Budapest’s MOL Bubi Bikes Are Coming Back This Summer, Better Than Ever

Budapest’s beloved public bike system has been sitting quiet since it was taken offline this spring, but the wait is almost over, with the free testing phase now wrapping up and a full public relaunch expected sometime in the second half of July 2026.

A New Era for Budapest’s Bike Share

If you’ve explored Budapest before, you probably remember spotting the green MOL Bubi bikes docked at stations around the city. The system went offline earlier this spring while a completely new, third-generation fleet was prepared behind the scenes. Since then, a free trial period has drawn nearly 15,000 eager testers, all riding the bikes free of charge and sending back feedback that’s helped the Centre for Budapest Transport, known locally as BKK, fine-tune everything from the strength of the electric assist to the pricing structure ahead of the real launch.

That testing phase is now drawing to a close, and a short technical pause will follow before the system goes fully live. During this brief window, the app and bike access will be temporarily unavailable while BKK integrates payment and billing functions into the platform. BKK hasn’t nailed down the exact date yet, but the message is clear: after this short shutdown, the third-generation MOL Bubi will be fully open to everyone, including visitors, sometime in the second half of July 2026.

What’s Actually New on These Bikes

The most exciting update for anyone planning to explore Budapest by bike is the introduction of electric-assist e-Bubi bikes, which can accelerate up to 25 km/h, meaning those hills near Buda Castle or Gellért Hill suddenly feel a lot less intimidating. The classic bikes haven’t been left behind either, now featuring a low step-through, unisex frame that makes hopping on and off easy regardless of what you’re wearing, plus a basket rated for 10 kilograms so you can toss in your camera bag, water bottles, or that pastry box from a bakery you just visited.

Puncture-resistant tires mean fewer unexpected stops mid-ride, and an upgraded smart lock provides more accurate location tracking, which is reassuring if you’re renting in an unfamiliar part of the city. The network itself is expanding too, starting with 215 stations at launch and growing over time, backed by a starting fleet of 3,300 bikes that could eventually scale up to 5,000.

What It’ll Cost You

For tourists who only need a bike for a day or two, the system works on a pay-as-you-go basis rather than requiring a subscription. Both classic and electric bikes are billed at 60 forints per minute of use, and if you dock a bike anywhere other than an official MOL Bubi station, there’s a 10,000 forint surcharge, so it really does pay to plan your route around designated docking points.

Locals and longer-term visitors get a better deal through monthly or annual passes. A classic bike monthly pass runs 2,500 forints, dropping to 2,000 forints for anyone with a BudapestGO transit pass, and includes 30 minutes of free riding per trip. The introductory rate for the electric-assist monthly pass is 4,500 forints, which includes 15 minutes of free riding on the e-Bubi plus unlimited access to classic bikes for 30 minutes per trip. Riders who unlock an e-Bubi without a pass pay a 250 forint unlock fee, which pass holders skip entirely.

Why This Matters for Your Budapest Trip

Budapest is a famously walkable city, but there’s something special about gliding along the Danube promenade or through City Park on two wheels, especially with an electric boost handling the effort on a hot July afternoon. With the new e-Bubi bikes rolling out and the network expanding past 215 stations, cycling is shaping up to be one of the easiest and most scenic ways to string together sightseeing stops this summer.

If you’re visiting Budapest in the coming weeks and hoping to try the new bikes, keep an eye on BKK’s official channels for the exact relaunch date, since the app and bike access will remain briefly unavailable during the final technical transition before everything goes live again.