Review Airport Liszt Ferenc - Budapest

This is Budapest Airport

Liszt Ferenc

If you’re flying in or out, you’ll arrive at Terminal F2. Terminal F1 is rarely used (let’s just say: never).

The airport is accessible by public transport if you live or are staying in the right neighbourhood. At the moment, there is no train station at the airport, but there are plans to build one.
Contrary to what you might think, the airport isn’t very international. Speaking English is still an issue, and the same goes for customer service.
If you put on your ‘I-have-no-idea-what-to-do’ face, someone will come to your aid. If not, just ask! At the airport, you’ll mainly find Hungarian signs, alongside Chinese and a bit of English.

Before you go through security, you can shop at Spar supermarket, and there are toilets and a few small shops (likely to be closed if you’re there early).
This is also where you’ll see many travellers sleeping or waiting on the floor, as there are very few seats.

Incidentally: the new Ibis hotel is probably not affordable for most travellers.

Outside the airport you’ll find: taxis, buses (line 100E runs directly to Budapest – note: the fare must be paid separately and is not included in a Budapest public transport pass! The 200E therefore takes you to the train station (the train is also included if you have this pass). Here you also find the long distance buses like Flixbus (also driving to Budapest).

Although I paid 5 euros for a fast lane at security, it turned out there wasn’t one! So save yourself the money if you’re on time. This isn’t the first time WizzAir has offered and charged for something that doesn’t exist.

Prices at the airport are sky-high! It’s very hard to believe anything you see in the duty-free shop to be tax-free! The same counts for what you buy in the plane.

After security check, you walk through the duty-free shop (if you buy anything, you have to show your flight ticket) straight into a large hall.

If you go upstairs, you’ll find the Food Corner and more toilets (separate for women and men). If something is open during the early hours the food is most likely old. Some leftovers being sold.

Wherever you are, you can check the flights and gates anywhere to see where and when your plane is leaving.

It’s a long walk to the gate where mainly WizzAir and Ryanair (Buzz) flights depart. This part of the building is newly constructed. If you are unable to walk such a distance, it is best to ask for assistance, and the airline will charge you for this too. Strangely enough, I only saw pushchairs at the gates (which seems pointless to me), but only after I had gone through security.

If you’re not travelling light... there are self-service desks where you can check in your suitcase yourself! The airlines that use this system strongly recommend it in the name of contactless travel (sounds a bit creepy, but they’re still exploiting the COVID period and what they really mean is: if you do it yourself, we can lay off more staff).

There is free Wi-Fi, and there are power sockets (not too many) to charge your phone or laptop. If you need to, you’ll also find (after a bit of a search) cash machines where you can withdraw euros or HUF (don’t go to a currency exchange bureau; it’s much more expensive than paying with your debit card and check if they do not charge you a high amount extra. There are plenty of ATMs which don't!).
You can also hire a car, and if you need one, book it alongside your flight ticket or before you leave. A minibus will take you to the hire company (you’ll have to wait a while).

What else can I say about this airport?
It’s a medium-sized, renovated airport, not too big; security is... (mainly absent).

If you like there are plenty of souvenirs for sale. You have to like them.

The car parks are all within walking distance and at the end of the cheapest one you can enter the aircraft museum(there’s also a bus stop).
Otherwise, this airport is just as anonymous and unfriendly as any other, far from welcoming.

Note: For those who like watching aeroplanes... this isn’t possible unless you’re catching a flight and go through security.

_31-5-2026