In order to get to Budapest, tourists interested in visiting this historical city have several options. Thus, they can get there by air, by train, by car, by bus or by boat. Depending on their expectations and priorities, visitors should study the limitations and advantages of each of these means.
The international airport of Hungary is located some 16 kilometers from Budapest, and it welcomes tourists coming from all over Europe. It is also a reliable alternative for visitors who travel from North America, Asia and Africa, which means Ferihegy (as the airport is locally referred to) turns Budapest into a city with worldwide tourist visibility and appeal.
The airport has fine road connections with Budapest, and airport transfers are fairly reliable.
Tourists who don’t want to depend on any public means of transport can very well travel to Budapest by car. Budapest is the core of the road infrastructure of Hungary, since most of the motorways and national roads spring from the capital of the country in a virtually radial layout towards the borders of Hungary.
Thus, M1 and M7 can be used by west European citizens, whereas M5 and M3 are the best options for people coming from East Europe.
Hungary does not enforce traffic rules distinct from the general traffic rules in effect in Europe. Foreigners and nationals alike who use the Hungarian motorways must always carry certain papers with them (driving license, car insurance policy and a green card to evidence the meeting of the environment protection requirements). However, for a complete description of the traffic code in Hungary, as well as for further requirements one must comply with (regardless of nationality) in order to be able to drive properly on the national road infrastructure of Hungary, visit the State Motorway Management Company of Hungary.
Getting to Budapest by bus is also an option to be taken into account. Eurolines, which is one of the most reliable companies providing cross-country bus connections throughout Europe, links Budapest to the entire continent.
Volanbusz is the Hungarian branch office of Eurolines, and by resorting to this company, tourists do not only have the opportunity to reach to Budapest, but they can also explore the most important cities in Hungary. Volanbusz features a dense network of bus lines, with plenty of ticket selling points and stations in Hungary and partner agencies. All these features turn Volanbusz into the chief alternative one should envisage if decided to get to Budapest by bus.
For complete information on the services provided by Volanbusz, as well as for booking online tickets, please use the following indications:
The tourist and commercial platform of Budapest is also serviced by three train stations which link the capital of Hungary with plenty of international destinations. A special emphasis is laid on the railway connection to Vienna, since traveling between Budapest and the capital of Austria is one of the top tours tourists often choose to take.
In Hungarian, these train stations are called according to the geographical point they are located in. Thus, Keleti pályaudvar is the East train station, Nyugati pályaudvar is the West train station, whereas Déli pályaudvar is the South train station.
For complete and updated details on the trains departing and arriving at each of these stations, the connections they make, schedules and ticket prices, visit the Hungarian Railway Company.
Getting to Budapest by boat is a privilege only people departing from Vienna and Bratislava can enjoy. The company which provides such trips makes available several types of vessels and several types of river boat trips, capitalizing on the fortunate geographical location of Budapest on the Danube, but tourists can benefit from their offers only April to November, when sailing is, indeed, possible on the Danube.
For complete information on the provided trips, services, schedules, prices and the like, use the indications below: