Did you know that Budapest has three airport terminals? Yep, three distinct airport terminals: T1 is about 5 min from T2A and 2B - so terminal 1 and terminals 2 are not right next to each other. If you take a taxi in Budapest, the trip from one airport terminal (Budapest Ferihegy 1) may take about 5 min to the other airport terminal (Budapest Ferihegy 2A and 2B).

Budapest International Airport - Ferihegy

Budapest Airport is about 10 miles (16 km) from the city center of Budapest, so it is about a 35 minute drive from your downtown accommodation. Depending on the traffic, the trip to the airport may take 20-50 minutes. It is a safer bet to count on higher traffic in Budapest all week long in the daily hours, while between 9pm and 5am the city is more relaxed.

It is not enough to plan your trip to Budapest airport, you also need to check which terminal you will use: T1 or T2? The taxi driver will ask you anyway when you get in the car.

Flights in Budapest are very rarely diverted due to rough weather conditions (there are 4 seasons in Hungary, but the weather, winds, storms are not really in the extremes). If a Budapest flight should happen to be diverted, the two closest international airports are in Bratislava (Slovakia) and in Vienna (Austria).

Airport Terminals - there 3 Budapest Terminals

Ferihegy 1: T1 (terminal 1) usually serves cheap discount flights (RyanAir, EasyJet, WizzAir, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Germanwings, JET2, etc.). T1 and Ferihegy 2A and 2B terminals are approx. 5 min distance form each other by car, so make sure you know where your plane will take off.

Ferihegy T2A (terminal 2A) is typically used for flights that go to a European Union country, i.e. flights with a Schengen destination, Malev flights (the Hungarian flight company) and in general Schengen flights: Air Berlin, Air France, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Czech Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Smart Wings, Swiss International Air Lines, TAP Portugal, LOT Polish Airlines, Finnair, Air Malta. Ferihegy T2A is in walking distance to Ferihegy T2B.

Ferihegy T2B (terminal 2B)is used for flights that do not go to a European Union country, i.e. the non-Schengen flights, e.g. Delta AirLines (NY JFK), British Airways (London Heathrow), Aeroflot (Moscow), Aer Lingus, Egypt Air, Sky Georgia, SmartWings, Moldovian Airlines, El Al, etc. etc. Ferihegy T2B is in walking distance to Ferihegy T2A.

Here's a warning from a fellow traveler:

"We would, however, sound one word of warning. As we climbed into our taxi on our departure, a senior member of staff, having asked us which airline we were flying with and to which airport, told the driver which terminal we required and he dropped us off accordingly half an hour or so later. It was only when we were inside the building that we were told we were at the wrong terminal. In England, this might necessitate a walk of a few hundred yards to put things right. In Budapest, it meant a journey of another three miles or so."

In addition to the Budapest international airport, which serves about 7-10 million passengers a year (Europe, Norht America, Asia, Middle East, Africa), there are 4 more international airports in Hungary.

Definitely DO NOT DO: Further Budapest warnings

• Do not have valuables with you. Learn from general Budapest warnings.
• Do not travel unprepared. Save the Budapest crime emergency phone numbers just in case.
• Do not stay near the Parliament and the Heroes' Square on Hungarian national holidays
• Do not take marijuana, drugs in Budapest. What about alcohol?
• Do not go to dangerous night clubs in Budapest.
• Do not hail down a taxi in Budapest.
• Do not buy HUF / Forint from a street vendor in Budapest.
• Do not board Budapest public transport vehicles without a ticket.
• Do not cross the road without checking the traffic in Budapest.
• Do not expect some cultural conveniences in Budapest
• Do count on smoking in Budapest - even though non-smoking places are on the increase.
• Do not take valuables with you to Baths in Budapest - or preferably in the city.

Check out Budapest FAQ for more useful tips!

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