Budapest Taxi Guide

Budapest Taxi Numbers? Call a reliable cab in Budapest Hungary! If you have already made a little research into Budapest Hungary, you must have heard that it is a rip-off to hail down a taxi on the street off-handedly in Budapest. Instead, you are much better off and safer if you choose one of the official Hungarian cab companies as they will try to live up to their brand and ensure some quality (ISO 9001) at least. Lonely taxi driver wolves may not be fair with the taxi fares (e.g. may overcharge you at the end of the journey). Unfortunately, there are several sad stories of 'naive' Budapest travelers taken in by unscrupulous cab drivers who do not belong to a taxi clan. So first of all, here is a listing of the major taxi companies you may wish to call in Budapest Hungary. Check out the DOS and DONTS section below!

Budapest Taxi Listing

The phone numbers of the taxi companies are shown with the international codes. If you call the cab from a Hungarian telephone, use 06 instead of 00-36.

• Buda Taxi cab services 00-36-1-2-333-333
• BudaPest Taxi cab services 00-36-1-4-333-333
• City Taxi cab services 00-36-1-2-111-111
• Fotaxi cab services 00-36-1-2-222-222
• Mobil Taxi cab services 00-36-1-333-1757
• Radio Taxi cab services 00-36-1-3-777-777
• Taxi 2000 cab services 00-36-1-2-000-000
• Taxi4 cab services 00-36-1-4-444-444
• Tele5 Taxi cab services 00-36-1-5-555-555
• Volan Taxi cab services 00-36-1-4-3333-22
• ZONA Taxi cab services 00-36-1-3-655-555
• 6x6 Taxi cab services 00-36-1-2-666-666

Budapest Cab Fares

Budapest Taxi fares start with a basic fee of about 300 HUF (1.2 euros or 1.8 USD or 0.9 GBP), then added is the normal taxi rate of about 220-250 HUF per km (as of May 2008). Once you ordered the taxi, they usually arrive in 5 minutes and start to charge the waiting fare instantly, which is about 60 HUF/ minute, one fifth of the basic price.

DOS and DONTS for Budapest Taxis

Let's start with the DONTS what not to do when you need a taxi in Budapest and then we will have a look at what is a good idea to do.

DONTS

• Don't hail down an independent taxi in the street as a private taxi driver may overcharge you or take you on an unnecessarily longer route without you noticing it in time. He/she knows the local rules and does not answer to anybody. He can also speak the Hungarian language the policeman does and you don't, so he/she can easily turn the situation into a 'minor misunderstanding'. Don't risk being ripped off.
• Don't get a taxi from a taxi rank (see 'hailing down a taxi' above). Don't risk being ripped off.
• Don't sit in a taxi you find unacceptable for any reason. There are good taxis and taxi drivers in Budapest you won't need to put up with a strange driver, a smoky car or dirty seats. Call another taxi from your chosen cab company, explain the situation and ask for a clean, non-smoking car.
• Don't ask the cab driver to take you to a good place, as they usually tend to take travelers to bars, pubs & restaurants where they get commission, but not the 'best place' you had in mind.
• Don't let your taxi driver text message during driving. Some drivers think that they can handle downtown traffic with 1 arm and half a brain. It's about your life, your health, so politely remind the driver that it is not safe to 'write and drive'.
• Don't leave the taxi driver with your handbag or other valuables alone. It may happen if you want to buy a coke or batteries at a petrol station. Take your handbag with you if it's really urgent to drop into somewhere.

DOS

• Consider taking the metros, trams, buses of Budapest Public Transportation (BKV) first: very efficient (even though antiquated), clean, safe adn cheap. Taking a taxi is usually needed late at night, otherwise Budapest is very user-friendly, especially downtown transportation.
• Check your destination on a good Budapest Map. If there is a simple route to the address you want to get to, check if you are taken on a good route, and within a sensible time.
• Call a trustworthy cab company from one of the comprehensive Budapest Taxi Listings above.
• Ask for a non-smoking cab if you are a non-smoker or you cannot stand cigarette odor.
• Ask for a cab with AC if the weather is hot.
• Check the rates (or the total estimate/ price) with the cab driver before the journey. Negotiate the price, check the meter.
• If you go by Zona Taxi, please check the info below (show and keep your Zona Card).
• Check the name and number of the taxi driver in case you need to refer to the driver regarding some problems with the tax company. (It may be just a key or cell phone falling out of your pocket, but that's enough inconvenience).
• Use the safety belt.
• Keep smaller banknotes (1000-2000 HUF notes) with you, as some taxi drivers do not have enough change. Make sure you have the approximate sum of the taxi fare with you in cash. Besides, there have been occasional complaints from Budapest visitors regarding a taxi (night) scam: you hand over a 10,000HUF bill (approx. 40 euros/ 62USD/ 31 GBP) and the taxi driver pretends to be given only a 1,000 HUF note.
• Tip the cab driver if you were satisfied with the services.
• Check your seat and belongings before closing the door of the cab. Do you have everything? Are you at your exact destination?
• Save some money on calling an airport transfer or taxi for you: if you ask the hotel concierge, the hotel will put their extra commission on the rates. Act independently.

Zona Taxi Budapest Airport Transfer

Zona Taxi was the official winner of the Hungarian government tender for airport taxi transfers. That being said, it is more important that most travelers are quite satisfied with Zona Taxi services. Zona Taxi has four different rates depending on which zone (or zona in Hungarian) you wish to go to. See the photo, which shows the major Budapest taxi zones. The taxi fleet consists of Mercedes and Volkswagen, and you can order Zona taxis online (4 hours before departure).

As you arrive at Ferihegy Budapest, and step out of the terminal hall (applies for both terminals)... Wait, let's go back to the terminal ATM and get some cash for the taxi fare (about 5000HUF), so as you stroll out of the hall, you will literally bump into the Zona taxi cab service booths. You simply provide the destination address, then you will get a card based on the distance within Budapest (there are 23 districts so it is a big area). When you get in the cab, and show your Zona Taxi card, your taxi ride begins: it usually takes about 30 minutes to get to Budapest city center. When you arrive, you settle the total bill (regardless of how many passengers you had for that single destination) of approx. 4500 HUF (18 euros or 28 USD or 14 GBP) with the taxi driver (it is customary to give about 10% tip, or to round up the sum), and can keep the card you were given at the airport taxi booth. When you wish to leave Hungary and use the Zona taxi services again, you need to call the number on the card and say that you want a return ride. The taxi driver will recognize you by the Zona card. Not only that, it also ensures that you won't be charged the normal meter rates but the more favorable Zona taxi rates. :)

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