The Budapest Eye: Tickets, Hours and the Best Time to Ride
On this page
Tickets and Prices
There are five ticket types, from a baby ticket to a priority ride with a glass of sparkling wine.
| Ticket | Price | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 4,900 Ft (about $15) | 12 and over |
| Child | 2,900 Ft (about $9) | ages 2 to 11, with a document showing age |
| Baby | 400 Ft (about $1) | up to age 1 |
| Priority | 6,900 Ft (about $21) | priority boarding |
| Priority with sparkling wine | 8,900 Ft (about $27) | priority boarding, ten minutes in the priority lounge, a glass of sparkling wine |
Prices, hours and ride conditions read on 6 October 2026 on the operator’s Visitor’s Information page (oriaskerek.com/en/visitor-information/) and FAQ page (oriaskerek.com/en/frequently-asked-questions/). Prices are in HUF, which is what you pay at the counter. Converted at 1 USD = 328 HUF, the ECB rate on 5 October 2026. Rates move, so treat the converted figures as indicative.
Bring something that shows your child’s age. The child ticket covers ages 2 to 11, and the operator asks for a document proving age, so a passport photo on your phone or an ID card saves a discussion at the till.
📋 At a Glance
| Where | Erzsébet tér, 1051 Budapest, District V |
| Hours | Sunday to Thursday 11:00 to 23:00, Friday and Saturday 11:00 to midnight |
| Open | Every day of the year |
| Ride | At least three full turns, about eight minutes |
| Cabins | Enclosed, four to six people, a larger cabin for wheelchair users |
| Nearest metro | Deák Ferenc tér, M1 + M2 + M3 |
| Payment | Cash (HUF or EUR), card, online voucher, SZÉP card |
| Operator | Budapest Óriáskereke, the Ferris Wheel of Budapest, since 2013 |
Why It Is a Great Way to See the City
The operator calls it one of the tallest mobile Ferris wheels in Europe, and from the top the whole city opens up: boats on the Danube, Buda Castle across the river and the church towers of Pest around you. Budapest has wonderful hilltop viewpoints too, and the wheel has a few strengths of its own.
- Any weather. The cabins are enclosed, so a cold January evening or a rainy afternoon still gives you a view in comfort.
- No climb. Gellért Hill and the Fisherman’s Bastion ask for legwork. Here there is a larger cabin for wheelchair users, which makes it one of the most accessible panoramas in town.
- Open late. It runs until 23:00, and until midnight on Friday and Saturday, so it fits after dinner when the day’s sightseeing is done.
- Right in the center. It is a short walk from Deák Ferenc tér and St Stephen’s Basilica, so it slots between two other plans without a detour.
A lovely way to do it: Gellért Hill by day for the wide view over both banks, and the wheel after dark for the lights of Pest up close.
Getting There
Erzsébet tér sits between Deák Ferenc tér and the Danube, a few minutes from St Stephen’s Basilica in one direction and the river in the other.
Deák Ferenc tér is the easy anchor. It is the station where the M1, M2 and M3 lines meet, so you can reach it from nearly anywhere in the city. Our metro guide covers the lines, and the BudapestGO guide covers buying tickets on your phone.
The Night Ride
The wheel is at its most beautiful after dark. From the top you see the lit-up domes and towers of Pest, the river and the Chain Bridge, with the Buda hills behind them. A daytime ride shows you more detail; an evening ride gives you the glow.
If you are choosing a time, aim for the hour after sunset, when the sky still holds some color and the city lights are already on. On a tight evening schedule, the priority ticket gets you boarding first for 2,000 Ft more.
Good to Know Before You Go
- Tickets are sold on site and online. On site you can pay in forint or euro cash, or by card. An online purchase sends you a voucher by email, which you exchange for a ticket at the wheel within one month.
- Pushchairs stay on the ground. Pushchairs, kids’ bikes and scooters are not allowed on the platform or in the cabins, but there is a camera-monitored parking area for them while you ride.
- Children under 14 ride with an adult.
- Want a cabin to yourselves? Cabins hold four to six people by weight, and a private cabin is guaranteed when you buy four tickets.
- No pets, apart from guide dogs and police dogs.
Good to know
How much does the Budapest Eye cost?
A standard ticket is 4,900 Ft for anyone 12 and over. Children aged 2 to 11 pay 2,900 Ft with a document showing their age, and babies up to 1 pay 400 Ft. Priority boarding is 6,900 Ft, and priority plus ten minutes in the priority lounge and a glass of sparkling wine is 8,900 Ft.
What are the opening hours?
Monday to Thursday and Sunday it runs 11:00 to 23:00, and on Friday and Saturday it stays open until midnight. The operator opens every day of the year.
How long is the ride?
A ticket covers at least three full turns, which takes about eight minutes depending on the number of passengers.
Where is it and how do you get there?
Erzsébet tér in District V, right in the city center. Deák Ferenc tér is a few minutes' walk away and is the station where the M1, M2 and M3 metro lines meet, so it is easy to reach from almost anywhere.
Is the Budapest Eye worth it?
Yes, especially for an evening ride. It is the easiest panorama in Budapest to fit into a day: it sits in the center, the cabins are enclosed so the weather barely matters, there is a cabin for wheelchair users, and it stays open until 23:00, or midnight at weekends. Pair it with a daytime walk up Gellért Hill and you see the city from both sides of the river.
Can we have a cabin to ourselves?
Cabins take four to six people depending on weight, and the operator guarantees a private cabin only when you buy four tickets, the cabin's full capacity.
Is it called the Budapest Eye or something else?
Both. Most visitors know it as the Budapest Eye, while the company that runs it trades as Budapest Óriáskereke, the Ferris Wheel of Budapest. If you ask a local for directions, óriáskerék is the word that works.
How can I pay?
On site in cash (forint or euro) or by card, or online in advance: the emailed voucher is exchanged for a ticket at the wheel within one month. The operator is also a SZÉP card acceptance point, which is handy for anyone who lives in Hungary.