Miskolc is Hungary’s big northern city, and the gateway to two of the country’s most memorable day-out spots: the forested lakeside resort of Lillafüred, with its turreted Palace Hotel and narrow-gauge forest railway, and Miskolctapolca, where you bathe in warm thermal water inside natural limestone caves.
From Budapest Airport it’s about 180 km. You can be there in around two hours by car, or in roughly three by bus and train, depending on connections. Below we compare every way to get there: the direct train from Keleti, the Volánbusz coach, the one daily FlixBus from the airport, taxis and a private transfer, with real times and fares from the operators.
Budapest Airport → Miskolc at a glance
| Distance | About 180 km by road |
| Drive time | Approx. 2 h 05 min by road, without traffic |
| Fastest public transport | Bus 100E + metro to Keleti, then the InterCity train (2 h 02 min, 4,060 Ft) |
| Direct from the airport | FlixBus, one departure on the days it runs (11:25, 2 h 10 min) |
| Private transfer | From €195 one way, Standard Car (up to 3 passengers), from Budapest Airport |
| Last checked | 14 Nov 2026 |
Arriving at Budapest Airport
For public transport, the train to Miskolc leaves from Budapest-Keleti station, so first you have to get into town. The 100E Airport Express bus runs 24/7 from the terminal to Kálvin tér and Deák Ferenc tér, taking about 40 minutes. It needs its own 2,500 Ft airport shuttle ticket, bought with a bank card at the device on board or in the BudapestGO app. At Deák Ferenc tér, where three metro lines meet, change to metro M2 for Keleti pályaudvar. That needs a normal single ticket (500 Ft, or 700 Ft if bought on the spot).
With a private transfer, your driver tracks your flight and meets you in the arrivals hall. Airport pickups include 60 minutes of free waiting from your booked pickup time, so passport control and baggage reclaim aren’t a race.
Private transfer: door to door in about two hours
A private car is the only option that goes straight from the terminal to your hotel in Miskolc, Lillafüred or Miskolctapolca with no change of vehicle. The road route runs out along the M3 motorway and takes approx. 2 h 05 min without traffic. You pay a fixed price per vehicle, not per person, so it works out well for families and groups.
| Vehicle (from Budapest Airport) | Passengers | One way |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Car (Skoda Octavia, Ford Focus) | up to 3 | €195 |
| Standard Van (Opel Vivaro, Ford Transit) | up to 8 | €232 |
| Comfort Car (Skoda Superb, VW Arteon) | up to 3 | €235 |
| Business Car (Mercedes E-Class) | up to 3 | €442 |
Live prices from our booking engine, Budapest Airport → Miskolc city centre, checked 14 Nov 2026. Your exact price for your date and address shows when you book.
- Book online with your flight number and hotel address in Miskolc, Lillafüred or Miskolctapolca.
- We track your flight, so a delay doesn’t cost you your ride.
- Meet your driver in the arrivals hall; 60 minutes of free waiting is included at the airport.
- Ride straight to the door, about two hours, with no change of vehicle and no luggage to haul between stations.
See vehicles, reviews and the booking form on the Budapest to Miskolc private transfer page.
Train: Budapest-Keleti → Miskolc-Tiszai
The train is the quickest public option once you’re in the city. MÁV’s InterCity trains run directly from Budapest-Keleti to Miskolc-Tiszai in 2 h 02 min. On the weekday we checked (Wednesday 18 Nov 2026) they left every hour at :25 past the hour through the day. A full-fare second-class ticket costs 4,060 Ft, which includes the InterCity supplement. Buy it on jegy.mav.hu, in the MÁV app or at the station.
Good to know
From the airport, allow for the 100E bus (about 40 minutes to Deák Ferenc tér), the metro to Keleti and a buffer to buy tickets. From Miskolc-Tiszai, the city’s tram line 1 runs towards Diósgyőr and the forest railway (see Lillafüred below).
Bus: FlixBus from the airport, or Volánbusz from the city
FlixBus has a direct coach from Budapest Airport to Miskolc bus station (Búza tér), but only one a day, and not every day. On the dates we searched it left the airport at 11:25 and arrived at 13:35 (2 h 10 min), from €10.99 (Thursday 19 Nov) and €13.49 (Friday 20 Nov). There was no departure on Wednesday 18 Nov. Fares change with demand, so check flixbus.com.
Volánbusz runs direct coaches from Budapest’s Stadion bus station (metro M2, Puskás Ferenc Stadion) to Miskolc bus station. They are slow: 4 h 00 min, at 07:15, 09:15, 11:15 and 13:15 on the weekday we checked, for 3,410 Ft. For most travellers the train is the better choice.
Taxi
Főtaxi is Budapest Airport’s official taxi partner. Budapest taxis run on a uniform, legally set tariff, but Főtaxi doesn’t publish a fixed fare to Miskolc. Use the fare calculator on its website, or ask for the price before you set off. With a private transfer, the price is fixed when you book.
All options compared
| Private transfer | Train (IC) | FlixBus | Volánbusz | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| From | Airport arrivals hall | Budapest-Keleti | Budapest Airport | Stadion bus station |
| Journey time | Approx. 2 h 05 min | 2 h 02 min + transfer to Keleti | 2 h 10 min | 4 h 00 min + transfer to Stadion |
| Changes | None | 100E bus + metro first | None | 100E bus + metro first |
| Departures | Any time you choose | Hourly at :25 (weekday checked) | 11:25, not daily | 4 a day (weekday checked) |
| Price | From €195 per car (up to 3) | 4,060 Ft pp + 2,500 Ft 100E + 500 Ft metro | From €10.99 pp | 3,410 Ft pp + city transport |
| To your door | Yes | No | No (Búza tér) | No (Búza tér) |
Times and fares from MÁV, Volánbusz (MÁV ticket system), FlixBus and BKK, checked 14 Nov 2026 for travel on 18–20 Nov 2026. Full-fare adult tickets.
What to see: Lillafüred and the Cave Bath
Miskolctapolca Cave Bath
The operator describes it as Hungary’s only natural cave bath: thermal pools set inside natural limestone passages, with a sauna park and outdoor pools alongside. It’s in Miskolctapolca, part of the city of Miskolc. Don’t miss: the Old Cave Pool and Bath Hall, the iconic heart of the complex.
| Hours | Daily 09:00–19:00; ticket office closes 18:00, pools 18:30 |
| Tickets | Adult full day 8,500 Ft; 3 hours 6,000 Ft (valid to 31 Dec 2026) |
| Closed | 11–28 Jan 2027 (maintenance) |
| Official | barlangfurdo.hu |
Lillafüred and the forest railway
Lillafüred is part of Miskolc, a resort in the Bükk hills built around Hámori Lake and the Palace Hotel. The narrow-gauge Lillafüred State Forest Railway (LÁEV) climbs to it from Dorottya utca in Diósgyőr, which you reach by tram 1 from Miskolc-Tiszai station. Bus 5 also runs to Lillafüred from the Felső-Majláth tram terminus; get off at Palotaszálló. Don’t miss: the ride up the valley on the forest railway.
| Winter trains | 2–27 Nov 2026: weekends only, from Dorottya utca at 9:30, 11:00, 12:30, 14:00 (33 min to Lillafüred) |
| Next timetable | 28 Nov–18 Dec: winter timetable 2 (PDF) |
| Official | laev.hu |
Getting around Miskolc itself (trams and the city buses to Miskolctapolca): timetables are on mvkzrt.hu. A private transfer can also take you straight to your hotel in Lillafüred or Miskolctapolca.
Related experiences
Northern Hungary is wine country. Tokaj is east of Miskolc and Eger to the south-west. These private experiences pair well with a stay:
Frequently asked questions
How far is Miskolc from Budapest Airport?
About 180 km by road, approx. 2 h 05 min by car without traffic.
What’s the fastest way from Budapest Airport to Miskolc by public transport?
Take bus 100E to Deák Ferenc tér, metro M2 to Keleti, then the direct InterCity to Miskolc-Tiszai (2 h 02 min, 4,060 Ft second class). On the days FlixBus runs, its 11:25 coach from the airport takes 2 h 10 min with no changes.
Is there a direct bus from Budapest Airport to Miskolc?
Yes, FlixBus, but only one departure (11:25, arriving 13:35) and not every day. We found it from €10.99 for 19 Nov 2026, and there was none on 18 Nov.
How much is a private transfer from Budapest Airport to Miskolc?
From €195 one way for a Standard Car (up to 3 passengers), €232 for a Standard Van (up to 8), live prices checked 14 Nov 2026.
How do I get to Lillafüred from Miskolc?
Take tram 1 from Miskolc-Tiszai to Dorottya utca for the forest railway (weekends only in November 2026), or bus 5 from the Felső-Majláth tram terminus to the Palotaszálló stop. A private transfer can drop you at your Lillafüred hotel directly.
When is the Miskolctapolca Cave Bath open?
Daily 09:00–19:00 (pools close 18:30). It’s closed for maintenance 11–28 January 2027.
Whichever way you travel, Miskolc rewards the trip: warm cave pools in the morning, and the forest railway and lakeside walks at Lillafüred in the afternoon. If you’d rather skip the bus, metro and train changes with luggage, a private transfer gets you there in about two hours, straight from arrivals.
Budapest Airport to Miskolc, door to door
Fixed price per vehicle, flight tracking and 60 minutes of free waiting at the airport.
See prices & bookPhoto credits: cover, Hámori Lake at Lillafüred: Photo: Szalax, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cave Bath: Photo: Midmar Nonprofit Kft, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Palace Hotel: Photo: Palickap, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.
