Budapest is preparing changes to public transport that could make life easier for commuters, including foreign employees living or working in the capital and its surrounding towns. From January 2027, a new regional BKK system will coordinate public transport between Budapest and its agglomeration, while companies can start ordering employee travel passes for next year as early as 1 December.
BKK bus service to be extended to Érd
Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony announced that the regional BKK system will launch on 1 January 2027, with funding shared equally between the capital and the Hungarian state.
One of the first practical changes will affect bus route 133E, which is to be extended beyond Budapest to Érd, a town south-west of the capital. The move is intended to improve public transport connections for people commuting between the agglomeration and Budapest.
Karácsony argued that transport planning should not stop at the city boundary, as Budapest and neighbouring settlements have a shared interest in faster and more convenient journeys. He also said that commuters from the surrounding towns account for 40–50% of traffic congestion in the capital, with an estimated 15,000–20,000 people travelling by car from Érd alone.
The new system aims to bring Budapest and suburban public transport closer together rather than treating them as separate networks. Further details of the changes are expected as the launch approaches.
Make things easier with professional support in English. Explore Daily News Hungary’s Services in English and find the help you need.
Companies can order 2027 BKK passes from December
Employers in Budapest will also have a new opportunity to organise public transport benefits for their staff. The Budapest Transport Centre (BKK) will open orders for 2027 company travel passes on 1 December through its renewed online business customer platform.
Businesses and institutions can purchase monthly or annual Pest County and Hungary Passes, as well as monthly, quarterly or annual Budapest Passes. The tickets are available in both traditional paper form and digitally through the BudapestGO app.
Companies that pay for their confirmed orders by bank transfer by 21 December can collect the purchased passes before the end of 2026. Paper tickets can be collected in person, while BKK also offers delivery by courier within Budapest for orders above a specified quantity.
Employers can find information about the available passes and registration requirements at BKK’s business customer website. Companies that would first like to discuss their options can contact BKK’s sales team without registering.
For foreign employees, the scheme may be worth asking their HR departments about when discussing workplace benefits, particularly if they regularly use public transport to travel between Budapest and the surrounding towns.
