Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport has no railway station and no direct train to the city. That is the short answer most people are looking for. There is still a rail route, though: bus 200E takes you to Ferihegy railway station in about 12 minutes, and a suburban train covers the remaining distance to Budapest-Nyugati in 22–25 minutes. Total time is roughly 35 minutes, and if you already hold a Budapest travelcard the whole trip is covered.
Is there a train station at Budapest Airport?
No. Unlike Vienna, Frankfurt or Zurich, BUD has no station beneath or beside the terminal, and there is no airport express rail link. Plans for one have been discussed for years but nothing is in service.
The nearest station is Ferihegy, about 6.5 km (4 miles) from Terminal 2. It sits on the mainline towards Budapest and is reached by a short bus ride. Confusingly, the station carries the airport's old name, which is why search results often make it look as though the airport has its own railway stop.
Ferihegy railway station — the nearest rail option
Ferihegy is a modest suburban station rather than a terminal building: platforms, shelters, ticket machines and a small ticket office. Trains from here run into Budapest-Nyugati (Western station), one of the city's three main railway terminals, which is roughly 2 km from the centre and sits directly on metro line M3.
The MÁV ticket office at Ferihegy is open daily from 06:00 to 18:00, and ticket machines on the platform operate 24 hours a day, so you can buy a ticket whatever time your flight lands.
Getting from Terminal 2 to Ferihegy station
Bus 200E is the link. It leaves from outside Terminal 2 and reaches Ferihegy station in about 12 minutes across a handful of stops. The same line continues to Kőbánya-Kispest, so make sure you get off at the station rather than riding to the terminus.
A standard single ticket costs HUF 500, or HUF 700 if you buy from the driver. Full details of the line, including its different night routing, are in our Budapest Airport bus and shuttle guide.
Trains from Ferihegy to Budapest-Nyugati
Trains run frequently through the day and into the evening, roughly from 04:00 until 23:16, and the ride to Nyugati takes 22 to 25 minutes. These are ordinary suburban services, so there is no reservation and no airport supplement — you board with a valid ticket and find a seat.
Because the trains are not airport services, there are no dedicated luggage racks. With one cabin bag this is fine; with two large suitcases it is cramped, and the step up from a low platform is a real consideration.
Tickets and what your travelcard covers
This is where the rail route becomes genuinely attractive. Budapest 24-hour and 72-hour travelcards are valid both on bus 200E and on the Ferihegy–Nyugati train segment, so if you have already bought one for your stay, the entire journey from the airport costs you nothing extra.
Without a travelcard you need a ticket for the bus and a separate suburban rail ticket for the train leg. The rail fare for such a short hop is modest — buy it from the platform machine at Ferihegy rather than guessing in advance, since suburban fares are revised periodically. What is certain is that bus plus train comes to a fraction of the HUF 2,500 charged on the direct 100E airport express.
| Route | Time | Changes | Travelcard valid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200E + train to Nyugati | ~35 min total | 1 (bus to train) | Yes, 24h and 72h |
| 200E + metro M3 | ~42 min total | 1 (bus to metro) | Yes |
| Bus 100E direct | ~40 min | None | No, HUF 2,500 ticket |
How the rail route compares with the airport bus
On paper the train route is slightly faster than the direct 100E and much cheaper. In practice the comparison is less clear cut, because the 35 minutes assumes your train is waiting. Miss one and you add the wait to your total, whereas the 100E departs every 6–10 minutes during the day.
The rail option wins when you are heading somewhere near Nyugati or along the M3 line, when you already hold a travelcard, or when you are travelling light. The bus wins on simplicity and on predictability with luggage. For everything else — taxis, private cars, shuttles — compare the full picture in our airport to city centre guide.
Onward travel from Nyugati station
Nyugati Pályaudvar is a convenient arrival point. It is on metro line M3, which runs through the centre, and it is served by trams 4 and 6 on the Grand Boulevard, two of the busiest tram routes in the city. The station is a short walk from the Western end of the Nagykörút and about 2 km from the historic core.
Budapest has three main railway terminals — Nyugati (West), Déli (South) and Keleti (East) — and all three sit on the metro network, so transferring between them is straightforward.
Travelling to Keleti or Déli instead
Trains from Ferihegy serve Nyugati, not Keleti or Déli, so if your onward train departs from one of the others you will need a metro transfer at the end. Keleti in particular is a common destination for onward international services.
If Keleti is where you are actually heading, there is a more direct combination than going via Nyugati — see our dedicated guide to getting from Budapest Airport to Keleti station.
Practical tips for the rail route
- Buy before you board. Ticket machines are on the Ferihegy platform and available around the clock; inspectors do check suburban trains.
- Watch the last train. Services thin out well before midnight, so a late arrival usually means the 100E or a licensed airport taxi instead.
- Get off at the right stop. Ferihegy station is not the 200E terminus — stay alert or you will end up at Kőbánya-Kispest.
- Two changes with heavy bags is a lot. If you are carrying more than a cabin case, a private transfer is worth the difference.
- Check which part of the airport you land in before planning the return leg — see the terminals guide.
- Leaving Budapest? Allow extra time for the two legs and read how early to arrive at Budapest Airport.
Is the train worth it?
Honestly, for most visitors arriving at BUD the answer is no — not because the route is bad, but because the direct bus is so simple. The rail combination makes real sense in three cases: you hold a 24-hour or 72-hour travelcard and want to use it, your accommodation is near Nyugati or the M3 line, or you are a rail enthusiast who would rather ride the train than the bus.
If you are arriving late at night, with children, or with checked luggage, take the 100E and spend the saved effort elsewhere. And if you simply want to know what is running when you land, the live board on our arrivals page is the quicker starting point.