When is the best time to fly to Budapest?
Peak Season:
The city is hot and crowded in July and August, making cheap flights to Budapest very hard to come by without some forward planning and booking your flight tickets early. The lake region is also mobbed with tourists so it can be better to visit outside of the peak of Summer to get the most out of your holiday.
If you’re flying just for the Sziget Festival then make sure to book your flights to Budapest as early as you possibly can as the prices will skyrocket as the dates approach. A great time to visit is Spring and Autumn time, as the weather is still lovely but there are far fewer crowds. You’ll also find cheap flights to Budapest then as well as cheaper accommodation.
Off Season:
It starts to get a lot colder around the middle of December and a lot of tourist attractions and museums close for the season. Unless you’re a fan of cold weather, avoid booking flights to Budapest during December and February as the temperature averages around -6°C and 0°C. You’ll find the cheapest flights to Budapest then though, and if you like the cold then it can be the perfect time to secure your flight tickets.
When is the best time to book a flight to Budapest?
If you are hoping to visit in August for the Sziget Festival you will need to book your flights to Budapest well in advance to secure the cheapest flight tickets. The Ballet Festival also takes place then too, making the cost of your flight tickets more expensive without some early planning. You can book your flights to Budapest with less notice if you are planning to visit outside of the peak summer times, with October and November providing cheap flight tickets.
Try to get a window seat on the right hand side of the plane and you’ll be greeted with stunning views of Budapest as you approach the city. Not all airlines offer the spectacular views so it can be a bit of a gamble but ensuring you’re on the right means you have the best chance.
How long is the flight to Budapest?
Flights from London to Budapest - 2 hours 25 minutes
Flights from Manchester to Budapest - 2 hours 40 minutes
Flights from Birmingham to Budapest - 3 hours 55 minutes
Flights from Glasgow to Budapest - 5 hours 05 minutes
Which airlines operate flights to Budapest?
There are a host of airlines that operate cheap flights to Budapest, however the main few are Ryanair, Norwegian, easyJet and Wizz Air. They are all rather budget airlines, so securing cheap flight tickets isn’t too difficult, that said though Ryanair do add on a hefty fee for checked in luggage during the peak of Summer, so it’s worth checking if another airlines comes out cheaper after this fee. A benefit of choosing to fly with Norwegian is that they provide complimentary WiFi throughout their flights.
How to get from the airport to the city centre?
You can get the number 200E bus from Terminal 2 to the metro station anytime between 4:00am and 23:00PM, and then jump on the metro line M3 towards Újpest Központ to reach the city center. In the arrivals you’ll find a BKK booth where you can get all of the information you need and also buy your tickets. You can either buy enough tickets to get you to the center or a special pass that lets you use thermal baths, enter museums and gives you unlimited travel.
If you’re not planning to leave your hotel much then just go for the basic tickets. You can also get a private minibus service from the arrivals section of the airport. Whilst these are more expensive and can ultimately take longer due to all of the door-to-door stops they do, they save a lot of hassle because you don’t have to carry your luggage around with you between buses and the metro.