Commuting in Budapest: Taxi, Biking, Carsharing
Don’t feel like sitting on a crowded bus? Here are your alternatives, and some tips on using them. Reliable providers, best prices and must have apps!
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Want to explore the city in an active way? With the Mol Bubi app, you can rent community bikes for super cheap, just make sure you place them back, and lock them in at one of the dropoff/pickup stations, to avoid risking a fine.
Pro tip: with monthly membership, you can bike as many times as you want for 30 minutes at a time for only 1500 Huf or about 3.5 euros /month. You can even unlock 2 bikes at the same time without extra cost, just make sure you cancel your subscription once leaving.
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When it comes to taking a Taxi, you want to be a little bit cautious in Budapest. We highly advise against flagging down a taxi on the street, as scams and overpricing are very common. If you still decide to flag one down, make sure it is not a “FREELANCER” taxi, which you can see written on the door. Taxis belonging to a company always have a big logo of some sort besides the Taxi sign. Freelance taxis are notorious for scams!
We recommend you use one of the following applications: Bolt, Uber, or Főtaxi. These are reliable providers with apps to make booking easy and safe.
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For more privacy and cheaper trip, consider using a carsharing app. In Budapest, there are 3 main providers: Mol Limo, GreenGo and Wigo.
If you need a bigger car, Wigo probably has the most options, but GreenGo and Mol Limo are generally cheaper.
If you plan on using car sharing, consider these factors:
Sign up ahead of time, as approving your licence can take days!
Parking area is limited depending on the provider.
You can park in all public parking spots within the area.
Finding parking is very difficult in central Budapest, so arrive early!
Make sure you don’t accidentally park in “residential parking spots” they will be signalled with a sign like this.
You risk getting a fine which the provider will make sure to bill you for!
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In Budapest, there are two main scooter providers: Lime and Tier. They are similar in price, and both an easy way of getting around.
Be aware that in most of the inner city you can only drop them off at dedicated parking spots, and the area you can use them in is limited within central Budapest! More info in the apps!
