Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport — Local services in Budapest

Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, located about 16 kilometers southeast of Hungary’s capital city, is the largest and busiest airport in the country. Formerly known as Ferihegy Airport, it has grown to become an important hub for Central and Eastern Europe. I recently traveled through BUD and had the opportunity to experience both arrival and departure, and I can say that it offers a generally efficient and pleasant travel experience, though there are areas that could be improved.

Arrival Experience:

Upon landing, the airport presents a clean and organized layout. Immigration was relatively smooth. While the lines were a bit long due to the arrival of multiple international flights, the border officers worked efficiently, and the wait time was reasonable. Passport control staff were professional, though not particularly warm or welcoming.

Baggage claim was also well-organized. My luggage arrived promptly—within 20 minutes of landing—which is always a positive sign of a well-functioning system. Signage throughout the terminal was clear and available in both Hungarian and English, which helped a lot in navigating toward transportation options.

Transport Connectivity:

One of the strengths of Budapest Airport is its accessibility to the city center. There are several transportation options available, including official airport taxis, ride-sharing services, buses, and shuttles. The 100E airport bus provides a direct connection to downtown Budapest and is an affordable and convenient choice for travelers on a budget. Taxis are also regulated and relatively inexpensive compared to other European capitals.

Terminal Facilities: The airport has two main terminals: Terminal 2A and 2B. Both are connected and serve Schengen and non-Schengen flights respectively. The terminals are modern, though not particularly large, so during peak times it can feel crowded, especially in the waiting areas and near the boarding gates.

The facilities are reasonably good. There is a decent variety of shops, including duty-free stores, bookstores, souvenir stands, and fashion outlets. The dining options are also fairly varied, ranging from fast food to sit-down restaurants offering Hungarian and international cuisine. Prices are a bit higher than in the city, as expected at airports, but still affordable compared to major Western European airports.

Wi-Fi is available and free throughout the terminal. The connection is stable and fast enough for browsing and light streaming. There are also plenty of charging stations, which is something I always appreciate as a traveler. Security and Check-In: On the departure side, check-in is generally efficient. There are self-service kiosks for many airlines, and baggage drop-off points are usually well-managed. Security checks are thorough but professionally handled. However, during busy travel times, the lines can get long, and the layout doesn’t always allow for smooth flow between different checkpoints.

One downside I noticed is that there aren’t always enough seats at the gates, especially during peak departure hours. Travelers often have to stand or sit on the floor, which can be inconvenient for longer waits. This is an area where the airport could improve by expanding seating or better managing boarding times.

Overall Impression

Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport is a solid, mid-sized European airport that serves its purpose well. It’s not the most luxurious or high-tech airport, but it is functional, clean, and reasonably comfortable. The friendly and efficient transport connections to the city make it especially appealing for tourists and business travelers alike. With some minor improvements in seating capacity and crowd management, it could provide an even better...

We give one star because we can't give zero or below. The staff of the airport is helpless, arrogant and rude. We had our flight at 22:25 and they kept delaying it until they told us they had cancelled it. No one of the flight attendants told us anything until at 2:00 am when us and all the other passengers started to point out that we should have left hours before, only then they told us that there was no crew on the plane and that we wouldn't have left until six in the morning and food and staying were our problem and that they couldn't do anything and that they even didn't know if we would have had our flight in the morning. There was even someone o had their luggage checked in and they told him that he had to go and pick it himself. They left during the night without giving us any confirmed information about our flight and we had to figure out what to do all ourselves. At first we thought it was a airline problem, but then we discovered that the airport had accumulated delays one after one due to the snow (I could comprehend if they had this kind of problems if we were in Malta, but in Budapest you could expect snow falling...) and they had left aside our flight. They told us we could sleep at the airport wherever we wanted (of course we didn't need to hear that) and left like that. Describe it a horrible experience is not enough, another flight left at 3:00 am, probably because the crew worked harder for the flight to go. The only good thing are the toilets, which are kept well cleaned, probably because it's not the flight attendants who do it. If you want to live the country you have to be lucky enough to find the perfect weather conditions, flight attendants who is willing to do their job and a crew who's willing to pilot the plane. We won't ever visit Hungary again, because aside from this terrible experience even the people here were as welcoming as a punch in the face, and we will be sure that everyone we care of won't do our same mistake of visiting this country. Best thing to do in Hungary is to visit...

Before you decide to go to Budapest could you please think again. I know videos online says otherwise. I was feeling excited when I book Budapest but this is the worst airport I have been, staffs in duty free are rude (Hungarian mindset) and especially the custom nothing to declare. I was stopped by nothing to declare officer last week and I believe it was a targeted search, because I was the only foreigner at the time in the area. Officer 03497 (don't want to give his name) stopped and searched my bag, even though I only carry a small holdall and small duty free bag to carry bottle of water I bought. He doesn't speak English and he is a bully. What kind of officer working in an international airport and does not speak English! He asked where I flew from, I answered, and I even showed him the boarding pass he doesn't believe me. He went and checked the monitor for the recent arrival flight. He exerted his power to bully tourists. As I had nothing to hide I was let go after being be little in public. I believe that Officer 03947 either very incompetent at his job or he has been there for too long and he is cocky and bully foreign tourists. I asked how to file a feedback he told me to contact nav. Gov.hu. I went to the website and was to contact the Budapest airport. I emailed Budapest airport customer service, this ignored. Please please please reconsider before visiting this country/ city... You do not want to experience such event on your holiday. Officer 03947 - I hope that karma will get you back one day.

Airport is also shambles. The picture attach is one of the Hall way in the early hours because security checks not open (before 4am). Travellers sleeping on the floor thinking that it is open 24hrs so they arrive little early.

I will not come back to this city/ country even if it was the last one on earth. Spend your hard earned money in other respectful European...