Budapest Airport is 16 km from the city center. Hungary uses the Forint (HUF), so check the day's rate before you convert anything below. Here's what each option actually costs.
The budget option: 100E bus
The dedicated airport bus costs 2,500 HUF per person — BKK raised it from 2,200 HUF on 1 October 2025. It goes directly to Deak Ferenc ter in the heart of Pest, stopping at Kalvin ter on the way. The ride takes 35-45 minutes.
Important: a regular Budapest transit pass alone is not valid on the 100E. Since October 2025, holders of a Budapest-pass (except the 15-day), Pest County Pass or Hungary Pass can buy a discounted 1,000 HUF airport add-on ticket instead of the 2,500 HUF fare. Without a pass, buy the airport shuttle single ticket from BKK machines at the stop, the BudapestGO app, or the airport newsstand.
For two people without passes, that's 5,000 HUF. Still cheaper than a taxi, but the gap narrows.
The ultra-budget option: 200E + Metro
This runs on ordinary BKK single tickets — check the current price at bkk.hu, as BKK revises fares periodically. Take bus 200E to Kobanya-Kispest, then transfer to the M3 metro. Total travel time: 50-60 minutes. You'll need two tickets (one for the bus, one for the metro) unless you have a transit pass, and a block of 10 works out cheaper per ride than singles. It saves money but costs time.
The door-to-door option: Official taxi
Budapest Airport taxis are metered on the city's regulated tariff — there is no airport zone or flat-rate system, and no fare is agreed before you set off. Every taxi company in Budapest must charge the same regulated rate. From 1 August 2026 it is 1,300 HUF to start, 521 HUF per km, 130 HUF per minute of waiting, and an 800 HUF airport pick-up fee (Budapest Assembly decision, June 2026 — the rates before that were 1,100 HUF, 440 HUF/km and 110 HUF/min, with no airport fee).
Working that tariff over the distance, with an allowance for time stuck in traffic, gives these estimates. They come off the meter, so treat them as ranges rather than prices:
| Destination | Approx. distance | Taxi estimate (metered) |
|---|---|---|
| Pest center (Districts V, VI, VII) | 16 km | 10,500-13,000 HUF |
| Buda center (Districts I, II, XI, XII) | 20 km | 12,500-15,000 HUF |
| Keleti Station | 14 km | 9,500-12,000 HUF |
| Obuda / District III | 22 km | 13,500-16,000 HUF |
| Beyond Budapest (30+ km) | — | Outside the city tariff — agree the fare first |
Fixed-price private transfer
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Other destinations
The tariff is set by the city and revised periodically, so check the current one before you travel.
The premium option: Private transfer
| Vehicle type | Capacity | Price to city center |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan | 1-3 passengers | 25-35 EUR |
| Minivan | 4-6 passengers | 40-55 EUR |
| Business sedan (Mercedes) | 1-3 passengers | 40-55 EUR |
Pre-booked, fixed price, driver waiting at arrivals. No currency confusion — you pay in EUR at booking.
Cost comparison for different group sizes
| Group size | 100E bus | Taxi (metered) | Transfer (sedan) | Transfer (minivan) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 2,500 HUF | 10,500-13,000 HUF | Fixed, quoted at booking | — |
| 2 people | 5,000 HUF | 10,500-13,000 HUF | Fixed, quoted at booking | — |
| 3 people | 7,500 HUF | 10,500-13,000 HUF | Fixed, quoted at booking | — |
| 4 people | 10,000 HUF | 10,500-13,000 HUF* | — | Fixed, quoted at booking |
| 5-6 people | 12,500-15,000 HUF | Two taxis needed | — | Fixed, quoted at booking |
Four people in a standard taxi is tight with luggage. You may need a larger car.
A taxi is charged per car, not per head, so the more of you there are the better it looks against the bus — by 4 people the bus has lost its price advantage entirely. For 5-6 people, a minivan transfer avoids splitting across two taxis.
Currency tips
- ATMs at the airport give a fair exchange rate. Use them instead of currency exchange counters
- The exchange counters in the arrivals hall have terrible rates — sometimes 15-20% worse than market rate
- Most taxis accept cards, but having some HUF cash is smart
- Transfers are usually priced in EUR and charged to your card — no currency hassle
Hidden costs
- No tolls between the airport and Budapest
- No night surcharge — the regulated tariff runs at one rate around the clock
- An 800 HUF airport pick-up fee applies to taxis from 1 August 2026
- Parking fees if someone picks you up — the airport charges for car park access
- miniBUD: priced per person and quoted live at minibud.hu, but you share the ride and it can take 60-90 minutes with multiple stops. Your time has value
Bottom line
Budapest is one of Europe's more affordable capitals for airport transfers, though the taxi tariff rose sharply on 1 August 2026. The 100E bus at 2,500 HUF is great for budget travelers, and cheaper still with a pass add-on. For two or more people going door-to-door, the metered taxi or a fixed-price transfer is worth the difference.