Dogs and bikes go free on Budapest public transport starting January 2025

Starting January 2025, transporting bicycles and dogs on public transport within Budapest will be free of charge on all vehicles operated by the MÁV Group, including HÉV trains and Volán buses.

Author

Andrew Davison
November 29, 2024

Previously, these services incurred a fee, but this initiative responds to feedback from passengers and a request from the Ministry of Construction and Transport.

Whom It Affects

The free transport policy will apply primarily to suburban and domestic trains, as well as HÉV services and interurban Volán services operating within the capital. However, on certain long-distance trains, including InterCity and some international services, passengers will still need to purchase a bicycle ticket.

Conditions for Free Transport

To benefit from this new policy, passengers must hold one of several qualifying passes, which include:

- Valid Budapest pass

- Full fare or discounted Pest county pass

- National pass or jobseekers' monthly pass

Outside of Budapest's administrative boundaries, ticket purchases for bicycles and dogs are still necessary, albeit at a reduced price since a recent fare reform.

Ticket Pricing

Effective from March, the cost for a single bicycle or dog ticket will be HUF 500 (approximately EUR 1.21). A monthly Cycling Country Pass is available for HUF 4,950 (EUR 11.90), while the Dog Country Pass is priced at HUF 1,890 (EUR 4.56) and is valid on most MÁV-START, GYSEV, and HÉV lines.

For further information on this initiative, click here.