Public Transport in Budapest
The Public transport system in Budapest is very efficient by international standards. Within the city you can find a metro station typically within 400 metres or so. There are also a wide variety of buses, trolley busses, trams in addition to the underground. The Metro operates from 4.30 to 11 pm. You have to purchase a ticket in advance at the terminals, at metro stations or newsagents. Single tickets are the same for each means of transport.
If you are visting Budapest it is recommended that you purchase the Budapest card which entitles you to free travel for three days. It is sometime difficult to find a place to buy either a bus or train ticket and on the spot penalties are given for not purchasing a ticket so be warned.
If accompanied by an adult, children under 6 need no ticket. There are no conductors on the public transport and it is up to you to get a ticket and validate your ticket at the start of the journey.
There are various types of tickets: single ticket, day ticket, 3-day tourist ticket, 7-day travel card. Season tickets with photo for 7, 14 or 30 days are also available. If you purchase a budpest card you are entitled to free travel for three days. On buses and trolley buses you must push a button next to the door to indicate your intention to get off, while other vehicles alight at all stops.
Metro System Budapest :
Budapest has three underground metro lines intersecting at Deák tér: M 1, the little yellow line from Vörösmarty tér to Mexikói út; M2, the red line from Déli train station to Örs vezér tere; and M3, the blue line from Újpest-Központ to Kõbánya-Kispest. A possible source of confusion on MI is that one stop is called Vörösmarty tér and another is Vörösmarty utca. The HÉV suburban railway, which runs north from Batthyány tér, is almost like a fourth metro line.
There’s also a very extensive network of tram, trolleybus and bus services run by the BKV transport company; you’ll seldom wait more than a few minutes for any of them. On certain bus lines the same numbered bus may have a black or a red number. In this case, the red-numbered bus is the express, which makes limited stops. An invaluable transit map detailing all services is available at most metro ticket booths.
The metro operates from 4.30 a.m. till just after 11 p.m. Certain tram and bus lines operate throughout the night.
Travelling ticketless can be risky in Budapest as it is likely you will get caught. Tickets are always checked on the HÉV.
Single tickets are available at metro boots (penztar) and at most magazine stores and kiosks. There are different types of tickets but the ones that will most concern you are the following:
Single tickets (egy jegy): valid for one uninterrupted journey on all forms of public transportation, including the HEV (the suburban railway) up to the city boundary. You need to validate another ticket if you change line.
Metro Section tickets: good for short metro rides. Valid for three stops on the Metro without changing lines.
One day (napijegy) and 3 day travelcards (haromnapi jegy) are good for unlimited rides on all forms of public transportation.
For longer stays, weekly (hetijegy) , 2 week (ketheti jegy) , and monthly passes (havi berlet) are available. You will need a passport photo for the ID card which needs to be purchased along with these passes.
Buses Budapest
There is about 250 bus routes which provided access to areas that both the metro and tram don't. One of hte easiest ways of getting up Castle Hill is to take the Varbusz or Castle Bus from Moskva ter.
River Boats Budapest
The schedule passenger service operating on the Danube from May to August (Thursday to Sunday 9am to 5pm) is an excellent and inexpensive way of seeing the city from the water.
Trams Budapest
Trams connect many important tourist destinations and can be an excelelnt way of sightseeing outside of rush hours that is. Particuclarly note worthy routes are the number 2 along the Pest Bank of the Danube albeit this is undergoing construction and you can only go as far as the Chain Bridge. The 4 and 6 trams go along the outer Ring to Moskva Ter interchange where they link with the Varbusz.
The HEV Suburban Trains connect Budapest with the outlying suburbs and towns. The most useful are the ones to Szentendre which leaves from Batthyany ter and Godollo from Ors Vezer tere.