Public
Transport
Budapest’s cheap and effective transport system is run by
Budapest Kozlekedési
Vállalat – BKV (telephone number: (01) 317 5518
or 269 6869). The network includes the metro, trams, buses, trolley
buses and trains. In summer, there are also BKV Danube ferries.
There is also a limited night bus service, all of which are marked
with ‘É’.
There are 3 metro lines (M1 yellow, M2 red, and M3 blue)
that intersect at Deák tér. The M1, built for the
1896 exhibition, is the oldest line. The other lines have Russian
trains.
The BKV Cog-wheel Railway (Fogaskerekû vasút) operates
from Városmajor utca to
Széchenyi Hill daily.
Tickets
Tickets are available for purchase at the metro stations, some tram
stops and also newspaper stands. Tickets are valid for 1 trip on
one mode of transport and must be validated on the bus or tram,
or when changing lines on the metro. Single tickets, ticket booklets
and a day pass (napijegy) are available. 3-day and weekly tourist
passes require a photograph and travelling without a ticket attracts
a fine.
Trains
The service on Hungarian
State Railways (MÁV), VI Andrássy út 35
(telephone number: (01) 322 8405), is far from luxurious but trains
are generally clean and punctual. Not all express trains have dining
or buffet cars and overcharging, especially for drinks, occurs frequently
– it is better for visitors to bring their own food and drink
for the long journeys. Tickets for international journeys should
be purchased in advance. Reservations on all international trains
can be made with MÁV (telephone number: (01) 333 6342) and
seat reservations are strongly advised for all the services. Tickets
are also available for purchase from the MÁV booking office,
V Andrássy út 35 (telephone number: (01) 322 0856).
There are separate telephone numbers for international rail enquiries
(telephone number: (01) 461 5500) and national rail enquiries (telephone
number: (01) 461 5400).
MÁV directs the 3 large international railway stations in
the city– Keleti pályaudvar (eastern
station), VIII Baross tér, Nyugati pályaudvar
(western station), VI Nyugati tér, and Déli
pályaudvar (southern station), I Krisztina körút.
These stations have exchange facilities and tourist information
services and Keleti and Nyugati have 24-hour left-luggage facilities.
Rail services:
Direct rail links connect Hungary to 16 European cities, with 51
international scheduled trains arriving at Budapest.
Keleti is the principal terminus for international
rail services from Western Europe, including Berlin,
journey time of approx 12 hours and Paris, journey
time of approx 15.5 hours.
Nyugati is
the main terminus for trains heading east to Romania
and Slovakia, for destinations such as Bucharest
with a journey time of 14 hours 15 minutes to 18 hours, and Bratislava,
journey time approx 3 hours. There are also rail links to southern
Hungary, Croatia and Slovenia,
to destinations such as Zagreb with a journey time
of 5 hours 30 minutes and Ljubljana journey time
of 6 hours 15 minutes.
The Gyermekvasút
or Children’s Railway (telephone number: (01) 397 5392) was
formerly run by the Communist youth organisation and is still largely
run by children of 10 to 14 years old, although it is overseen by
MAV). The train runs from the Hûvösvölgy
district to Széchenyi Hill.
A BKV chair-lift (libego) runs daily, September
to May from the Zugliget district to János
Hill the highest point of Budapest. The 100m (328ft) funicular
(sikló) runs up from Clark Ádám tér
to the Castle District.
HÉV
trains are Budapest’s commuter suburban train lines.
The 2 northern lines connect with the metro at Batthyány
tér, while the 4 eastern and southern lines can only be reached
by tram. The line to Szentendre at Batthyány tér is
the best of the 6 lines and is probably the only line visitors will
use.
Taxis
Taxis without a yellow number plate, (this is required by law),
as well as a reputable logo on the side doors and a table of fares
posted on the dashboard should be avoided. Visitors should ask the
driver for a taxi card, for a better fare on the following journey.
Recognised companies include Rádió
Taxi (telephone number: (01) 377 7777), one of the cheapest
and most reliable firms, offering significant discounts if taxis
are ordered by telephone, Fo
Taxi (telephone number: (01) 222 2222), recognised by their
red and white checkered doors, and the English-speaking City
Taxi (telephone number: (01) 211 1111) which also have
a reputation for being trustworthy.
Driving
in the City
Central streets are frequently jammed due to roadworks, the cobblestones
make for a jolting journey and the tram lines and unusual Hungarian
driving techniques can make navigating the city quite a hair-raising
experience. There are numerous traffic restrictions within Budapest.
Only taxis and cars with a special permit are allowed into the Castle
District, the Várbusz (Castle Bus) service runs
from Moszkva tér to Szent Gyorgy tér.
Margaret
Island can only be accessed from Árpád híd,
as far as the car park outside the hotels, bus 26 crosses the island.
Traffic is also limited in some parts of Óbuda Island,
the Népliget, the Inner City,
Városliget and the Római
area.
Ingenuity is required if one is to find parking spaces in the city.
Vehicles are not permitted to park for longer than 3 hours in central
parking lots and clamping and towing away are enforced, with a large
charge for release. Parking meters often display the phone number
for wheel clamping release and cars that are towed away can also
be traced by telephone (telephone number: (01) 307 5208).
There are 4 large car parks, which are located on V. Aranykéz
utca 406, V Szervita tér 8, VII Nyár utca 20 and VIII
Kálvin tér. The hourly rate is more expensive in the
secure car parks. Cars should be locked and alarmed and valuables
or radios should not be left on display.
Car
Hire
Visitors to Budapest are advised to arrange car hire prior to their
arrival, in order to save money and avoid the inevitable problem
of the language barrier. It is also wise for hirers to ensure that
the price quoted is inclusive of Áfa (VAT).
The majority of hire cars in Budapest have manual transmission.
A valid national driver’s licence is required
and a credit card is usually requested for the deposit. The minimum
age for car hire is 21 years, although some hire companies
require drivers to be over 25 and extra charges are made for additional
drivers. Third-party liability insurance is compulsory in Hungary,
in some cases the hire price will include this.
Car hire is available at Ferihegy airport or at
Volán, Express and Budapest
tourist offices, as well as at large hotels.
Major companies include:
Avis,
V Szervita tér 8 (telephone number: (01) 318 4240),
Budget,
I Krisztina körút 41-43 (telephone number: (01) 214
0420)
Sixt,
I Vaci ut 45/b (tel: (01) 451 4220).
Bicycle
Hire
Although there are some bicycle lanes, Budapest is not very cycle
friendly, although a major initiative to build more cycle lanes
in currently underway. Cyclists should obtain the ‘Budapest
on Bike Map’ (Kerékpárral Budapesten)
showing bike lanes and trails throughout the city.
Bringóhintó,
Hajós Alfréd sétány 1 (telephone number:
(01) 329 2746), on Margaret Island, hires bicycles
and tandems during the summer. A deposit and a passport or ID cards
are required. Bikes are also available for hire from Charles
Apartment House, I Hegyalja út 23 (telephone number.
(01) 201 1796 or (01) 202 3414) |
