Budapest International Airport (BUD)

Liszt Ferenc Airport at a Glance

Budapest Airport is the main aviation hub in Hungary. Located 24km southeast of the Budapest city center, in the Ferihegy area, it serves both global, low-cost, and local airlines and welcomes international and domestic flights. The airport’s footprint used to be much more significant before 2012, when Malév Hungarian Airlines, one of the main -if not the major – airlines operating at Budapest Airport, went bankrupt. This fact had a huge impact on the airport’s functioning leading to cutbacks and the closure of BUD terminal 1. Nowadays, the airport seems to have recovered, as, in 2019, its passenger traffic was more than 16 million passengers. However, only terminal 2 is in operation, and terminal 1 is still out of use.

The official name of Budapest Airport is Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, as a tribute to the famous Hungarian composer Franz Liszt. Nevertheless, until 2011 the airport used to be called Budapest Ferihegy International Airport, named after the area of its location. Thus, referring to the airport as “Ferihegy Airport” is still a thing in Budapest.

FAQs

What is the international airport in Budapest?

Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport is the international airport that serves the city of Budapest and the nearby areas. In fact, it is the major airport in Hungary, housing international, domestic and low-cost airlines.

How many international airports are in Hungary?

Hungary has 6 international airports in total. However, the vast majority of flights are served by Budapest International Airport, which is the leading aviation hub in the country.

How many terminals does Budapest Airport have?

Budapest Airport used to have two terminal buildings, terminal 1 and terminal 2. However, terminal 1 is not operational since 2012. Terminal 2 now handles all the flights and gathers all the passenger traffic. Terminal 2 is subdivided into 2 sections, T2A and T2B.

What terminal does Ryanair fly into in Budapest?

Budapest Airport currently has only one terminal in use, terminal 2. Terminal 1 closed due to the cost-cutting needed to be done when Malév Hungarian Airlines went bankrupt in 2012. Therefore, Ryanair flies from and to terminal 2.

How to get from Budapest Airport to Budapest?

There are 4 ways to reach Budapest from BUD Airport. You can either hire an airport taxi or book a private transfer (or even a car rental). Alternatively, you can use public transportation. A shuttle bus runs from Budapest Airport, and there is also a train connection to the city.

How early should you arrive at Budapest Airport?

A 2-hour before the flight arrival is a safe time to do your check-in, pass the passport control, etc., without stress and hassle.

Do they take euros in Budapest?

Hungary’s official currency is the Hungarian Forint. Therefore, you’ll have to convert your euros to forints during your stay in Budapest. However, euros are widely accepted in the city. Nevertheless, it is better to always have foreign exchange with you, as several places don’t follow this practice.