Public Transport
- BKK is the operator of public transportation in Budapest, it operates metro, bus, trolley and tram.
- Trams 4 and 6 on the Grand Boulevard run all night, metros run until midnight. After 11 pm, there are several night buses.
- Get basic tickets and passes via ticket vending machines and offices at public transport stops. The whole range of different tickets and passes is available on the BudapestGO mobile app.
- A ticket is usually valid for one vehicle (not a trip!). Exemption is a metro ride, where you can change free of charge.
- To buy transfer tickets valid for a trip of 30 or 90 minutes (between entering the first vehicle and changing to the last one), in one direction, download the BudapestGO mobile app and buy transfer tickets there.
- Always validate your mobile tickets at every transfer by scanning the QR codes on the outside of the vehicles! Exemption: transfer in the metro. Paper tickets can be validated with the stamping machines in the vehicles. Passes do not need to be validated.
More info: https://bkk.hu/en/tickets-and-passes/prices/
Travel from Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport
- Bus line 200E: between the airport and the metro stop (metro line 3) 'Kőbánya-Kispest'. You can take the metro between 'Kőbánya-Kispest' and the city center.
- Bus line 100E, operating 24/7, offers direct transport to and from the city center (Deák Ferenc tér or Kálvin tér) for 2200 HUF, payable directly on the bus with a bank card.
Taxi / Car
The official taxi service from the Airport is Főtaxi. Do not get in touch with any taxi drivers trying to approach you personally in the airport terminal. Go to the official taxi booths in or outside the terminal building. Taxi fees are the same across all offline and online companies. Taxi fees are the same across all offline and online companies.
- Base fee is 1100 HUF,
- Time-based fare unit is 110 HUF/min
- Distance-based fare unit is 440 HUF/km
- A ride to the city center typically costs around 12,000 HUF (~$35).
- Taxis can be paid with both cash (HUF) and card. Only use licensed taxis with a taximeter. Taxis operate via ordering (app, phone) or you can get taxis at official taxi stations in and outside the airport terminal building and in various spots around the city.
- UBER and BOLT also operate in Budapest, they are frequent and reliable.
Transfer by MiniBUD (microbus) service for ~4000-4500 HUF. You can book your MiniBUD transfer here or at the airport.
Micro-mobility
- Bike-sharing: MOL Bubi is a 24/7 public bike-sharing service: https://molbubi.hu/en/
- E-scooters: TIER, LIME and BIRD operate public e-trolley services in Budapest.
- Carsharing: MOL Limo and GreenGO are available after registration. https://mollimo.hu/en; https://greengo.com/hu/index-en
The Conference Venue
1097 Budapest, Tóth Kálmán utca 4 (https://share.google/3JMnjgr9L2BquWsET)
Currency & Payments
- Hungarian Forint (HUF) is the official currency. Most probably you will not need any cash in Budapest, use your bank cards.
- Exchange rates: 1 USD ≈ 340 HUF, 1 EUR ≈ 400 HUF
- Under no circumstances should you exchange cash anywhere at the airport.
- Change cash in city center exchange booths (for example https://correctchange.hu/en/locations) or simply use an ATM. Avoid Euronet ATMs. Margin between selling and buying HUF should not be more that approx. 10 forints for one euro or one dollar and an added small fixed fee of 1-2 euros/dollars per exchange.
- Credit/debit cards are accepted everywhere, as card acceptance is mandatory in Hungary apart from a few small fresh produce market vendors.
- General costs: see Numbeo: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Budapest
Rules & Regulations
- Drinking alcohol on the streets is prohibited and fines may apply. Smoking is banned in indoor public spaces and near public transport stops.
- Alcohol is widely available in shops.
- Cigarettes can only be bought at "Nemzeti Dohánybolt" stores, marked by a brown logo with a T in the middle.
- Restaurants in the inner city usually add a service charge (typically 10–12%) to the bill. If this is not included, it's customary to leave a 10% tip.
Safety
- Budapest is generally a safe city for tourists. Watch for pickpockets in crowded areas (e.g.: Christmas Market).
- Emergency numbers:
- General: 112
- Ambulance: 104
- Police: 107
- Firefighters: 105