Getting to the Venue
From city centre
The Main Building of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences is right in the city center, at the Pest foot of the Chain Bridge at 9 Széchenyi Square.
You can reach it on foot from Vörösmarty Square, Deák Ferenc Square or any other spot in the center. You can also take bus No. 105 or tram No. 2, which both drop you off at the square right in front of the building.
From Budapest Airport Terminal 2
Public transport: Bus no. 200E – M3
Take the bus No. 200E from outside the airport terminal to the underground station called “Kőbánya-Kispest”, which is where the bus line terminates (the ride takes about 20 minutes). From there you can take the underground (M3 / “Blue Line”) to “Deák Ferenc tér” or to “Arany János utca”. From either of those stops it is easy to reach the venue on foot by a 5-10 min walk.
You can also take an Airport Shuttle from the Airport, which is a fixed-price taxi service, operating minibuses that carry 3-8 passengers together.
Taxis are also available from the taxi stand right outside the arrival hall. Only one taxi company (Főtaxi) is authorized to use the airport cab stands, but you can also call one of the taxi companies listed below. Please be aware that you expose yourself to risk if you use non-regulated taxi service providers soliciting at the terminal buildings. Licensed taxis are usually yellow, and they have an information board on the window proving that they are a licensed Budapest taxi. The price of taxis is regulated at a fixed tariff, so you can choose any of the licensed taxi companies.
Reputable taxi companies with a 24-hour quick dispatch include:
City Taxi: +36-1-2-111-111
Főtaxi: +36-1-222-2222
Budapest Taxi: +36-1-377-7777
For further information related to the airport, check the Budapest Airport website.
From Keleti Pályaudvar (Eastern Railway Station)
If you arrive by train from abroad, your most likely terminal is Keleti Pályaudvar (“Eastern Railway Station”), which is on the M2 (“Red Line”) of the Underground. Take the underground in the direction of “Déli Pályaudvar”, and get off at the stop called “Deák Ferenc tér”. You will reach the venue in about 10 minutes on foot or you can take bus No. 105 (though it might not save you time, due to traffic).
From Népliget coach station
If you arrive by coach from abroad, your most likely terminal is Népliget Buszpályaudvar, which is on the M3 line (“Blue Line”) of the underground. Take the underground in the direction of “Újpest-Központ”, and get off at “Deák Ferenc tér” or “Arany János utca”. From either of those stops it is easy to reach the venue on foot by a 5-10 min walk.
Getting around in the city
The absolute transportation center of Budapest is Deák Ferenc tér, where three of the four underground lines meet (M1, M2, M3).
All major public transportation services within Budapest (buses, trams, trolleybuses, and the underground lines, as well as the green suburban trains called HÉV) are operated by the same company, the Centre for Budapest Transport (BKK). Its English-language website can be found here.
Single tickets cost 350 forints, which is cca. 1.2 EUR; and they are valid for one uninterrupted trip without change (within the administrative boundaries of Budapest). During the time of validity (1 hour after stamping, 2 hours on night services) changes are allowed only between lines on the metro and underground network (M1, M2, and M3). Trip interruptions and return trips are not permitted. Remember that you must buy your ticket in advance, and get it stamped by the orange stamp-machines at underground stations, or perforated by the little red mechanical devices on buses, trams, trolleys, or the HÉV. (Some buses and trams now have the orange stamp-machine, too.)
Tickets are also available in 10-piece blocks (HUF 3000). A transfer ticket costs HUF 530, the Budapest 24-hour travel card is HUF 1650, the Budapest 72-hour travel card is HUF 4150, and the Budapest 7-day travel card is HUF 4950. Travel cards are valid for an unlimited number of trips within the time of validity.
You can also buy a Budapest 24-hour group ticket for HUF 3300, which can be used by up to 5 passengers travelling together in the same vehicle, and is valid for an unlimited number of trips within its time of validity. For further information about tickets check the BKK website.
Tickets are available at newsstands, and at BKK service counters found in most underground and HÉV stations, as well as at major terminals of bus and tram terminals. You can also buy tickets and some of the passes at ticket vending machines that can be found at lots of stations and stops.
You may also buy a 24h, 48h or 72h Budapest Card that combines free public transport with several free services, e.g., free entry to 7 museums, free entry to one of the baths, guided walking tours, and a PocketGuide mobile app. For more information, please visit the website.