Accessible Hungary

Virtually all of the important sights are accessible by public transportation in Budapest. However, it is worth planning the trip thoroughly. Trams No. 4 and 6 have a barrier-free design, and most buses in the city centre are also barrier-free with low floors. Elevators are available at each station of the newest Metro Line 4.

Access to the trams poses no problems, but you should let the driver know your need in case of the buses. You can find detailed information about barrier-free public transportation on the website of the Budapest public transport company, and you can also plan a barrier-free route in the city using the BKK Futár mobile application.

Hearing-impaired people can use the video sign language interpreter service at the BKK Customer Centre on Ferenciek tere. At the Customer Centre, a tablet is available to call a sign language interpreter, who translates online between the customer using sign language and the BKK employee communicating orally.

Numerous junctions in Budapest are equipped with traffic lights with a sound alert indicating when crossing the road is possible. Some of these do not operate during the night, or operate at a lower volume, in order to prevent them from disturbing residents living nearby.

If you are planning your route via train, it is worth checking which stations have elevators for disabled persons.

Find the complete list here: https://www.mavcsoport.hu/mav-start/belfoldi-utazas/mozgaskorlatozottak-szamara-igenyelheto-szolgaltatasok

The Volánbusz coach company operating on routes to the suburbs and within the region purchased modern barrier-free vehicles in 2020. Plans are for these to make transportation easier, with free Wi-Fi also available on the coaches.

Several museums in Budapest and throughout the country organise tactile exhibitions every year, with ‘tangible’ displays that can be touched by blind and partially sighted visitors. The aim of the organisers of these special exhibitions is to enable blind, sight-impaired and sighted visitors to become the audience of the exhibition together, and improve understanding and help between people through interaction. The thematic works of contemporary artists of classical and applied arts and of sight-, hearing-, and intellectually impaired artist are displayed at the tactile exhibitions.

The most important sights in Budapest are concentrated within a well-defined circle. In many cases, it is not even necessary to use public transport within this area. There are plenty of barrier-free sites, and the difficulty actually lies in accessing old, historic buildings and attractions.

The Route4U app is a great community-based innovation: barrier-free route maps are designed for wheelchair users, and you can easily plan your day with it. It is a personalised, up-to-date, door-to-door navigation system for wheelchair and other wheeled device users. There are also organised sightseeing tours in Budapest, with barrier-free routes.

Buda Castle is a protected area, therefore, the Medieval part of the city cannot be equipped with ramps or other accessibility devices everywhere; the whole area of Buda Castle has cobblestone paving, which is difficult to navigate, but certain parts of the Castle District have been provided with new pavement.

On the road to the castle, car traffic is restricted to protect the national monument area. Disabled persons can drive in free of charge and without a permit if they have a valid parking card. In addition, you can access the Castle with the low-floor buses 16, 16A, 116, the Buda Castle Funicular or the elevator at Dózsa György tér.

A free ticket can be obtained at the ticket office of the Matthias Church – for escorts as well – but you must request that the barrier-free entrance be opened.

The lower level of the Fisherman's Bastion is easily accessible, with a beautiful view of the Danube, the Pest side and the Parliament.

The Hungarian National Gallery is fully accessible, and artifacts that can be touched by visually impaired visitors are also on display. The museum is equipped with barrier-free restroom facilities.

At the corner of Szentháromság tér and Tárnok utca, there is a tactile reliefdepicting the Matthias Church and the Fisherman's Bastion with Braille inscription for the blind and partially sighted.

One of the most impressive sites of the Budapest is Hősök tere. Its sculptures created in 1896 portray the great figures of Hungarian history. It is an excellent starting point for exploring the area. There are also two excellent museums in the Square: the Museum of Fine Arts and the Kunsthalle – which houses modern-contemporary works –, with both equipped with ramps and a lift.

The Széchenyi Thermal Bath is a stone’s throw away, well-worth visiting for its magnificent architecture alone. The Zoo and City Park are located here, as well as the romantic Vajdahunyad Castle with the Row Boating Lake – allowing you to spend an entire day in this part of town. All of the places here can be accessed using a wheelchair.

Most of the buses and trolleybuses around Hősök tere have low floors. The opulent old building of the Széchenyi Thermal Bath is barrier-free.