Getting around

PUBLIC  TRANSPORT

Despite being crowded in the rush hours and often mocked at by locals, Budapest’s public transport system offers an efficient way to get around the city.

Tickets and passes

A single ticket costs HUF 350 (1.15€), a block of 10 tickets cost HUF 3000 (9.80€). A pass for 72 hours costs HUF 4550, while a 7-day pass costs HUF 4950.

The easiest way to buy any ticket is from a vending machine, available at all metro stops, as well as many busy bus and tram stops.  The vending machines have a multi-language menu, and are fairly easy to use. Many of these machines, however, only allow card payment.

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.

Route network

Here’s a schematic map of some of the main public transport links in Budapest, with BP17 points of interests:

bp17_budapest-metro-map

Travel between Hotel Aréna and Uránia

Take metro m2 from right outside Hotel Aréna. At the metro stop follow the signs for ‘Déli pályaudvar‘.

Uránia is exactly halfway between stops Blaha Lujza tér and Astoria, about a 6-minute walk from either of these.  The best option is getting off at Astoria (3 stops from the hotel), then at the underpass level turning sharp left to reach the street level.

There’s a bus stop here.  You can take any of the buses that stop here for one stop – you’ll get off right at the entrance of Uránia.  This route assumes that you’ll have a 3 or 7-day pass, as you’d need a separate ticket for the bus after the metro.

Public transport in the city centre

The network is extensive, and it’s a good idea to take advantage of public transport to avoid fatigue from lengthy urban walks.

Here’s a detailed map of all public transport routes in he centre.

Night transport

Day transport runs until about 23:40, with all routes served much less frequently in the last hour.

Luckily there’s an extensive night transport network as well, including several bus routes to Hotel Aréna.