a 3-day pass or a 7-day pass), then select means of payment.  Several vending machines accept card only, and even if they do accept cash, you’re better off paying with a card. (In some of the vending machines the coin path is blocked by scammers.)

To reach Hotel Aréna, take tram 1 in the direction of Bécsi út, then get off at Puskás Ferenc Stadion. The hotel is about 250 m from the tram stop behind the metro station.

To reach downtown, take the metro in the direction of Újpest and get off at the metro stop closest to your hotel/apartment.

CAR

If you drive directly to Hotel Aréna, the exact address is Ifjúság útja 1-3, Budapest 1148.

The hotel is to the East from the city centre, so if you drive from Vienna or Zagreb, you’ll have to drive through downtown. Actually, the downtown route via Erzsébet híd (bridge) is usually faster than Rákóczi híd – outer ring road.

Driving from Kosice / Cluj / Arad you’ll eventually end up on the busy outer ring road – the hotel is a few 100 meters from this.