These apps (iOS and Android) will help you get by in Budapest. If you know or have come across any others that you would recommend to others, please write to us!
Public transport – Budapest Go – not only can you see the buses and streetcars in real time and plan a route (although Google Maps is still better for this), but you can also buy and validate single, short-term and day tickets on the go. This also applies to the airport bus to the city. Test the app before you arrive and link it to a payment method (Apple Pay or a credit card), then you can get started as soon as you arrive.
Cab rides – Bolt – It is relatively expensive to simply hop into a cab on the spur of the moment. Instead, everyone uses the Bolt app – unlike with Uber, you still only ride with professional cab drivers. One of the advantages of this is that you know the maximum cost of the journey before you set off and can pay for it in advance using your mobile phone. In the app, you can see exactly where the car is at any given time and don’t have to wait unnecessarily on the road. No cash is required here either.
Delivery services – Wolt – Since the Covid pandemic, practically all of Budapest’s restaurants can also be found among the delivery services. There are also other providers such as FoodPanda and NetPincer. Incidentally, kifli.hu is also an online supermarket and delivery service for groceries if you don’t want to carry anything yourself.
Pay – Wise – The free app can also be described as a world account, with which you can hold all conceivable currencies and exchange them at virtually the same conditions that apply to the banks themselves. It’s quick to set up, you register, take a photo of your ID and transfer 20 euros to the account, which is credited to your account within 2 days at the latest. Finally, the virtual card is linked to Apple Pay or Google Pay on the cell phone and can then be used to pay for anything in Budapest. Personally, I don’t even have a wallet with me anymore, so it can’t be stolen either 🙂
