You have to purchase a Budapest public transport ticket,BKK pass or Budapest card to use a Budapest Tram. Whether you need a ticket,BKK pass or Budapest card depends upon on your choice.
These tickets and passes can also be used for Budapest buses and underground Budapest metros.
Trams in Budapest are referred to the yellow colored trains running on ground.With Budapest trams you have the facility to watch the city life while traveling in the city. Some of these are new while some pretty old.
Here are the key trams in Budapest for tourists.
- Budapest Tram 2,2B,and 2M
- Tram 24
- Tram 4 and 6
- Tram 47,48,49,
- Tram 41,19,61 and 17
- Tram 1 and 1M
Usage of mentioned trams is almost same.Although ticket validation system in all trams is same,i.e. you have to insert a new ticket into the validation machine inside the tram.
Whereas BKK pass or Budapest Card do not require any validation in the tram,as their validation time is already printed on them and visitors have to make sure that they are using these only during the mentioned time on BKK pass or Budapest Card.
For tourists to ride on Budapest trams,best option is to buy a BKK pass(1 day,3 day or a weekly pass) or a Budapest pass(24 hour,48 hour,72 hours,…) as it allows unlimited tram journeys. Additionally, you do not need to validate such pass in the tram.
How to use Budapest tram 2
Tram 2,2B and 2M are the most famous trams in Budapest as they are the sightseeing trams on the pest side. Tram 2 passes through Hungarian parliament,Chain Bridge,White and Green Bridge of Budapest.As a tourist it is essential to know how to use Tram 2 and its variants 2B,2M.
You can use Tram 2 in Budapest in the following way.
- Buy a normal ticket,BKK pass or Budapest Card.
- When the tram arrives to the station, wait on the sides of doors so that existing passengers can come out.
- After entering the tram 2, put the ticket into the machine, and validate it on tram 2.
- If you have a Budapest travel pass or Budapest Card,there is no need to validate your pass on tram 2.
- There is no need to show the ticket to the Budapest tram 2 driver.
- Make sure to keep the ticket,Budapest travel pass or Budapest card, with you for the whole journey on tram 2, as ticket inspectors may come from nowhere and ask for your ticket/pass.
- There is no LCD in tram 2 to show the next stations of the tram 2, however, you can check the stations of tram 2 using the maps displayed on top of each entrance door.
- Tram 2 stops at every tram station,however, doors are only opened if you have pressed the door opening button next to the respective door.
Many tourists get fined just because they did not validate their tickets in the tram 2.They just enter the tram with a ticket but never validate it.
You can use BKK passes,or Budapest Card to ride tram 2.
One of the top attractions in Budapest is the Great Synagogue. If you plan to visit, make sure to book your Great Synagogue ticket in advance to avoid long queues.
Tram 2 is running on a very old track and not wheelchair friendly. It operates around 1.5 feet above the ground level, hence, it is not possible to use it with a wheelchair.
However, with kid strollers and prams, on boarding Tram 2 is challenging due to its height from the ground. Additionally, it has barriers in the middle of the entrance doors,which make it challenging to put the stroller. Therefore,make sure to get the child off and pack your stroller before on boarding tram 2.
Despite being an old tram, in standing areas of tram 2, there are signs on the ground mentioning that either a stroller or a wheelchair person can stand here. If there is no stroller or a wheelchair in 6-4 tram,you can stand in that place,but when someone enters with stroller or wheelchair, you must move to another place.
How to use Budapest tram 4 and 6
Tram 4 and 6 are the busiest trams in Budapest and are operational 24 hours. Tram 6 and 4 connect multiple districts of Budapest around the city.Some people call it 4-6 tram as 90 percent of their route is same,only one end point is different. As a tourist it is essential to know how to use Tram 4 and 6.
You can use Tram 4 and 6 in Budapest in the following way.
- Buy a normal ticket,BKK pass or Budapest Card.
- When the tram arrives to the station, wait on the sides of doors so that existing passengers can come out.
- After entering the tram 2, put the ticket into the machine, and validate it.Ticket validation machines are around every entrance door.
- If you have a Budapest travel pass or Budapest Card,no need to validate it on tram 4 or 6.
- There is no need to show the ticket to the Budapest tram 4-6 driver.
- Make sure to keep the ticket with you for the whole journey on tram 4-6, as ticket inspectors may come from nowhere and ask for your ticket/pass.
- There are announcements in English as well in Hungarian in tram 6-4 about the next stop,hence, you will not have much challenge in using it.
- There is an LED screen displaying the next stops as well as the last stop of the tram.
- Tram 6-4 stops at every tram station,however, doors are only opened if you have pressed the door opening button next to the respective door.
Many tourists get fined just because they did not validate their tickets in the tram 4-6.They just enter the tram with a ticket but never validate it.
You can use BKK passes,or Budapest Card to ride tram 4-6.
Looking for a budget accommodation in Budapest,check out Boomerang Hostel and Avenue Hostel.
Tram 6-4 is running on a new track and is wheelchair friendly. It operates around same level as the ground level,hence, you can easily onboard it.
Additionally, with kid strollers and prams, on boarding 6-4 tram is easy and smooth. Unlike older trams, it has no barriers in the middle of the entrance doors. Therefore,you do not need to take off your child from the 6-4 tram.
Additionally, in standing areas of tram 6-4, there are signs on the ground mentioning that either a stroller or a wheelchair person can stand here. If there is no stroller or a wheelchair in 6-4 tram,you can stand in that place,but when someone enters with stroller or wheelchair, you must move to another place.
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