Vehicles

1. Autó

   Car

   Usage

   The general word; forms and road signs may use the stiffer személygépkocsi

2. Busz

   City bus

   Usage

   The city bus; the stop is buszmegálló. In Budapest a number ending in E, such as 7E, is an express that skips stops

3. Távolsági busz

   Long-distance coach

   Usage

   Intercity coaches, run domestically by Volánbusz; most Budapest departures leave from the Népliget bus station

4. Kisbusz

   Minibus

   Usage

   The small bus used for airport transfers and tours, including the shared shuttle at Budapest airport

5. Vonat

   Train

   Usage

   A MÁV train. Budapest has three main stations — Keleti, Nyugati and Déli — and which one you use depends on the destination

6. Gyorsvonat

   Fast train

   Usage

   The faster service as opposed to the all-stops személyvonat. The top InterCity trains also need a separate seat reservation, helyjegy

7. Metró

   Metro

   Usage

   Budapest has four lines, M1 to M4. The little yellow M1 opened in 1896 — the oldest underground on the continent, and a World Heritage site

8. Villamos

   Tram

   Usage

   Budapest's yellow trams. Lines 4 and 6 run around the Nagykörút around the clock, and line 2 hugs the Danube past the Parliament

9. Trolibusz

   Trolleybus

   Usage

   A bus drawing power from overhead wires. Budapest's are red and numbered in the 70s and 80s; Debrecen and Szeged have them too

10. HÉV

    Suburban railway (HÉV)

    Usage

    Short for helyiérdekű vasút, the green suburban trains. For Szentendre take the H5 from Batthyány tér; beyond the city limit you pay a supplement

11. Fogaskerekű

    Cog railway

    Usage

    The rack railway, line 60, climbing the Buda hills from Városmajor to Széchenyi-hegy; ordinary city tickets are valid

12. Sikló

    Funicular

    Usage

    The funicular from Clark Ádám tér at the Chain Bridge up to Castle Hill. City passes are not valid — buy its own ticket

13. Libegő

    Chairlift

    Usage

    The single-seat chairlift from Zugliget up János-hegy, the highest point in Budapest. It closes for weather and in the off season — check before you go

14. Taxi

    Usage

    Licensed Budapest taxis are yellow and all charge the same city-set tariff. Booking by app or phone is safer than hailing

15. Motorkerékpár

    Motorcycle

    Usage

    The formal word used on forms and signs; in speech everyone just says motor

16. Robogó

    Moped / scooter

    Usage

    The step-through scooter; rentals turn up in the Balaton resort towns

17. Kerékpár

    Bicycle

    Usage

    kerékpár is the formal word, bicikli the everyday one. Budapest's bike share is MOL Bubi, and the Balaton ring route is a classic ride

18. Roller

    Kick scooter / e-scooter

    Usage

    The electric kind is elektromos roller. Share services operate in central Budapest, but mind the rules on pavements and parking

19. Repülőgép

    Airplane

    Usage

    Usually shortened to repülő in speech. Budapest's airport is Liszt Ferenc International

20. Hajó

    Boat / ship

    Usage

    Danube sightseeing boats and Balaton services alike. Budapest's public transport also runs seasonal river boats on D-numbered routes

21. Komp

    Ferry

    Usage

    The car ferry — the Tihany to Szántód crossing on Balaton and the Danube crossings between bridges

22. Mentőautó

    Ambulance

    Usage

    The emergency number is 112; Kérem hívjon mentőt means please call an ambulance

23. Rendőrautó

    Police car

    Usage

    The police force is rendőrség; a theft report has to be filed at a station

24. Tűzoltóautó

    Fire engine

    Usage

    The fire service also answers on 112. tűz is fire and oltó is the thing that puts it out

25. Teherautó

    Truck

    Usage

    A goods lorry; it shows up on motorway signs about restrictions

26. Bérautó

    Rental car

    Usage

    Hungarian motorways need an electronic vignette, the matrica — always check whether the rental includes one

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