How not to pay for public transport (BKV) in Budapest
Posted by admin on Mar 21st, 2008
2008
Mar 21
Not to pay for the ride with BKV (public transport) is possibly the most popular sport in Budapest. The word for travelling without a ticket is “bliccelni”, which means literally “to be like lightning” and comes from the German word “Blitz” (Lightning).
Traditoinally, BKV checked the tickets either on the vehicles or on the way out from the metro. It took them decades to figure out that they should follow the cinema principle: check the tickets before you enter the premises. So nowadays, you have to flash your ticket or pass at every major metro or underground station before you enter.
There is a way to beat the system, we’ll give you a complete guide on free riding with the BKV. Remember: only the suckers pay, and only the stupid get caught.
So, how to be a real Budapester and beat the BKV?
First, you have to know the dangerous spots:
- Tickets and passes are often checked if you switch metro lines at Deák tér. You can avoid this if you exit the station, then re-enter at the line you want to take. This might not always work, as there could be controllers (ellenőrök) downstaris.
- There are sometimes controllers downstairs waiting for you on your way in. This can happen everywhere, but usually at Ferenciek tere, Kálvin, Keleti, Blaha, or Deák. You have to watch for them on your way down on the escalator. The controllers are usually stupid enough to check exactly at the end of the escalator, so you can spot the crowd easily. You count the controllers, and let people go in front of you so that the controllers will be busy checking them. Rush or hold back if you need. When walking past a controller, be confident, smile, don’t stop, just flash and old ticket or pass and run for the metro. Just duck away if a controller tries to catch you. Usually works.
- The controllers downstairs might check you on your way out. They always say this on the loudspeakers. Use the same principle as above.
- Controllers might check you at the top end of the escalator on your way out. They always say this on the loudspeakers. Use the above principle or use the confusion tactics. I used to have a picture of Holy Mary the Virgin and flashed it really close to the face of controllers. They always froze, and those 2 seconds were always enough for me to cross the white line that is the official border of the BKV territory. No-one shouted “This guy just showed Holy Mary to my face”.
- Controllers usually razzia a segment of the metro line. So if there is control at Kálvin, chances are you get checked at Ferenciek tere and Deák, too
- Bus lines 7, 73,173 and 78 and some express bus lines to the outskirts are often checked. You have to spot the controllers before they board, get off and take the next one.
- Tram 2 (the main tourist tram line) is very often checked as the controllers are hunting the tourist. Be careful and try to spot them before they board and get off.
Know how to sneak in when they control on your way in
- Try not to look like a tourist. BKV controllers think tourists are walking purses. So always look irritated, bored, depressed as the usual Hungarians do.
- Let someone stop at the controller in front of you
- Always have a ticket at hand. Walk past the controller and show it to them, and do not stop or slow down. They don’t bother reading the time stamp (I don’t think they can read anyway) unless you look like a sucker or a tourist
- Alternatively, you can prepare a ticket in which the time stamp is a blurry, unreadable mess and claim the machine must have been broken. This might not work for tourists, as sometimes the controllers themselves sabotage the ticket machine.
Know your enemies. You can identify controllers quite easily.
- Almost always they are in groups of three or two. Never alone.
- You can easily develop a sense for their group dynamics. They are the ones who are waiting patiently. They not drunk, and are not arguing with each other. They are not rushing to take seats.
- Controllers dress like a mixture of Stasi agents and born losers. Sometimes they wear the same kind of clothing. I think it is a kind of uniform, or something they can buy cheap from their yearly dress-allowance.
Don’t pay cash
- You can always claim you actually live in Budapest and have a monthly pass, but it is not on you right now. They will give you a check for a fine. If you present your pass in the BKV in “Akácfa utca” and pay a smaller fine (about HUF 1000) withih 8 days, the check will be cancelled. You can do this three times a year. So, you either get a monthly pass from some else. That’s tricky, because the pass says the date of purchase and the owner. Consult an architecture student, they are the masters of scraping ink. Or simply just leave if you are a tourist and don’t bother about the check…
- Never pay the cash fine, always ask for a check. They don’t like to do it with tourists, because they see their commission going away, but they have to do it if you claim you don’t have any money on you. They will need your identification. If your ID doesn’t have your address, you can either give a fake address in Hungary (or anywhere), or give away your real address (if it is not in Hungary). BKV might send you checks (cool), but what can happen if you don’t pay it? Nothing. No-one will bother with you next time you enter Hungary.
- Simply walk away. Firmly, smiling, without violence. Do not let them bither your circles. Yes, it is possible. See next chapter.
Know your rights
- The controllers do not have the right to hold you up, grab you or hold you fast. They cannot limit your personal freedom.They are not police, doesn’t matter how much they think they are. Hungary is a free country, after all, at least in this sense.
- The controllers do not have the right to search you. If you say you don’t have money orID, then you don’t, full stop.
- The controllers can call the police. But they do not have a right to hold you there until the police arrives.
- Sometimes at big metro stations the police is right next to the controllers. The police has the right to search you, doublecheck your identity or even take you in. So always have an ID. You can actually fordib the police to give out your data, but that would cause a lot of stress and might get you taken in. So, let the police write down your details, give them to BKV. You’ll leave Budapest at one point and never bother about the checks again.
More stuff on BKV:
- Recently, BKV has changed the rules on night buses. Start-budapest will school you, don’t worry.
- Also, the BKV controllers run their own scams. Start-budapest will not let them fool you.
See how the pros beat the BKV system in the film „Kontroll” by Nimród Antal.
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Hi! I am from Hungary. Every country has its problems so I wouldn’t be so pessimistic as the writer is. You know if you don’t buy a ticket - that money is going to be a part of the tax we pay, so please pay.
April 16th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
You should be ashamed of yourself, Mr. admin. Just keep on not paying for anything, and sink in your own shit. Cool, isn’t it?
May 10th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Hi,why don’t you sign your article with your real name? Where is your bravery, Mr.Admin?
“So always look irritated, bored, depressed as the usual Hungarians do.”
Fuck off
May 11th, 2008 at 8:51 am
nice, but it doesen’t work. sry.
May 11th, 2008 at 11:29 am
I guess u work for BKV!
I want to be there when poor foreigner “csórikám” tries to walk away “Firmly, smiling, without violence”!! LOL! Come on, that’s a joke! 
But funny anyway. I love the “Stazi agents and born losers” part! 
May 11th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
You Ameros always keep smiling and fucking the poor nations outta their minds oh yeah that’s the way you kept cheating the indians (and Iraquis) outta their lands, the great fuggin misfux you are. Go and put yasself where my gramma had the pain cheapo.
May 11th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
if you think that - STAY HOME!!
May 11th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Bravo admin, it’s nice tipping off tourists who can well afford to buy a Budapest card or a day pass.
Encourage them to use a service paid by Hungarian taxpayers free , a real example of our legendary hospitality, congratulations again.
Just for the record, once a ticket inspector watched me validate my ticket and checked it afterwards, you can’t get away with it all the time…
May 11th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
The controllers are fookin thieves, the public transportation is a total mess and the prices are very high compared to the salaries. So it is normal that people simply avoid buying tickets. The problem is that this entire blog entry is not a joke.
May 11th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
If people wouldn’t have a way to travel if they can’t afford it, the Hungarian economic system would collapse. A monthly pass costs 1/6th of the minimum wage. But I guess the question is, why promote “blitzing” to foreigners? Well for some reason they are only informed about how to buy and validate tickets after they got ripped off by controllers.
May 15th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
So, thanks for all your comments. Sorry for not approving them right away, I was lame and didn’t see them. I always approve all comments if they are relevant.
June 11th, 2008 at 11:04 am
Hi!
I traveled in Budapest with BKV for 3 days. They tried to scam me TWICE!!! Once in Deok Ter, they said the ticket was not valid, even though I had just stamped it beforehand. I read your blog earlier and didn’t let them fine me, I just shouted and walked away. Thanks, man!
Then, on tram 41: three people, one woman, two men. I think they messed with the ticket machine. And, on Astoria, some skinheads just stopped me in front of the bus door and I almost got into a fight. What is wrong with Budapest?!?!? Such a nice city, but horrible people (I mean the controller thugs) .
Fuck BKV!
tuxxA
June 11th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Crazy city. I lived there for 4 months and loved it. Never got into any serious trouble… the women are amazing and the beer is cheap. I lived on Alig Utca off Lehel Ter. West end mall is gorgeous and has a great food court. I am American and it is quite different than I am used too. I love Budapest and if anyone wants to try a central European city I recommend this over Prague and even Vienna which I spent time in as well.
June 11th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
I always paid for a ticket. Just because BKV doesnt have the “right” to beat u up doesnt mean they wont. The ticket is so cheap… like 20 american for a month pass… and it helps out the nation that is hosting you. I love Hungary and cannot wait to go back…. if you treat them right, they will treat you right.
June 12th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Oh damn.
1) tuxxA: yes, because at here you don’t buy a ticket for a time limit, every time when you change the line, you should buy a new one. And yes, sadly the controlles sometimeys try to cheat :(, but a lot of hungarian people are there, who try to help tourists when they see, there is some problem with a tourist at the controll.
2) I join to SpockCooper: when i am in foreign Paris, Rome, London, everywhere i always pay for travel, never want to cheat as Budapest also.
Why the peoples from other countries think they can do everything what they want here? Do the things as you do it at home.
German and american guys always came here, they our loud, drop trahs on the street, and they think they can do what they want.
Of course, every country needs the tourist money, but money is not everything.
June 12th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
and what kels sad: “the women are amazing and the beer is cheap.”
enjoy this, and pay that little money, it’s about an euro, not so much for a travel. if hungarian people can pay it, i think, you can too.
June 13th, 2008 at 7:47 am
kels:
improve your maths.
20 American is 3,200 HUF.
A monthly pass is 8,250.
Or you meant the student pass? Well, it is true the student pass is 3,200 HUF. But, why should I, Hungarian worker, pay for the lamo student’s pass? And, why should I pay for a FOREIGN student’s pass?
June 13th, 2008 at 7:49 am
karacsi_maci :
one euro is a lot of money. esp. if you consider you get ONE travel for it.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
My opinion is that noone should spread ideas to foreigners how to beat the system. I travel with BKV every single day (im hungarian and always smiley) and i buy a pass every month. If someone visits me here i help them to find the cheapest way to get by in BP and they always appreciate it and say that omg, this is a cheap city. I have no idea about who u are admin but PLEASE dont let people think that this is a shitty city with shitty public transportation CAUSE ITS NOT!!!
-budapest lover marla-
June 16th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
a new name…
many of you complained about me using the nick “admin”. this is the default name in wordoress, and I was too lame to use another one.
From now on, I will be posting under the nick “naturszelet“.
a
June 17th, 2008 at 9:55 am
marla:
Budapest got maybe a good transport system, but it’s not great by any means. Still, it is ok for a developing country.
July 25th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
spell:
Hungary is by no means a developing country.
September 6th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
#22:
Hungary IS a developing country if you compare it to, say, the USA. If you compare it to, say, Georgia, than it is not.
October 19th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
I usually help tourists about bkv. I don’t like the system either.
But you should consider: The controllers are mostly stupid animals. If you don’t seem enough strong, they will hit you if you try to cheat. They can’t do it according to the laws. But they will do it. After you are beaten they will tell everybody that you attacked them. And the security camera recorder never works when you need some proof.
This year there was a disebled traveller. He didn’t had any arms, so a friend of his escorted him (they can travell free). But he left his disabled-id at home. And the controllers said they couldn’t see any proof if he was disabled or not. And the great BKV praised its controllers for this act.
October 19th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
And some refreshed information:
When they got you, they can ask you to pay 6000 huf and 12 with bill if you tell them about not to have money.
If you tell them that you have a season ticket, and show in the Akácfa utca, the fine is 3000 huf, not 1000.
They are the actual prices since this year january.
October 19th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Hungary is _not_ a developing country at all.
Especially, if you compare it to, say, the HDI, which is quite an objective index on this issue, introduced by United Nations.
October 20th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Just a question: time limited tickets means it should be valid when you get on or during the travell?
If the bus got into a traffic jam should you validate a new one? Because here in Budapest is unfortunatelly normal for a 15 minutes way to take 45 minutes… :\
November 7th, 2008 at 9:10 am
A KURVA ANYÁTOK
November 7th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Developing country is a category we use for 3rd world. Hungary is part of EU so not “3rd world” but it is hard to understand for a stupid american
November 7th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Aren’t You W. Grubbs? Mr. Admin?
November 7th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Well we should distinguish between two things.
1. What the Hungarians do among themselves
2. What the strangers to in Hungary.
If you are a stranger ( i.e., not Hungarian ) in Hungary, imho this means that you are a guest.
And, when being invited to somewhere, you would find it strange to steal the silver candlestick of your hosts, it is also not natural to freeride in Budapest. And you should, by no means, annoy your hosts ( i.e. Hungarians ) by stealing from them, not even in a form of free riding on public transport.
You are a guest, you should always this keep in mind.
November 7th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
This post made me lol :p It is mostly true, you can avoid controllers and paying if you try really hard, but is not always reliable, really stressful, and i wouldnt recommend it to visitors and foreigners, who are more easily intimidated than the average Budapest citizen. Heck, i avoided controllers for a long time with success, but recently, since my salary is better now, i am used to buy a monthly ticket.
In Hungary, like all countries that were under foreign oppression for a long time, there is always some “charm” in opposing the government in these small ways, making their work harder, and avoiding, tricking the rules. While this habit was helpful for the people under the soviet regime, it is more of a burden now, but old habits fade slowly.
November 7th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Interesting… But I think they can read!
Éderkes ckikek szleütnek Mgyaaroszrágról…