Photo: Shutterstock Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) is consistently making impressive progress, positioning the Hungarian capital at the top of Europe's air travel destinations.
According to official data for the summer season of 2025, over 160 international destinations are currently accessible directly from Budapest, with this number expected to rise as new airlines enter and existing routes expand.
Among these destinations are all major European capitals, secondary yet popular cities like Valencia, Graz, Pisa, and Ljubljana, as well as long-haul destinations such as Dubai, Tashkent, Seoul, and others projected to join in the coming years.
Budapest, once considered a medium-sized airport with limited potential, has rapidly evolved into a burgeoning regional air hub in recent years.
Thanks to advanced infrastructure, supportive government policies, and a strong presence of low-cost carriers, the Hungarian airport has successfully attracted a diverse and massive flow of traffic from Hungary and neighboring countries.
Among the airlines operating at the airport:
Wizz Air, with its main operational base in Budapest
Ryanair, offering a variety of European destinations
Emirates, Turkish Airlines, LOT, Qatar Airways, and more – connecting the world to Europe via Budapest.
In addition to serving as a convenient transit station, Budapest itself enjoys growing exposure:
Tourists from around the world choose it as a primary destination for city vacations, thanks to affordable prices, a classic European vibe, rich culture, thermal baths, trendy street food, and vibrant nightlife. Luxury tourism is also on the rise, with an increase in the number of 4- and 5-star hotels, new Michelin restaurants, and a trend of foreign investors seeing the city as a promising target.
Authorities at BUD airport continue to prepare for the future: expansion plans, terminal upgrades, and rapid public transport lines to the city center are all designed to support Budapest's transformation into a key transportation hub in European aviation for the next decade.
