Budapest Guide
Arrival
By train
The Hungarian word pályaudvar (abbreviated "pu." in writing) is used to designate a train station. Of the six in Budapest, only three are important for tourists, but note that their names, which are sometimes translated into English, refer to the direction of services handled rather than their location.
Most international trains terminate at Pest's Keleti Station, on Baross tér in the VIII district. It's something of a hangout for thieves and hustlers, and there are often police about checking people's ID. There are usually plenty of touts offering accommodation as international trains arrive. The most reliable of several hostel-booking agencies here is Mellow Mood (daily: June– Aug 7am– midnight; Sept– May 7am–8pm; 
1/343-0748 or 1/413-2062, 
www.mellowmood.hu ), whose offices are to the right of the big glass doorways at the far end of the station. They also organize transport to their hostels, and should be able to offer other city information, too. Otherwise, head for the Tourinform office at Deák tér. Unmarked taxis lining the road outside the doors of the Keleti Station are worth avoiding, especially if their drivers are wearing badges saying "official taxi", as these are the most likely to rip off unsuspecting tourists. Instead, look out for taxis from such companies as Fotaxi, which you can find by going out of the main doors and turning right. In summer there are long queues at the 24-hour left-luggage office by platform 6 (300Ft or 600Ft for 24hr depending on bag size, half that amount for six hours); the lockers there (300Ft for 24hr) are a better bet if they are not closed for security reasons.
Nyugati Station, north of central Pest in the VI district, is the mainline link to Ferihegy airport. It has a 24-hour left-luggage office (300Ft or 600Ft for 24hr) next to the ticket office beside platform 13. To reach Deák tér, take the blue metro line two stops in the direction of Kőbánya-Kispest.
Some trains from Vienna arrive at Déli Station, 500m behind the Vár in Buda, which has left-luggage facilities but no tourist office. It's four stops from Deák tér on the red metro line.