Getting There & Around – Hungarian Grand Prix

Advice on getting to Budapest and the Hungaroring circuit for the Hungarian Grand Prix. The next race is on July 27-29, 2018.

Budapest benefits from a convenient location in the heart of Central Europe. Whether you fly, take the train or drive yourself, it’s easy to get to the Hungarian Grand Prix in July. Budapest has a well-developed public transport network with an efficient three-line Metro serving most central parts of the of the city. Taxis are plentiful and new regulations have largely eliminated dishonest drivers. The Hungaroring circuit is 20km to the northwest of the center and can be reached fairly easily by train, bus or taxi.

If you have a little more time and want to see some of the countryside, taking the train to Budapest is a great choice. The city is well connected to Europe’s extensive rail network and there are day and overnight trains available. Seat 61 is a great source of information on trains to Budapest. You can book online via the Hungarian rail company, Mav Start. Here’s some routes, journey times and one-way ticket prices: Vienna or Bratislava (3 hours), from €19 / Prague (6 hours), from €19 / Munich (7 hours) from €29 / Krakow (10 hours), from €49 in two-bed sleeper / Berlin (12 hours), from €39.

How to get to the Hungaroring circuit

Depending on where you are staying and your chosen mode of transport, the 20km trip from Budapest to the Hungaroring will take you anywhere from 30-90 minutes. If a helicopter transfer is beyond your budget, then the next most effective way to get to the track is via taxi, which only takes 30 minutes but costs €40 each way. Alternatively, if you don’t mind a trip which takes more like 90 minutes and involves at least 30 minutes of walking, then you can take the free bus or the cheap metro/train option.

Taking the metro/train to the Hungaroring will take anywhere from 60-90 minutes, depending on where you stay in the city. The last 30 minutes involves a cross country walk to the track. Follow these instructions. Take the metro to the last station on the eastern end of the red metro line (M2), Örs vezér tere. If you are staying near a station on one of the other metro lines (M1 or M3), you will have to change for an eastern-bound M2 train at the main central interchange station, Deák Ferenc tér. It’s only 6 stops from Deák Ferenc tér to Örs vezér tere which should take around 15 minutes. Once you have reached the end of the M2 line at Örs vezér tere, exit the station and cross to the opposite corner of the intersection (via an underpass), where you will find a small suburban train stop. A ticket office is nearby and there is also a large shopping center (a good place to stock up on water and snacks).

Trains only go in one direction from here, as it’s the end of the line – you need the train to Gödöllő. Tickets cost 250 HUF each way (less than €1) and trains run regularly on Grand Prix weekend. You can purchase your ticket before you get on the train or buy from the conductor after you have set off. The trains are pretty old and rickety, but the trip to the special Hungaroring stop (only used on race weekend) only takes around 25 minutes. You can get off one stop earlier at Szilasliget or one stop later at Mogyoród as the walk to the circuit is a similar distance. After you get off the train, it’s a 30-40 minute cross-country walk to the track. Just follow the crowds, you won’t get lost. Taxis are available if you don’t fancy the walk, but make sure the driver uses the meter or agrees to a reasonable fare upfront. Be patient if you are using the train to get home on Sunday after the race; the trains can become very overcrowded at peak times.

The organizers put on free buses to the circuit from central Budapest on Grand Prix weekend. As long as you have a valid ticket for the race, you can take the bus. The buses leave from the Volánbusz bus station on the Pest side of the Árpád bridge. The closest metro is Árpád híd on the M3 (blue) line, five stops north of Deák Ferenc tér. The bus takes around 45 minutes, but doesn’t actually get you to the circuit proper. You will get dropped off in nearby Mogyoród (Templom tér), which is about 40-minutes walk from the circuit. The service is pretty orderly and hassle free for most of the weekend, but don’t be in a hurry to leave the circuit after the race. Stay a while to let the crowds die down. A timetable for the buses will be available closer to the race weekend on the Hungaroring website.

Fares from the city to the circuit are no longer fixed, but the following guide prices are given: 33 EUR from the center (Deák Square) or 49 EUR from the airport. Use one of the official companies or you run the risk of paying a lot more (and the trip will take longer, see below). At the circuit, there is a taxi stand next to the main entrance to the circuit (near turn 1). Official taxis use a special VIP access road, so are less likely to get stuck in traffic jams near the circuit and the total trip shouldn’t take longer than around 30 minutes. If you are travelling as a group, or just tired and don’t fancy the long walk to the bus or train, taking a taxi is a good choice. Official Hungarian Grand Prix taxi companies: Taxi 2000 (+36 12 000 000), 6 x 6 Taxi (+36 16 666 666), City Taxi (+36-1-2-111-111)

The Hungaroring is located just off the M3 motorway which heads northeast out of Budapest. Don’t forget that you will need to buy a vignette to use the motorway; a weekly pass costs around €10 and can be purchased at service stations. There is a 0% blood alcohol limit for driving in Hungary – do not drink and drive. Access to the circuit is well signposted and the drive from central Budapest should only take around 20 minutes, but be ready for traffic delays, particularly when leaving the circuit on Saturday and Sunday. The roads around the circuit are narrow and were not designed to handle the volume of traffic the area experiences on Grand Prix weekend. Trackside parking is free for ticket holders. Check the attached map for circuit access roads and parking locations. Note: if you have purchased a minimum of 4 Super Gold tickets, then you are entitled to park in a special parking zone within the circuit, close to your grandstand.

General Advice on Getting Around in Budapest

Taxis used to be a bit of a lottery in Budapest, with a big variation in rates between companies and lots of drivers out to fleece tourists. Luckily, things have improved since September 2013, when a new law came into force which regulates taxi fares. There is a new fixed tariff of 280 HUF per km ( €0.95/km) in addition to the one-off basic fee of 450 HUF ( €1.50. Look for licensed taxis (normally yellow) which have a clearly identified price list on the window.

The metro is a great way to get around the city, and there are also trams, trolley buses and regular buses. If you are planning on using a lot of public transport when you are in town, it makes sense to purchase a travel card which is valid for either 24, 48 or 72 hours.

There are two types of card to choose from: Budapest Travelcard, which is good for unlimited journeys on all forms of public transport within the city limits. Valid for 24 hours (1650 HUF / €5.50) or 72 hours (4150 HUF / €13.70) OR Budapest card, which offers the same benefits as the Travelcard, but also includes extras such as free entry to museums and the famous Szent Lukács Thermal Baths as well as lots of discounts. Valid for 24 hours (4500 HUF / €15), 48 hours (7500 HUF / €25) or 72 hours (8900 HUF / €30).

Single tickets on public transport cost 350 HUF (just over €1) and you can also buy a book of ten individual tickets for 3000 HUF ( €10). Don’t forget to validate your ticket as the public transport inspectors in the city have a fearsome reputation and have been known to shake down tourists. More information about public transport in Budapest.

Been to the Hungaroring? Leave a comment with your travel tips.