If you’re planning a trip to Budapest, the Budapest Card could be a convenient and cost-effective way to explore the city. The Budapest tourist pass offers free entry to museums, unlimited access to public transport, and discounts on attractions and restaurants. In this article, you can find out in detail what is included and how much you can save on your trip to the Hungarian capital.
and Get 30+ Attractions for Free Included Lukacs Thermal Bath and Pool
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Unlocking Budapest: Discover the Benefits of the Budapest Card!
Hungary’s capital has a lot to offer culturally, and the tourist pass is a great way to access the main museums. However, it also includes other benefits, such as free public transport and entry to thermal baths.
The Budapest Card offers different types of passes depending on the duration: 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours, and includes:
- Unlimited public transport: free access to buses, trams, metro, and trolleybuses.
- Free entry to over 30 museums and attractions: including the Hungarian National Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Kiscelli Museum.
- Free entry to Lukács Baths.
- Free guided tours in Buda and Pest: walking tours in English to discover the history and secrets of the city.
- Discounts of up to 50% on other attractions, including thermal baths, restaurants, and Danube cruises.
The activities included in the Budapest Card, apart from the main participating museums, may vary from year to year. If you’re interested in a particular museum or activity, I recommend checking whether it is listed on the Budapest Card website before booking.
At the time of writing, you can also opt for the Budapest Card 72 Plus, which includes additional free activities such as the Buda Castle Funicular, access to Matthias Church on Buda Hill, and airport transfer via MiniBud minibuses.
However, based on my experience, the only truly comprehensive list with all the necessary details is found in the free booklet available at the tourist office. In theory, they should give it to you along with the Budapest Card. In practice, unfortunately, many pickup points are just collection spots that only provide the pass and a generic city map.
Public Transport Included in the Budapest Card
With the Budapest Card, you can travel for free on almost all public transport in the Hungarian capital: city buses, trams, trolleybuses, and the metro. Read I say “almost” because the direct 100E bus from the airport to the city centre is not included.
The 100E bus is undoubtedly the most convenient way to reach the city centre from the airport using public transport, especially if you are unfamiliar with the language or the city. However, if you want to make the most of your Budapest Card and save money, you can take the 200E bus from the airport, then transfer at Kőbánya-Kispest station to the metro line M3 to reach your final destination.
This route takes about 15-30 minutes longer than the direct 100E bus, but it is fully covered by the Budapest Card, as it follows the standard urban ticketing system.
The Buda Castle Funicular is also not included, except in the Budapest Card 72 Plus. However, you can use the official Buda Castle bus and the Zugliget Chairlift (Zugligeti Libegő) on Buda Hill.
Museums Included in the Budapest Card
The Budapest Card covers the most important museums in the Hungarian capital—those that a true cultural tourism enthusiast would never miss—as well as some lesser-known museums.
Among the most famous museums included are the Hungarian National Museum, the Hungarian National Gallery, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Center. However, thanks to the Budapest Card, I also discovered some lesser-visited museums that are real hidden gems. One example is the Goldenberger Textile Collection, which tells the story of the Goldenberger textile factory.
All private museums are excluded. For example, the Flipper Museum and the Retro Museum are not included. In short, the Budapest Card primarily grants access to classic museums, but it also offers interesting discounts on other city attractions, such as tours of the Hospital in the Rock Nuclear Bunker, St. Stephen’s Basilica, and the synagogues of the Jewish Quarter.
Activities Included in the Budapest Card
In terms of activities, the Budapest Card grants free entry to Lukács Baths. Budapest is famous for its many thermal baths, and the Lukács Baths are located near the beginning of Margaret Island, on the Buda Hill side.
These baths are not particularly well known among tourists, as they lack the spectacular architecture of other famous baths and are mainly frequented by local pensioners. However, they feature thermal waters ranging from 21°C to 49°C, rich in minerals with healing properties.
The Budapest Card also includes a sightseeing cruise on the Danube and guided walking tours in Buda, the hilly area where Buda Castle is located, and Pest, the flat part of the city, home to the Parliament and St. Stephen’s Basilica.
Which Budapest Card to Buy
The only difference among the various Budapest Cards is their duration. You can choose from 24, 48, 72, 96, or 120 hours, depending on how much time you plan to spend in the Hungarian capital.
Only the Budapest Card 72 Plus offers additional free activities. At the time of writing, these include transport to and from the airport with MiniBud minibuses, entry to Matthias Church on Buda Hill, and a ride on the Buda Castle Funicular.
How Much Can You Save with the Budapest Card?
If you’re considering whether buying the Budapest Card is worth it for your stay in the city, simply make a list of the places and activities you plan to visit and compare the cost of entry fees.
As an example, here are the activities I did during my trip when I used the 120-hour Budapest Card, which lasts five days and costs €96. The prices are shown in euros, as they are also listed in this currency on the official Budapest Card website.
| Place/Activity | Cost in Euros with Budapest Card | Cost in Euros without Budapest Card |
|---|---|---|
| Budapest Card 120 hours | €96 | – |
| Public transport pass for 120 hours (a 72-hour pass + two 24-hour passes) | €0 | €26 (10,500 HUF) |
| Sightseeing cruise | €0 | €16 |
| Official Castle Bus | €0 | Only with Budapest Card |
| Guided walking tour of Pest | €0 | Only with Budapest Card |
| Lukács Thermal Baths | €0 | €13 (5,100 HUF) |
| Hungarian National Museum | €0 | €9 (3,500 HUF) |
| Budapest History Museum + St. Stephen’s Hall | €0 | €11 (4,500 HUF) |
| Vasarely Museum | €0 | €6 (2,400 HUF) |
| Hungarian Museum of Trade and Tourism | €0 | €7.5 (3,000 HUF) |
| Goldenberger Textile Collection | €0 | €3.5 (1,400 HUF) |
| Hospital in the Rock Nuclear Bunker | -20% = €19 | €24 |
| St. Stephen’s Basilica | -20% = €5 | €6 (2,400 HUF) |
| Great Synagogue on Dohány Street | -20% = €25.50 | €32 (13,000 HUF) |
| Kazinczy Street Synagogue | -20% = €7 | €9 |
| Total cost | €152.50 (including walking tour + Castle bus) | €157 (excluded walking tour + Castle bus) |
As you can see, there is some saving, but the Budapest Card is definitely more cost-effective for two or three days rather than five. On a well-planned three-day trip, you can save around €20–25.
and Get 30+ Attractions for Free Included Lukacs Thermal Bath and Pool
Where to Buy the Budapest Card
Now that you’ve figured out how to calculate whether you should buy the Budapest Card for your trip to the Hungarian capital, I’ll explain how and where to buy it. If you are already in Budapest, you can buy it at the Budapestinfo Tourist Information Office in the city centre, opposite the 100E Airport Express bus stop.
However, buying the Budapest Card online is better because it makes it immediately available and you don’t have to go to the tourist office, which always has queues. Once you purchase your tourist pass online, you will receive an email with a voucher to show at a pick-up point to collect your physical laminated card.
I bought my card online on Tiqets and picked it up at the airport at the Ibis Style hotel. Just so you know, the pick-up points listed on the Budapest Card website are not up to date at the time of writing. Picking it up at the airport saves you a lot of queuing, and you can use it immediately; you just need to activate it.
The only downside is that at the hotel they only give you the card without any information. So I later went to the tourist office to ask for the booklet with the activities included, but in no hurry, choosing a quiet moment without too much queue.
and Get 30+ Attractions for Free Included Lukacs Thermal Bath and Pool
How to Activate the Budapest Card
Before using the Budapest Card for the first time, you must activate it. You need to write your ID number, along with the date and time of activation, on the back. It is not, in fact, a magnetic card that automatically activates on the first swipe.
Once you have filled in the boxes on the back of the card, you can begin using it. It is valid for 24, 48, 72, 96, or 120 hours, depending on the number of hours you select when you purchased your pass.
Is It Worth Buying the Budapest Card? My experience
The Budapest Card is particularly worthwhile if you plan to use public transport frequently and visit several museums and attractions. However, if your itinerary is more relaxed or you prefer walking, you might not fully utilise the card.
Keep in mind that most museums are closed on Mondays, except for the historical museums on Castle Hill. Typically, museums open at 10 am and close at 6 pm, with the last admission at 5 pm.
Be aware that Hungarians are very strict about these timings. I arrived at the Vasarely Museum right at 5 pm, with the nytvia sign (open) still hanging on the door, but by the time I reached the ticket counter at 5:01 pm, they wouldn’t let me in, so I had to return the next day.
Outside of the 10 am to 6 pm hours, the only activities available are the night cruise and the Lukacs Baths, which are open until 8 pm. So, even if you hurry between museums, you won’t be able to visit more than three museums per day.
Moreover, the free public transport service with the Budapest Card is very convenient. It eliminates the hassle of purchasing individual tickets or buying individual or season tickets. With the card, you can simply show it to the bus driver or metro staff and board any bus without issues.
In my opinion, the Budapest Card is a fantastic way to explore lesser-known museums that you might not visit otherwise, such as the Goldberger Textile Collection or the Óbuda Museum.
I also greatly enjoyed the Hungarian National Museum, which has a spectacular section dedicated to prehistoric jewellery and Roman silverware, unique artefacts I haven’t seen in other European museums.
Where to stay in Budapest
Budapest offers a wide range of beautiful hotels to choose from. Hampton By Hilton Budapest City Centre (here my review) is located in the heart of Budapest, just 600 metres from St. Stephen’s Basilica. They offer a delicious breakfast and have a restaurant and a bar on-site. For those looking for a hotel with unique and stunning decor, Stories Boutique Hotel is a 4-star property situated 500 meters away from the Hungarian State Opera. They have a restaurant on-site that serves à la carte, a continental or vegetarian breakfast. If you prefer an aparthotel, Zoya Luxury Residence is an excellent option with units with a coffee machine, a dishwasher, a microwave and parking space.
To sum up, if you choose to buy the Budapest Card, you should plan ahead what to see. Check the timetables for the activities and museums you are interested in, as well as the travel times for the various distances, in order to optimise your trips so that you can make the most of the discounts. Feel free to share in the comments your experience with the Budapest Card and other tourist passes.
