The Budapest Card offers tourists an affordable way to see all the attractions of this beautiful ancient city along with some additional modern perks. Travelers can relax in the steamy baths, wander around the palaces on Castle Hill, and revel in the lively nightlife.
The Budapest Card offers free and unlimited use of public transport systems in the city, free entry to the best museums, 2 free guided walking tours on a daily basis, and many discounts and deals on baths, restaurants, shopping, tours, etc.
Types of Budapest Card, where to buy, and how to use
The official tourist authority in Budapest issues 3 kinds of Budapest Card and they are the 24-hour Budapest Card, 48-hour Budapest Card, and the 72-hour Budapest Card. One card is valid for use by one adult. Tourists who plan to stay in the city for a longer period can also opt for either the 96 hour card or the 120 hour card.
The Budapest Card can be bought at the airport or at varied Budapestinfo Point kiosks in the city. For example, at Heroes’ Square – Olof Palme Sétány 5, or at Deák Ferenc tér – Sütő utca 2.
The card can be validated by signing it and then adding the time and date from when you desire to use it. It is important to validate the card by signing it with a ball point pen. Avoid using markers, felt tip pens, or pencils to for signing purposes. All you need to do to avail of freebies or discounts is to just show the card to a participating vendor, and voila, you get to avail of all the benefits the card has on offer.
Benefits of the Budapest Card (Inclusions)
Some of the benefits offered by the Budapest Card are listed below:
- Free Entry
- Free use of public transport in all districts and zones of the city for a period of 24 hours, 48 hours, or 72 hours as per the validity of the Budapest Card.
- Free entry to the Lukacs Baths, i.e., Margaret Island’s thermal bath. It is open 7 days a week. Free entry is however unavailable for the Budapest Bath parties.
- 2 sightseeing walking tours of the city. Each tour lasts for 2 to 3 hours and is accompanied by an English speaking guide. The tour is free for Budapest Card holders.
- Free entry to many of the structures located within the historically famous Buda Castle. Tours of the interiors are not included, but tours can be booked separately at very low prices.
- Free access to Budapest History Museum’s permanent exhibitions. It may be noted that the Budapest Torteneti Museum is located in the Buda Castle.
- Free entry to Hungarian National Gallery’s permanent exhibitions. The museum is closed every Monday.
- Free access to Hungarian National Museum’s permanent exhibits. It may be noted that Nemzeti Muzeum is located next to Astoria Square.
- Free access to the permanent exhibits at the Mai Mano House of Photography. The place is open for public from 2 pm to 7 pm, seven days a week.
- Free access to Aquincum Museum’s permanent exhibitions.
- Free entry to Budapest’s Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Center.
- Free ticket to a 3D movie about the history of Hungary. The movie is shown at 7 centuries old Rock Chapel located in Buda Castle.
- Free access to the open air Budapest Communist Memento Park. It is a wonderful place to check out.
- Free access to the permanent exhibits at Bela Bartok Memorial House in the city. This is the older house of the renowned Hungarian composer.
- Free entry to Hopp Ferenc Eastern Asian Museum; the permanent exhibitions Kiscelli Museum; Vasarely Museum; New Budapest Gallery; Museum of the Hungarian Finance Guard and Taxation History; and Museum of Hungarian Customs and Finance Guard.
- Discounts and Deals
The Budapest Card comes with several discounts and deals, including the below listed offers:
- 50% discount on entry fee to the Ludwig Museum. This museum has an amazing collection of masterworks of contemporary and modern art as well as several valuable artworks by Andy Warhol and other items relating to the American pop art period. The focus still remains on Central and Eastern European art.
- 20 to 30 percent off on entry to the Budapest Holocaust Memorial Center at the Pava Street Synagogue, the Cold War underground hospital containing wax figures, and the hospital located at the Rock museum, the exhibits at the Castle Garden Bazaar, and the Budapest Zoo.
- 10 to 30 percent discount to different baths in the city such as Gellert Spa Baths, Szechenyi Baths, Rudas bath, Palatinus Pool and Thermal Baths, Kiraly Baths Turkish thermal, and Romai Pool and Thermal Baths. It may be noted that the discounts are available only for the baths and not the spa treatments.
- 10 to 30 percent discount on entry to attractions such as the Halaszbastya/Fisherman’s Bastion lookout towers offering panorama views (It may be noted that entry to the lower balconies is not charged, but the upper towers can be accessed only with a fee); Aquaworld pools and water slide; the Panorama Lookout and Treasury of St Stephen’s Basilica; and Dohany Street Synagogue the largest Synagogue house in the continent.
- 10 to 20 percent discount on different sightseeing tours and boat cruises across the gorgeous Danube River; 20 percent discount for the Hop on Hop off (HOHO) Budapest bus tours; 25 percent off on the Budapest City Bike Tours; 50 percent off on renting of Scooter/Tour Byicycle/Segway; and 20 percent discount on Hungarian State Opera House guided tours, exclusive of opera shows.
- 10 to 15 percent discount on entry to different concerts like the Musica Mundi Orgona Concerts, Hungarian Folk Shows, St Stephen’s Basilica Organ Concerts, and the Summer Festival Budapest concerts in Varosmajor Theatre and on Margaret Island.
- Great deals at restaurants, shopping, cafes, as well as free gifts from varied participating vendors.