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Similar to many other cities, Budapest has a City Card that offers discounts and entry to museums as well as public transport.
Personally, I think the Budapest Card offers very good value compared to many other European city passes, but you don’t have to take my word for it.
A lot of guides online about the Budapest Card are outdated. The card changes almost every year and the inclusions shift slightly, which means articles written even a year or two ago might no longer reflect what you actually get.
This guide is based on the 2026 version of the Budapest Card, and instead of guessing whether it is worth it or not, we are going to break down the actual math.
Because at the end of the day, people can argue about value all they want, but the numbers don’t lie.
Another thing to note is that the card recently changed its structure. In the past there were shorter options like 24-hour and 48-hour cards, but the newer versions now start at 72 hours.
🥳 MY TOP BUDAPEST SUGGESTIONS
⭐ Hotels: The Stories Boutique Hotel is affordable, stunning and so well located. Check out all my recommendations for hotels here.
⭐ Activities: I really loved this chimney class, especially if it is your first time in the city. 👉 Book here.
⭐ Favorite place to eat: At for Sale pub for the quirky vibes, Vaj Bakery for breakfast and Food Market for Langos.
⭐ Must do repeat activity: Rent a bike from these guys and head to to Margaret Island and also Szentendre village. It is stunning!
What is the 72 Hour Budapest Card?
A lot of people confuse the 72 hour transport card with the 72 Budapest Card (attractions). They are two different concepts altogether.
Budapest is a fairly large city but more than that, it has a ton of things to do.
This guide is one of my most popular reads for good reason, since it covers 45+ things you can do in Budapest and has prices as well. You will see there is just a ton of activities in this city for visitors of all interests to enjoy.
So how does the card play into it?
Well…
Currently there are 3 main options:
- 72 hours (3 days)
- 96 hours (4 days)
- 120 hours (5 days)
I would say this makes sense since anything less than 3 days makes it difficult to take advantage of the perks.
Book your Budapest Card here
Included with card
Each Budapest Card includes:
Unlimited public transport (metro, tram, bus, trolleybus)
Free entry to 30+ museums and attractions
Free Danube river cruise (one ride)
Free guided walking tours in Buda and Pest
Free entry to Lukács Thermal Bath
Discounts up to 50% at attractions, restaurants and cafés
What changed from previous years
Each Budapest Card includes:
Unlimited public transport (metro, tram, bus, trolleybus)
Free entry to 30+ museums and attractions
Free Danube river cruise (one ride)
Free guided walking tours in Buda and Pest
Free entry to Lukács Thermal Bath
Discounts up to 50% at attractions, restaurants and cafés
Previous Year Changes
When you start researching the Budapest 72H card you’ll notice there are significant changes every year.
In this guide, we’ll cover the updated 2026 version so you don’t have to get confused.
The main differences at a glance are:
- Fewer short term options: previous years had 24 and 48 hour options)
- Digital tickets are easier
- More focus on experiences: Previous years did not have Buda Castle Funicular ride, Matthias Church entry or the Hungarian chimney cake dessert.
- Price increases: The 72h Plus card was priced at 96€ in 2023 but it is now 126€
- Plus and non plus versions: In 2026 there is are standard versions for all except the 72 hour which come as a Plus option.
- Less focus on restaurant discounts: Previous years also had more mentions of restaurant perks and meals.
- Multiple confusing cards: In 2025 they came out with 3 versions of 72 hour card, plus all the other versions as well, which I think was too much and a bit confusing. They’ve now kept 3 versions (for now!).
👉 Speaking of chimney cake, you should totally do this class which I reviewed here.
What has stayed the same
One thing that has not changed is that several of Budapest’s most famous landmarks still require separate tickets.
These include:
Hungarian Parliament
House of Terror Museum
Great Synagogue
Fisherman’s Bastion terraces
So even if you buy the Budapest Card, you should expect to budget for a few additional tickets if you want to see the city’s biggest highlights.
Top 10 Most Valuable Attractions Included in the Budapest 72 hour Plus Card (2026)
Attraction | Regular Price | With Budapest Card |
|---|
~€25 | Free | |
~€20 | Free | |
Buda Castle Funicular | ~€14 | Free (72H Plus) |
~€21 | Free (72H Plus) | |
Hungarian National Museum | ~€9 | Free |
Museum of Fine Arts | ~€10 | Free |
Budapest History Museum | ~€10 | Free |
Pál-völgyi Cave | ~€9 | Free |
Zugliget Chairlift | ~€8–10 | Free |
72-hour Public Transport Pass | ~€14 | Included |
If you include the MiniBUD airport transfer as well, the total value of the attractions above comes to roughly €175–€177 if booked separately.
Since the Budapest Card 72 Plus costs €129 in 2026, doing just these inclusions would already take you well past the break-even point.
That means the card doesn’t just break even on paper. It can actually save you a decent amount before you even start adding extra museums, walking tours, or discounts.
And yes, I’ve added links to each activity listed above so you can fact check the prices of the tours if booked individually.
Always great to do a river cruise!
How to Save €50–€60 With the Budapest Card 72 Plus
If you want to know whether the Budapest Card 72 Plus is worth it, here is a very realistic example of how you could use it over 3 days and save around €50–€60.
The Budapest Card 72 Plus costs €129.
Here’s one combination of included activities that gets you well past that amount:
Included Activity | Typical Individual Price |
|---|---|
Door-to-door airport transfer (miniBUD) | €35 |
Danube River Cruise | €20 |
St. Lukács Thermal Bath | €25 |
Matthias Church | €21 |
Buda Castle Funicular (return) | €14 |
72-hour Public Transport Pass | €14 |
Museum of Fine Arts | €10 |
Hungarian National Museum | €9 |
Walking Tour of Buda | €10 |
Walking Tour of Pest | €10 |
Pál-völgyi Cave | €9 |
Zugliget Chairlift | €8 |
Budapest History Museum (Castle Museum) | €10 |
So with a very realistic mix of transport, one cruise, a bath, a few attractions, and the walking tours, you can easily reach €55–€60 in savings with the Budapest Card 72 Plus.
This leaves you enough time to squeeze in a few more attractions, museums or get discounts on the dozens of cafes listed.
The Budapest Card also gives 25% off the pedal bike carriages on Margaret Island (Bringóhintó), which is a fun way to explore the island’s parks and waterfront paths.
Book your Budapest Card here
Where to Buy the Budapest Card
You can buy the Budapest Card in several places, but the easiest option for most travelers is to purchase it online before arriving.
Online (recommended) – Buy the card in advance and collect it when you arrive in Budapest.
Budapest Airport information desks – Available at the Budapestinfo Points in Terminal 2A and 2B.
Budapestinfo tourist offices in the city – For example at Deák Ferenc Square, Heroes’ Square, and Buda Castle.
Selected partner hotels and travel agencies across Budapest.
Official Budapest Card sales points located at major tourist areas and attractions.
If you plan to use the airport transfer or public transport immediately after landing, it’s best to buy the card online before your trip so you can start using it right away.
So with a very realistic mix of transport, one cruise, a bath, a few attractions, and the walking tours, you can easily reach €55–€60 in savings with the Budapest Card 72 Plus.
This leaves you enough time to squeeze in a few more attractions, museums or get discounts on the dozens of cafes listed.
👉 You can also get 20% off entry price for Rudas Baths.
How Easy the Budapest Card Is to Use
Using the Budapest Card is very straightforward once you have it.
The card becomes active the first time you use it.
It works for 72, 96 or 120 hours, depending on which option you purchased.
Simply show the card at museums, attractions or tours that are included.
For public transport, you just carry the card with you in case inspectors check tickets.
For the free Danube cruise, you usually need to reserve a time slot with the partner cruise company.
For some attractions with discounts instead of free entry, just show the card at the ticket desk.
Short on time? Top Budapest recommendations
📲 Best eSIM for Budapest: I love testing different e-sim companies. My go to recently is Superalink and you can use my code BACH20 for 20% off any plans.
🚖 Airport Tip: Grab the 100E bus or book an affordable shuttle from around 35 euro return per person.
🏺 Best Tours:
There are so many organized tours in Budapest. I personally love cooking classes, walking tours, museums and unique experiences. Start with these:
- Budapest: Unlimited Prosecco, Beer and Aperol Spritz Cruise – Super popular social cruise!
- Széchenyi Spa Day Ticket – Most well known spa in the city!
- Hungarian Chimney Cake Workshop – Fun and tasty! Loved this class
- Budapest downtown: Real shooting experience – Highly recommend and very safety focused!
- Budapest: Buda Castle Cave Tour
- Budapest: Parliament Building Entry Ticket and Audio Guide
