Is There Uber in Budapest? (Tips for Getting Around)
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Uber was banned in Hungary for almost 8 years, and I was pretty happy when they announced that Uber would return. Uber has been now operating in Budapest again, but it is different than the Uber we know in other countries.
Uber in Budapest operates as a subsidiary of the Hungarian taxi company, Főtaxi, and it has the same fare as all other taxi companies in Budapest. In other countries, Uber is known as a cheap alternative for taking taxis, but in Budapest it’s not the case.
Even though Uber has the same fare as other taxi companies in the city, its app is easy to use and is convenient for tourists. The prices are fixed in the app, so you don’t have to worry about being ripped off.
Is There Uber in Budapest?
Uber has a bit of a controversial story in Budapest, but yes, Uber is back in Budapest since June 2024!
Uber was first launched in Budapest in 2014, but the local taxi drivers protested against Uber as it operated with a low fare system. The low fare system of Uber threatened the earnings of Hungarian taxi drivers operating at a higher fare rate, and they protested for the banning of Uber.
Ultimately, the Hungarian government sided with the local taxi drivers and Uber was banned in 2016. It was only in 2024 that Uber started operating again in Budapest.
In 2024, Főtaxi (a Hungarian taxi company) bought the licence to operate Uber, and so Uber in Budapest is operating as a subsidiary of Főtaxi rather than the Uber we know in other places.
Uber is currently only covering Budapest, but you can find other major Hungarian taxi companies in big cities in Hungary, such as Eger, Debrecen and Miskolc.
Tips for Using Uber in Budapest
Booking
Booking Uber in Budapest works like anywhere else. If you already have the app on your phone, then once you log into the app, it will automatically update the location to Budapest.
Once the app shows Budapest as the location, you can start booking taxis as usual.
Prices
Uber is known for having lower fares and is considered as a cheap way of getting around cities. It’s not like that in Budapest. In Budapest, an Uber ride costs the same as taking a taxi by any other company.
The reason that Uber costs the same as other taxis goes back to it being operated as a subsidiary of Főtaxi. I would say it was a smart marketing move from the side of Főtaxi to get the licence to operate Uber.
In the time that Uber was banned in Budapest, foreign travelers always looked for Uber as a way of getting around. So, there was a high demand for Uber to cater for foreign visitors.
Because Uber is known as a cheaper alternative to other taxi companies, I had the initial belief that Uber would be cheaper than other taxi companies in Budapest. It turned out that it is not the case, and all taxis (Uber, Bolt, Főtaxi, CityTaxi) operate under the same fare.
I took Bolt a couple of times before Uber was reintroduced, and when Uber came back to Budapest, I was telling my friend how great it is going to be to have cheap Uber rides in the city. My friend who is, by the way, a taxi driver, corrected me that all taxi companies in Budapest have the same fare, and that Uber is going to have the same prices.
The taxi fares in Budapest are:
- Base fare: HUF 1,100 (USD 3)
- Price/km: HUF 440 per km (USD 1.20 per km)
- Waiting fee: HUF 110 per minute (USD 0.30 per minute)
For taxi trips in Budapest, you can also use the fare calculator of FőTaxi to estimate the costs of your trip.
Tipping
It is not mandatory to tip taxi drivers in Budapest, but it is greatly appreciated, especially if the driver provides a good service.
Usually, you can tip around 10% of the total fare. You can tip it in the Hungarian currency (Forint), or in major currencies like, Euro, US Dollars or GBP. If you just have a short trip, you can also round up the fee and pay a bit extra, for example, if the fare costs HUF 2,800, you can round it up to HUF 3,000.
If you want to tip your taxi driver, you can also ask him his preferred way of getting the tip. Some drivers may like cash in HUF, while others may like it in foreign currencies.
My friend who works as a taxi driver really likes to get the tips in cash in Euro, USD or GBP as those are stronger currencies than the Hungarian Forint, plus, he can use it when he goes on holidays abroad.
Safety
Taking a taxi is safe in Budapest. Budapest is a safe city, and taxis are safe too, even at night. All taxi companies (Uber, Bolt, CityTaxi, Főtaxi) are considered safe even if you are a solo female traveler.
All taxis in Budapest have yellow colour, and the established companies have their logo on the side door of the taxi. If you see the logo for Uber, Bolt, CityTaxi or Főtaxi on the taxi, then it is safe to take them, and you won’t be overcharged.
Taxi Scams
The biggest issue when it comes to taking a taxi in Budapest are taxi scams targeting tourists.
If you are a foreigner visiting Budapest and you hail a regular taxi in the city, the taxi driver may try to scam you, go without meter, temper with the meter, and get you to pay double or triple the actual price.
These taxi drivers are “freelance” drivers and are known for ripping off tourists. If you see the sign “freelence” (“független szolgáltató” in Hungarian) on the side of the taxi, they are the ones who tend to overcharge customers. These taxis are also yellow, but it is best to avoid them, otherwise they could rip you off. If you are in an emergency and you must take any taxi available, try to negotiate the price beforehand.
I have heard many stories of foreigners who overpaid for a short taxi ride in the city. Instead of a USD 10 ride, they ended up paying USD 50 or more. This is more likely to happen if you hail a taxi on the street, but if you use taxi apps like Uber or Bolt, then the price of the trip is fixed before you start the journey.
Not all taxi drivers are the same, but if you are visiting Budapest, it is better to stick to taxi apps to make sure you don’t get scammed.
Another option is to ask at your hotel reception to book a taxi for you. Hotels usually have contracts with one of the Hungarian taxi companies (CityTaxi, Főtaxi), and their drivers also follow the standard fare system in Budapest without trying to scam tourists.
My friend works for CityTaxi and the drivers pride themselves in providing good taxi service for passengers (both locals and foreigners), and wouldn’t think of overcharging customers.
Other Reliable Taxis in Budapest
Bolt
Bolt is similar to Uber and has been operating in Budapest for years. It used to be called Taxyfy and then later it was renamed to Bolt.
Bolt works exactly like other taxi apps. Once you download the app, you can select the departure and arrival point on a map, and see the fare calculated beforehand.
Bolt is very similar to Uber, has the same prices in Budapest, so which one you choose comes down to personal preference and availability of taxis.
CityTaxi and Főtaxi (Hungarian Taxi Companies)
CityTaxi and Főtaxi are the two Hungarian taxi companies operating in Budapest. (Plus, Uber is operating as a subsidiary of Főtaxi). They are reliable and when you book their taxis through the call center or through your hotel, then they provide high quality service without trying to rip you off.
I have not been a big fan of their apps, found them less user friendly as opposed to the apps by Uber or Bolt. But the taxi driver who work for them have years of experience and provide a good service.
Public Transport in Budapest
It’s also a good option to get around Budapest by public transport. The public transport in Budapest is very cheap, and the city center is well-connected.
If you stay in the city center of Budapest, the easiest is to get around the city by the metro or trams. There are also many bus routes, trolley buses, and trains that connect the city.
Depending on how long you stay in Budapest, you can get single tickets, a pass for a fixed number of days (24h, 72h), or even get a Budapest Card that includes transport and entry to various attractions in the city.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a taxi from Budapest Airport to City Center?
The taxi fare from the Budapest Airport to the City Center costs around HUF 12,000 (USD 36). There is a taxi booth (Főtaxi company) at the airport where you can book a taxi to take you into the city center.
Do you need cash for taxis in Budapest?
You can pay by both cash and card for taxis in Budapest. Some taxi drivers might prefer cash, but you can always ask the driver what they prefer.
Do Budapest taxi drivers speak English?
Not all taxi drivers speak good English, especially drivers that are older, but they have a basic level of English. Usually, Uber and Bolt have younger drivers and they speak better English.
My Final Tips on Taking a Taxi in Budapest
Overall, Uber is a convenient way for tourists to get around Budapest. If you are used to using Uber back home and already have the app on your phone, then Uber is the best app to use in Budapest.
The only thing to keep in mind is that all taxi companies operate by the same fare in Budapest, so even though Uber is known for its affordable prices in other places, in Budapest you’ll not be saving money by taking Uber.
My recommendation is that whatever you do, do not hail a regular taxi in the city center, always pre-book the taxi either on their app or through your hotel. When hailing a taxi, the drivers may try to scam you and try to overcharge you. They may temper with the meter and get you to pay double or triple the price.
The good thing about Uber is that even though it is not cheaper than other taxi companies in Budapest, the price is fixed before you start the journey, so you won’t get overcharged.
