18 Essential Travel Tips for Budapest (By a Local!)

Budapest Travel Tips

Consider Visiting in Shoulder Season

So, to be honest, Budapest can be visited all year round – there is plenty to do in each season! However, the peak summer months (July-August) can get very busy and hot, so I recommend visiting Budapest in the shoulder seasons in Spring (April-May) and early Autumn (September).

The summer season is the busiest and all the major attractions are full of tourists. Although, I do love Budapest during the summer (there are lots of outdoor events and festivals), it can be a bit overwhelming with all the crowds around – just something to keep in mind.

Visiting Budapest in Spring and Autumn not only brings good weather, but there are less crowds and you can also get some better deals for hotels and flights. On the other hand, the prices are the highest during peak seasons (summer and Christmas), and it is best to book accommodation and activities well in advance.

Know How to Get from the Budapest Airport to City Center

Most people arrive in Budapest by plane, and the good news is that the Budapest Airport is well-connected to the city center of Budapest.

It takes only around 30 minutes to get from the airport to the city center, and you can either take a taxi or the airport shuttle bus.

The airport shuttle bus (100E) runs 24 hours a day and costs HUF 2,200 (USD 7) one-way, so it is a pretty good bargain. The shuttle bus is safe and reliable, and is a good option if you want to save some money. I took it a few times before and found it was a reliable service.

Other than the shuttle bus, there is also the option to take a taxi. The taxi is great is you want some more comfort. The taxi booths are right outside the airport as you exit the building – you will not miss it.

Everyone has to book the taxi at the taxi booths, and if there are a lot of passengers, the queue can be a bit long. The price of taxi from the Budapest Airport to city center is around USD 30, but the price varies based on your destination in Budapest.

Book Accommodation in the City Center of Budapest

The city center of Budapest is full of great restaurants, bars, and sightseeing attractions, so staying in the city center is the best option to explore everything the city has to offer!

I recommend staying in District 5, as it is safe and right in the downtown of Budapest. In District 5, you can easily walk around and explore famous sites on foot, such as the Parliament, St. Stephen’s Basilica, Margaret Island, or even cross over to the Buda side of the city.

Don’t Worry About Not Being Able to Speak Hungarian

They say that Hungarian language is one of the most difficult languages in the world, but don’t worry, most of the younger population in Budapest (especially in tourist areas) speak good English.

Staff in hotels, restaurants and bars can speak English well, so you don’t have to worry about not being able to speak Hungarian – it is easy to get by.

If you have to ask someone for information or directions, it is best if you ask someone who is younger (generally under the age of 40), and they are most likely to know English and be able to give advice.

In case you spend longer than 2-3 days in Budapest, it is nice to learn some basic Hungarian words. But if you are only in the city for a short time, it may not make a big difference.

Familiarize Yourself with the Hungarian Currency

While Hungary is part of the European Union, the Euro was never introduced, and we still have the Hungarian Forint (HUF) as the official currency of Hungary.

1 US Dollar equals to around 330 Hungarian Forint, and the Hungarian currency is considered weak in Europe. So, if you visit Hungary from a country where you get paid in USD, GBP or EUR, then you will find that Hungary is cheap in comparison.

Don’t Carry Much Cash & Get a Travel Card

Most places (shops, restaurants, bars, hotels) accept card payments in Budapest, so it is best to pay by card and not carry much cash around.

As for cash, I would recommend exchanging just a small amount of cash into Hungarian currency (around USD 30), which you can use in case you have to pay in a small shop/market where they don’t accept cards.

Otherwise, most likely you can get by paying by card all around Budapest. You can also get a travel card (Wise) that is a multi-currency card and has the best exchange rates. You have to top up your Wise card, and then, when you pay for goods in Hungary, it automatically converts the currency to HUF.

Using Wise is a great way to save on exchange fees, ATM withdrawal fees, and make a trip hassle free. I have been using it on all my international trips for the last few years and it works great in Hungary too.

Understand the Tipping Culture

In general, tipping in Hungary is not mandatory but it is appreciated.

Many restaurants include a service charge in the bill, so make sure to check it. If the bill already includes a service charge, then you are not expected to tip on top of that (unless you found the service super great).

If there is no service charge included in the bill, you can tip around 10-15% – but again, it is not mandatory. Sometimes, you can even just round up the bill and leave that as a tip, but that works more in smaller, casual eateries, rather than in high-end restaurants.

Take Usual Safety Precautions

Budapest is safe even if you are travelling solo, but you should still take usual precautions that you would anywhere else.

The most common crime in Budapest is theft, so it is important to watch out for your valuables in crowded places, such as bars and public transport.

As theft is the most common crime, you should also not walk around with a lot of cash, or your passport. The best plan is to only have a small amount of cash on you, keep your passport in your hotel’s locker, and only carry a copy of your passport with you during the day.

Use a Data Plan

If you are from the EU, you get free roaming in Budapest. However, if you visit Hungary from outside of the EU then the roaming charges can be extremely high, so you should get a SIM card for your trip.

The easiest is to get an eSIM, which you can get before arrival, so by the time you land in Budapest, you already have it set up and ready to use.

I have used the Airalo eSIM around the world and they have packages available for Hungary. There are data packages for various lengths, such as 3, 7, 15, and 30 days’ data packages.

Explore Budapest on Foot

Budapest is a walkable city and many major attractions are located in close walking distance of each other, so it is great to explore the city on foot!

I recommend spending one day exploring the Pest side of the city, and dedicate a separate day for exploring the Buda side.

As you will end up walking a lot, make sure to pack comfortable walking shoes and dress appropriate to the weather. In the summer, it gets pretty hot, so have sunscreen and sun hat.

Use the Public Transport

The public transport in Budapest works well too and it has a well-connected system across the city, including the metro lines, buses, trams and trolley buses.

The public transport is safe and it is also affordable. You can get a travel pass or buy individual tickets for each journey, however, the travel passes tend to be good value and you don’t have to validate the tickets every single time.

You can also get a Budapest Card that is valid for all public transport, plus it gives you free or discounted entry to many famous attractions. The Budapest Card has a duration of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 days, and you can check online the places that it gives you a free entry.

Go on Tram No. 2

Budapest’s public transport mainly serves the purpose of getting fast from one place to another, but Tram 2 offers something more: it goes along the River Danube and passes by many of the famous attractions in the city.

Tram 2 is like a sightseeing tour the cheapest way possible. It passes by the Parliament, goes along the Danube, passes by beautiful bridges, and overlooks the Buda Hills.

Tram 2 can get a bit crowded as at the end of the day, it is public transport, but it offers such a nice view of the city. Plus, I love it the most in the evenings or during Christmas. At Christmas, it is also decorated with Christmas lights, and it’s like a Christmas tram.

Don’t Hail Taxis (Better to Book Through Apps)

Regular taxis that you hail on the street tend to overcharge tourists, so it is best to order a taxi through an app (Uber, Bolt), or order a taxi through your hotel.

All taxis in Budapest should go on the meter and actually, all taxis are regulated to go by the same price (even Uber). However, taxi driver can temper with the meter, and if you just hail a regular taxi, sometimes, taxi drivers end up charging you the double price. It is not a universal rule that you would get overcharged but there is a high probability for it.

Sometimes, there is no other option than to hail a taxi in which case you have the risk of being overcharged. Nevertheless, if you have the option to order a taxi through Uber or Bolt, it is the best option as the fare is set beforehand.

Book Activities in Advance

Some activities are very popular in Budapest (especially in peak season), so it is worth to book some activities in advance. If you leave it to book it 1-2 days before, you run the risk of the activity being sold out and not getting a ticket.

Some of the popular activities that usually have their tickets sold out in advance are the Parliament tours and river cruises.

There are many river cruises in Budapest, so you could find a cruise even last minute, but if you want to go on a specific cruise (historic cruise, live music), then it is best to book well in advance.

Go on an Evening Cruise for the Best Views of Budapest

One of my favourite views of Budapest is from a river cruise. The cruises pass along major attractions in Budapest, and you can see building like the Parliament, Buda Castle, Fisherman’s Bastion, and multiple bridges – the architecture of the city is simply beautiful!

There are many options for a cruise on the Danube and they last around 1-3 hours – depending on the type of the cruise.

The cruises run all day long, but I have always found that the best time is at sunset/evening when you can see the city with the lights up.

Pack Towel/Flip-Flops for the Thermal Baths

Budapest is often referred to as the “City of Spas” as it has so many spas. Relaxing and chilling in a thermal bath is one of the best ways to recharge after a day of sightseeing.

Just make sure to pack a towel, flip-flops and a swimsuit for the baths. It is not possible to rent these at the baths but usually you can buy a towel. The towels can be overpriced, so it is best to just bring your own.

You can even get quick-dry towels that are light and does not take up too much space.

Have Hungarian Food (Not Only Goulash)

Hungarian food may be the most famous for the Goulash Soup – but there is so much more to Hungarian cuisine!

Some of my recommendations for Hungarian dishes are pörkölt (beef stew), csirke paprikás (chicken in tomato sauce with paprika), lángos (deep fried dough), and chimney cake (sweet dessert snack).

Visit Places Outside Budapest

While most people only visit Budapest, if you have more time, it is great to explore places outside of Budapest.

Szentendre is a charming small town right outside of Budapest. It is the best option for a day trip as it is close to Budapest and offers plenty of things to do for a day. It has lots of museums, galleries, cobblestone streets, and you can also enjoy a walk along the River Danube.

If you visit Budapest during the summertime, Lake Balaton is the place to go. Balaton is the biggest lake in central Europe and is a popular place for a holiday during the summer. The northern side of the lake is known for its wine, so you get to not only relax by the beach but also try Hungarian wine!