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PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Budapest is a sprawling city with many suburban districts. However, most
of its main tourist attractions are centrally located and can be easily
reached by the city's public transport system, or on foot. The many choices
of transport by rail, road and even water provide the visitor to Budapest
with ample opportunity to travel through and around the city to reach
their chosen destinations. The infrastructure of Budapest is chiefly determined
by the körúts (ring roads), which radiate out from the city centre and
into the city's suburbs. The metro system mainly operates in Pest, although
the red M2 line crosses the Danube at Batthyány tér and runs just north
of the Castle District. The overland HÉV train provides a service from
the city centre to the suburbs.
BUDAPEST ON FOOT
Budapest is a city in which every pedestrian will find
something of interest, Visitors who enjoy rambling along leafy trails
should take the railway or bus 21 from Moszkva tér to the Buda Hills.
Those who' prefer to stroll through picturesque streets and alleyways
should go to Buda's Castle District, which is closed to traffic. Váci
utca is fully pedestrianized and has seats where weary walkers can rest
and watch the bustle. The promenade along the Danube is one of the most
pleasant walks in Budapest
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GETTING AROUND BY METRO
Budapest has three metro lines which intersect only
at Deák tér station. Here passengers can change trains (stamping their
tickets once again), by following the clearly marked passageways. The
oldest line, the yellow M1 line, runs just beneath the surface of the
city. Built in 1894, it is known as the Millennium Line after the celebrations
that took place two years later. Recently it has been modernized and extended.
Two more lines -the red M2 and blue M3 lines - have been added since 1970,
serving the rest of the city.
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GETTING AROUND BY TRAM
There are over 30 tram lines in Budapest, which extend
to practically every part of the city. These yellow trams are an efficient
and speedy means of getting around Budapest, as they avoid traffic and
run very frequently. Services start early in the morning, at around 4:30am,
and run regularly throughout the day until 11 pm or midnight, depending
on the route. Night trams operate only on certain routes, at an average
of four trams per hour.
Timetables are displayed at each stop. It is worth knowing that utolsó
indul means "last tram".
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GETTING AROUND BY BUS
Budapest has about 200 different bus routes, which
altogether cover most of the city. The blue Ikarus buses generally run
from 4:30am until 11pm, with departures on most routes every 10-20 minutes.
Times and a list of destinations are on display at most stops. Ordinary
buses are indicated by black numbers and stop at every stop. Buses with
red numbers follow express routes and omit a number of stops.
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TRAVELLING ON THE HÉV
The overland HÉV railway provides an essential means
of transport that connects Budapest with its suburban districts. It carries
residents to and from work and tourists to attractions located 20-30 km
(10-20 miles) away from the city centre. railway logo The standard tickets
used on other forms of transport can be used to travel to the central
destinations on the HÉV line, but additional fares are payable to more
distant destinations. Tickets can either be bought at stations before
travelling or from me conductor while on the train.
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GETTING AROUND BY TROLLEY BUS
Trolley buses serve mainly the suburbs and as such
are little used by tourists. They are a particularly uncomfortable form
of transport, as they move slowly along narrow streets. In addition, their
pantographs often get dislodged, causing short breaks in the journey.
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GETTING AROUND BY TAXI
It has always been easy to find a taxi in Budapest,
and now, with over 15,000 registered cabs, the competition for passengers
is fierce. Nevertheless, not all taxi drivers read the meter correctly
and they have been known to exploit foreign visitors, especially those
unfamiliar with Budapest who are travelling to the city centre from airports
or railway stations. To reduce this risk, choose a taxi whose tariffs
and meters are clearly displayed.
Useful taxi numbers:
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Budataxi:
City Taxi:
Főtaxi:
Budapest Taxi:
Rádió taxi:
Taxi 2000:
Tele5:
Volán Taxi:
6x6 Taxi:
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233 3333
211 1111
06 80 22 22 22
433 33 33
377 7777
200 00 00
355 55 55
466 66 66
266 66 66
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