HUNGARY

 

Taking all puns off the table, Hungary is one of Central Europe’s premier countries. In addition to its delectable cuisine, this nation is known for its bathhouses and Gothic-style architecture. Its crowned jewel, Budapest, is home to nearly 2 million of the country’s 10 million inhabitants and is a place that needs to be on your European itinerary - no questions asked. Are you (planning to travel to) Hungary yet? Sorry, couldn’t resist.

  • Updated COVID-19 Travel Information:

  • Currency:

    • The official currency of Hungary is the Hungarian Forint (HUF)

      • $1 USD = 300 HUF

  • Pricing for Leisure Travelers:

    • Average Hotel Expenses = 22,500-27,000 HUF/Night ($75-$90 USD/Night)

    • Average Food/Drink Expenses = 6,000-10,500 HUF/Day ($20-$35 USD/Day)

  • Pricing for Backpackers:

    • Average Hostel Expenses = 1,800-4,800 HUF/Night ($6-$16 USD/Night)

    • Average Food/Drink Expenses = 2,400-5,400 HUF/Day ($8-$18 USD/Day)

  • Communication:

    • Hungarian is the national language and is widely spoken throughout the country. English and German are spoken as secondary foreign languages but don’t expect to see much signage written in English (especially outside of Budapest). That said, most servers and those who work in tourism will speak English fluently.

  • Transportation:

    • Bus: Travel by bus is the way to go in Hungary. For traveling throughout the country, purchase tickets through their national bus service, Volánbusz. For all other travel across Europe, book through FlixBus.

    • Train: Hungary’s national railway service is Hungarian State Railways (MÁV). If you are traveling inside Hungary, book through them. For all other travel across Europe, book through Rail Europe.

    • Airplane: Airlines fly in/out of Budapest daily from all over the world. You can find some great deals if you book through the country’s national, low-cost airline, Wizz Air. In addition to Budapest’s Airport (BUD), international travelers can fly in and out of Debrecen (DEB), Hévíz-Balaton (SOB), Győr-Pér (QGY), and Pécs-Pogány (QPJ).

    • Taxi/Uber: Taxis are a good option to get around Hungary if you are pressed for time. Although Uber is not available, there is a similar ridesharing service, Bolt, that is available in Budapest, Debrecen, and Pécs.

  • Miscellaneous:

    • The world-famous Erik Weisz was born in Budapest. Never heard of him? Perhaps it’s because he’s better known by his stage name - Harry Houdini!

    • Budapest’s metro system is continental Europe’s oldest and the world’s second oldest (behind only London).

    • Hungary is land-locked but is where you can find Central Europe’s largest lake: Lake Balaton. It is 2-3 hours from Budapest by either train or bus.

 
 

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