Hungary - Eastern Europe - page 290

BY BUS
There are about 200 different bus (busz) lines in greater Budapest. Many parts of the
city, most notably the Buda Hills, are best accessed by bus. Although buses are the
most difficult to use of Budapest's transportation choices, with patience (and a BKV
map) you'll be able to get around in no time. With the exception of night buses, most
lines are in service from about 4:30am to about 11:30pm. Some bus lines run far less
frequently (or not at all) on weekends, while others run far more frequently (or only)
on weekends. This information is both on the reverse of the BKV transportation map
and on the schedules posted at every bus stop.
Black-numbered local buses constitute the majority of the city's lines. Red-
numbered buses are express; generally, but not always, the express buses follow the
same routes as local buses with the same number, simply skipping certain stops along
the way. If the red number on the bus is followed by an E, the bus runs nonstop
between terminals (whereas an É —with an accent mark—signifies éjszaka, meaning
night). Depending on your destination, an express bus may be a much faster way of
traveling. A few buses are labeled by something other than a number; one you'll prob-
ably use is the Várbusz (Palace Bus), a minibus that runs between Várfok utca, up the
steep hillside from Buda's Moszkva tér, and the Castle District. The buses themselves
have always been blue, though now some express buses are beginning to appear in red.
Tickets are self-validated onboard the bus by the mechanical red box found by each
door. You can board the bus by any door. Unlike metro tickets, bus tickets are valid
not for the line, but for the individual bus; you're not allowed to get off and reboard
another bus going in the same direction without a new ticket. Tickets cannot be pur-
chased from the driver; see “Fares” on p. 287 for information on where to purchase
public transportation tickets.
The biggest problem for bus-riding travelers is the drivers' practice of skipping stops
when no one is waiting to get on and no one has signaled to get off. To signal your
intention to get off at the next stop, press the button above the door (beware—some
drivers open only the doors that have been signaled). Most stops don't have their
names posted; a list of stops is posted inside all buses, but if stops are skipped, you
may lose track. Chances are, though, that the locals riding a given bus will know
exactly where your stop is, and will kindly help you to reach your stop. You can also
ask the driver to let you know when he has reached your stop.
Avoid buses in central areas during rush hours, since traffic tends to be quite bad.
It pays to go a bit out of your way to use a metro or tram at these times instead, or
simply to walk.
BY TRAM
You'll find Budapest's 34 bright-yellow tram lines (known as villamos in Hungarian)
very useful, particularly nos. 4 and 6, which travel along the Outer Ring (Nagykörút),
and nos. 47 and 49, which run along the Inner Ring. Tram no. 2, which travels along
the Danube on the Pest side between Margit híd and Boráros tér, provides an incred-
ible view of the Buda Hills, including the Castle District, and is far better than any
sightseeing tour on a bus.
Tickets are self-validated onboard. As with buses, tickets are valid for one ride, not
for the line itself. Trams stop at every station, and all doors open, regardless of whether
anyone is waiting to get on. Important: The buttons near the tram doors are for emer-
gency stops, not stop requests.