Budapest Ferenc Liszt Intl Airport (BUD) Flights & Flight Status

Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) is the international airport serving the Hungarian capital, Budapest. Even though it is the largest airport in Hungary, BUD is compact and easy to navigate. For one, it doesn’t service long-haul flights from the US. Travelers have to fly into larger airports like Vienna or Frankfurt before connecting to Budapest. That is why BUD barely gets any transit passenger traffic and is rarely overcrowded. The airport has two terminal sections, 2A and 2B, and is located less than 15 miles from the city center, making it a breeze to fly in and out of BUD.

Tips for going through Budapest Airport terminals

Technically, Budapest Airport has two terminals, 1 and 2, but Terminal 1 has been closed to passenger traffic since 2012. All arrivals and departures go through Terminal 2. It is divided into two sections: 2A and 2B, which are connected via a SkyCourt passenger area filled with shops and restaurants.

On a recent trip, I arrived in Budapest from Vienna at Terminal 2A, while my friend landed from Istanbul at 2B. Airlines like United and British Airways and low-cost carriers like Wizz Air or EasyJet use both terminal sections, although 2B tends to be used by the latter more often. Whether you’ll arrive in 2A or 2B depends more on your origin point, as most Schengen-area flights land in 2A. This almost doesn’t matter though, as the distance between the two sections is approximately a 1 minute walk.

The small arrivals hall at Terminal 2B is home to SPAR, a European supermarket network. There, I recommend picking up a refreshment like kefir, a yogurt-like drink popular throughout Eastern Europe, for your ride to the city.

How to get to and from Budapest city center by car

Because the airport is located close to the city, I usually choose the hassle-free car ride into Budapest, which takes about 30 minutes. There is a line of cabs by Főtaxi company just outside of both terminal arrival areas, but I prefer the easy-to-use Bolt app (the European equivalent of Uber) instead. Both options cost about the same and are only slightly cheaper than what you would expect to pay at home.

Car renting tips

If you’re planning to travel to other regions in Hungary or beyond on your trip, booking a rental car may be a good option. Several agencies, including Avis, Budget, Europcar and Schiller, a Hungarian provider, are all located inside the 2B arrivals hall.

Renting a car in BUD is quite cost-effective. A 3-day rental of a mini model, for example, can cost about the same as a one-way taxi ride into the city. Be sure to check which car type you’re requesting, as cars with manual transmission are more common (and usually cost less).

The cheapest airport transportation options

Bus service is a cost-effective option to get into Budapest if you don’t mind taking public transport. The airport is serviced by two bus lines, 100E and 200E, and the stops for both lines are located on the arrivals level, between 2A and 2B.

Airport Express

I found the 100E Airport Express shuttle to be the most convenient public transport option because it provides a direct service between the airport and the city center. Once in town, the shuttle stops at three drop-off points, with the ride ending at the Deák Ferenc tér metro station in central Budapest.

This shuttle runs 24 hours a day at regular intervals. I never waited more than 10 minutes during the day but be aware that at night, the express slows to every 20-40 minutes. You can buy your ticket onboard the bus with a credit card or download the BudapestGO app and get your ticket there. The shuttle costs a fraction of the car ride and will take about the same time, depending on traffic.

Regular bus line

The 200E bus line is more convenient if you want to access the Budapest metro or if your journey takes you outside of Budapest. This bus will take you to two transport hubs outside of the city center: the Ferihegy train station and the Kőbánya-Kispest, a station with access to Budapest Metro and the MÁV train network, the Hungarian national railway.

Minibus

Finally, there is a hybrid option with a cute name, miniBUD. This minibus shuttle service combines the convenience of door-to-door drop off with the reduced cost of a shared transport. You can book your transfer ahead of time on the miniBUD’s website, just be mindful that getting into town would take longer than a taxi since you would be sharing your ride with other passengers.

Navigating check in and security

Budapest Airport handles a fraction of the passengers that go through large airports like Frankfurt or Paris each year. Because of that, the check in and security process at BUD goes much faster. I’ve never seen large queues while waiting to go through security here. Instead, the lines seem to move at a speedy rate, getting you inside a secured area, on average, in 10 - 15 minutes.

Budapest Airport also offers a Fast Track Lane service, complimentary for certain airline classes like Business or status holders like StarAlliance Gold. Prior to going through security, check with the airline counter to see if your fare class entitles you to the Fast Track Lane.

You can purchase the Fast Track Lane service at kiosks located throughout 2A and 2B departure halls. While it costs about the same as a cup of coffee in a major US city, in my experience, fast track service at Budapest Airport is not necessary - unless you’re terribly late for your flight in a situation where every minute counts.

Budapest Airport lounge options

For its relatively small size, BUD has a surprisingly large number of lounges: six. I use the Priority Pass network, available through major US credit cards like Chase Sapphire Reserve, which gets you access to five. Inside 2A, that’s Platinum Lounge opposite Gate A8 (it’s pretty basic, but it gets the job done, offering quiet seating and refreshments). In 2B, that’s Plaza Premium Lounge and Platinum Lounge, both on the Mezzanine level. The former is my pick at 2B due to its slightly more high-end service, but both lounges are light-filled, with good views of the airfield. There’s also a SkyCourt Lounge and the Plaza Premium Lounge at SkyCourt, the passenger area between 2A and 2B.

No Priority Pass? You can still access most of the lounges. Both Plaza Premium Lounges - at SkyCourt and at 2B - can be booked online on the airport’s website for 2 or 3 hour use (the one at SkyCourt is a little cheaper). The same goes for the Platinum Lounges at 2A and 2B.

If you happen to have a Hungarian Mastercard Premium card holder traveling with you, you’ll be able to access the Mastercard lounge, located at SkyCourt, for free, depending on the cardholder’s premium status. And if you hold a Black or a World Elite Mastercard issued outside of Hungary, you can access this lounge for a cost comparable to the other lounges.

A guide to passenger experience

The logistics of traveling can induce stress or fatigue, no matter how seasoned of a traveler you are. I always find that a little bit of comfort during the trip can go a long way. At Budapest Airport, that includes kid-friendly experiences and multiple ways to decompress. In recent years, BUD has won the Skytrax Best Airport in Eastern Europe award nine times in a row. Let’s look at how they did that.

Kid-friendly amenities

There are 5 nursing rooms inside the airport. Terminals 2A and 2B have 1 room each, and the SkyCourt mezzanine is home to 3. Each room comes with an armchair, a closet, a changing table, and a microwave. There are also 4 stroller storage facilities throughout the airport where free strollers can be picked up. Kids can play at the SkyCourt mezzanine area, where they’ll find a mini food truck, an airplane, and a runway.

Outdoor area

On my last departure from BUD, I loved getting some quiet time at the open-air Visitor Terrace while observing real airplanes landing and taking off (2A, mezzanine level). The partially-covered terrace is open year round, has a bar onsite and a seating area with benches and umbrella tables. Access to the terrace is free.

A city center hub

Many airports around the world now offer amenities like free Wi-Fi, services for people with reduced mobility, or luggage storage. Budapest airport is no exception, but it goes further - literally - by opening a station at the city center called Universal Airport HUB. The hub is located at Kálvin Square, where 100E Airport Express stops, and it’s a good way to linger in the city if you have some time between your hotel check-out and your flight. Inside, you can store and rent luggage, check in and print boarding passes, shop traditional Hungarian wines, and even pick up some coffee and ice cream along the way.