Transfer ticket in Budapest public transport is a pretty confusing concept, which is hard to understand for anyone even in 2024.
No matter you want to use the Budapest Metro System, Budapest buses or Night bus Budapest, How to validate ticket Budapest is a confusing topic.
The options available to buy from the BKK ticket machine and the new types of transfer tickets available in Budapest GO app make it more difficult to understand.
The best places to stay near Budapest City center are
As the single ticket in Budapest,costing 300 HUF or 350 HUF can be used only on the very vehicle(Bus,Metro,Tram,Trolley) for which the ticket was validated.
Transfer ticket in Budapest may be used when there are more than two vehicles involved during a single journey,without interruptions.
NOTE : Please use your due diligence in planning your trips within Budapest, using Google Maps to find the optimum path.
How do Budapest transfer tickets look like
Transfer tickets in Budapest can be bought from BKK machines as well as Budapest GO app.
They have different appearance in physical and digital format.
Transfer ticket Budapest from BKK machine
If bought from the BKK ticket machine, the transfer ticket comes in two physical papers.
One paper contains numbers 1,3,9,7 in a matrix form, while other one contains number 2,4,6,8 in matrix form.
Another important thing to notice is the number 1 and 2 written next to Transfer Ticket on top left corner.The 530 Huf written on both tickets is the collective price of the ticket.
This ticket has to be used in order,i.e. ticket 1 on first vehicle of your journey while ticket 2 on second vehicle on your journey.
Budapest transfer ticket in BudapestGo App
There are two types of transfer tickets available in Budapest GO app .
With Budapest GO app, the tickets are digital,hence, no need to print it.
These are available with prices of 530 Huf and 750 Huf.
You have to digitally validate them when on boarding.
Budapest Transfer ticket uses
What if you want to travel within Budapest, and based upon the Budapest public transport app or Google maps, the suggestion is to use at least two separate vehicles,one after the other.
Some examples of vehicle combinations for your journey within Budapest can be
- Metro+Bus
- Metro+Tram
- Metro x + Metro y
- Tram x + Tram y
- Bus + Tram
- Bus x + Bus y
- Tram + Bus
Although you can use 2 separate single tickets (price 300 HUF or 350 HUF), which will cost you 600 HUF or 700 HUF,and validate each ticket separately on each vehicle before on boarding.
However, with transfer ticket available from the BKK ticket machine, the same journey will cost you 530 HUF (as of now, the transfer ticket price is 530 HUF).
Whereas, from the BudapestGO app, the new kinds of transfer tickets cost 530 Huf and 750 Huf are available.
Types of Budapest Transfer ticket
There used to be only one type of Budapest transfer ticket in BKK machines,and still is, costing 530 HUF.
However, in the BudapestGO app, there are two new types of transfer tickets introduced.
Price of one transfer ticket is 530 HUF while other is 750 HUF.
Here is the summary
- Budapest Transfer ticket Price 530 HUF – Available in BKK machines – just one transfer allowed
- Budapest transfer ticket price 530 HUF – Only available in BudapestGO app – valid for 30 mins – unlimited transfers
- Budapest transfer ticket price 750 HUF – Only available in BudapestGO app – valid for 90 mins – unlimited transfers.
Others Names of Budapest transfer ticket
The terminologies such as Bus transfer ticket,Metro transfer ticket,tram transfer ticket refer to the transfer ticket in Budapest public transport.
Either you are making a bus to metro transfer,tram to bus transfer or bus to metro transfer, you can utilize transfer ticket to save some money.
Although it used to be associated with transfer ticket available from BKK ticket machine costing 530 huf.
After the introduction of BudapestGO app, the 30 minutes(530 HUF) and 90 minutes (750 HUF) tickets are also termed as transfer tickets.
Should you buy Budapest transfer ticket as a tourist
Considering the complexities associated with understanding of different types of transfer tickets, we recommend that you buy a Budapest pass for 1 day,3 days or a week.
These will ensure you do not have to care about validation hassle for single and transfer tickets in Budapest public transport.
If you are not willing to buy a pass,and think there will be less usage of public transport, then buying pack of 10 tickets or a few single tickets are better option.
The different aspects associated with different types of transfer tickets in Budapest are not worth understanding for your lovely Budapest trip.
For example,which transfer ticket to buy from where, BKK machine or BudapestGO. Which ticket is valid in how many vehicles or what is maximum limit of a transfer ticket.
The question is not about usage,but when you are caught by the ticket checkers for not knowing the proper rules,which are confusing and only ticket checkers have the final say,and they are brutal.
When should you buy a transfer ticket?
If you are staying far away from the city center,and coming to the city with Budapest public transport, a transfer ticket may be a good option.
But still, why would you spend 530HUF for a single journey, if you can buy a one day pass for 1650 HUF.
With one day pass, your both journeys will be covered,and additionally you can take unlimited rides with any BKK vehicle.
Validity of Budapest transfer ticket from BKK machine
Validity of a transfer ticket available from bkk ticket machine is 100 mins from the first validation in the day time.
You have to ensure the order of tickets,when validating this kind of paper ticket.
When you have validated the first ticket on first vehicle, and after moving to another vehicle,you must validate the second paper ticket.
The validity remains to be 80 mins for the second paper ticket,for the day time.
There are many other complex rules.
Validity of 30 mins Budapest transfer ticket
The validity of 30 mins ticket (only available in digital format in BUDAPESTGO app is 30 mins, with unlimited transfers in Budapest.
But there is a catch, you have to ensure that you validate this electronic ticket every time, when you on board a new vehicle.
Although it may happen that you onboard your last vehicle after 25 mins of first validation,and after re-validation of the ticket in new vehicle, you get off the vehicle after 20 mins.
So,overall you spent 25+20 mins with the ticket, but your last validation must be withing 30 mins after first validation in first vehicle of your journey.
Validity of Budapest 90 mins transfer ticket
The validity of 90 mins ticket (only available in digital format in BUDAPESTGO app)is 90 mins, with unlimited transfers in Budapest.
But there is a catch, you have to ensure that you validate this electronic ticket everytime, when you on board a new vehicle.
Although it may happen that you onboard your last vehicle after 85 mins of first validation,and after re-validation of the ticket in new vehicle, you get off the vehicle after 20 mins.
So,overall you spent 85+20 mins with the ticket on public transport, but your last validation must be withing 90 mins after first validation in first vehicle of your journey.
Where can you use a Budapest transfer ticket?
The transfer ticket (either bought from BKK machine) or the time limit based tickets (bought from BudapestGO app) can be used in Buses,trams,Underground metros of
Budapest public transport. The paper transfer tickets have to be validated one by one on the two vehicles that you will use in your journey.
While the 30 and 90 mins transfer tickets can be used for unlimited vehicles within the time limit of respective ticket.
Transfer ticket can be used in the night buses of Budapest.The 3 kinds of transfer tickets cannot be used on 100E,and you may get fined.
Is there a special Budapest metro transfer ticket?
There is no special ticket just for transfers in Budapest metros.
There are 3 types of generic transfer tickets in Budapest public transport, which can be used in metros,trams,and buses.
You just have to ensure that respective restrictions for the tickets are followed.
e.g. physical ticket from BKK with price 530 HUF can be only used on two vehicles in one journey.
While 30 and 90 mins ticket from Budapest GO app have unlimited transfers within that time.
Do they have Budapest Bus transfer ticket?
There is no special bus transfer ticket in Budapest Public transport.
3 types of generic transfer tickets are available in Budapest public transport,applicable to all modes of transport,excluding 100E bus.
You just have to ensure that respective restrictions for the tickets are followed.
e.g. physical ticket from BKK with price 530 HUF can be only used on two vehicles in one journey.
While 30 and 90 mins ticket from Budapest GO app have unlimited transfers within that time.
Is there any connection of Budapest transfer ticket with Airport transfers?
There is no direction association of Budapest transfer ticket with airport transfers.
Off course, you can use bus 200E on your transfer ticket, but keep in mind to read the rules.
Is Budapest Airport shuttle ticket a transfer ticket?
You cannot use transfer ticket on Budapest airport shuttle bus.
The Budapest Airport shuttle ticket costing 2500 HUF(6 USD/GBP/EUR) is not connected to any transfer ticket.
The 2500HUF ticket is exclusively for 100E Bus Budapest which operates between city center and Budapest airport.
What is the main advantage of using Budapest transfer ticket?
The visible advantage of transfer ticket is saving of 50 to 150 Huf in one journey compared to single tickets.Additionally, if you like walking and do not use public transport very often, once in a while, you may have to use this ticket.
Off course, in certain cases, it may also give you a chance to explore some parts of Budapest using Trams and buses in 30 or 90 mins.
Budapest transfer ticket vs One day pass
As a tourist,buying a Budapest one day travel pass costing 1650 is still better than any kind of transfer ticket,(530 HUF or 750 Huf).
The one day pass will allow you to freely use Budapest public transport buses,trolleys,trams and metros within the one day limit.
While only arrival and departure from Airport to city center with 200E bus Budapest+M3 will cost you 1060 Huf if you use transfer tickets. Even if you arrive with Bus 100E to city center, purchasing of one day pass is still more useful than buying a transfer ticket.
The major risk with transfer tickets in Budapest are the complex validation rules which may get you fined.
Examples with Budapest transfer tickets
If you are traveling using the Budapest public transport, you may need to use the Transfer ticket in Budapest (in case you are not using the monthly or daily pass).
Let’s say you are close to Heroes square and from there, you plan to go to Budapest Liszt Ferenc airport (Former name Ferihegy airport).If you want to travel by public transport in this case, there are multiple routes to take.
Example : Budapest Transfer ticket costing 530 HUF
In the first example, which is by the way a very inefficient way of using public transport in every aspect.
Lets say you want to go from Heroes square to Budapest Airport.
There will be 4 types of vehicles used at different Budapest stations in one possible way.
- Heroes Square (Bus 20E,30,30A)
- Keleti Station –> 24 Tram
- Nagyvared Ter –> Metro 3
- Kobanya Kispest –> Budapest Bus 200E –> Budapest Airport
If you are using the 530 HUF transfer ticket from BKK ticket machine.
In above case, you will need two transfer tickets.(One transfer ticket consists of two papers)
One ticket will be used on bus 20E/30/30A(first paper) and 24 Tram(second paper)
Second ticket will be used on Metro 3(first paper) and 200E(second paper).
In bus 20E/30/30A, tram 24 and 200E bus, the tickets are to be validated inside, but for Metro 3 you will need to validate it before going downstairs through the escalators.
Even if there are no ticket checkers, ensure that you validate your ticket and keep with you for whole trip.
Example without Budapest Transfer ticket
The second optional route for going from Heroes Square to Budapest airport does not use a Budapest transfer ticket.
For the same destination,but different, you can use a single ticket and bus 100E ticket.
Take M1 Metro from Heros Square to go to Deak Ferenc ter using a single ticket(300 or 350 depends on how you bought it)
Then, you can on board Bus 100E (ticket costing 1500 HUF) from Deak Ferenc ter to go to airport.
This journey will cost 1500+300 HUF = 1200 HUF or 1500+350 HUF = 1250 HUF.
