Budapest Airport parking: car parks and cheaper options for a day trip

Budapest Airport parking means one of the official car parks run by the airport at Terminal 2, from Terminal Parking right next to the building to long-stay car parks a short walk or free shuttle ride away, and for a single day the cheapest choice depends on how many of you travel. On a one-day trip you leave before dawn and come back late at night, so the question is simple: drive and park, take the 100E bus, or take a taxi? Here is how to decide.

The official car parks at Ferihegy

Budapest Airport runs several car parks around Terminal 2. They differ mainly in distance from the terminal and in how the fee is counted:

• Terminal Parking: the closest, about a minute from the terminal via a covered walkway. Designed for short stays, drop-offs and pick-ups.
• Holiday Parking: a 4 to 9 minute walk from the terminal, with daily fees counted from the time you arrive.
• Smart Parking: an 8 to 10 minute walk via a covered walkway, aimed at longer stays, also with daily fees.
• Relax Parking: long-stay parking with a free shuttle bus to the terminal every 15 minutes, around the clock, the ride taking about 8 minutes.

Prices change with the season and with demand, so we do not quote them here. Check the current rate for your exact date on the airport’s official parking site (bud.hu, Parking section). Booking online in advance is usually cheaper than the list price you pay on the day.

Which car park suits a one-day trip?

For a single day, the daily-fee car parks (Holiday, Smart and Relax) are usually the ones to compare, because their fee is set per day rather than per hour. Terminal Parking is the most convenient but is built for short stays, so for a full day away it tends to cost more. Relax Parking adds a shuttle ride, which is fine in the morning but worth remembering when you land tired at night.

Allow extra time when you park: entering the car park, finding a space and walking or riding to the terminal can easily take 15 minutes. Our airport guide for a one-day trip explains how early to be at the terminal.

Parking vs the 100E bus vs a taxi

The 100E airport bus

The 100E runs around the clock between Deák Ferenc tér and the airport, stopping at Kálvin tér and Astoria. At the time of writing, the official BKK price list shows a single airport ticket at 2,500 HUF per person, or a 1,000 HUF supplementary ticket if you hold a valid Budapest monthly pass. For a solo traveller living near the centre this is usually the cheapest option. Our 100E airport bus guide has the details.

Taxi

Budapest taxis charge a regulated fare made up of a base fee, a per kilometre charge and a waiting charge. Főtaxi is the airport’s contracted taxi partner, with a rank outside arrivals at Terminals 2A and 2B, and Uber also operates at the airport. A taxi costs the same whether one or four people ride, which makes it competitive for a small group, especially at 4 a.m.

Driving and parking

Parking is a fixed cost per car, not per person. For two or more travellers coming from outside the city centre, or from outside Budapest, a pre-booked daily car park often beats paying for several bus tickets plus getting to Deák Ferenc tér at dawn. Add the cost of fuel and compare with the airport’s online price for your date.

Quick rule of thumb

• Alone, living near the centre: take the 100E.
• Two or more, or coming from the suburbs: compare a pre-booked daily car park with a taxi.
• Late landing and a long way home: parking means your car is waiting, with no night bus connections to plan.

Before you leave, check the hand luggage rules too: travelling with just the free under-seat bag saves you the bag drop queue. Our hand luggage size checker tells you in seconds if your bag qualifies.

The Daytrip app shows the flight times of every one-day trip from Budapest in advance, so you can decide on parking or the bus as soon as you pick your date.

FAQ: Budapest Airport parking