Budapest · Airport transfer
For most visitors, 100E Airport Express is the simplest choice: it runs directly from Terminal 2 to Kálvin tér and Deák Ferenc tér. 200E is a regular city bus and usually means a transfer, but it can be better value if you already hold a suitable ticket or pass and the M3 corridor suits your destination.
The short answerWhich route should you check first?SituationStart withWhyFirst visit, central hotel100EDirect to Kálvin tér and Deák Ferenc tér, no metro transferYou hold a Budapest pass / Hungary PassCompare the 100E add-on with 200EA 1,000 HUF 100E add-on is available with certain valid passes; 200E accepts ordinary BKK tickets and many passesHotel on M3 or in southeast Budapest200E + M3The Kőbánya-Kispest connection may fit your actual destination betterHeavy luggage / late arrival100E or a licensed taxiFewer transfers; compare the whole journey, not just the fare
100E: the direct visitor-friendly optionBKK gives a journey time of about 40 minutes to the city centre. The service runs around the clock, seven days a week, with central stops including Kálvin tér and Deák Ferenc tér.As checked on 10 September 2026, the standard special fare for 100E is 2,500 HUF. You can buy and validate it on board with a bank card using Budapest Pay&GO or buy it in BudapestGO. A normal single public-transport ticket is not valid on 100E.If you hold an eligible Budapest pass, Pest County Pass or Hungary Pass, BKK offers a 1,000 HUF add-on airport shuttle ticket. Do not buy the add-on unless you also hold the qualifying valid pass.200E: the regular city route to M3Bus 200E operates day and night between Terminal 2 and Kőbánya-Kispest; at night it continues towards Határ út. It uses ordinary BKK tickets, travelcards and many standard passes. You do not need the special 100E airport-shuttle ticket for 200E.During the day, a typical city-centre route is 200E → Kőbánya-Kispest → metro M3. That is less convenient with luggage, but it may be sensible if you already use a city pass or if your hotel is well placed along M3.Important: a standard BKK single ticket covers one trip on one vehicle and generally does not give you a free bus-to-metro transfer. Use BudapestGO to choose a ticket or pass that covers the full 200E + M3 journey rather than assuming one single ticket is enough.
Late arrivals: both routes matter at night100E operates 24/7, with lower frequencies overnight. 200E also runs around the clock. Budapest's night network was reorganised from the night of 1–2 July 2026, so check BudapestGO on the day you travel instead of relying on an old screenshot of night connections.Budapest Airport states that at night 200E reaches Határ út, where night buses provide onward connections towards the centre. If you arrive with children, heavy luggage or after a long flight, avoiding a transfer on 100E may be worth more to you than the fare difference.What about a taxi?A taxi can make sense for several travellers, heavy luggage, a destination far from a convenient stop or a very late arrival. Use a licensed taxi. From August 2026, BKK lists a special airport base fare of 2,100 HUF; the final fare still depends on distance and journey time, so do not treat the base fare as a quote for the whole trip.
A 60-second decision after landingCheck your hotel address. If Deák Ferenc tér or Kálvin tér is convenient, start with 100E.Do you already hold a valid transport pass? If yes, compare the 1,000 HUF 100E add-on with a 200E route.Count the transfers. With a suitcase, one direct trip can be more useful than a cheaper multi-leg option.For late arrivals, open BudapestGO for the current night connections rather than trusting an old itinerary.For groups or heavy luggage, compare a licensed taxi to your exact address as well.Bottom line: 100E is the default choice for simplicity and a central destination. 200E is not the “worse bus” — it is a different tool that can be the better choice when your route, pass or M3 connection works in its favour.
SourcesChecked on 10 September 2026.BKK — Airport Express 100EBudapest Airport — 200E busBKK — Tickets and passesBKK — Night servicesBKK — Taxi services
