Pécs is Hungary’s fifth-largest city and the big name of the south: a university town with a striking cathedral, a mosque turned church on Széchenyi Square and Roman-era tombs that UNESCO lists as World Heritage. It was a European Capital of Culture in 2010, and its climate and atmosphere feel almost Mediterranean.
It’s also a long way from the airport, about 218 km by road, so how you travel matters. You have four real choices from Terminal 2: the InterCity train from Budapest-Kelenföld, a Volánbusz coach from Népliget, a taxi, or a private transfer. Below we compare them with the times and fares the operators publish, so you can choose by budget, luggage and landing time.
Budapest Airport → Pécs at a glance
Budapest Airport → Pécs
| Distance by road | approx. 218 km (BUD to Pécs city centre) |
| Drive time | about 2 h 47 min, approx. (route-planner estimate; traffic can add time) |
| Fastest public transport | InterCity “Mecsek” from Budapest-Kelenföld to Pécs, 2h 26m direct, every 2 hours, after the 100E bus and metro M4 to Kelenföld |
| Coach | Volánbusz from Budapest-Népliget, 2h 50m–4h 15m direct, 3,690–4,600 Ft |
| Private transfer | from €247 one way, Standard Car (up to 3 passengers), from Budapest Airport |
| Last checked | 14 Nov 2026 |
Arriving at Budapest Airport
Every option starts at Terminal 2. The 100E Airport Express bus runs around the clock between the airport and Deák Ferenc tér, via Kálvin tér, every 6 to 15 minutes in the daytime and every 30 to 40 minutes at night; BKK puts the journey to the centre at 40 minutes. It only takes the special 2,500 HUF airport shuttle single ticket, which you can buy with a bank card on board, in the BudapestGO app or from BKK machines (BKK). Metro and other city lines need a normal ticket: a single ticket is 500 Ft, and a 90-minute ticket, which lets you change, is 850 Ft (BKK fares).
The other airport line, bus 200E, runs day and night to Kőbánya-Kispest metro station (metro M3) and stops at Ferihegy railway station, where trains run to Budapest-Nyugati. It takes ordinary BKK tickets and passes, not the airport shuttle ticket (Budapest Airport).
For Pécs, the train leaves from Budapest-Kelenföld: take the 100E to Kálvin tér and change to metro M4, which runs to Kelenföld station. Coaches leave from Népliget coach station, served by metro M3 (Népliget stop): the 200E takes you to Kőbánya-Kispest, where you board the M3 towards the city.
With a private transfer, your driver meets you in the arrivals hall (meet & greet). Airport pickups include 60 minutes of free waiting time from your booked pickup time, and flight tracking is included, so the driver waits if your flight is delayed.
Every way to Pécs, compared
| Private transfer | Train (IC Mecsek) | Volánbusz coach | Taxi | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| From the terminal | Driver meets you in arrivals | 100E bus + metro M4 to Kelenföld first | 200E bus + metro M3 to Népliget first | Főtaxi stand, T2A/T2B |
| Journey time | about 2h 47m door to door (approx.) | 2h 26m Kelenföld → Pécs, plus getting to Kelenföld | 2h 50m–4h 15m Népliget → Pécs, plus getting to Népliget | No published figure |
| Changes | None | Bus → metro → train | Bus → metro → coach | None |
| Frequency | Any time you choose | Every 2 hours, 06:12–20:12 | 11 direct departures, 06:20–17:20 | On demand |
| Price | from €247 per car (up to 3), €298 per van (up to 8) | 4,600 Ft (2nd class, seat reservation included) + 2,500 HUF bus + metro ticket | 3,690 Ft, or 4,600 Ft on the fastest coaches, + city tickets | Metered: 2,100 HUF + 520 HUF/km + 130 HUF/min |
| Arrives at | Any address in Pécs | Pécs railway station | Pécs coach station | Any address |
Prices and timetables checked on 14 Nov 2026 in the official MÁV-Volán journey planner for Tuesday 17 November 2026; they vary by date.
By train: 100E bus, metro M4, then the InterCity
There’s no direct train from the airport to Pécs. Take the 100E Airport Express to Kálvin tér and metro M4 to Budapest-Kelenföld. From there the InterCity “Mecsek” runs straight to Pécs. On Tuesday 17 November 2026 the MÁV planner showed direct departures from Kelenföld every two hours, at 06:12, 08:12, 10:12, 12:12, 14:12, 16:12, 18:12 and 20:12, taking 2 hours 26 minutes (2h 28m for the last one) (MÁV).
The fare was 4,600 Ft one way in second class, which includes the seat reservation; seat reservation is compulsory on this train. After the 20:12 there was no direct train that night: the later options needed several changes and an overnight wait, arriving at 07:07 the next morning.
Good to know
The 2,500 HUF airport bus ticket covers only the 100E. Buy a separate city ticket for the metro (a 90-minute ticket if you want to be safe on the change), and check the next InterCity before you leave the terminal: with a train every two hours, a slow bag reclaim can mean a long wait at Kelenföld.
By coach: Volánbusz from Népliget
Volánbusz coaches to Pécs leave from Budapest-Népliget coach station and arrive at Pécs coach station. On Tuesday 17 November 2026 the MÁV-Volán planner listed 11 direct departures, from 06:20 to 17:20. The quickest, at 08:50, 14:50 and 16:50, took 2 hours 50 minutes for 4,600 Ft; the others took 3 hours 20 minutes to 4 hours 15 minutes for 3,690 Ft (MÁV-Volán).
Some departures with a change (in Szekszárd or Baja) cost the same and can be quicker than the slowest direct coach, but they add a connection to miss. There is no coach from the airport itself.
By taxi
Főtaxi is Budapest Airport’s taxi partner, with booking stands at Terminals 2A and 2B and the taxi rank in front of them. The airport says the regulated airport tariff is a 2,100 HUF base fare plus 520 HUF per km and 130 HUF per minute, and that Főtaxi prepares a fare calculation for your exact address before the trip starts (Budapest Airport). Neither the airport nor Főtaxi publishes a fixed fare to Pécs, so we haven’t quoted one: ask for the calculation at the stand before you get in.
Private transfer: door to door
A private transfer picks you up in the arrivals hall and drives you to any address in Pécs, with no station, change or timetable. On 14 Nov 2026 our booking engine quoted these one-way prices from Budapest Airport to central Pécs, per vehicle, not per person:
| Vehicle | Passengers | One way from BUD |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Car (e.g. Skoda Octavia) | up to 3 | €247 |
| Standard Minivan (VW Touran) | up to 4 | €282 |
| Comfort Car (e.g. Skoda Superb) | up to 3 | €294 |
| Standard Van (e.g. Opel Vivaro) | up to 8 | €298 |
| Business Car (Mercedes E-Class) | up to 3 | €552 |
| Business Van (Mercedes V-Class) | up to 6 | €729 |
Your exact price for your date and group shows when you book on the Budapest to Pécs private transfer page. For three people the Standard Car works out at about €82 each, and for a group of eight the van is about €37 each.
How it works
- Book online on the Budapest → Pécs page: enter your flight, pickup time and group size, and you see the fixed price per vehicle before you pay.
- Land and walk out to arrivals. Flight tracking is included and your driver waits for you; airport pickups include 60 minutes of free waiting time.
- Load the luggage and go. Your English-speaking driver helps with your bags and drives you straight from the terminal, with no station or change on the way.
- Get dropped at the door of your hotel or any address in Pécs. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure; the first child seat is free.
Related experiences in southern Hungary
Heading south for wine? These private tours to the Villány wine region are bookable from Budapest:
When you get to Pécs
Start with the Early Christian Necropolis. In the 4th century the Roman town of Sopianae, today’s Pécs, built a series of decorated tombs: underground burial chambers with memorial chapels above them, painted with murals. UNESCO inscribed the site on the World Heritage List in 2000 (UNESCO).
Then walk out to the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter, built around the old Zsolnay porcelain factory. It has the Zsolnay family and factory history exhibition, the Zsolnay Mausoleum and a live porcelain workshop, and its m21 Gallery hosts the 3rd GraphicPécs Festival from 27 November 2026 to 22 February 2027 (Zsolnay Quarter). Coming in late winter? Mohács, home of the Busójárás carnival, is also in the south; see our Busójárás guide.
FAQ
How long does it take to get from Budapest Airport to Pécs?
About 2 hours 47 minutes by car (approx. 218 km). The InterCity takes 2h 26m from Budapest-Kelenföld and the fastest Volánbusz coach 2h 50m from Népliget, but you first need to get from the airport to those stations by bus and metro.
Is there a direct train from Budapest Airport to Pécs?
No. Take the 100E Airport Express to Kálvin tér and metro M4 to Budapest-Kelenföld, then the direct InterCity “Mecsek”, which runs every two hours (06:12 to 20:12 on 17 November 2026).
How much is the train from Budapest to Pécs?
4,600 Ft one way in second class, including the compulsory seat reservation (checked 14 Nov 2026 for 17 November). Add 2,500 HUF for the airport bus and a city ticket for the metro.
Is there a bus from Budapest to Pécs?
Yes, Volánbusz coaches from Budapest-Népliget: 11 direct departures on 17 November 2026, taking 2h 50m to 4h 15m, for 3,690 Ft or 4,600 Ft on the fastest coaches.
How much is a taxi from Budapest Airport to Pécs?
There is no published fixed fare. The regulated airport tariff is 2,100 HUF plus 520 HUF per km and 130 HUF per minute, and Főtaxi works out a fare for your address before the trip.
How much is a private transfer from Budapest Airport to Pécs?
From €247 one way in a Standard Car (up to 3 passengers) and €298 in a Standard Van (up to 8), checked 14 Nov 2026.
If you land in the morning and travel light, the InterCity is fast and cheap once you’re at Kelenföld. With children, a lot of luggage or a late flight, a fixed-price car from the terminal saves you three changes and the two-hour gap between trains.
Straight from arrivals to Pécs
Fixed-price private transfer from Budapest Airport to any address in Pécs, from €247 per car.
See prices & bookPhoto credits: cover, Pécs Cathedral by Timmie1983, Wikimedia Commons, CC0. Route map: © OpenStreetMap contributors, route by OSRM.
