New decree: A wider, greener, and more comfortable high-speed road to connect Budapest Airport with the city

According to Dávid Vitézy, a Hungarian public transport expert, former Fidesz mayoral candidate, and member of the Budapest Municipal Assembly, Budapest Airport is the largest EU airport without a direct rail link to its city. However, instead of constructing a railway line, the Hungarian government has decided to improve the existing road connecting Budapest to its international airport.

Getting from Budapest Airport to the city centre

Upon arrival at Budapest Airport, visitors can choose from several options to reach the city centre. The most affordable, if not the most comfortable, option is the 100E airport shuttle bus, which costs HUF 2,200 (EUR 5.5). This shuttle can take you directly to Deák Ferenc Square in the city centre or to Ferihegy train station, where you may switch to a train.

Photo: FB/BKK

If you opt for the train, you can travel to Nyugati Railway Station, situated near Budapest’s Grand Boulevard, or venture further to rural towns like Szeged, Debrecen, Miskolc, or Nyíregyháza.

Alternatively, you could take a taxi from the airport, offering a more comfortable but considerably pricier ride, estimated at around EUR 30 depending on your destination in the city, according to bud.hu.

Current airport road deemed unacceptable by foreign visitors

A recent government report has acknowledged that the high-speed road linking Budapest Airport to the city requires improvement. The most problematic section lies between the airport’s former Terminal 1 and the Üllői Avenue – Határ Avenue intersection, where the road is only one lane. Pest County Government Office stated that this section does not meet expected service standards, has a high accident risk, and is seen as substandard by international visitors. Consequently, the road requires redevelopment and expansion.

The high-speed road to and from the airport is the two central lanes. Photo: Google Maps

In September, the government office began an environmental authority review process, holding a public hearing. On Thursday, the Orbán administration issued a decree for the road’s redevelopment preparation. János Lázár has been tasked with initiating land acquisition and preparing construction sites. Once the plans are finalised, he will begin the public procurement process and propose a budget to the government.

The planned development will encompass the segment between Market Central (on Budapest’s outskirts) and the Üllői Avenue – Határ Avenue intersection. The aim is to widen the road, enhance green spaces, improve bicycle and pedestrian paths, and create a high-speed route befitting a major city. Importantly, the expansion is designed to avoid increasing suburban traffic along the segment.

According to telex.hu, construction could commence as early as 2026, with the road anticipated to open to traffic by 2030.

During a press conference on 16 October, Gergely Gulyás, the head of the Prime Minister’s Office, stated that only a few properties would need to be nationalised for the project.

Gergely Gulyás in the Tisza Castle in Geszt briefing press after the government meeting finished. Photo: MTI

Prospects for a direct train connection to Budapest Airport

Dávid Vitézy, who nearly succeeded in his bid for the mayoralty against Gergely Karácsony in June, has argued that the Hungarian government should prioritise establishing a direct train connection to Budapest Airport. In a recent Facebook post, he noted that the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility would provide funding for this project, for which plans and permissions have already been secured.

The relevant funding applications were opened in September, and Vitézy added that all that remains is for the government to submit its application. Should the government approve, a direct train connection could link the airport to Budapest’s city centre (via Nyugati and Köki train stations) and Monor in the opposite direction. Below is a map illustrating the proposed plans:

Photo: FB/Dávid Vitézy

Vitézy highlighted that Budapest Airport remains the only major EU airport without a direct rail connection to its city and argued that there is no need for an expensive railway line constructed by China.

More details on this project can be found in our dedicated article HERE.

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