Hungary: Thermal Baths, Ruin Bars & the Danube
Budapest and way beyond. Here’s how to plan every part of your trip.
Hungary is one of those countries that overdelivers and undercharges. Budapest gets most of the attention (for good reason — thermal baths, ruin bars, one of Europe’s best food scenes), but there’s a lot more going on outside the capital. The wine regions around Eger and Tokaj are world-class and barely touristy. Lake Balaton is where half of Central Europe goes on holiday, and you’ve probably never heard of it. The Danube cuts through the whole country and the architecture along it is absurdly good for a place this affordable. This guide covers all of it — what to see, what it costs, and how to get around without burning through your budget.
2.5–3 hrs
From the UK
Apr – Oct
Best time
Hungarian
Main language
HUF (Forint)
Currency
Best Time To Visit
Spring and fall (April / October) are the best times to visit. The weather can be beautiful but can also be quite wet, with average temperatures around 10-11°c (50°f). Prices tend to be lower, and you won’t have fellow travellers getting in your way. Both seasons are a great time to visit spots like Budapest, which can be overcrowded during the summer months.
Summer in Hungary is not overly warm, with average temperatures around 21°c (70°f). It’s the peak season with warmer and dryer weather. You can expect higher prices, larger crowds, and fully booked hotels. Make sure you book everything in advance!
Winter can be bitterly cold from December to March and many attractions, including accommodation in smaller towns, will be closed. Average temperatures will be around -1°c (30°f) If you’re trying to visit Hungary on a budget, this is the perfect time. You can visit the Christmas markets from November to December.
For a month by month look, click here
What To Expect
12°C
- Temperature
Capital: Budapest
Language: Hungarian is the official language of Hungary and is spoken by the majority of the country’s population. Several minority languages like Russian, Romanian, Croatian, Serbian, Slovak, Ukrainian, etc., are spoken by the minority communities of the country. “Hello” and “Thank you” in Hungarian is, “Helló” and “köszönöm”.
Currency: The official currency of Hungary is the Hungarian forint (HUF). £1 GBP is 413.99 HUF and 1 USD is equivalent to 300.08 HUF.. Check the latest rates here
Credit Cards & ATMs: Visa and MasterCard are the most widely accepted credit cards in Hungary. Hungary doesn’t charge fees for using credit cards or debit cards. They’ll only charge within 1% of the interbank exchange rate. The fees you can expect come from your bank. A lot of places will also accept contactless payments via Apple Pay or Google pay. It’s always best to have some cash on you.
Plugs: In Hungary there are two associated plug types, types C and F. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and plug type F is the plug which has two round pins with two earth clips on the side. Hungary operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.. I recommend buying a universal adapter
Safety: Hungary is, generally, a very safe country. However, there is a considerable rate of petty crime, particularly in Budapest. The most common form of a crime you’ll probably encounter is pickpocketing or bag snatching. Just be aware of your bags etc
Random useful tip: Visit Ruin Pubs of Budapest! Ruin bars in Budapest have a unique vibe. From funky to garden party, enjoy yourself at Szimpla kert, Koleves kert, and more ruin pubs. Picture below.
Hungary Travel Guides
City breaks, thermal baths, wine regions, and everything in between.
City Guides
Itineraries + Maps
Best Places to Visit & Things to Do
Best Time to Visit
Travel Tips
Everything Else
How Much Does Hungary Cost?
City breaks, thermal baths, wine regions, and everything in between.
🎒
Backpacker
~£26/day ~$33/day ~€30/day (~12,000 HUF)
- Hostel dorms from £9/night ($11/€10)
- Street food and market meals
- Public transport and walking
- Free attractions: Heroes’ Square, Chain Bridge, Margaret Island
🍜
Mid-Range
~£65/day ~$85/day ~€75/day (~28,000 HUF)
- Private rooms and budget hotels
- Restaurants, ruin pubs, wine bars
- Mix of transport and occasional taxi
- Thermal baths, river cruises, guided tours
🏨
Upscale
~£110+/day ~$135+/day ~€125+/day (~50,000+ HUF)
- Boutique hotels and luxury apartments
- Fine dining and Michelin-starred restaurants
- Private tours and premium experiences
- Wine tastings in Eger and Tokaj
Detailed Cost Breakdown
Budget
- Hostel dorm: £9–18 / $11–22 / €10–21 (4,000–8,000 HUF)
- Campsite: £11–22 / $14–27 / €12–24 (5,000–10,000 HUF)
- Budget hotel: £33–55 / $41–68 / €38–60 (15,000–25,000 HUF)
Mid–Luxury
- Airbnb apartment: £55+ / $68+ / €60+ (25,000+ HUF)
- Boutique hotel: £65–110 / $85–135 / €75–125 (30,000–50,000 HUF)
- Luxury hotel: £130+ / $165+ / €150+ (60,000+ HUF)
City Travel
- Metro/bus/tram single ticket: £0.75–1 / $1–1.20 / €0.90–1.20 (350–450 HUF)
- 24-hour travel pass: £4–5 / $5–6.50 / €4.50–5.50 (1,650–2,500 HUF)
- Taxi per km: £0.65–0.90 / $0.80–1.10 / €0.75–1 (300–400 HUF)
Long Distance
- Intercity bus/train: £6–13 / $8–16 / €7.50–15 (3,000–6,000 HUF)
- Budget airline to Budapest: varies
- Car rental per day: £26–44 / $33–54 / €30–48 (12,000–20,000 HUF)
Eat Cheap
- Budget meal (market/street food): £6–10 / $7–12 / €6.50–11 (2,500–4,500 HUF)
- Supermarket meal prep: £3–5 / $4–6 / €3.50–5.50 (1,200–2,000 HUF)
- Coffee: £1–2 / $1.30–2.20 / €1.20–2 (500–800 HUF)
Eating Out
- Mid-range restaurant: £13–26 / $16–33 / €15–30 (6,000–12,000 HUF)
- Fine dining: £35–55 / $44–68 / €40–60 (16,000–25,000 HUF)
- Beer (pint): £1–3 / $1.30–3.30 / €1.20–3 (500–1,200 HUF)
Budget Fun
- Museum entry: £3–8 / $4–10 / €4–9.50 (1,500–3,500 HUF)
- Free walking tour: free (tip your guide)
- Margaret Island / Heroes’ Square: free
Big Experiences
- Széchenyi Thermal Bath day pass: £9–18 / $11–22 / €10–21 (4,000–8,000 HUF)
- Danube river cruise: £13–26 / $16–33 / €15–30 (6,000–12,000 HUF)
- Guided tours: £18–33 / $22–41 / €21–40 (8,000–15,000 HUF)
Tips for Saving Money in Hungary
💧 Bring a reusable water bottle — tap water is safe to drink everywhere in Hungary
🚶 Walk everywhere — Budapest, Eger, and Pécs are compact and easy to explore on foot
🚌 Get a Budapest travel pass — a 24-hour pass costs around £4.50 and covers metro, trams, and buses
🍲 Eat at markets and local spots — the Great Market Hall in Budapest does filling meals for under £8
🏠 Cook when you can — most hostels and Airbnbs have kitchens, and market produce is cheap
🎟️ Hit the free stuff first — Heroes’ Square, Margaret Island, the Chain Bridge, and many churches cost nothing
📅 Travel in shoulder season — April to May and September to October mean lower prices and fewer crowds
🍺 Drink at ruin bars on weekdays — prices are lower and the atmosphere is just as good (sometimes better)
🚕 Skip taxis — use Bolt instead, or just take public transport; some drivers overcharge tourists
🎒 Stay in hostels — Budapest has some of the best-rated hostels in Europe, and many run free pub crawls and walking tours
Getting Around Hungary
Hungary is small by European standards, but the transport is solid. Here’s how to get between the places without overcomplicating things.
Domestic Flights
Hungary is small enough that you don’t really need internal flights. Budapest is the only major airport. If you’re heading to Lake Balaton or Eger, it’s quicker by train.
✅ Only useful if connecting internationally
❌ Not needed for domestic travel
Car Rental
Best for exploring the countryside — wine regions, Lake Balaton, and the Puszta. Roads are decent, parking in Budapest is a headache.
✅ Total flexibility outside Budapest
✅ From £26/day ($33/€30)
❌ Budapest traffic and parking are stressful
Metro & Trams (Budapest)
Budapest’s public transport is cheap, frequent, and covers everything. The M1 metro line is the oldest in continental Europe. Tram 2 along the Danube is worth riding just for the views.
✅ Single ticket: £0.75 ($1/€0.90)
✅ Travel passes save even more
❌ Ticket inspectors are serious — always validate
Intercity Rail
MÁV (Hungarian railways) connects Budapest to most cities — Eger, Pécs, Debrecen, Szeged. Cheap and generally reliable, though not the fastest.
✅ Budget-friendly from £6 ($8/€7.50)
✅ Scenic routes through countryside
❌ Can be slow on regional lines
Intercity Bus
FlixBus and Volánbusz run between cities. Often faster than trains for shorter routes. Lake Balaton is well-served by bus in summer.
✅ Cheap and frequent
✅ Sometimes faster than rail
❌ Less comfortable on longer journeys
Danube Ferries
Public transport ferries run along the Danube in Budapest — scenic and cheap. Private river cruises are also popular, especially at sunset.
✅ Public ferry: £1.70 ($2.20/€2)
✅ One of the best ways to see Budapest from the water
❌ Limited routes outside the capital
Which Is Right For You?
Exploring Budapest only
Metro, trams, and walking
Hitting multiple cities
Trains between them, bus for short hops
Wine regions & Lake Balaton
Rent a car for the week
Tight budget
Trains + intercity buses
Quick Tips
🛡️
Validate Your Ticket
Inspectors check frequently and fines are steep — always stamp before you ride
💳
Get a Budapest Card
Unlimited transport + free entry to museums and baths — pays for itself in 2 days
📱
Use BKK FUTÁR
Budapest’s official transport app — real-time schedules, route planning, the works
🚗
Skip Budapest Parking
Public transport is faster and cheaper than dealing with city-centre parking
Book Tours & Tickets
Related Resources
Travel Problems
Missed flights, lost luggage, dodgy hotels. It happens. Here’s how to handle all of it without losing your mind.
Theft & Scams
Pickpockets, tourist traps, and cons you won’t see coming. We break down the most common ones and how to avoid every single one.
Travel Insurance
Don’t skip this one. Especially travelling solo. We compare the best policies and explain exactly what you actually need.
FAQs
Do I need a visa to visit Hungary?
If you’re from the UK, US, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, you don’t need a visa for stays up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Hungary is part of the Schengen Area, so the standard Schengen rules apply. Your passport needs to have been issued within the last 10 years and be valid for at least 3 months after your planned departure. EU citizens can enter freely. Heads up: the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) is expected to be fully operational from April 2026, which means first-time Schengen visitors may need to register biometrics (fingerprints and a photo) at the border. No extra cost for that.
Is Hungary safe for tourists?
Yes — it’s generally a very safe country. Violent crime against tourists is rare. The main thing to watch for is petty crime, particularly pickpocketing in Budapest’s tourist hotspots: District V, public transport, and crowded areas around the Parliament and the Great Market Hall. Keep your valuables close and you’ll be fine. Outside Budapest, crime rates drop even further.
What currency does Hungary use?
The Hungarian Forint (HUF). As of March 2026, £1 GBP is roughly 454 HUF, $1 USD is about 343 HUF, and €1 EUR is around 400 HUF. Rates change daily so check xe.com before you go. Card payments are widely accepted in Budapest (Visa and Mastercard, plus contactless via Apple/Google Pay). Smaller towns and markets may be cash-only, so carry some forint with you.
When is the best time to visit Hungary?
April to October covers the sweet spot. Spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October) are the best all-round picks — pleasant weather, lower prices, fewer crowds. Summer (June to August) is warm and busy, especially in Budapest and around Lake Balaton. Average summer temperatures sit around 21°C (70°F). Winter (December to March) gets properly cold (down to -1°C / 30°F on average), but Budapest’s Christmas markets are worth braving the chill for. Many smaller-town attractions and hotels close in winter.
How many days do I need in Hungary?
Most people spend 3–5 days and just do Budapest, which is fair — there’s enough to fill a week in the capital alone. But if you’ve got 7–10 days, you can add a day trip to Eger for wine, a night or two at Lake Balaton in summer, or a loop through the countryside to Pécs or Szeged. A week is the sweet spot for a first trip that goes beyond Budapest.
Is Hungary expensive to visit?
Not by European standards — it’s one of the best-value destinations on the continent. Budget travellers can get by on around £26/day ($33/€30) with hostel dorms, market food, and public transport. Mid-range spending is roughly £65/day ($85/€75) with private rooms, restaurants, and thermal bath visits. Fine dining, boutique hotels, and private tours push it to £110+/day ($135+/€125+). Compared to Western Europe, your money goes noticeably further here.
Can I drink the tap water in Hungary?
Yes. Tap water is safe to drink everywhere in Hungary. Bring a reusable bottle and save yourself the cost (and plastic waste) of buying bottled water.
Do I need travel insurance for Hungary?
You should absolutely have it. Hungary doesn’t have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK, which means if something goes wrong medically, you’re paying out of pocket. Even a straightforward hospital visit can get expensive fast. Good travel insurance covers medical bills, trip cancellation, lost luggage, and delays. Compare options in our Travel Insurance hub.
What's the best way to get around Hungary?
Within Budapest: metro, trams, and buses — cheap, reliable, and well-connected. Get a Budapest travel pass for unlimited rides. Between cities: MÁV trains and intercity buses cover the main routes (Budapest to Eger, Pécs, Debrecen, Lake Balaton). For countryside exploring, a rental car gives you the most freedom, especially around the wine regions and Lake Balaton. See the full transport breakdown above.
Do I need any vaccinations for Hungary?
No specific vaccinations are required. It’s worth making sure your routine jabs are up to date, but there are no mandatory vaccines for entry. Check with your GP or a travel clinic 6–8 weeks before your trip if you want to be thorough.
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