Hungary
Last checked:
- Capital
- Budapest
- Currency
- HUF · Hungarian forint
- Languages
- Hungarian
- Plugs
- Type C, F · 230 V
Emergency numbers
Top 5 places
- Hungarian Parliament Building · Budapest
Landmark neo-Gothic building on the Danube; guided tours show the Holy Crown.
- Buda Castle and Fisherman's Bastion · Budapest
Castle district with museums, Matthias Church and the best views over Pest.
- Szechenyi Thermal Bath · Budapest
Huge outdoor and indoor thermal pools in City Park, open year round.
- Lake Balaton · Siofok / Tihany / Keszthely
Central Europe's largest lake: summer beaches, wine hills and the Tihany peninsula.
- Eger · Eger
Baroque town with a castle, thermal baths and the Valley of the Beautiful Women wine cellars.
Getting around
Public transport
BudapestGO
Official BKK app for route planning and buying tickets and passes for metro, trams, buses and trolleybuses. Day and multi-day passes are usually cheaper than single tickets. EU citizens 65+ ride free.
Ride-hailing app
Bolt
The main ride app in Budapest. Rides are done by licensed taxis at the regulated tariff, with the price shown before booking. Good way to avoid street taxi overcharging.
Taxi
Fotaxi / City Taxi
Use official yellow taxis with a meter and company name, or order by phone/app. Fotaxi is the official airport taxi. Budapest taxi fares are fixed by the city (base fee plus per km and per minute), so every licensed taxi charges the same rate.
Ride-hailing app
Uber
Uber left Hungary in 2016. Reports say it returned in 2024 working with Fotaxi, but availability is patchy (varies). Bolt is the more reliable choice.
Bike share
MOL Bubi
City bike share with about 200 docking stations in Budapest, open 24 hours, rented through the MOL Bubi app.
E-scooters
Lime / Dott
Dockless e-scooters in central Budapest, unlocked by app and charged per minute. Some zones have speed limits and no-parking areas.
Trains
MAV (Hungarian State Railways)
Trains from Budapest to Lake Balaton, Eger, Pecs and abroad. Buy tickets in the MAV app or at machines. Volanbusz runs the long-distance bus network.
Money and cash
Currency: HUF · Hungarian forint
Cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere in Budapest, including most taxis and markets. Keep some forint coins and small notes for tips, toilets and small stalls. Euros are sometimes accepted in tourist spots but at a poor rate. Use bank ATMs (not Euronet), always choose to be charged in HUF, and never change money on the street.
Tipping
Tipping is customary in Hungary, usually around 10-15% when service is good. Many restaurants, especially in central Budapest, now add a service charge (szervizdij) of 10-15% to the bill. If a service charge is on the bill you do not need to tip on top of it.
| Restaurants | 10-15% if no service charge is on the bill. If a service charge is added, no extra tip is expected. Tell the waiter the total you want to pay when handing over cash or before the card is run, rather than leaving money on the table. |
|---|---|
| Cafés and bars | Round up or leave about 10% for table service. Not expected for counter service. |
| Taxis and ride apps | Rounding up or about 10% is common but not required. Not needed with Bolt. |
| Hotels | A few hundred to 1,000 HUF per bag for porters and per night for housekeeping is appreciated but optional. |
| Tours and guides | Around 10% or a few thousand forint for a good guide, including free walking tours where guides rely on tips. |
| Food delivery | Small tip (a few hundred forint or rounding up) is common; can be added in the app. |
Service charge: what’s true
Many restaurants add a service charge (szervizdij), usually 10-15%. By law it must be shown clearly on the menu (or included in the prices) before you order, and listed as a separate line on the receipt. It is not optional once you order in a place that displays it, but you can dispute it if it was not shown on the menu. Legally the full net amount must be paid out to the employees who took part in service, on top of their wages; it can be split among waiters, bar and kitchen staff.
Pressure tactics to watch for
Some waiters in tourist areas (Vaci utca and nearby) tell guests the service charge 'is not a tip', 'is a government charge' or 'does not go to the waiter' and ask for an extra tip. In fact the law says the service charge must go to employees, though it may be shared with kitchen and bar staff. You are not expected to tip on top of it. Politely say: 'The service charge is included, thank you.' If you want to reward one server personally, you can give a small cash tip, but it is optional.
Useful phrases
- A számlát kérem. The bill, please.
- Benne van a szervízdíj? Is the service charge included?
- Kerekítse fel ... forintra, kérem. Please make it ... forints (round up to this total).
Etiquette
- Greet shop and restaurant staff with 'Jó napot' (good day); a handshake is the normal greeting when meeting people.
- Old tradition: some Hungarians avoid clinking beer glasses (linked to the 1848-49 revolution). Clinking wine or palinka is fine.
- Say 'Egészségedre' (cheers) and make eye contact when toasting.
- In thermal baths, follow posted rules: swimwear required in most pools, swim caps in lap pools, shower first.
- Cover shoulders and avoid beachwear when visiting churches and the Great Synagogue (men cover heads in the synagogue; kippas provided).
- Validate paper tickets before travel or have a valid digital ticket; inspectors fine on the spot.
- Bargaining is not normal in shops; only light haggling at flea markets.
Scams and how to handle them
Overpriced bar or restaurant bill
Where: Budapest centre, especially around Vaci utca and nightlife streets
How it works: Bars and restaurants with no clear prices charge huge amounts for drinks or food, and staff may escort tourists to an ATM to pay.
How to avoid it: Check a menu with prices before ordering and check the bill carefully. If threatened, call 112 and do not go to an ATM with staff.
Friendly women invite you to a bar
Where: Central Pest, evenings
How it works: Women approach men on the street, suggest a drink at a bar they choose, then the bill runs to hundreds of euros and security forces payment.
How to avoid it: Decline invitations to a specific bar from strangers; choose the venue yourself and see prices first.
Taxi touts and fake taxis
Where: Keleti and Nyugati stations, airport arrivals, tourist spots
How it works: Unlicensed or rogue drivers quote high flat fares or use rigged meters. Some get commissions for taking tourists to rip-off bars.
How to avoid it: Use Bolt, the official Fotaxi stand at the airport, or phone a licensed company. Licensed Budapest taxis are yellow with a meter.
Street money changers and bad exchange booths
Where: Tourist streets and stations
How it works: Street changers hand over fake or out-of-date notes; some booths advertise 'no commission' but give poor rates.
How to avoid it: Never change money on the street. Use bank ATMs or compare the real rate before exchanging.
Dynamic currency conversion at ATMs and card terminals
Where: Euronet ATMs, shops, restaurants
How it works: The machine or terminal offers to charge you in your home currency at a bad rate, often with high ATM fees.
How to avoid it: Always choose to pay in HUF and prefer bank ATMs.
Extra tip demand on top of service charge
Where: Tourist-area restaurants
How it works: Staff claim the service charge does not go to them and ask for an additional tip.
How to avoid it: By law the service charge goes to staff. Politely decline an extra tip if service charge is already on the bill.
Pickpocketing teams
Where: Metro line 2 and 3, tram 4/6, Keleti station, Christmas markets, ruin bars
How it works: Groups jostle or distract in crowds and lift phones and wallets.
How to avoid it: Keep valuables in front pockets or a zipped bag, especially on crowded transport.
Safety
- Hungary has low violent crime; the main risk is pickpocketing and bag snatching, especially on busy public transport, at stations and markets.
- Pickpocket hotspots: metro stations, trams 4 and 6, Keleti and Nyugati stations, Vaci utca, Christmas markets, the ruin bar district (District VII) and Danube cruise boarding points.
- Drink spiking has been reported in Budapest bars: buy your own drinks and keep them in sight.
- Railway stations can be rough at night; take a Bolt or licensed taxi rather than walking long distances late.
- Use bank ATMs inside banks where possible and check for tampering.
- Carry ID (passport or ID card); police can ask for it.
How widely English is spoken
Good in central Budapest hotels, restaurants and with younger people; limited among older people and outside the big cities. German is also fairly widely understood.
Sources
- GOV.UK Foreign travel advice: Hungary, safety and security
- Helpers Finance: Tipping and service fees at Hungarian restaurants
- Wikivoyage: Budapest
- Tripadvisor Budapest forum: Service charge
- Portfolio.hu: Uber to return to Budapest after eight years
- Budapest Info: alternative means of transport
We check these guides against official and well-known sources, but rules and prices change. Spot something out of date? Email support@tourits.app.