Travelling to a new city can be daunting, there are so many things to know. How do you use public transport? Where do you buy tickets? How do you validate them? Believe me, in Budapest it’s easy. Let me show you how to travel like a local. All prices were checked in November 2026.
The easiest way: tap on the metro
On every metro line you can simply tap your contactless Visa or Mastercard, your phone or your watch on the validator at the station. It buys and validates one single ticket in one step. No app and no paper ticket needed. It’s one ticket per card, so if you travel together, everybody needs their own card.
Where to buy other tickets
- BudapestGO app: the official app of Budapest public transport. You buy and validate your tickets on your phone, and it also plans your route.
- Ticket machines: look for the purple machines at metro stations and many stops. You can switch the language and pay by card or cash.
- Customer centres: at the bigger stations.
- From the driver: on some bus lines you can buy a ticket on board, but it costs more (700 HUF, about 1.9 EUR).
Tickets and travelcards
- Single ticket: 500 HUF (about 1.4 EUR), one journey without changing vehicles
- Block of 10 tickets: 4,500 HUF (about 12 EUR)
- 30-minute ticket: 600 HUF (about 1.6 EUR), you can change within the time limit
- 90-minute ticket: 850 HUF (about 2.3 EUR), you can change within the time limit
- 24-hour travelcard: 2,750 HUF (about 7.5 EUR)
- 72-hour travelcard: 5,750 HUF (about 16 EUR)
If you plan to use public transport a lot, a travelcard is the best choice, because you don’t need to validate it again and again. You just show it to the controllers. It’s so easy! Keep in mind that the 100E airport bus needs its own ticket, you can read more about it in my post How to get to the city from the airport in Budapest.
Good to know
Tickets must be validated when you start your journey. On the metro do it before you go down the escalator, on trams and buses right after boarding, on the small machines on board or by scanning with the app. Each time you change vehicles a single ticket needs a new validation, even if it’s only one tram stop. Controllers often check tickets, and having a ticket in your hand is not enough, it has to be validated. The fine starts above 10,000 HUF on the spot, so better not to risk it!
For all the details, check the BKK website. Now you know all about public transport tickets in Budapest. If you are wondering what to use and where to go, check out my post How to get around in Budapest.
Budapest’s stories are more fun together.
Come and walk with me, feel the heartbeat of Budapest and eat the city.
Book my tour
