Public Transport

Metro

Budapest is the only city in Hungary with an extensive public transportation system that includes a combination of metro, tram, and commuter bus lines.

Budapest's metro is both efficient and inexpensive. Though the Budapest metro is easy to figure out, you can buy a metro map at any of the stations from the same window that sells tickets.

Tickets also are available from coin-operated dispensers that demand exact change. Before you enter the main part of the metro platform, you must validate your ticket in one of the little orange machines standing in the passageway to each platform. If you're caught riding the metro without a valid ticket, you will likely be scolded and issued a approximately 6000 ft = 25 euros fine. (It's not worth the embarrassment just to save a few forints.) Also, remember to validate a new ticket every time you switch lines. The metro only runs from 4:30 am to 11pm, so you will need to catch a taxi, a bus, or a night tram if you stay out too late.

Tram

Tram lines snake through many of the main streets in Budapest, but they aren't as extensive as the bus routes. In the heart of the city, the trams are often jam-packed, but they are quick. Remember to punch your ticket in one of the validators located near the doors, if you can muscle through the crowd.

Buses

Buses are the best bet for reaching the more out-of-the-way places in Budapest. Though they run frequently, they often are crowded.

If you travel outside of Budapest, domestic bus fares in Hungary are comparable to train fares, though the trains are generally more comfortable. Because buses travel to some of the more out-of-the-way places where trains don't venture, you will need to familiarize yourself with bus routes and schedules if you settle in a remote small town.

Though it's usually possible to buy your ticket when you board, we recommend getting a reservation in advance. You never know when the bus will be crowded.

Train

Most train lines in Hungary employ Budapest as their hub and radiate outward from there. Though the train network does have lines that connect cities and towns in the outlying areas, sometimes it is faster to go back through Budapest to reach your final destination.

Local trains are very slow when compared to express trains, so it's wise to differentiate between them if your final destination lies on an express train line. You will find yourself pondering many a pasture or field if you make the mistake of riding a local train when an express is available.