Decisions to make before you travel
- How do you get in from the airport? BKK's airport shuttle bus single ticket costs 2,500 Ft, and BKK lists the 100E and 200E airport buses among the lines that run day and night. If you take a taxi instead, use only a yellow car with a yellow plate and "minősített budapesti taxi" on the front door: the official tariff is the same for every company at every hour, plus a 2,100 Ft airport base fee introduced on 1 August 2026 (BKK, checked 30 October 2026).
- Which transit ticket? A single ticket costs 500 Ft bought in advance or 700 Ft from a driver; a Budapest 24-hour ticket 2,750 Ft and a 72-hour ticket 5,750 Ft. The Budapest Card includes transport and costs 29,990 Ft for the 72-hour Classic, 27,990 Ft for the Flexi and 39,990 Ft for the Plus (prices valid from 1 May 2026), so it pays off only if you will use its free entries. The M2, M3 and M4 run until about midnight Sunday to Thursday and about 1:00 on Friday and Saturday nights.
- What should be booked? Széchenyi Bath sells online tickets 180 days ahead; they have priority when the bath is full but cannot be refunded or moved, and Fast Track is sold only online. MÁV's cheapest international fares, START Europa from €13 to Vienna and from €30 to Prague in second class, are limited per train, non-refundable and charged in forints when bought online.
- What changes from November to January? The Buda Castle Funicular closes for maintenance on 2, 16 and 30 November and 14 and 28 December 2026, and until noon on 3 November. The Zugliget Chairlift runs only 10:00–15:30. Széchenyi, Rudas and Lukács close at 16:00 on 8 December 2026, and Széchenyi charges its 15,800 Ft peak price from 18 December 2026 to 6 January 2027. Both central Christmas markets open on 13 November 2026 and close early on 24 December, when the Trade Act lets most shops open only until 14:00. Gellért Bath has been closed since 1 October 2025, with reopening planned for 2028, and on 30 October 2026 BKK's Budapest Card cruise listing said BKV's Danube boat services were suspended because of low water.
- What rules and taxes apply? Széchenyi, Rudas and Lukács do not admit children under 14. The tourist tax is set by each district under the Local Taxes Act, and under-18s are exempt: District II charges 800 Ft per person per night from 1 January 2026 and District XII 4% of the room price. We could not confirm the rates for the central districts V–VIII, so ask your hotel what it will add.
Your planning order
Compare the main tickets
| Ticket | Adult price checked 30 October 2026 | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Single transit ticket / 72-hour ticket | 500 Ft / 5,750 Ft | 700 Ft if bought from the driver |
| Budapest Card, 72 hours | Classic 29,990 Ft; Flexi 27,990 Ft; Plus 39,990 Ft | Plus adds a 100E airport round trip |
| Széchenyi daily ticket with locker | 13,200 Ft Mon–Thu; 14,800 Ft Fri–Sun | 15,800 Ft from 18 Dec to 6 Jan |
| Rudas / Lukács daily ticket | 12,000 Ft / 7,000 Ft Mon–Thu | Lukács is free once with the Budapest Card |
| Buda Castle Funicular | 4,500 Ft one way; 5,500 Ft return | BKK tickets and passes not valid |
| Zugliget Chairlift | 3,000 Ft one way; 4,000 Ft return | 10:00–15:30 from November to January |
| Train to Vienna / Prague | START Europa from €13 / €30 | Second class, non-refundable, limited seats |
If this is your situation
What to recheck before you go
Tourist-tax rates for the central districts V–VIII, Hungarian Parliament tour prices (the official pages showed a CAPTCHA), and St Stephen's Basilica and Dohány Street Synagogue tickets were not confirmed on official pages, so they are not covered here. The funicular's 2027 maintenance dates, Széchenyi's 24, 26 and 31 December hours and the Danube boat suspension are the items most likely to change. Each guide names the page it follows and the date it was checked; open that page again for your travel dates.
