Budapest Card or 72-hour public transport ticket?

By Daniel & Fabian · Last updated on 10 Nov 2026 · Published on 27 Oct 2026

The 72-hour card costs HUF 27,712, the BKK 72-hour ticket HUF 5,750. The difference of HUF 21,962 has to come from admissions. We work out when that happens.

In short: The 72-hour card costs HUF 27,712, the BKK 72-hour ticket (72-hour Budapest-travelcard) HUF 5,750. At Tiqets, through which you can book, the card is therefore almost five times as expensive. Tiqets bills in euros, the forint amount is Tiqets' own figure. Free admissions have to make up the difference of HUF 21,962, on average HUF 7,321 per day. Card prices as of 10 Nov 2026, public transport as of 26 Oct 2026. You can work out your days in the calculator for the Budapest Card.

Public transport alone does not justify the card

A single ride costs HUF 500. The 24-hour ticket for HUF 2,750 pays off from 6 rides, the 72-hour ticket for HUF 5,750 from 12 rides. It takes 56 single rides to cost as much as the 72-hour card, which is almost 19 per day. If you only want to ride buses and the metro, you do not need the card.

Duration	Budapest Card	Public transport bought separately	Difference
24 hours	HUF 17,280	HUF 2,750	HUF 14,530
48 hours	HUF 22,496	HUF 5,500	HUF 16,996
72 hours	HUF 27,712	HUF 5,750	HUF 21,962
96 hours	HUF 36,515	HUF 8,500	HUF 28,015

For 48 hours, two 24-hour tickets are cheaper than one 72-hour ticket; for 96 hours we calculate with a 72-hour ticket plus a 24-hour ticket. The difference is the minimum amount your free admissions need to be worth.

What can cover the difference

Over three days you need free admissions worth an average of HUF 7,321 per day. The Lukács Baths alone (HUF 7,000, Monday to Thursday) are not enough. The Lukács Baths plus the Aquincum Museum (HUF 10,000) are. Which admissions are free is listed under the attractions of the Budapest Card.

Two scenarios for three days

Light programme with the Lukács Baths, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Buda Castle History Museum: HUF 16,600 in admissions plus HUF 5,750 for the ticket, HUF 22,350 in total. The 72-hour ticket is HUF 5,362 cheaper than the card.
Full programme with seven free admissions (Lukács, Museum of Fine Arts, Buda Castle History Museum, Castle Bus, Citadella, Hungarian National Museum, Memento Park): HUF 34,500 in admissions plus HUF 5,750 for the ticket, HUF 40,250 in total. The card saves HUF 12,538. For the Castle Bus, the card covers one full round, which equals the single ticket at HUF 6,500.

Airport bus and the PLUS and FLEXI options

The airport bus 100E is not included in the standard card, and the 72-hour ticket is not valid on it either. A single trip costs HUF 2,500. The 72 hours PLUS option (HUF 39,990 at BKK) includes the 100E return trip and the Buda Castle Funicular (Budavári Sikló). The 72 hours FLEXI option (HUF 27,990 at BKK) includes public transport and five benefits of your choice. We do not calculate either of them here.

What this means for your planning

If you plan no more than one or two smaller admissions per day, a public transport ticket plus single admissions is cheaper. The card only pays off with a packed programme. More options are shown under alternatives to the Budapest Card.

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Frequently asked questions

How much is the 72-hour ticket in Budapest?

HUF 5,750 at BKK for unlimited rides within the city area, excluding the airport bus 100E. The 24-hour ticket costs HUF 2,750, a single ride HUF 500. As of 26 Oct 2026.

Does the Budapest Card pay off for public transport alone?

No. The 72-hour ticket costs HUF 5,750, the 72-hour card at Tiqets HUF 27,712. As of 10 Nov 2026.

Is the airport bus 100E included in the Budapest Card?

Not in the standard card. A single trip costs HUF 2,500. It is included in the 72 hours PLUS option and as an optional benefit with FLEXI. As of 26 Oct 2026.

Sources

Card prices at Tiqets (our price page with source and history), checked on 10 Nov 2026
BKK prices: single ride, 24-hour and 72-hour ticket, airport bus, PLUS and FLEXI, checked on 26 Oct 2026
Validity area of the 72-hour ticket (BKK), checked on 26 Oct 2026
Benefits of the Budapest Card, PLUS and FLEXI (BKK), checked on 26 Oct 2026
Budapest Castle Bus with Budapest Card, checked on 25 Oct 2026
Admission Lukács Baths, checked on 25 Oct 2026
Admission Museum of Fine Arts, checked on 25 Oct 2026
Admission Buda Castle History Museum, checked on 25 Oct 2026
Admission Hungarian National Museum, checked on 25 Oct 2026
Admission Citadella, checked on 25 Oct 2026

Prices can change. Admission and card prices change, sometimes at short notice. We check admission prices at the official source and card prices with the ticket provider you book through. We show the date for every price and check all prices again once a month. The price shown to you at checkout is always the one that applies. If you spot an outdated price, let us know at info@citycardcheck.com.

Data source: Card prices at the ticket provider Tiqets, through which you can book (Tiqets bills in euros, forint amounts as stated by Tiqets), as of 10 Nov 2026. Single ride, 24-hour and 72-hour ticket, airport bus 100E plus PLUS and FLEXI at BKK, checked on 26 Oct 2026. Individual admission prices of the attractions included free of charge, taken from the operators' websites, checked on 25 Oct 2026. All prices in forints.

Photo: Arvydas Venckus / Unsplash