A short but useful article for those who are planning their trip. You’ll learn about getting to Hungary by air or by bus. And where to find tickets, as not everything can be found online. There will be tips and recommendations to help you create the optimal route for yourself.
Getting to Hungary by Air: General Information
Summarily, the key points to simplify your planning.
- There are 5 international airports in the country. Only 2 of them handle regular flights, not just charters. Out of these two, 99% of all flights go to Budapest’s main airport. If you’re getting to Hungary by plane, it’s most likely to be Budapest.
Interesting Fact:
Budapest Airport operates almost around the clock, and there’s a 24-hour bus service from the airport to the city center. You can get there cheaply in just 20-30 minutes. Not all European capitals can boast this.
- Hungary is in the EU and the Schengen Area, which means there’s no passport or customs control on intra-European flights. A Schengen visa from any EU country is sufficient for visiting Hungary.
- All about getting a visa for Hungary, how and where to obtain it.
Tickets to Hungary, where to look and purchase
Budapest is one of the largest transportation hubs in Europe. In addition, the low-cost airline WizzAir has its main hub at Budapest Airport. Hundreds of flights to and from Budapest operate throughout Europe.
To find tickets to Hungary:
- Kiwi will show you all convenient flights and connections from your city from anywhere in the world. Even all European low-cost airlines are included in the results.
- If you’re flying from the USA to Europe, it’s convenient to check prices on CheapOAir.
- WizzAir – offers a huge number of direct flights from almost any part of Europe and even some countries in the Middle East.
- And of course, their main competitor is the low-cost airline Ryanair. They also have hundreds of flights throughout Europe.
Both low-cost airlines almost always offer flights to Hungary for 20-30 euros. If you can travel with just a backpack and plan your trips six months in advance, it’s very likely that your round trip by plane to Budapest will cost you 50-100 euros at most.
How to Get to Hungary by Bus or Car
If for any reason, a plane is not an option for you, know that Budapest is well-connected to the rest of Europe by bus. There are numerous local carriers that travel to neighboring capitals like Vienna and Bratislava. Just search online, and you’ll find a dozen bus companies.
If you need to travel by bus further, the major European bus company, Flixbus, can help. Their route network is as extensive as WizzAir’s.
You can also look for bus or train tickets on the Omio. There are tickets from regional and local carriers and companies.
Yes, it takes longer, but some people enjoy bus travel. The advantage of the bus is that you can take more luggage, not just a small carry-on bag like with a low-cost airline.
For those planning to drive their own car to Hungary and wondering how to get there and what nuances exist, here’s a very useful article: Driving through Hungary by car. It contains more information for travelers, but it will help you navigate issues like toll payments and parking for foreign-plated cars, and you’ll learn about border crossings and where to check the queues at the Hungarian border online.
In conclusion, getting to Hungary today is a very simple question. Budapest is rightfully considered one of the largest transportation hubs in Europe. Hundreds of flights (I’m not exaggerating) pass through Budapest Airport daily. All European low-cost airlines, as well as national carriers from all European countries, fly through Budapest. Budapest also hosts 14 bus routes, and one of Europe’s main highways, the E60, passes through here.
IMPORTANT: Below are useful links that will help organize your trip to Hungary and Budapest:
- Flight: Aviasales – compares prices for flights among 30+ airlines flying to Budapest.
- Tours and excursions:
- Viator and GetYourGuide – the best services for finding tours in Budapest and Hungary with the largest database of activities in Hungary. They offer river cruises on the Danube, tickets to baths, and 1000+ tours (available in different languages).
- Accommodation, apartments, hotels, hostels:
- Car rental: DiscoverCars – the leading and largest car rental service in Hungary.
- Travel Insurance: EKTA.
- eSIM – Airalo virtual SIM card in Hungary.
- Taxi and airport transfers: Intui.Travel