Most of Hungary is a basin and plain. The Duna (Danube) River and its tributary, the Tisza River, flow north-south across the Hungarian plains, with some mountainous areas in the north and west. In the centre of the plain west of the Duna River is Lake Balaton, the Hungarian Sea and a popular summer resort.Budapest, the capital and beautiful city of Hungary, is the Pearl of the Danube and the Paris of Eastern Europe, a city of spas and romance. It is centred on the Donau River, with Buda to the west and Pest to the east.
1. Hungary Quick Facts
Language Hungarian
Religion Catholic
Currency Hungarian Forint (HUF, Ft)
Visa 90 days visa-free, Shengen Area rules apply
Power Plugs 230 V 50 Hz (C,F Type)
Capital Budapest
ATM ATM are also readily available, allowing you to withdraw local currency using your credit or debit card.
Use card
Most shops accept cards. The Hungarian currency, the forint, is difficult to convert back, so it’s best to use your card after exchanging a minimum amount of money.
APP
Google Maps
Budapest Go
2. Packing for your trip
Air plain Ticket
Dollar Flight Club has made it easier and cheaper to buy flights to the Airport.
SIM card
Airalo is the world’s first eSIM store that solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving you access to 200+ eSIMs (digital SIM cards) globally at affordable prices.
New member one-time use 15% discount coupon
10% discount coupon for multiple use by all members.
Pacsafe Pro safe 800 Luggage Lock
Good protection against snatchers or impulse thieves.
Universal Power Adapter
One of the most essential but most forgotten items in your travel gear? A power adapter!
Travel insurance
Prepare for risky situations Travel insurance can be a big help in the event of an emergency
GoPro HERO11
If you want to capture your own memories of your travels, GoPro is the way to go. It’s small, has great image quality, and is easy to carry around
3. Transportation
Tickets for all modes of transport (metro, tram, bus, trolleybus) in Hungary are uniform and can be purchased from 1 day to 3 months.
Tickets (metro/bus/tram)
Single ticket (no transfers): Ft 350, Ft 450 when purchased on board a bus or tram
– 30-minute ticket (with transfers): Ft 530
– 90-minute ticket (with transfers): Ft 750
– 24-hour pass: Ft 2,500
– 72-hour pass: Ft 5,500
– 15-day pass: Ft 6,300
– 1 month pass: Ft 9,500
– 3-month pass (100 actual days): Ft 28,500
Budapest Card (available at hotels, metro stations, ticket offices, etc.)
1/2/3 day pass
Free public transport and museum visits
10-50% discount on shops, restaurants, car rentals and tourist programmes
Regarding free rides
Fines 12,000 Ft (approx. $45)
25,000 Ft (approx. $90) if not paid on site
Single-ticket users must punch the ticket immediately after boarding.
Validity of 24/72-hour tickets is based on alighting, not boarding
Car Rental
4.Safety
There are occasional incidents of far-right crimes against foreigners (often involving skinheads), so it’s best to avoid areas such as Heroes Square and the area around the Parliament on days when large demonstrations are taking place. You’ll also need to be especially careful around the railway station, as pickpockets sometimes target tourists. Plainclothes police officers are stationed in major metro stations and around tourist attractions to help prevent this, but you should still be wary of intelligent criminals posing as plainclothes police officers.
Areas and places to watch out for
Major tourist attractions such as Baci Street, Gellert Hill, Buda Palace, and the Opera.
Crowded public transport (buses, metro, trams), around major train stations (Keleti, Dalya, Nugati), etc.
Useful phone numbers for tourists
Police: 107
Ambulance: 104
Fire brigade: 105
General emergency number: 112
5. Climate
Because Hungary is a landlocked country, there are extreme differences in temperature from summer to winter.
Summer in Budapest can be very hot. The average high temperature in July and August is 27°C(81°F) . In August, the temperature rises to 32.3°C (90F).
September brings milder weather with up to 23 days of fog, and then the temperature drops sharply in October, with an average high of 16°C and a low of 8°C. From November to February, the average daily temperature is 0°C(32°F) to-3°C(27°F) , and by March, the average daily maximum temperature rises to 11°C (52°F), marking the beginning of spring.By May, the average daily temperature rises to a pleasant 22°C(72°F) , with sunny days, and rain begins to fall from mid-May.
6. price
Very cheap compared to Western Europe.
Gas (1 litre) 533 HUF
McDonald’s combo meal:2,000 HUF
Water (1.5 litres): 135 HUF
Milk (1 litre) 344 HUF
7. Travel precautions
Beware of fake police (scammers)
Present fake ID and ask to see your ID, wallet and belongings (Hungarian police do not ask to see your wallet and belongings in addition to your ID.)
8. Etiquette & Service Tip
If you are visiting a local’s home and giving flowers, red roses can be misleading as they indicate romantic feelings. Flowers should always be wrapped and presented.
It is polite not to give gifts of wine from other countries as there is strong pride in wine.
Tip
Service charge is often included in the price and if it is not, expect to pay around 5-10 per cent.
9 Holidays
The following are the national public holidays for 2024:
1 Jan Mon New Year’s Day
15 Mar Fri Revolution Day
29 Mar Fri Good Friday
1 Apr Mon Easter Monday
1 May Wed Labour Day
20 May Mon Whit Monday
20 Aug Tue Saint Stephen’s Day
23 Oct Wed Republic Day
1 Nov Fri All Saints’ Day
25 Dec Wed Christmas Day
26 Dec Thu 2nd Day of Christmas
2025 National Public Holidays:
Wednesday, 1 January : New Year’s Day
Saturday, 15 March : Revolution Day
Friday, 18 April : Good Friday
Monday, 21 April : Easter Monday
Thursday, 1 May : Labour Day
Monday, 9 June : Whit Monday
Wednesday, 20 August : Saint Stephen’s Day
Tuesday, 23 October : Republic Day
Saturday, 1 November : All Saints’ Day
Thursday, 25 December: Christmas Day
Friday, 26 December: 2nd Day of Christmas