How To Save
- Domestic Ticket: In spite of price rises and supplements the domestic rail ticket comes out as the most reasonable compared to international tickets even if bought with a Rail Plus discount, except for special offers like EURegio and €29.-&39.- tickets. There are reasonable connections from border train stations like Sopron, or Hegyeshalom (Vienna-Budapest) where you may purchase your ticket. Note that you must change trains if you want to use a domestic ticket; if you want to travel e.g. from Budapest to Vienna without changing trains, you are required to purchase a Budapest-Vienna international ticket.
The mileometer of MÁV stops at 500 kilometres: any rail trip within Hungary in excess of 500 km is available at the price of a 500 km ticket. In case of a brake of journey get a validation at the information counter after getting off the train - or from the conductor before getting off at a station without MÁV-Start staff.
- Free travel for EU citizens from age 65 with Volán Bus, MÁV State Railways and City Transports. Simply present an ID card of a EU member state as a proof of eligibility. In Budapest even Swiss citizens from age 65 are entitled to free use of BKV tram, bus and light rail.
- Budapest Airport to City by rail. If you hold a city transport pass, or purchase one upon arrival, the Airport–Budapest City 20 minutes train ride is free!!!
If you require no city public transport pass, purchase a single ticket e.g. at Tourinform information or at the platform ticket machine for HUF 365 (little more than 1 Euro). Turn left outside of Terminal 1, walk past the taxi and bus stops, follow the MÁV signs to the Budapest platform, and board one of the passenger trains that leave for the Western Station every 10 or 15 minutes. Do not board an InterCity train unless you hold a MÁV-Start VIP or Prémium card.
Terminal 2 has no railway link, BKV bus no. 200E runs from Terminal 2 via Terminal 1 to the Kőbánya-Kispest metro terminal. For travel between any Hungarian railway station and Budapest Airport Terminal 2, from spring 2012 purchase a combined ticket wich is valid for bus line 200E running between Terminal 1 railway station + Terminal 2, no separate BKV bus ticket required. Upon arrival at T2, depending on your city destination, it might be a good idea to get off the bus at Ferihegy Terminal 1 and take the train.)
- Budapest city transport: network tickets usually work out much cheaper than single tickets. (A single ticket is valid only for one ride on one single means of transport - with the exception of the Metro system where a ticket is valid for 60 minutes, no need to validate another ticket when changing to another Metro line.) There are passes for various periods of times, and in particular from 2012 there is a group day pass valid for 2-5 persons travelling together. Network tickets are also valid for train and Volán bus rides within city boundaries, except for InterCity trains.
- Rail + city ticket: from spring 2012, travel to Budapest by train with a combined ticket including the appropriate days of city transport - up to 10 days, the longer you stay the less you pay per day.
- Hungary Card Plus: Hungarian Tourist Card holders are entitled to a number of reduced price tickets for the trains (2x2 half price return tickets second and first class and 2x 33% single ticket second class), busses between cities (3x50%) and boats. There are also free and reduced tourist passes for city transport as well as numerous other excellent offers for tourists including reduced admission to sights and discounted accommodation along with extensive listings. Costing around 30 Euros, purchase Hungary Card Plus (with the voucher booklet) at a major train or coach stations, or from a 'Tourinform' tourist information office (online ordering available if you have an address in Hungary).
- Rail travel on a friendly rate with InterRail - choose the number and the dates of travel days, valid in Hungary for both the MÁV and GYSEV networks.
- MÁV START Club cards: Personal Start Club cards are also available for half a year - of interest if you stay in Hungary for an extended season and frequently travel by train; 25% RailPlus reduction for international tickets. 1. A "BahnCard" type annual 50% card scheme for HUF 34,900/year and HUF 24,900 for 'under 26', 5,000 reduction in case of prolongation or with a Hungary Card voucher. 2. With Bónusz Card for 250 th HUF you can ride all trains 2nd class during one year, pay only supplements and 1st class surcharge if required. 3. VIP Card for 280 th HUF is an all-inclusive individual rail travel pass, ride any train 1st and 2nd class (like Prémium but only the holder may use it). 4. MÁV START Klub PREMIUM Card for companies and organisations (not available to private persons) is valid for 1st and 2nd class, no supplements required, free optional IC seat reservation and business lounge use, anybody can travel with it! Prémium Card is an excellent option for frequent travellers with a corporate/organisational background. For less than EUR 1,000 +VAT, next to good management of the card within the organisation it can greatly simplify travel and reduce both administration and travel expenses. All Klub cards: On Saturdays another accompanying person not holding a card can travel for half the price.
- Major social reductions for MÁV and Volán: Children under 6 may travel for free, youngsters from 6-14 years of age with a 50% reduction. 33% discount for under 26’s for tickets valid from Friday 10am to midnight on Sunday and on holidays. EU citizens aged 65 or older may travel for free, simply present the ID document of an EU member state as a proof of eligiblity. Together with 2 minors 1-2 adult companions are entitled to a 33% discount, and if accompanied by 3 or more children of their own, one parent or both parents as well as all children will receive a 90% discount. Group reductions: Presently only a graduated reduction is available to large groups of 10+. Monthly or weekly commuter rail tickets are available for the relation of your choice. Remember Budapest passes are also good for trains and Volán coaches within city limits.
- EURegio - Special Hungary return tickets (ÖBB Austrian Railways / MÁV): travel with EURegio trains from Vienna, Graz and Wiener Neustadt to Hungarian towns and cities near the border, or other way round.
- Volánbusz NetPrice (allocated online tickets) and Bonus 10-40 (no alterations, return ticket, the earlier the cheaper)
- Orangeways is a private coach company with an excellent service, a simple concept and friendly rates
- Accommodation: Reasonably priced private accommodation can be found on the homepages of numerous towns and cities. Most professional databases are less helpful. If you speak no Hungarian and no English info is available, then allow friends or spontaneously made acquaintances to help you in your choice or to make phone calls for you, or pay a visit to the local Tourinform office where they will be happy to help.
- Telephone: Prefixes 20, 30 and 70 are mobile phones. Calls with a prepaid telephone card cost around a third of the price of calls made from T-Com phone boxes using coins.