Frantz Liszt International Airport

Budapest’s Frantz Liszt International Airport is the aviation hub for international flights and the busiest of Hungary’s five airports, serving around nine million passengers in 2011. Its main carrier, Malev Hungarian Airlines, went bankrupt in early 2012, costing the facility about 40 percent of its annual revenue. Located 16 kms from Budapest, the complex has three terminals, 1, 2A and 2B, with Terminal 1 a 15-minute bus ride from the rest and serving all low-cost airlines with the exception of Ryanair.

The complex has flights to European cities, as well as seasonal charters to the Mediterranean, North Africa and other vacation destinations, but does not yet offer direct flights to the US. Visitors from America will need to connect at major European hubs such as Paris, London or Amsterdam. UK visitors can fly from London Heathrow on British Airways, London Gatwick, Luton or Stansted on EasyJet or Ryanair and Leeds/Bradford, Manchester and Edinburgh on Jet2. Ryanair also has flights from Birmingham and Bristol.

The passenger terminals offer ATMs, currency exchange, special needs services, Wi-Fi internet, car rental, parking, business lounges and a choice of duty-free and other stores including Herend Porcelain and Gift Point with its traditional amber jewelry. For those with time to spare, there’s a day spa, and restaurants and bars include the Bill Bentley pub, Gundel’s traditional Hungarian cuisine and a raft of fast food outlets. Onward transportation is by taxi, car, minibus, local bus, or train from Terminal 1.