Budapest public transport tickets: prices, types and how to buy
What tickets do I need for Budapest public transport?
A single ticket costs 450 HUF (~€1.10). For a full day, the 24-hour travelcard (2,500 HUF / ~€6.25) pays off from the third journey. For a 3-day visit, the 72-hour pass (5,500 HUF / ~€13.75) is the best value. Validate every ticket immediately on boarding or face a 16,000 HUF fine.
Understanding the BKK fare system
Budapest’s public transport is managed by BKK (Budapesti Közlekedési Központ). The network covers metro, tram, bus, trolleybus, cogwheel railway, and suburban HÉV trains within the city boundary. All these modes use the same fare system, with one key exception: bus 100E (the airport express) requires a dedicated 100E ticket regardless of which pass you hold.
The fare system is a traditional paper-ticket model. There is no automatic fare-capping, no Oyster equivalent, and no single backend account. You buy a ticket or pass, validate it, and show it on demand. Inspectors in plain clothes board vehicles regularly — the system is enforced.
Ticket types and prices (2026)
Single journey ticket (vonaljegy)
Price: 450 HUF (~€1.10)
Valid for one uninterrupted journey on one metro line or one surface vehicle (tram, bus, trolleybus). You cannot change metro lines on a single ticket. If you need to transfer between metro lines, you need either a transfer ticket or a travelcard.
Note: the cogwheel railway up to Széchenyi-hegy uses standard BKK tickets. The funicular (sikló) from the Chain Bridge to Castle Hill is a separate tourist attraction with its own pricing — not covered by BKK tickets.
Transfer ticket (átszálló jegy)
Price: 530 HUF (~€1.30)
Valid for a single journey with one transfer within 100 minutes. Use this if you need to change tram to bus, or bus to metro, within a single journey.
Short section metro ticket (metró aluljáró jegy)
Price: 350 HUF (~€0.85)
Valid for metro journeys of maximum 3 stops without a transfer. Useful for very short hops, but easy to forget the limit — stick to standard tickets unless you are certain of your journey length.
24-hour travelcard (24 órás Budapest-bérlet)
Price: 2,500 HUF (~€6.25)
Unlimited transport across the entire BKK network for 24 hours from first validation. This pays off from your third journey of the day. For most tourists sightseeing across Budapest, it is the right everyday ticket.
72-hour travelcard (72 órás Budapest-bérlet)
Price: 5,500 HUF (~€13.75)
Unlimited transport for 72 hours. For a 3-day visit with moderate transport use, this is almost always the best-value option. Calculate: three days of 24-hour passes would cost 7,500 HUF; the 72-hour pass saves 2,000 HUF.
7-day travelcard (heti bérlet)
Price: 6,500 HUF (~€16.25)
Unlimited transport for 7 days. Runs from 00:00 Monday to 24:00 Sunday — it is a calendar-week pass, not a rolling 168-hour pass. If you arrive mid-week, consider whether a 72-hour pass or multiple 24-hour passes would suit better. For a full calendar week, the 7-day pass is unbeatable.
Budapest Card (optional)
The Budapest Card is not a BKK product but includes unlimited BKK transport alongside museum discounts, a Danube cruise and other benefits. Prices start around €40 for 24 hours; 72 hours costs approximately €60+. See the Budapest Card guide and run the numbers with the Budapest Card calculator before buying.
Airport 100E ticket
Price: 1,200 HUF (~€3)
A dedicated ticket valid only on bus 100E (BUD Airport → Deák Ferenc tér). No other BKK ticket or pass covers this service. Buy it at the machine at the BUD bus stop outside arrivals. The airport transfer guide covers all options.
Where to buy tickets
BKK ticket machines: Yellow machines at every metro station and many tram stops. They accept cash and credit/debit cards. Interface is available in English. They sell all ticket types including travelcards.
Newsagents (trafik): Small tobacco-and-news kiosks throughout the city. They stock single tickets and sometimes travelcards. Useful when machines are busy; you may need to know the Hungarian names.
BKK customer service offices: At Keleti, Kelenföldi and Deák metro stations. Open during working hours. Staff speak English. Sell all ticket types and can resolve BKK Card issues.
BudapestGO app: The official BKK app allows you to buy and store digital tickets on your phone. This is increasingly convenient and eliminates the need for validation machines — the digital ticket activates on purchase. Verify current availability for your ticket type in the app, as the digital rollout has been gradual.
Online/in advance: BKK travelcards cannot be purchased far in advance and do not ship internationally. Buy on arrival.
How to validate
Validation is mandatory and must happen before or immediately upon boarding. Inspectors board vehicles without warning and issue fines (16,000 HUF / ~€40) on the spot — no warnings, no exceptions.
On trams and buses: Yellow validators are mounted at the door entrances. Insert your single ticket until you hear a click and see the punched hole. For travelcards (first use), insert until the machine stamps the date/time; the validator shows a green light.
On metro M2, M3, M4: The yellow validators are at the entry gates before the barriers. Insert your ticket to pass through. Travelcards are shown to the barrier sensor.
On metro M1: No barriers. Validators are inside the station. Validate before boarding even though no barrier enforces it.
For digital tickets: No physical validation needed — the ticket activates in the app on purchase and is shown to inspectors on your screen.
Golden rule: Validate at the start of each journey, not when you arrive or when you see an inspector. Inspectors check tickets throughout the journey, not just at boarding.
The inspection system
Budapest’s ticket inspectors (ellenőr) work in both uniform and plain clothes. On metros, they sometimes board in groups and check every passenger simultaneously. On trams and buses, a single inspector may walk the vehicle. All inspectors carry electronic verification devices and can check the ticket’s validation timestamp.
The fine is 16,000 HUF (around €40). It can be paid on the spot or at a BKK office within 30 days at a reduced rate. If you dispute on the spot, the inspector can call police. The system exists and is enforced — the fine easily exceeds the cost of a full 72-hour travelcard.
Children, seniors and student concessions
- Children under 6: Free on all BKK services, no ticket needed
- EU citizens aged 65+: Free — show a valid EU ID or passport with date of birth
- Students with Hungarian student ID: Discounted fares — not applicable to tourist visitors
- Non-EU seniors and students: Standard fares apply
Hungary does not extend public transport concessions to foreign tourists regardless of age, except for EU citizens over 65.
HÉV suburban railways
The HÉV (Helyiérdekű vasút) suburban railways extend the BKK network to areas beyond the city boundary. The key tourist routes:
HÉV H5: From Batthyány tér (M2) to Szentendre — popular for a Danube Bend day trip and visits to the artists’ village. BKK passes are valid within the Budapest city boundary (to Békásmegyer station); you pay a supplement for the section to Szentendre.
HÉV H8: From Keleti to Gödöllő — route to the Royal Palace (Grassalkovich Castle). Same boundary rule applies.
For the full picture on passes and when each is worth buying, the BKK travel passes guide goes deeper. And for current HUF/EUR exchange rates before you plan your budget, use the currency converter.
Frequently asked questions about Budapest public transport tickets
How much does a single bus or metro ticket cost in Budapest?
A standard single ticket (vonaljegy) costs 450 HUF (roughly €1.10). This covers one uninterrupted journey on one vehicle or one metro line. A transfer ticket covering a line change costs 530 HUF. Children under 6 and EU citizens over 65 travel free; youth aged 6–14 travel free with a valid Hungarian school ID (not applicable to tourists).What is the difference between a travelcard and a Budapest Card?
A BKK travelcard (24h, 72h, or 7-day) covers unlimited public transport only. The Budapest Card costs more but includes transport AND free or discounted museum entry, a Danube cruise and other extras. For a visit heavy on sightseeing, the Budapest Card often delivers better value. Use the /tools/budapest-card-calculator/ to run the comparison.Where can I buy Budapest transport tickets?
At any yellow BKK ticket machine (at metro stations and many tram stops), at BKK customer service offices (at Keleti, Deák, Kelenföldi stations), at newsagents (trafik shops), and via the BudapestGO app on your phone. The airport 100E ticket is sold at the dedicated machine at the BUD bus stop only.Do I need to validate a 24-hour travelcard?
Yes — the first time you use it. Insert the card into the validator once, and it activates your 24 hours from that moment. After that, you show the pass to any inspector but do not validate again. Keep it accessible at all times during your travel.Is contactless payment accepted on Budapest transport?
As of 2025, some BKK terminals accept contactless bank card tap. The rollout is ongoing — check BKK's official site or BudapestGO for current coverage. Using paper tickets or the BudapestGO app is more reliable until contactless is fully deployed network-wide.
