Budapest city break - getting around
Travel guide to getting around on a Budapest city break
Budapest has a very efficient public transport network with modern, sleek trams, clean trolley buses and a three-line Metro system.
It's economical too, but buy your tickets or a travel card before getting on board. Transport normally runs from 4.30am to 11pm and for party animals there are late-night services.
A Budapest Card includes use of the buses, trams, metro, trolley buses and HEV suburban trains - but not the funicular up to the Castle district. The Budapest Card can be bought at the airport, hotels, tourist offices and anywhere you see its sale advertised.
Alternatively, buy a set of 10 or 20 tickets for use on all public transport (except the funicular). Always validate your ticket in the machines on the buses, trams etc. Inspectors in plain clothes do check tickets.
The Budapest trams are spotless and ideal for travelling on the concentric routes around Pest before crossing the bridges to Buda. Validate your ticket as you get on board and relax like the locals. Trams turn up every few minutes and all stops are announced and shown on electronic display boards.
A network of red trolley buses operate throughout Budapest. Blue buses also cover many routes including Margit Island, the huge park on the Danube that's a favourite with locals and ideal for a woodland stroll.
A range of companies offer hop-on, hop-off services.Tour buses get you to all the popular sights with commentaries in a wide choice of languages.
City Tour Budapest is a hop-on, hop-off service with Red and Green routes. Tickets are valid for 24 hours and there's also a link-up with Danube cruises and full-day and half-day tours out of the city.
You can buy tickets at hotels, on the bus, travel agencies or online. Other companies include Budatours, Cityrama and Program Centrum.
The Budapest Funicular must rival London's Heathrow Express for the most expensive short trip in the world but the funicular, which runs from the Chain Bridge up to the Castle district of Buda is still hugely popular and it avoids a steep climb.
Budapest's M1 underground was the first to open on the Continent. Two more lines have been added and all converge at Deak ter. Validate your ticket, as they are often checked. Stops are announced and destinations are clear on each platform. Take care with the escalators - they move rapidly. Bejarat means 'Entrance' and Kijarat is 'Exit'.
It's wise to negotiate the fare before the journey. Taxis can be company-operated or run by individuals.
The Danuba Bella and Danuba Legenda sail from Quay 6 at Vigado ter on the Pest bank between the Chain and Elizabeth bridges. Dinner cruises also include gypsy folk entertainment and music. River cruises are largely limited to summer months.
Budapest is an easy walking city. Pest is flat and the tourist sights in Buda are relatively compact. If you do run out of energy, there's always a tram or trolley bus route nearby.
Most major road intersections have underground plazas with handy shops and kiosks for pedestrians, avoiding the need to dodge the traffic crossing major roads.
Buda and Pest are joined by four bridges that tourists are likely to cross on numerous occasions, on foot or by tram. From the north, they are Margit hit (Margaret Bridge); Szechenyi lanchid (the Chain Bridge); Erzsebet hid (Elizabeth Bridge) and Szabadsag hit (Liberty Bridge).
Budapest has 237 monuments, 223 museums, 35 theatres, 90 cinemas, 2 opera houses and 12 concert halls
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