Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) is Hungary's largest and busiest airport.
It is located 16 kilometers southeast of Budapest's city center, near the town of Ferihegy which is how the airport is known informally. It was officially renamed in 2011 to honor the renowned Hungarian composer Franz Liszt.
BUD airport connects Hungary to numerous destinations across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Far East. After serving 17.5 million passengers in 2024, Budapest Airport ranked among the 40 largest airports in Europe.
Major Airlines - Wizz Air, Smartwings Hungary, Ryanair
Wizz Air, Hungary’s flag carrier in all but name, uses Budapest as its main base, offering extensive short-haul coverage across Europe and beyond. With over 60 different destinations and the largest fleet, it is BUD Airport’s main airline.
Its low-cost competitors, Ryanair and easyJet, also operate numerous routes from BUD. The former focuses on flights to tourism hotspots, seaside resorts, and smaller airports, while the latter flies predominantly to Western Europe.
Smartwings Hungary is a small charter airline with a few seasonal flights that also uses Budapest Airport as a hub.
Major international carriers that serve Budapest Airport include Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, and Qatar Airways.
Find the full list of more than 40 airlines that operate flights at Budapest Ferenc Liszt Airport.
Terminal Layout and Gates
The airport comprises two main passenger terminals: Terminal 2A and Terminal 2B, which are connected by a central SkyCourt building. Terminal 1 has been closed since 2012 with all operations moving to T2.
Terminal 2A used to be just Terminal 2 before the expansion of the airport in 1998. It handles Schengen Area flights (Gates A1-A33) whereas Terminal 2B is dedicated to non-Schengen destinations (Gates B1-B44).
The SkyCourt, opened in 2011, connecting the two terminals. It increased the airport’s capacity by creating many new check-in counters and security gates. Most dining and shopping facilities are located in the SkyCourt. After Security (airside), you can walk freely between the two terminals.
See a list of destinations served from Budapest Airport.
Connecting Flights and Transit
Since all flights operate from the two interconnected terminals with a single airside area, transfers become relatively straightforward.
However, Budapest is not a major hub for intercontinental transit, and minimum connection times are not as optimized as larger European airports. Moreover, Wizz Air, the main carrier at the airport, treats all flights as point-to-point and does not have transit facilities.
This effectively means that you will always need to self-connect at BUD and fulfill all visa requirements if any apply to your nationality.
Non-Schengen passengers must clear immigration, and visas may be required depending on nationality.
The recommended minimum time between connections is 90 minutes.
Check out the best things to do in Budapest during a long layover.
WiFi at BUD
Free unlimited WiFi is available throughout the airport via the “bud:free wifi” network.
Select the network and a welcome page will load automatically. Enter your email address and accept the Terms and Conditions to log in.
The connection is limited to 4 hours per account.
Dining Options at Ferihegy Airport
Most of the airport’s dining venues are within the SkyCourt between the two terminals.
There are both quick bites like KFC and Burger King and sit-down restaurants such as Leroy Bistro, which serves local Hungarian cuisine.
Local coffee brand Frei Café has multiple locations. Other options for getting a coffee are SOHO Coffee and Flocafé in T2A and Costa Coffee in the SkyCourt.
Some other popular dining establishments at Budapest Airport include:
Bar Wings in T2B’s transit area: Offers a wide range of beers and wines.
Negroni in T2B: Go for the oven-baked pizzas and stay for the popular Hungarian dishes.
O’Learys Sports Bar in the SkyCourt: With more than 25 screens, this is the place to watch any sports game before your flight.
Soul & Grain in the SkyCourt: Serves healthy vegan and vegetarian options.
Panopolis in T2B: Offers freshly made sandwiches and cakes.
Dining options in the gate areas are limited during late hours but you can always find something open in the SkyCourt.
Lounges of BUD Airport
Budapest Airport has six lounges that offer comfortable seating, hot meals, beverages, workspaces, and some even showers.
There are both airline-operated lounges for premium passengers and open-access lounges available to everyone with a boarding pass for a fee.
Here’s the lounge selection at BUD:
Bud:vip: A well-equipped luxury lounge plus other premium service offerings like a dedicated security lane, baggage porter, and luxury transport to/from the aircraft.
Skycourt Lounge: Located on the mezzanine level of the SkyCourt, it offers a wide range of food and drinks, Wi-Fi, TV, and restrooms. Open from 4:30 AM until 9 PM.
Mastercard Lounge: Right next to the Skycourt Lounge. Available to premium Mastercard holders. Open between 5 AM and 9 PM.
T2B Plaza Premium Lounge: Only available to those flying to non-Schengen destinations in T2B. Facilities include a variety of delicious food and refreshing drinks and comfortable, zoned seating areas. Open from 5 AM until 11 PM (closes at 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays).
2A Platinum Lounge: A pleasant environment to relax at opposite gate A8 in the Schengen Area. The access fee is 39 EUR (+VAT) for a 2-hour stay. Open between 5 AM and 8 PM.
2B Platinum Lounge: The equivalent lounge for the non-Schengen Area. Closes at 10 PM and the entry fee is the same.
Transport to and from Budapest Airport
Public transportation from or to the airport is by bus. Bus 200E connects the airport to the metro system at Kőbánya-Kispest (M3 line), while bus 100E runs directly to the city center (Deák Ferenc tér) for a fixed fare of around 2,200 HUF (€5). Buy and validate tickets directly on the bus using your card.
The nearest railway station is Ferihegy, located on the opposite side of the airport. From there, all services to Budapest Nyugati railway station are free of charge with BKK passes and national and county passes which you can buy at T2. You can get to Ferihegy Station via the 200E bus for a discounted ticket of 300 HUF.
Taxis are readily available via Főtaxi, with a ride to the city center taking 30-40 minutes and costing around 9.000-11.000 HUF (€25–30). Rideshare services like Bolt and Uber also operate at BUD.
Check out private transfers from Budapest Airport.
Parking options at Budapest Airport
There are several parking options at BUD.
The closest you can park is at the Premium Parking, which is located directly in front of the terminal and ideal for pickups.
A minute away, connected via a covered walkway, is the Terminal Parking, ideal for short stays.
If you want to leave your car for longer, you should park at either the City Break Parking (3 minutes from the terminal, ideal for medium-length stays) or the Holiday Parking (7 minute walk from the terminal, ideal for long stays).
Hotels near Budapest Airport
The only hotel close to Budapest Airport is ibis Styles Budapest Airport Hotel. It is located directly across from Terminal 2 and offers modern rooms, breakfast, and conference rooms. It is ideal for layover stays.
Nearby alternatives include the Airport Hotel Budapest (about 3 km away) and Hotel Stáció (about 5 km away), both offering free airport shuttles and wellness amenities.
Click here to see more hotels near Budapest Ferenz Lizst Airport.
Budapest, Hungary
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