Europe · Central EuropeOutline guideCountry in Central Europe
Photo: Derzsi Elekes Andor, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Hungary (Hungarian: Magyarország) is a small landlocked country in central Europe, at a historical crossroads between the Balkans and the Great Eurasian Steppe. Its capital city, Budapest, boasts Habsburg architecture, and ornate Turkish bathhouses remnant of its Ottoman past, while its villages preserve strong folk traditions. Straddling the Peri-Carpathian Steppe and the Carpathian Mountains, Hungary offers a diverse range of landscapes—from relatively low mountain ranges and thermal hot springs, to the Great Plain in the east, along with a variety of lakes and rivers. The vast Lake Balaton is a key destination for Hungary's warm summers.
Answers to what travellers most often look up about Hungary.
Cards and cash
You can use major credit/debit cards (EuroCard, Visa) in major shops and larger restaurants, but never expect that without checking first.
Tipping
Although not legally required, social norms encourage that tips are given.
Hungarian
Hungarians are rightly proud of their unique, complex, sophisticated, richly expressive language, Hungarian (Magyar pronounced "mohdyohr").
There are 4G coverage in most of the country while 5G is being deployed (July 2024).
Mobile networks
It is safe to drink tap water anywhere, even in remote areas, however, due to the cleaning process the taste of the water can be really unpleasant.
Food and water is generally safe, even in remote villages. It is safe to drink tap water anywhere, even in remote areas, however, due to the cleaning process the taste of the water can be really unpleasant.
e. the family name precedes the given name. For example, someone named Kovács István has the family name Kovács ("Smith") and the given name István ("Stephen").
Covered in the guide
Attractions, food, stays and travel essentials, with ratings, reviews, opening hours and directions.
with green filled parks, interesting museums, and a pulsating nightlife, Budapest is one of Europe's most delightful and enjoyable cities
the second-largest city in the country
there are many cafés, restaurants, boutiques, and nightclubs in its lovely baroque city center
a town famous for its vibrant music scene, plum brandy, and Art Nouveau architecture
with the unique cave bath in Miskolc-Tapolca, the third-largest city in the country, located near the Bükk hills
a medium-sized city with a busy water resort, museum village, and annual autumn festival
a pleasant cultural centre and university town
the sunniest city in Hungary
Balaton (Plattensee in German) is the biggest lake by surface area in Central Europe and gives its name to this entire Hungarian Lake Balaton region.
National Park Hortobágy - The Puszta (Hungarian: Hortobágyi Nemzeti Park) is a first and biggest national park in Hungary. The park in Hajdú-Bihar County is a part of the Northern Great Plain (Alföld), and is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage site.
Places in Hungary on the World Heritage List.
Neusiedl Lake
Listed 2001
Hortobágy National Park
Listed 1999
Hollókő
Listed 1987
Buda Castle
Listed 1987
Andrássy út
Listed 1987
Pannonhalma Archabbey
Listed 1996
Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst
Listed 1995
Early Christian Necropolis of Pécs
Listed 2000
Budapest, including the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrássy Avenue
Listed 1987
Fertö / Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape
Listed 2001
Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape
Listed 2002
List from Wikidata (CC0). Photos from Wikimedia Commons.
The traveller's main entry point. The capital, Budapest, is situated here.
Ten thousands of visitors a year head to Siófok, the unofficial summer capital of Lake Balaton.
Cities with historic downtowns and beautiful castles near the Austrian border.
Great historic towns, wine regions and (cave) baths are to be seen here.
Northern Great Plain (Hungarian: Észak-Alföld) is a region in eastern Hungary.
Southern Great Plain (Hungarian: Dél-Alföld) is a region in eastern Hungary.
Central Transdanubia (Hungarian: Közép-Dunántúl) is a region in western Hungary.
Southern Transdanubia (Hungarian: Dél-Dunántúl) is a region in western Hungary.
Public transport and paid services in Hungary.
By public transport
There are multiple trip planning websites for Hungarian public transport. To buy tickets, plan between stations, and for international routes use jegy.mav.hu.
By car
Aggressive and unpredictable driving and speeds significantly higher than in northern Europe are a constant source of traffic incidents. Traffic lights are not always obeyed.
By car pool
The Hungarian oszkar.com social car pool network/website will allow you to find cheap transport around the country and from (and to) many European cities (especially Vienna, but many German cities…
By taxi
Inspect the change that taxi drivers give you.
Apps for booking a taxi or a ride in Hungary.
Finding apps for Hungary…
Operators checked against their official websites in October 2026; services that have stopped running are not listed. Logos and Wikipedia links: Wikidata (CC0)
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Budapest · International · BUD
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Calculated from climate averages: mild daytime highs and lower rainfall. It does not account for festivals, crowds or prices.
Average conditions in Budapest
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. high | 2° | 4° | 10° | 17° | 22° | 26° | 29° | 29° | 23° | 16° | 9° | 3° |
| Avg. low | -5° | -4° | 0° | 5° | 10° | 15° | 17° | 16° | 11° | 6° | 1° | -3° |
| Rainfall (mm) | 39 | 40 | 41 | 35 | 65 | 70 | 66 | 63 | 57 | 51 | 44 | 43 |
| Humidity | 90% | 86% | 78% | 71% | 68% | 64% | 58% | 59% | 66% | 76% | 87% | 91% |
Choose your passport and destination to see whether you need a visa.
Budget
$60
Per person, per day
Mid-range
$160
Per person, per day
Luxury
$420
Per person, per day
| Budget | Mid-range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $30 | $90 | $245 |
| Food and drink | $15 | $35 | $80 |
| Local transport | $5 | $15 | $35 |
| Activities | $10 | $20 | $60 |
Estimate from World Bank price levels (2025). Actual costs vary by city and season. World Bank
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We do not label countries as safe or unsafe. Below is the official advice from two governments, with the date it was last updated. Always read the full advice before you travel.
US Department of State
Level 1 of 4Exercise normal precautions
Exercise normal precautionin Hungary. Hungary is generally a safe destination for travelers. Most crimes against foreigners are crimes of opportunity, like purse snatching and pickpocketing, especially in tourist areas and major train stations in Budapest. This includes passport theft on the trains between Budapest, Vienna, and Bratislava. Review our travel guidance for Hungary to learn how to prepare for a safe trip.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
No advice against travel. Read the full advice before you go.
Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: see general advice for women travellers read our guide on disability and travel abroad see general advice for LGBT+ travellers read about safety for solo and independent travel see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad Travel insurance If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. About FCDO travel advice The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice. Get travel advice updates Sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated. Follow FCDO: travel advice on X travel advice on Facebook Travel Aware on Instagram
Stories, itineraries and practical advice for travelling in Hungary.
Culture & historyThe Austro-Hungarian Empire (German: Österreichisch-Ungarische Monarchie, Hungarian: Osztrák–Magyar Monarchia) or Austria-Hungary was a constitutional dual monarchy that existed from 1867 to 1918.
Wikivoyage
Nature & adventureHungary has ten national parks which cover approximately 10 percent of the country's territory. The parks are managed by the National Parks of Hungary government agency (Hungarian: Nemzeti park igazgatóság).
Wikivoyage
ItinerariesThe Danube is the second-longest river in Europe, with a length of 2,850 km (1,770 mi). It begins in the Black Forest in Germany and flows east to the Black Sea, forming the Danube Delta on its western coast.
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Culture & historyWorld War I, usually called the First World War in the Commonwealth and called The Great War in its time, was one of the largest armed conflicts in history.
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ItinerariesThe Amber Road (German: Bernsteinstraße, Italian: Via dell Ambra) is an ancient trade route which connects the Baltic Sea with the Adriatic Sea.
Wikivoyage
Travel tipsEurope is a continent that is relatively small but with many independent countries. Under normal circumstances, travelling through multiple countries would mean having to go through visa applications and passport…
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