Travelling from London to Budapest for the New Year’s celebrations is a a short trip and a convenient option for a weekend getaway or for longer adventures. You can choose to compensate your carbon footprint (you are amazing if you already do that). While train and coach services are available, they often involve long, all day travel times, London / Paris / Berlin/ Vienna / Bratislava are typically included on full day train rides, as well as multiple transfers, and limited flexibility. Flying, on the other hand, from London to Budapest, offers a direct, time-efficient solution, with the journey taking 2 – 2.5 hours, from door to door averaging around 6 hours.
When to Start Booking: London – Budapest -London
For the best prices and availability, start searching for flights from London to Budapest as early as September or October. New Year is a peak travel period, and fares tend to increase significantly closer to December, so don’t wait for last minute deals, they are likely to be non existent. Setting up price alerts on flight comparison websites can help you spot deals early.
London Airports to Budapest Airport
Flights from London to Budapest typically depart from major airports, including Heathrow (LHR) / British Airways, Gatwick (LGW), Stansted (STN) / Ryanair flights, and Luton (LTN) / Wizzair flights. Budapest’s only international airport, Liszt Ferenc International Airport (BUD), is the arrival point with excellent statistics regarding punctuality. Stansted and Luton often offer the most affordable options with low-cost carriers and queues can be accordingly longer with these flights. Heathrow is the higher end option with multiple extras. Find out more about London Heathrow to Budapest by plane at New Year’s, check the upcoming December flights and festive specials at the airport.
Best Direct London – Budapest Routes and Prices
Direct flights are operated by airlines such as British Airways, Ryanair, and Wizz Air. Ryanair and Wizz Air, departing from Stansted and Luton, usually offer the most budget-friendly fares, though amenities may be limited. British Airways flights from Heathrow are pricier but include added comfort and flexibility as well as loyalty points. Booking your Budapest flight in advance can secure fares as low as €40-80 one-way, but last-minute prices can exceed €200. Annoyingly, prices go up with school holidays, so families travelling with children can expect double or triple prices than regular time travellers. The best rates and the most relaxing times at attractions in Budapest are from Tuesday to Thursday, so if you can schedule your trip to Budapest mid-week, you will get lots of benefits on less busy weekdays.
What to Watch Out For Before the Flight
- Hidden Fees: Low-cost airlines may charge extra for baggage, seat selection, and in-flight services. Read the fine print carefully before booking. Check in bags are available in smaller sizes (10kg) if you have liquids over 100ml, while cabin bags will save you time.
- Transfers / Getting to the Airport: These days, you may need to wait for a taxi longer, or you can realise that the train is cancelled due to a strike, or a pesky log. Aim to be at the airport at least 4 hours before the flight and you are likely to get there on time, even if there are some minor delays, or a change from train to replacement buses.
- Flight Delays: Winter weather can disrupt travel plans, so consider travel insurance and monitor weather updates closer to your flight date. Airports all over Europe have been struggling with getting staffing problems and airports operations can be problematic. At any rate, if you book a programme in Budapest in advance, add at least half a day on top of your expected time of arrival for your booking. For example, if you are booking a Budapest New Year Cruise / festive winter tour at the Budapest Christmas Market, make sure to add 4-6 hours on top of your landing time. Many reservations are non-refundable within 24 hours so it’s best to be on the safe side.
- Holiday Crowds: Airports are busier during the New Year period, so arrive early to avoid stress during check-in and security. True, you can’t avoid the crowds, as Budapest as a particularly favoured travel destination for its amazing New Year programmes (baths, cruises, parties, tours, markets and more), but you will be less stressful while queuing for passport check, etc.
- Airport Food / Drink Prices: With global inflation, foods and drinks have become much more costly than before, especially at airports (200%+ more). Take some snacks / bites or even a lunch bento box to save on costs. You can also choose to refill your emptied water bottles after the X rays, in the main Lounge halls (usually there are signs indicating filtered drinking water stations, so no need to buy new plastic bottles of water). You can use free refills at London Stansted, or in Budapest too (by the loo at both).
- Be charged and ready with a UK to EU travel adapter (converting the 3 pin into a 2 pin socket) and possibly a portable charger or power bank (many cafes or restaurants in Budapest may not necessarily have a socket to charge your phone / laptop, so to keep on taking photos, videos and staying in contact you may find a portable charger a handy item). Budapest airport has dozens of sockets to connect to with the right adapter (USB cables are vulnerable to malware, so best to have a proper charger with you – it’s not a media hype so best to take it seriously before being juice jacked).
After Landing: Getting to Your Accommodation
Upon arrival at Budapest Airport, officially known as the Ferenc Liszt International Airport, you can expect about 15 – 20 minutes on regular days to get through the biometric or personal passport checks (there are toilets next to this part, if you need one urgently after landing). Once you get to the the baggage reclaim, and the ‘nothing to declare’ bits, you will step out into a hallway, and in ten steps you can be outside the building. It is a relatively short route to exit, not like the huge airports in Paris or London. Once outside, most transfers are to the left. The further left you go, the cheaper and less convenient the options are. The closest option is the Taxi Rank and the Shared Shuttle Minibus station (the latter included in the Budapest Card 72h Plus tourist pass). Taking a taxi / shuttle is quick on normal days but will be longer around New Year. Go past the taxi rank to get to 100E public bus shuttle (very affordable, direct to the centre), then, a few metres more, you will get to the lowest priced option, the 200E regular bus (extremely budget, will stop at each bus stop). The most efficient ways to reach Budapest’s city centre in December are:
- Airport Large Shuttle Bus (100E): A direct service of the Budapest public transport system to central locations like Deák Ferenc Square. Tickets cost around 2,200 HUF, can be purchased from the vending machine or on the bus as you get on.
- Taxi or Ride-Sharing: Airport Shuttles, Private transfers or shared shuttle buses, official Taxi services are reliable, with fares to the city centre costing approx. 15,000 HUF to the city centre or more.
- Public Transport: The 200E bus connects to the M3 metro line, offering an economical option for about 450 – 500 HUF. Tickets are available from multiple vending machines on the way to the Bus stop.
With these flight travel tips from London to Budapest, you’ll be well-prepared to enjoy a smooth journey and start your New Year celebrations in Budapest! Let us know if you have some important updates regarding the current traffic / flight situation.
