QUICK FACTS
Population
» 1.9 million
Time zone
» GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October)
Currency
» Hungarian Forint (HUF)
» 1,000 HUF ~ €4.00
» 1,000 HUF ~ $5.60
Electricity
» 220 volts AC, 50Hz; round two-pin plugs are standard
Average January temperature
» 0°C (32°F)
Average July temperature
» 21.5°C (71°F)
Annual rainfall
» 635mm (25 inches)
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BY PLANE |
Budapest Ferihegy Airport (BUD)
www.bud-airport.hu, tel: (01) 296 9696
The airport is located 24km (15 miles) southeast of Budapest. There are two terminals (1 and 2), about 4km (2.5 miles) apart.
Transport to the city
Trains run regularly between the airport and Budapest's western railway station. The journey takes 30 minutes.
Centrum Minibuses depart for Erzsébet tér bus station; tickets are sold on the bus. The public bus 93 travels to Kõbánya-Kispest metro station (passengers may wish to alight at Deák tér, where all three metro lines converge). Buses with the number 93 displayed in black serve only Ferihegy terminal one, buses with a red 93 serve both terminals. This is a cheap alternative to and from the airport, but takes longer.
Taxis are available at all times. |
BY TRAIN |
Budapest has a number of railway stations (pályaudvar), the main ones being Keleti pályaudvar (Eastern Railway Station), Déli pályaudvar (Southern Railway Station) and Nyugati pályaudvar (Western Railway Station). The stations are not named for their geographic location in the city, nor for the direction of the destinations served by each; trains to Vienna, for example, leave from Keleti. The stations are well connected to each other and to the rest of the city. Keleti and Déli Railway Stations are located on metro 2; Nyugati Railway Station is on metro 3 (you can change metro lines at Deák tér station). A transfer should not take more than 15 minutes at peak hours; slightly more on weekends and evenings.
During the night Keleti Railway Station is served by 907, 908 921, 931, 956 and 973 night buses; Nyugati Railway Station is covered by the service of 906, 923, 914 and 950 lines; Déli Railway Station is available by 921 and 960 buses.
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BY BUS |
Budapest’s main bus stations are very well connected to the rest of the city, although they are located in outer zones. All of them are safe and (relatively) clean. Most useful bus stations for travellers are following:
Népliget Bus station (metro M3, Népliget station, tram 1 and 1A). Buses from abroad and most of Western Hungarian destinations arrive (and depart) here.
Stadion Bus Station (metro M2 Stadionok station, tram 1 and 1A). The biggest hub for Eastern Hungarian destinations, quite modern but somewhat dirty station built underground.
Árpád Bridge Bus Station (metro M2 Árpád híd station). A smaller station for some Northern destinations and suburban traffic; it can be used by you if you intend to visit Szentendre, Esztergom or Visegrád by bus.
Etele tér Bus Station (bus 7 fast (red) , 173 fast (red)). A newly built station next to Kelenföld Railway Station, at the future terminus of metro line 4. It is useful for getting to Statue Park. |
BY BOAT |
| There is a scheduled hydrofoil service on the Danube to and from Vienna and Bratislava daily between early April and early November. |
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