Transfer Options from Budapest Airport to Keleti Train Station
Keleti Train Station is the main Budapest railway station, serving most of the international train rides. Budapest Eastern Railway Station -or Keleti Pályaudvar, officially named in Hungarian- lies 3km from the city center and, unfortunately, isn’t directly connected to Budapest International Airport. Therefore, the only way to reach the main train station with comfort and convenience is to hire a Budapest airport taxi, opt for a car rental or book a private airport transfer. If this alternative is not suitable for your budget, two airport bus lines will handle your transfer to Keleti Station, but with intermediate line changes.
| Options | Price (HUF) | Price (€) | Price ($) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi | 8045HUF | 20€ | 20.30$ | 32 minutes |
| Bus 100E | 1850HUF | 4.60€ | 4.80$ | 45 minutes |
| Bus 200E | 1050HUF | 3€ | 3.54$ | 55 minutes |
Budapest Airport to Train Station by Taxi
Budapest airport taxis can guarantee a safe, fast, and hassle-free ride from Budapest Airport to Keleti Train Station. The taxi airport transfers are exclusively operated by the Főtaxi company. Therefore, you should always look for yellow vehicles, with the yellow background license plate and the Főtaxi logo at the left front side door. Hiring any other taxi vehicles can get you scammed or overcharged. In any case, airport taxis are lining up at the airport taxi stand outside the T2 exit doors. Taxis are available 24/7 and offer comfortable, direct, and safe rides to Keleti station in about 30 minutes, depending on the traffic conditions.
The taxi fare for the particular ride is about 8045HUF (20€/20.30$). However, BUD airport taxis don’t offer set prices, but their fee depends on the distance and the duration of the journey. What’s more, they don’t charge extra for airport and night transfers. Payments can be made in cash and credit cards. Most of the taxi drivers also accept euros. Nevertheless, it is advisable to pay in forints as the taxi exchange rate is usually too high.
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Budapest Airport to Train Station by Bus
Taking the Budapest airport public bus instead of an airport taxi will undoubtedly save you a lot of money. However, as far as convenience is concerned, you won’t avoid the hassle of carrying around your luggage and having to make one or even more transits.
With that being said, you have two options for your bus transfer from Budapest International Airport to Keleti Train Station. To begin with, you can take the Bus 100E, departing every 30 minutes from the bus stop located between the two sections of T2, and head to the Astoria bus stop. From there, you’ll have to take the Red Metro Line M2 to Keleti Pályaudvar. The bus runs around the clock, while the Metro M2 from 4:41 am to 11:41 pm. The ticket for the airport shuttle Bus 100E has 1500HUF (3.80€/4.10$) and the metro ticket 350HUF (1€/1.18$). Please note that no other type of ticket or pass is acceptable at the Bus Line 100E. Overall, your transfer will cost 1850HUF (4.60€/4.80$) and will last 45 minutes.
On the other hand, the cheaper Bus 200E departs from the bus stop outside the T2 exits 24/7 and heads to its terminus, Kobanya-Kispest. If you choose to travel on that bus, you’ll have to reach the Kobanya-Kispest stop and jump to the Blue Metro Line M3. Your disembarking stop is Kálvin tér. Arriving there, you’ll have to take the Green Metro M4 to Keleti Pályaudvar. It should be noted that the operating hours of the Blue Metro Line 3 are 4:26 am to 08.56 pm. The total duration of your journey will be 55 minutes, while you’ll have to buy 3 single tickets for each transfer, paying a total of 1050HUF (3€/3.54$). Alternatively, you can buy a Transfer ticket which offers you an extra transfer and costs 530HUF (1.51€/1.8$), or even better, purchase a Budapest travelcard which allows you to travel unlimitedly using public transportation. Tickets can be bought at the automatic vendors or via the ticket office, while Budapest travelcards are available at the tourist info desk.
Our Tip: On weekends, maintenance works are usually done at Metro Line 3. Therefore, you may have to use a replacement bus.
Car Rental from Budapest Airport to Train Station
Do you have your own means of transport? Are you planning on renting a car to get to Keleti Train Station? In any case, you won’t face any difficulties in reaching your destination. Thus, exiting the airport, you should take the Fő út to Vecsés and follow the Ferihegyi Repülőtérre vezető út. Turning left to Üllői út with the destination to Nagyvárad tér, you should keep driving to Nagyvárad tér. Once reaching the Fiumei út, you’ll be almost at your journey’s end. Under normal traffic conditions, the 20-km ride lasts about 30 minutes.
Private Airport Transfers from Budapest Airport to Train Station
If you opt for an even more luxurious transfer, you should book a private Budapest airport transfer. The price will be slightly higher, but there will be no waiting time at the taxi stand, no risk of getting scammed or paying too much due to heavy traffic, and you will benefit from premium services.
FAQs
How do I get from Budapest Airport to central station?
BUD airport transfers to Keleti Train Station, the major Budapest railway hub, are handled by taxis or buses. However, there is no direct bus leading to Keleti Station. Therefore, if you prefer the much cheaper buses, you’ll have to change to Metro Line M2 if you take the 100E and to Metro Lines M3 and M4 if you get the 200E.
Is there a train station in Budapest Airport?
Budapest Airport doesn’t have a train station. The only way to use Budapest trains when arriving at the airport is to take the Bus 200E to the nearby Ferihegy Train Station.