Budapest Stations Guide — Keleti, Nyugati & Déli Hubs

Keleti (East) — major international hub

• Keleti pályaudvar (Eastern Station): Budapest’s largest + most internationally connected.
• Built 1884: historic eclectic-style facade.
• Railjet to Vienna Hauptbahnhof: 2h40 direct, every 2h, from €19.90 ÖBB Sparschiene.
• Railjet to Munich: 7h direct.
• EuroCity to Prague hl.n.: 7h direct.
• EC to Bratislava: 2h30 direct.
• EC to Bucharest: 16h overnight.
• EC to Belgrade: 8h.
• EC to Krakow + Warsaw: 11h.
• MÁV InterCity to Debrecen: 2h30, every 1h.
• MÁV to Pécs: 2h45.
• MÁV to Eger: 2h.
• MÁV to Lake Balaton (Siófok): 1h45.
• RegioJet to Vienna + Prague: from HUF 4,000.

Nyugati (West) — Slovakia + Balkans

• Nyugati pályaudvar (Western Station): built by Eiffel company (1877), iconic glass façade.
• Note: despite name, serves NORTH + west destinations.
• MÁV to Bratislava (Slovakia): 2h45 direct.
• MÁV to Belgrade (Serbia): 7h (limited daily).
• MÁV to Subotica (Serbia border): 5h.
• MÁV to Zagreb: 6h some daily.
• MÁV regional to Vác: 30 min — riverside town.
• MÁV to Esztergom: 1h — basilica town.
• MÁV to Szentendre HÉV: 40 min suburban — popular day-trip.
• Tram lines 4, 6 at street level: on Grand Boulevard.

Déli (South) — Balaton + Croatia

• Déli pályaudvar (Southern Station): on Buda side.
• MÁV to Lake Balaton (south shore): Siófok, Balatonalmádi, Tihany.
• MÁV to Pécs: some services via Déli.
• MÁV to Kaposvár: 2h.
• EC to Ljubljana (Slovenia): 7h.
• EC to Zagreb (some): 6h.
• EC to Vienna (some routes): 3h via Pécs.
• Metro M2: direct Déli to Keleti 12 min — easy to compare schedules at both.
• Tram 41, 56, 59: at street level.
• Smaller + less crowded than Keleti.

To BUD airport — bus 100E + 200E

• Bus 100E (Airport Shuttle Bus): direct from Deák Ferenc tér (metro M1/M2/M3 hub) to BUD airport.
• Duration: 45 min.
• Frequency: every 20 min.
• Hours: 5am-1am.
• Price: HUF 1,500 single (€4).
• From Keleti to Deák: M2 metro 6 min HUF 450.
• From Nyugati to Deák: M3 metro 4 min HUF 450.
• From Déli to Deák: M2 metro 12 min HUF 450.
• Bus 200E (regional): from Kőbánya-Kispest metro M3 to BUD. HUF 350 single — cheapest but slower (60 min total from centre).
• Taxi from centre: Főtaxi HUF 6,500-9,000 (€17-23). Use Bolt app for fixed price.
• Avoid private “tourist” taxis: heavy overcharging.

Budapest city transport

• Metro M1 (yellow — historic): oldest metro in continental Europe (1896). To Hősök tere + Heroes Square 6 min from centre.
• Metro M2 (red): Keleti → Deák Ferenc 6 min → Déli 12 min.
• Metro M3 (blue): Nyugati → Deák 4 min → Kőbánya-Kispest.
• Metro M4 (green): Keleti + Déli + Móricz Zsigmond + Kelenföld.
• Tram lines 4 + 6: 24h continuous — Grand Boulevard ring.
• Single ticket: HUF 450 (€1.20).
• 10-pack tickets: HUF 4,000.
• Day ticket: HUF 2,500.
• 72h: HUF 5,500.
• Budapest Card: 24h €33 / 72h €58 — transit + free museums + thermal baths discount.
• Validate tickets: at entry (machines on platforms) — fines for unvalidated ride.

Services, safety, scams

• Left luggage: manual storage HUF 800-1,500 per 24h. Both Keleti + Nyugati.
• WiFi free: MÁV WiFi at major stations.
• MÁV Lounge: InterCity 1st class.
• Food: Tesco Express, McDonald’s, KFC, Costa Coffee, Hungarian fast-food kiosks.
• ATMs: K&H, OTP, Erste, MKB. AVOID Euronet ATMs — high fees + bad rates.
• Currency exchange: AVOID stations + tourist exchanges. Use bank ATMs only. Or Correct Change (verified good rate office in 5th district).
• Pharmacy: in main halls.
• Tourist info (Budapest): in main halls + at Deák Ferenc.
• Accessibility: partial step-free — older stations have stairs to some platforms.
• Safety: generally safe but pickpocket area. Refuses “I’ll help you” taxi touts inside stations.
• Common scams: (1) “Friendly local” inviting to bar (rip-off bill), (2) “Money for charity” + then pickpocket distraction, (3) unofficial taxis at airport + stations.
• Apps for safety: Bolt taxi, BKK Futár (transit).
• Open 24h: Keleti + Nyugati main halls 24h. Some services limited overnight.

Frequently Asked Questions

Budapest 3 stations — which is main?

Keleti (Eastern) — largest + most internationally connected (Vienna, Bucharest, Belgrade). Nyugati = Slovakia + Balkans. Déli = Balaton + Croatia.

Train Budapest to Vienna?

Railjet 2h40 direct from Keleti, every 2h, from €19.90 ÖBB Sparschiene (book 6+ weeks). Premium daytime service.

Budapest to BUD airport?

Bus 100E from Deák Ferenc 45 min HUF 1,500 — every 20 min. Or bus 200E from Kőbánya-Kispest HUF 350 (cheapest, slower). Taxi €17-23.

Cheapest Budapest to Prague?

RegioJet bus 7h from €25. Or RegioJet train 7h from HUF 599. EuroCity 7h from €40. Coach cheapest, train more comfortable.

Avoid station scams Budapest?

(1) No ‘help with bag’ touts, (2) no random ‘friendly locals’ invites to bar, (3) only use Bolt taxi app, NOT cash taxis at airport/station, (4) avoid Euronet ATMs.

Keleti Nyugati Déli — moving between?

Metro M2 red connects Keleti + Déli directly (12 min). M3 blue Nyugati. M4 green Keleti + Déli. Easy comparison shopping for departure stations.

See also

• Budapest airport guide
• Wizz Air baggage guide
• Vienna Hauptbahnhof guide
• Prague Hlavní nádraží guide