Budapest Flights

Liszt Ferenc Airport is the largest airport in the country, though really it is still quite small. I arrived into Terminal 2 from Frankfurt (Schengen). As it was early in the morning it wasn't busy at all and everything went nice and smoothly.

There is a bus that goes to the nearest train station (Kőbánya-Kispest Metro) from Terminal ! (bus ticket cost 320 HUF (about $1.25) to Nyugati station (travel time 23 minutes) Trip costs 365 HUF.
Best station to get off is DEAK TER which is the main crossing point of the lines in downtown Pest.

As I was a bit tired from a long international flight I chose to take the airport shuttle. They have a stand right there by the luggage carousels. Fare was 2990 HUF to anywhere in Budapest (which is a pretty good deal really, especially if you are carrying a lot of luggage. (not quite 15 USD)
Website for them is http://www.airportshuttle.hu

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The Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport formerly known as Budapest Ferihegy International Airport , is the international airport serving the Hungarian capital city of Budapest, and the largest of the country's five international airports.
By the way Liszt Ferenc (October 22, 1811 – July 31, 1886) was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.
The airport offers international connections primarily within Europe, but also to Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and North America. In 2007, the airport served 8.6 million passengers.is located 16km (10 miles) southeast of Budapest on route E60 and is clearly signposted from Budapest. From the city centre, the dedicated Ferihegy High Speed Road facilitates access within 20 minutes.
There is a covered walkway between terminals 2A and 2B, and a bus link between terminals 1 and 2.
Discount airlines use Terminal 1, including carriers such as Wizz Air, easyJet, Ryanair and Jet2.com.
All full-service flights departing to destinations within the Schengen Zone use Terminal 2A, while other international flights–including those to the United Kingdom–depart from Terminal 2B.

There are short-term car parks situated at both terminals and also a long-term car park with security surveillance.

Regular trains, operated by Hungarian State Railways (http://www.mav.hu, Hungarian only) run between Terminal 1 and Budapest's western railway station (journey time - under 30 minutes). There is a bus link between the station and Terminal 2.

Visit to the Airport on weekdays only.
During the visit taken by bus in an hour you may visit all significant territories of the Airport: hangars, runways, terminal buildings etc. The program starts from the Open Air Aircraft Museum and ends by seeing its exhibition.

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Note: There are TWO terminals. They are so far apart they might as well be different airports. You CANNOT walk from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2.

Terminals 2A and 2B are next to each other.

TERMINAL 2

This is the bigger, newer airport for national airlines. It is the furthest from the city, and there is no direct public transport here.

Getting to and from Terminal 2:

Public Transport

The 200E bus runs from the airport to the Kőbánya-Kispest Metro station (M3) every 10-20 minutes. You'll need to buy at least one metro ticket for the bus, and probably at least one more for the metro. Unless you are staying at the last stop on the M3 (misleadingly described as the "city centre" by the airport website) you will need to take the metro into the actual centre of the city.

Taxi

The airport has finally got wise to the damage done to its reputation by disreputable taxi drivers and has now licensed out taxi services from the airport to a single, reliable company with fixed rates. To get a taxi, simply buy a ticket from the booth outside the exit and you will given a ticket with a number and your destination and fee printed on it. This will match you to a single driver who will take you to your destination. You can pay him there in cash or with a credit card.

Coming to the airport, taxis should cost between 4-5000 Forint, but to be safe you'll want to call one of the reputable companies to pick you up (see Taxi tip).

Airport Minibus

Probably the best value and most convenient option is the airport minibus hotel transfer service. This is a minibus that will take you to or from your hotel door for a flat fee of around 2500 forints. You are advised to make your reservation at least 24 hours in advance, but sometimes they can squeeze you in if you forget. If you are coming from your hotel, they can reserve one for you.

At the airport, just join the queue and you will be put on the next available bus. You usually don't have to wait long.

Phone: 296855 Fax: 2968993

TERMINAL 1

This is the older, smaller airport for budget airlines. It is the nearest to the city, and the cheapest and easiest to reach.

Getting to and from Terminal 1:

Public Transport

A train runs from the airport (the station is outside the entrance and across the main busy highway). The train will take you right to the centre, to Nyugati station (the Western station). Buy a train ticket (not metro) at the station.

Taxi

Terminal 1 has a similar taxi arrangement as the bigger Terminal 2. But despite being closer to the centre, the fixed prices are the same: 4-5000 forints (depending on destination). It usually works out cheaper getting to Terminal 1 from the city, depending on who you use.

Airport Minibus

Again, like Terminal 2, you can use the airport minibus service, for exactly the same rates.

Sky Europe is the first East Europe low cost. You can fly from many European towns, like Milan, Venice, Warsaw, Manchester, London, Dublin, Barcelona, Berlin, Paris, Rome, Zurich, Cologne and much more, to Budapest with few euros. It flows with Boeing 737-500 and Embraer 120.
It is a very nice cheap airlines!!!

I've only been to Budapest twice and both times I've flown Malev. I don't think Ryan O'Crapo Air flies in and out (but then maybe there's not an alternative O'cheapo airport for them 100 km away) but it is served by the low-cost carriers Wizz and Easyjet.

I always have a look at the EasyJet and Wizz options when I book but the timings on them never seem to suit me and so Malev it has been. Malev isn't that much more expensive if booked reasonably well in advance and it is a NICE airline to fly with.

On my first visit in June 2005 the inwards flight was only about half-full and maybe the attendants were bored and so passed the drink trolley three times! And we got a hot-ish "meal".

Not quite so extravagant this time, January 2011, as the "meal" was only a sandwich and the drink trolley only passed once.

HA! Modern cost-cutting! But the flight, both ways, was still comfortable and with only two hours in the air to and from Gatwick a sandwich and a glass of excellent wine were more than sufficient sustenance even for this gluttonous traveller ;)

Also worth noting is that the flight attendants (male and female) are sexy - whatever your persuasions.

Budapest airport is located about 16 km southeast of the city centre and you'll find the various transport options in the tips already written or on the airport's website below.

There are two terminals, 1 and 2 strangely enough, and whilst Terminal 2 has an A and B these are really just different ends of the same building (I think A is designed for Schengen flights whilst B is for non-Schengen, including the UK).

Terminal 1 is the closest to the city, only 20 or so minutes by train from Nyugati railway station, and handles the low-cost carriers such as EasyJet and Wizz. I haven't used this terminal but by all accounts it's almost worth visiting even if you aren't flying to or from it as it is now a "listed building".

Terminal 2 is sleek and modern and on both the occasions I flown in and out of it it has been a pleasure rather than a chore. Security and Border controls are as strict as any but in my four flights so far I've never had to queue excessively long and the officials are always good-humoured (even when they have to treble check my passport pic (which makes me look like a terrorist) and my actual suave, handsome self (HA!).

Facilities at T2 are relatively basic but all the basics are there - including a tourist office, the usual car rental places, an extortionist money changer, a much less extortionate ATM (no separate fee apart from what your bank charges) a Post Office (where you can buy your travel pass) and of course a couple of cafe/bars.

The cafe/bars though are VERY pricey - 900 HUF for a korso and 1200 for a glass of wine (not their fault as I think the airport is run by our UK company BAA who probably charge "money changer" rents) - but at least that's as good a way of getting rid of your leftover Forints as any. On my last trip I was waiting at the flight gate with 1270 HUF in my pocket and the airside bar serendipiously happened to be at the end of my queue: "A glass of red wine please and keep the change." resulted in an empty pocket ;-)

Repter-busz no; 200 operates every day,
4.30 ... then every 20 minutes .. then 6.30 6.45 7.00 7.15 ... and so on every
15 minutes
The metro also runs on Sunday mornings, departing Deak Ferenc ter at 4.45, 4.56
and then every 10 minutes till 8.06.

BY MINIBUS
Ferihegy 1 & 2

In the terminal you will find the MInibus; Tell them where you wanna go: they will bring you for about 2700 Huf. (per person)
It will take some time though before they call you....

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BY TAXI

call: +36 1 222 2222
or +36 1 3 666 666

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