Tours/Budapest/Explore Budapest from the Local's Perspective - Public Transportation Tour
Viator · Private tour

Explore Budapest from the Local's Perspective - Public Transportation Tour

5.0(9)Budapest1 hour
VIATOR5.0(3)TRIPADVISOR5.0(6)

Description

Budapest features a remarkably comprehensive and efficient public-transportation system, so to truly experience Hungary’s capital the way that locals do, there is no better way than getting around the city by tram, bus, metro, and even ferryboat. During this 2.5-hour tour, participants will have the opportunity to try five different means of transport and see the city in a different way. This guided tour of the city allows you to experience it like a local and get to know Budapest and its dwellers as they live their everyday life.

Tour Options

Travel with the Funicular
  • Duration: 1 hour: Add a special experience and an extra hour to your tour, and dive into the Buda"s and the Castle's history. Funicular: Ride Budapest's historic funicular to Castle Hill for stunning views of the city. Explore the its history and many insights. Pickup included
Public Transport Tour of Bp
  • Meet locals and save on taxi costs! Pickup included

Itinerary

Pass by

Andrássy Avenue is a boulevard in Budapest, Hungary, dating back to 1872. Lined with spectacular Neo-renaissance mansions and townhouses featuring fine facades and interiors, it was recognised as a World Heritage Site in 2002. It is also one of Budapest's main shopping streets, with fine cafes, restaurants, theatres, Embassies and luxury boutiques.

15 min

Heroes' Square is one of the major squares in Budapest, Hungary, noted for its iconic statue complex featuring the Seven chieftains of the Magyars and other important Hungarian national leaders, as well as the Memorial Stone of Heroes, often erroneously referred as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Pass by

Vajdahunyad Castle is a castle in the City Park of Budapest, Hungary. It was built in 1896 as part of the Millennial Exhibition which celebrated the 1,000 years of Hungary since the Hungarian Conquest of the Carpathian Basin in 895. The castle was designed by Ignác Alpár to feature copies of several landmark buildings from different parts the Kingdom of Hungary, especially the Hunyad Castle in Transylvania (now in Romania). Today, it houses the Museum of Hungarian Agriculture, the biggest agricultural museum in Europe.

Pass by

The Museum of Fine Arts is a museum in Heroes' Square, Budapest, Hungary, facing the Palace of Art. It was built by the plans of Albert Schickedanz and Fülöp Herzog in an eclectic-neoclassical style, between 1900 and 1906. The museum's collection is made up of international art (other than Hungarian), including all periods of European art, and comprises more than 100,000 pieces.

Pass by

The Budapest Hall of Art is a contemporary art museum and a historic building located in Budapest, Hungary. The museum building is on Heroes' Square, facing the Budapest Museum of Fine Arts. The art museum hosts temporary exhibits contemporary art. Its government partner is the Ministry of Education and Culture. It has a bookshop, library, and the Műcsarnok Café that overlooks the square.

Pass by

The City Park Ice Rink is a public ice rink located in the City Park of the Hungarian capital Budapest, opened in 1870, it is the largest and one of the oldest ice rinks in Europe.

10 min

Spaceous hub of public transport and social life directly at the easer foot of the Margaret-bridge, named after Mari Jászai, one of the most influential actor in the Hungarian theatrical world of her time.

5 min

Margaret Bridge is a three-way bridge in Budapest, Hungary, connecting Buda and Pest across the Danube and linking Margaret Island to the banks. It is the second-northernmost and second-oldest public bridge in Budapest.

Pass by

On this ring runs one of the busiest tram lines of the world (legend says it’s *the* busiest!) – these two lines transport millions of passengers every year along Budapest’s big ring road (“Nagykörút”). All of this at max. 15min-intervals, although during rush hours they run every 2 minutes.

10 min

Nyugati pályaudvar (English: Western railway station), generally referred to simply as Nyugati, is one of the three main railway terminals in Budapest, Hungary. The station is on the Pest side of Budapest, accessible by the 4 and 6 tramline and the M3 metro line. The surrounding are has became one of the busiest meeting point in the city, the area is rich in restaurants, bars and diverse stores.

10 min

The square is named for Ferenc Deák, "The Wise Man of the Nation". It's a major intersection and transport junction in Budapest. Three lines of the Budapest Metro each converge on the station under the square. Tram lines 47 and 49 also originate from the square, as well as several bus lines.

5 min

This park, next to Deák Ferenc tér is a popular gathering for young people. Alcoholic beverages are sold at the grassy area, and it is common for Deák Ferenc tér to be populated until the midnight hours.

45 min

Explore the Buda Castle Area instead Gellert hill with the "Travel with the Funicular" option!

10 min

St Gellért Square is dominated by water-themed design. Waves of the Danube are represented in wavy benches and a small fountain with a pond decorates the entry to this unique underground station.

Pass by

Part of the famous Hotel Gellért in Buda, the Gellért Thermal Baths and Swimming Pool (also known as the Gellért Baths or in Hungarian as the Gellért fürdő) is a bath complex in Budapest, Hungary.

Pass by

Gellért Hill is a 235 m high hill overlooking the Danube in Budapest, Hungary. It is located in the 1st and the 11th districts, and undoubtably is the best panorama point above the capital. The hill was named after bishop Gellért who came to Hungary from Italy around 1000 AD. King St. Stephen invited him to help converting the Hungarians into Christianity. Some resisting pagans rolled him down the hill in a barrel into the Danube in 1046.

5 min

We walk across one of Budapest's most beautiful bridges to arrive to the foot of the emblematic Gellért hill where we find our next stop.

10 min

Kálvin tér is a major square and intersection in the city center of Budapest. It was named after the French Protestant Reformer John Calvin, due to the large Reformed Church located there. Being a major thoroughfare and locality, the square is a major transport hub with tram, bus, and trolleybus routes serving the square. The Hungarian National Museum is near Kálvin tér.

Highlights

24-hour pass for any means of transportation
Local guide
Map showing the route of the tour
Rider’s Booklet (manual for Budapest public transport)
Souvenir pen
Notebook

What's included

Included
24-hour pass for any means of transportation
Local guide
Map showing the route of the tour
Rider’s Booklet (manual for Budapest public transport)
Souvenir pen
Notebook
Not included
Food and drinks
Gratuities

Pickup Locations & Times

We meet up every guest from their accommodation and the tour starts from there, please provide your address in the special requirements box. This Itinerary is a basic outline to this tour that may be a subject to change. Changes may be made in order to personalize the experience. Minor alterations may be made without notification, to ensure the smooth running of the tour. If you would like to follow a precise itinerary of your tour please let us know, and we will happily adapt to your interest.

Traveller Ratings

5.0
9 reviews
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Important Information

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult

Reviews(9)

T
TishVancouver
August 8, 2023
Navigate the transit system like a pro.

If you do only one tour then this transportation tour will have you using trams, underground, metro, trolley buses, and your feet. Miklos is so knowledgeable, he comes prepared, and adapts easily. This is ideal for your first day, and then you can travel throughout the entire transit system easily. I learned so much about culture, history and markets and architecture while learning to navigate a very good and integrated public transportation system. Excellent tour. It was so much fun and so useful.

Operator response

Thank you for your appreciation. As you say, we invented this special tour (combining practical things with cultural content) for vsitors who'd like to go beyond must see's. I am pleased to hear that you also find our system efficient thanks to the professional metropolitan government's green policy giving priority to public transport and bikes. In this way this wonderful city has become more livable. I hope you come back for a relaxing stay.

M
mayerpaz
June 19, 2023
Using cabs when visiting Budapest

We followed Tripadvisor recommendations. Always used Bolt cabs and through the app. All worked so well. When on the streets too. Never raised hand for a cab on the street.

Operator response

I am not quite sure if this ad for Bolt was placed at the right place. We, Fungarian, have our own public transport tour, which has proved to be very successful and popular among visitors. Bolt or taxis are fine, they fullfil their single function: taking you from one place to another. Our personalized tour is much more than that. Budapest has one of the best public transport systems in Europe and we, locals, are very proud of it. The advantages of taking public transport instead of a taxi ride are manyfolded: 1. you meet locals 2. you hear Hungarian language 3. you use public transport as an hop-off bus and with the expertise of your guide it's a contentful sightseeing tour including places that are NOT in the guidebook 4. it's very cheap, 1/10th of an average taxi ride. Anyway, take your pick, it's free country.

S
Suethereal
August 26, 2020
Submersion in European history and art through the tour of beautiful Budapest - unique experience!

I have signed my 14 year-old daughter and her same age friend up for this tour as a fun end-of-summer activity. Miklós has taken them on this half day introduction to Budapest tour via walking and public transportation. The girls were thoroughly entertained (and received excellent physical exercise through walking!). Miklós managed to show them several hidden gems of the city and make it an entertaining while extremely educational half day. He taught them about the different architectural styles as well as Hungarian history and the history of this beautiful city. Miklós - as I learned - has been a university professor during his professional years , including spending time at one of the best US universities as guest lecturer, with a waste knowledge of history, art history and literature. His English is impeccable. Indeed this was a unique experience for the two girls. Highly recommended!

Operator response

Thank you for your feedback. Highly appreciated. This age group was a real challenge, so I am quite pleased that they reacted positively. Your nice words give Fungarian more credit to label our tours as an educational experience. My bon mot for the young ladies was: Budapest is an open-air textbook. They seem to have appreciated it.

J
Juliana_J_SG
December 10, 2019
Budapest in a Nutshell

First of all, we have to mention that our guide, Miklós, was wonderful. He is so accommodating, knowledgeable and funny! We felt comfortable interacting with him right from the beginning. He paced and customised the tour so well and provided us with not only the necessary information and materials such as guide books and maps to help us with getting around, he also bought us local treats to try out! The tour itself was truly worth taking up. On top of learning how to make use of the many different types of public transport to get around, we gained a much better idea on how to spend our 3 days in Budapest ftuitfully. It was a fun experience hopping on and off the different transportation like the locals, worry free, and learning more about things that we came across. Anothee advantage of the tour being in the local's perspective, we quickly learnt what we should and should not do in Budapest. Definitely a good way to be introduced to Budapest for the first time!

Operator response

Dear Juliana, Thank you for your enthusiastic words. I am most pleased to hear that you found the tour structure including several means local public transport enjoyable. It was a good idea to start your visit with this tour and thus I could save you time and energy on sorting things out in an unknown environment where even the language is a culture shock. Cheers, Miklós and the Fungarian Team

D
Deborah_J
December 29, 2018
Excellent guide to city

Excellent guide, good info and great as you learn how to use the very efficient public transport system.

Operator response

Thank you for appreciating the advantages of public transport. Pleased to know we could contribute to a pleasant stay. Miklós

S
Sandra W
August 13, 2018
More than just a tourist tour

Miklos was our guide today and it was a memorable tour with someone who was deeply devoted to enhancing our travel experience. He really did care about what we wanted to learn and what we wanted to see. He didn't waste our time taking us to just every average tourist place. We shared sausage with him from the marketplace and it was so enjoyable. He has a great sense of humour and loves to laugh. We teased him about the Budapest London Eye and it was a shared funny moment. I cannot say enough good about the whole travel experience with this Fungarian.

2 people found this helpful
S
Sandra W
July 25, 2018
So much more than just a transport tour

This guide was amazing. He gave us a good overview of the whole city and a lot of historical information as well as showing us many means of transport and exactly how to use them. In addition he assisted us with our airport departure planning and also getting to a destination that we needed. We even got to ride on a public boat. This was a quality tour for the money.

J
JeffreyHillman
May 2, 2018
A MUST!!

My wife and I traveled to Budapest and had preordered this excursion as the first event. It was the best decision we could have made. We love to explore the cities we visit outside of the tourist areas as much as possible. This transit tour gave us the ability and confidence to navigate the transit system all around the city. Miklos was an astounding host. I would recommend this tour to anyone wanting to explore Budapest on their own.

2 people found this helpful

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