Page 240 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Budapest

238  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Getting Around by Metro

Budapest has four metro lines (see inside back cover), most easily
distinguished by their colours: yellow, red, blue and green.
Three lines (M1, M2 and M3) intersect at Deák Ferenc tér station,
while the M4 line intersects with M2 at Keleti pályaudvar, and
M3 at Kálvin tér. The oldest line, the yellow M1 line, runs just One-day travel card valid for all forms of
beneath the surface of the city. Built in 1894, it is known as public transport
the Millennium Line after the celebrations that took place
two years later (see p146), but its more common name is the
Földalatti (Underground). Two more lines – the red M2 and
blue M3 lines – were added after 1970. The M4 line opened
in 2014 and has some architecturally remarkable stations.
The modern trains on this line are driverless.
A 72-hour travel card valid for all forms of
escalators or stairs. Smoking and public transport
eating are not permitted on the
trains, and you must use head- Tickets (jegy) can be pur chased
phones to listen to music. Dogs separately or, more econom-
can travel on the metro, but ically, in booklets of 10 for 3,000
Signs for the M2 metro only when muzzled and require forints. Individual tickets cost
an extra ticket or a dog pass. 350 forints if you buy them in
The Metro System
advance at metro stations and
A journey on the World Heritage newspaper kiosks. You can buy
Millennium Line (M1) is an event tickets on board buses and
in itself, with some beautifully some trams for 450 forints (see
tiled late-19th century stations. p241). You can also buy transfer
Three words to remember tickets (Átszállójegy) costing 530
when using the metro system forints, which are valid for two
are: bejárat, meaning entrance; immediately consecutive journeys
kijárat, meaning exit (both are on any form of public transport.
always clearly marked); and felé, Sign over the entrance to the M1 metro line On the metro you can also get
meaning towards (the direction at Oktogon tér station cheaper tickets for journeys of
of trains is indicated by the name three stops (Metró szakaszjegy),
of the station at the end of the Tickets with no transfers. By 2018 an
line). Remember to validate your automated fare collection system
ticket. Valida tion machines are The same types of ticket and will be in place at all metro and
located at the station entrances. pass cover all forms of BKK major suburban railway stations, as
To plan a journey, consult the transport. Single tickets must be well as in trams, trolleys and buses.
map at the back of this guide. validated in a machine at the
A recorded voice message start of your journey: on the Travelcards and Passes
announces when the door is metro they must be validated at
closing and gives the name of the station before boarding; on Travelcards are available for
the next station and transfer buses, trams, trolley buses and 24 hours, 72 hours or one week.
possibilities. The M4 stations are the cog-wheel railway they Passes for 14 or 30 days, or an
accessible by lift, but the other must be validated on board. entire year, are also available.
lines are only accessible by Tickets are checked frequently, There are discounts for students,
and there is a fine of seniors, the disabled and
8,000 forints to be parents with small children, but
paid in cash on the these only apply for periods of
spot for travelling at least two weeks. Make sure
with out a valid ticket. you bring photo graphic ID with
Each time you board you when buying your pass,
a bus or tram, you which can be purchased on the
must validate a new spot. The Budapest Card (see
ticket, but on the p222) entitles the holder to free
metro system you city transport, free guided tours,
can change lines as well as a range of discounts
within one hour, at some museums and
provided you do not restaurants, for periods of
A typical station on the M4 metro line leave the stations. two or three days.

238-239_EW_Budapest.indd 238 15/09/16 10:34 am