By Plane

Budapest has two airports: Ferihegy 1 and 2. All budget airlines fly into Ferihegy 1. This was the old airport, but was remodeled and expanded to specifically accommodate the ever-growing number of budget airlines. It is now more modern looking than the newer airport Ferihegy 2. Ferihegy 2 has two terminals. Terminal A is used almost exclusively by Malév, the Hungarian airlines. Terminal B is for all other airlines, other than budget airlines mentioned above.

The airport now exclusively contracts with Zóna Taxi services (tel. 1/365-5555), making this the official taxi service of both airports. The fares are fixed rates per cab, not per person and adhere to predestined zones within the city. These taxis are also metered, so if the metered fare is less than the zone rate, you pay the reduced fare. By law, all taxis must give you a paper receipt for your fare. If you know of another taxi company and prefer them, you will need to call them. The unauthorized taxi stand pick-up area is away from the general taxi area, but there are signs in English.

Airport Shuttle (tel. 1/296-8555; www.bud.hu/english), is a public service owned and operated by the Budapest Airport Authority. There is a clearly visible kiosk in each of the terminals for the shuttle. If you know you will use this service to return to the airport, it will be less expensive to buy a round-trip ticket than two one-way tickets. When you purchase your tickets for the shuttle, you will be asked which district that you are going to since many districts have streets with the same name.

By Train

Budapest has three major train stations: Keleti pályaudvar (Eastern Station), Nyugati pályaudvar (Western Station), and Déli pályaudvar (Southern Station). Most international trains pull into bustling Keleti Station (tel. 1/314-5010), an impressively elegant European train station on the outside. It is located in Pest's Baross tér, beyond the Outer Ring on the border of the VII and VIII districts.

Some international trains arrive at Nyugati Station (tel. 1/349-0115), another classic designed by the Eiffel Company and completed in 1877. This is the site of the first Hungarian train station dating back to 1846. The current station is located on the Outer Ring, at the border of the V, VI, and XIII districts. Few international trains, but some from Vienna, arrive at Déli Station (tel. 1/375-6293),

By Bus

The Népliget Bus Station is the city's recently opened modern main bus terminal on the Red metro line at the Stadionok stop. The Blue line goes to the much smaller Árpád híd bus station that caters only to the domestic bus service.