Page 243 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Budapest

GE T TING AROUND BUD APEST  241

Getting Around by Bus It is worth noting that buses
sometimes get caught in heavy
Budapest has about 200 different bus routes, covering the traffic congestion in the centre
whole city. They are a recommended mode of transport for of the city during rush hours,
visitors, except during rush hour. Daytime services run from and their progress at these
about 4:30am to 11pm, with departures on most routes times can be slow. If you are
in a hurry it might be better
every 10–20 minutes. There is a good range of night buses to take a tram or the metro,
operating across the city every 15–60 minutes. Departure or even to walk.
times and a list of destinations are on display at each stop.
All buses are blue – ordinary buses are indicated by black
numbers and halt at every stop. Buses with the letter “E”
follow express routes and omit a number of stops.

The Bus System transport information. Tickets
Budapest’s bus system is must be punched upon
extremely efficient and makes entering the bus. The next stop
exploring the city easy, even is always announced, often
for first-time visitors. Many bus informing passen gers about any Bus stop with a real-time display board
stops now have electronic interchanges. To ensure that the Sightseeing by Bus
displays showing real-time bus stops, you should press the
button located by the door Buses are especially helpful for
before your required stop. exploring the hilly area of Buda.
Remember that Budapest’s bus Bus 16 will take you close to
drivers tend to drive fast and Buda Castle.
that the streets, particularly in Various hop-on/hop-off bus
Buda, can be steep. This tour companies operate in the
combin ation makes it advisable city. These cover the major
to hang on tightly to the hand sights and allow you to explore
Some of Budapest’s modern buses grips when standing on a bus. the city at your own pace.
Getting Around by Trolley Bus runs from Parliament on
Kossuth Lajos tér, past
Trolley buses, which are red, operate only in Pest. It is the City Park to Erzsébet
advisable to hold on tight if you are standing, as they királyné útja.
can accelerate very suddenly. Timetables are displayed
at each stop. Ticket Vending Machine
Tickets are sold at metro
The Trolley Bus System stop, the driver will not stations and the vending
The same rules apply for automatically come to a halt. machines at major transport
travelling on a trolley bus as Trolley buses are numbered junctions. Besides cash (forints),
when travelling on a bus. from 70 upwards and there the new machines also accept
Remember to signal to the are about 15 different routes credit and debit cards, even
driver by pressing the button in Budapest. Tickets must be contactless (PayPass) ones.
located above the door when punched upon boarding.
approaching your stop. A particularly pleasant and
Otherwise, if there are no useful route is taken by
passengers waiting at the trolley bus No. 70, which

A red trolley bus in Budapest Ticket vending machine

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