Budapest Airport to Košice: the eastern route into Slovakia

Getting out of the airport

Terminal 1 has a direct train of about 20 minutes to the city centre, while Terminal 2 needs an 8-minute bus to the station, according to Wikipedia. A 100E bus also connects the airport to the city. Budapest Airport lies about 16 km southeast of the centre, so connections to the eastern stations should be planned with buffer. See mavcsoport.hu for the rail side.

Why sleep in Budapest first

If you land in the afternoon, the connection to Košice may not be possible the same evening. A night in Budapest followed by a morning train is calmer than a rushed chain, and gives you time for the city. If your trip is mostly Slovakia, compare it with flying into Košice directly or via Vienna.

Road route

You leave the Budapest area on the eastern motorway and cross into Slovakia near the border, then continue to Košice. Wikipedia notes Košice sits about 20 km from the Hungarian border. Hungary and Slovakia both need e-vignettes (Slovak vignette). If you rent in Budapest and drop in Košice, ask for the one-way and cross-border fees, see one-way car rental in Slovakia.

Who Košice suits

Košice is Slovakia's second-largest city, with about 222,000 residents, and was a European Capital of Culture in 2013. Its Gothic Cathedral of St. Elizabeth is the easternmost cathedral of Western-style Gothic in central Europe. It suits city-break travellers, anyone starting a Slovak Karst or Tatras trip from the east, and visitors who want a lively old town. See Košice, things to do in Košice and the road onward in Košice to High Tatras.

Cost and comfort compared

A private ride of this length costs far more than the train, but it saves roughly a day's worth of transfers and waiting on a platform. For two people the difference is often large; for four it shrinks. If time matters less than money, take the train and enjoy the ride through northern Hungary. If you arrive late, or travel with children or skis, pay for the driver. Whichever you choose, avoid booking a non-flexible onward ticket before your flight has landed, in case of delays: see flight delay compensation.

One more route-specific point: because Košice lies only about 20 km from the Hungarian border, the Slovak part of the journey is short. Most of the time is spent in Hungary, between Budapest and the border area near Miskolc. If a train is delayed on the Hungarian side, ask staff whether your onward ticket remains valid before buying a new one. Keep your tickets as screenshots and as paper, since mobile coverage can drop in the hills.

Tips

• Choose your seat side if the train is a scenic route; check the carriage details.
• Carry euros for Slovakia; forints will not help you in Košice.
• Buy rail tickets online beforehand to avoid queues, particularly if you have a short connection.
• Keep your phone charged for e-tickets and map checks.