Budapest’s 100E airport express bus will become much cheaper from next week – but not for everyone
Months ago, the Budapest City Assembly adopted a resolution to end the absurd situation where holders of a Budapest monthly pass must pay the full fare to board the 100E airport express bus— the same price charged to tourists visiting the city comfortably for the first time.
The 100E airport express bus: the most convenient way into town
The 100E airport express service launched on 8 July 2017, following a decision by the Budapest Municipality. It runs between Liszt Ferenc International Airport and Deák Ferenc Square, initially timed to coincide with the swimming world championships held in Budapest. This decision was made under the leadership of István Tarlós and the Fidesz-KDNP majority city government at the time.
Since its introduction, this bus route has been hugely popular, prompting talks of extending and expanding the service. In March this year, there was discussion about extending the line to Nyugati railway station while still passing through Deák Ferenc Square. This move was partly motivated by a new fare structure coming into effect on 1 October, expected to boost passenger numbers by up to 35%.
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At present, the 100E bus offers one of the cheapest and most comfortable ways to travel between the city centre and the airport. It connects with the train at Ferihegy station, enabling onward journeys into Budapest or other regional hubs like Szeged, Debrecen, or Miskolc. Thanks to the expressway it uses, the journey is relatively quick—provided the traffic flows smoothly.
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Faster journeys to and from the airport from tomorrow
However, if the expressway becomes congested, travel times can skyrocket. That’s why proposals have surfaced for a new express route, possibly a high-speed rail link, although funding is still lacking.
A high-speed railway is planned between Liszt Ferenc Airport and Nyugati station, promising to transform airport access in the future.
- Breaking! EUR 1 billion high-speed airport rail and new cargo aviation hub for Budapest
Cheaper fares for airport travel from next Wednesday
At the suggestion of Dávid Vitézy, a city representative with the Podmaniczky Movement and former head of Budapest’s transport centre, the City Assembly has approved a discounted fare for 100E bus rides starting next week. Holders of a valid Budapest monthly pass will pay just 1,000 forints, while everyone else will continue paying the current fare of 2,220 forints. From 1 October, this standard price will rise to 2,500 forints.
Vitézy argues that the 2,500 forint fare is entirely justified for tourists, but too harsh for residents with passes. “For a family of four, the cost to get to the airport nearly reached 10,000 forints, rivaling low-cost flight prices,” he wrote in a recent Facebook post.
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Digital services are improving too
From 1 October, the discounted ticket will be available to everyone via the BudapestGO app. Vitézy shared good news that even those with paper monthly passes or passes bought through the MÁV app will be able to use the discount for now — by showing both their pass and the extra ticket in sequence. Although this is a bit cumbersome, they aim to fully digitalise the process in the medium term.
He also announced upcoming BudapestGO app features allowing employers to provide passes to employees via voucher codes, which will also grant access to other discounts around Budapest, including bathhouse entries and parking benefits. For those using the MÁV app, their BudapestGO tickets will still be accepted until the additional ticket becomes available on the railway’s own app.