Hungary Travel Tips – Hungary Travel Guide

 Today we’re taking you around the country we’ve been wanting to visit for a while, Hungary. Hungary is more than just a good look, this is the country with youthful vibes, vibrant street art, alternative nightlife, delicious food and so much more. In this travel guide, we’re going to try and highlight just that along with the main attractions.

So let’s dive right in and let us show you a few things to do in Hungary and the most important Hungary Travel Tips – Hungary travel guide.

Important Statistics of Hungary

Capital City: Budapest

Biggest City: Budapest (525.2 km²)

Total Population: 9.9 million

Time-Zone in Hungary: GMT+1

Int. Dialing Code: +36

Major Language: Hungarian

Voltage: 220 AC, 50 Hz

Currency: The forint (HUF)

Things to Do in Budapest

Budapest is one of the top photogenic cities in Europe. This is because of 19-century architecture, and it is the capital city of Hungry. Below you will find some of the top things to do in Hungary.

Hungarian Parliament Building

Hungarian Parliament is the largest building in Hungary and the third-largest building in the whole world. Built in 1902 in the neo-gothic style, and located on the Danube river. It is probably the most iconic and noticeable building in Budapest. Apart from impressive architecture, the building was also an engineering marvel at the time of this construction. The Parliament of Budapest is the seat of the national assembly of Hungary and is a popular tourist destination while traveling to Budapest.

Thermal Baths

Budapest is located over numerous thermal springs and bathing has been a part of everyday life in the city since Roman times. Probably the most widely known, Szechenyi thermal bath is the largest medicinal bath in Europe and one of the largest spa complexes of its kind.

Széchenyi Chain Bridge

Széchenyi Chain Bridge was the very first permanent bridge connecting Buda and Pest, the two areas of Budapest located on the east and west bank of the Danube river. Indeed, it is one of the largest bridges in the world and built-in 1849. It is most commonly known as the “chain bridge” because of its construction. This bridge is regarded as one of the modern world’s engineering wounders. It has an enormous significance in the country’s economic, social, and cultural life. This is what allowed it to become a symbol of advancement, national awakening, and the linkage between East and West.

Fisherman’s Bastion

The Fisherman’s Bastion is a monument overlooking Budapest from the Buda Castle and it is one of the most important tourist attraction spots in Hungary. It was constructed in the same year (1902) as the Parliament, another fantastic view of Budapest city.

Buda Castle

Located just a few steps from the Fisherman’s Bastion, on Castle Hill, there is a former Hungarian Royal Palace – the Buda Castle. The palace now houses museums and galleries and the area surrounding the palace known as the Castle Quarter. This castle and palace complex of the Hungarian kings in Budapest. was completed in 1265. This castle is surrounded by a tourist area known as Varnegyed (Castle Quarter), which is famous for medieval, and Neoclassical houses churches, and public buildings.

Cities in Hungary to Visit

1.   Budapest

Budapest is a dynamic city with countless worth-sighting views and you need more than a few days to explore the whole city. Hungary’s capital is basically bisected by the river Danube. The most impressive thing about tourism to Budapest is, you can make plan to go to Budapest at any time of the year.

Once here, must go and visit Parliament Building, and then go for a walk around Fisherman’s Bastion. Budapest history museum is of great importance as it can take you to Roman times.

2.   Esztergom

Esztergom, the previous history capital of Hungary, situated in northern Hungary in the Komárom-Esztergom county. River Danube flows on the right side of the city which also serves as the border of Slovakia. You can take the train to get from Budapest to Esztergom and it will cost you 900 Ft – 1 200 Ft.

Must visit places are Hungarian National Museum, Koriander, and Basilica where you can taste some mouth-watering traditional Hungarian dishes. Indeed, Esztergom is a history-rich city and the statue of King Saint Stephen is another spot that attracts tourists.

3.   Eger

If you’re fond of exploring history, then Eger is waiting for you, with numerous worth-sighting attraction spots. Eger, an ancient city in northern Hungary, with remarkable landmarks and wondrous buildings such as baroque buildings.

4.   Vác

Vác is a small yet worth-visiting tourist attraction site, that often neglected due to the major cities. If you’ve added this little down to your schedule, then surely you won’t end up regretting that it has wasted your day. Since it just 30-miles away, therefore, it is one of the popular summer resort destinations.

5.   Tihany

Tihany is one of the little down with mesmerizing beauty, situated in western Hungary. Bences Apatsag, Ortorony Lookout Tower, Tihanyi Market Place, and Tihany Echo are a few of the top attractions in Tihany. Your day will be ended but its amazing tourist destinations will not. At the end of the day, you can head towards Pal Csarda restaurant and enjoy a lovely dinner.

6.   Tapolca

If you’re on a visit to Hungary, then your journey will be uncompleted without blessing your eyes with the astonishing beauty of Tapolca. This gorgeous setting situated close to lake Balaton, in a Veszprém county. Also, make sure to visit Szigliget Castle and Lake Cave to further add awesome pictures to your gallery.

7.   Pécs

Pécs is best known for its iconic ancient landmarks situated alongside the Croatian border. There is plenty of gorgeous spots, particularly during the evening, Bloff Bisztro is the place that can leave a memory, impossible to forget. Szechenyi Ter, Victor Vasarely Museum are must-visiting attracting spots where you can’t hold yourself from clicking the photos.

Local Transportation in Hungary

Public transport in Hungary is comfortable and pretty affordable. While taxi fares are affordable too, 15-20 minutes of the ride will cost you around $5 to $10. There is a wide-network train all over the country but even if the train doesn’t reach a particular spot, you’ll surely find a comfy and efficient bus. You can also hire online as well as offline taxi service to get to the farthest crevices.

You can also get a rental car that will cost you $15 – $20 but you must have to buy IDP (International Driving Permit). There are many low-budget airline options available but due to your luggage, it can make a burden on your pocket.

Since Hungary is one of the favorite tourist spots, therefore, most probably you’ll find queues of people at the local bus stations. Every time you travel by bus; you need to purchase the ticket otherwise you’ll be fined by the ticket checker.

But, if you want to travel via train then you’ve two options. You can either choose a local train with a cheaper fare, while if you want to enjoy the comfort while traveling, then you can also choose a modern train by paying extra charges.

Accommodation in Hungary

Similar to transportation, accommodation in Hungary is incredibly affordable and it would not break your bank. Prices of a room per night start from 2,500 HUF ($9 USD) to 5,500 HUF ($20 USD).

Finding suitable accommodation wouldn’t be an issue since there are plenty of spaces to stay such as hotels, guest houses, and private apartments as well. But, if you’ve planned a tour for a few weeks, then getting a private room in a house is the ideal option available. If you’re a camping enthusiast, then campsites are a good option to consider for budget-conscious buyers.

One might think that with this cheapest price bracket, he has to compromise over several essential facilities but that is untrue. The majority of the hostels offer free Wi-Fi and some of them even offer free breakfast. Price can increase up to two times if you choose a 3 or 4-star hotel which is justifiable. But if you’re on a budget, then I would suggest you find a suitable hostel outside Budapest. Make sure to check out the latest deals on cheap flight and hotels at Traveldealsrightnow.com

 

Local Food & Drink

Hearty stews and dumplings are among the world-famous Hungarian traditional food. Paprika is considered the spiciest native dish, and I bet you can’t control yourself from saying awesome.

A typical Hungarian kitchen is incomplete with meat; therefore, they widely depend on the livestock.

You can easily find the beers around the corner which offer snack food for almost 1,500 HUF ($6 USD) and can get a beer for 400 HUF ($1.50 USD). But you can get the beer at half-price if you head to the store. Other than this, there is a wide range of Thai and Indian dishes you can get from the food streets of Hungary.

If you want to cook your meal yourself then you can get all the groceries for a week at 8,000 HUF ($29 USD).

Best Time to Travel Hungry

The Best time to visit Hungary in the spring and autumn when the weather is fine and you don’t have to compete with a large number of tourists for the summer busier time of the year. June to August is the peak season in which Hungary, especially Budapest hosts masses of visitors from all around the world. The reason for this peak season especially during these months is due to the rise in this temperature. Undoubtedly, Hungary is worth visiting throughout the year but your fun element will significantly increase especially during this season.

But, if you do not want to break your bank and explore the ultimate beauty of Hungary then April to May, September to October is the best time of the year. While, if you’re planning to enjoy your Christmas holidays at the top-tourist spot across Europe then November to December is perfect timing.

 

Money-Saving Tips

Compared to many other tourist spots, Hungary is a far cheaper adventuring spot with unlimited fun opportunities and unforgettable landscapes. Following are some hacks that can help you make your tour budget-friendly.

• Local Restaurants are not much expensive but if you’re on a tight budget then the best option is to buy groceries and cook your meal. At the end of the journey, you can save a lot of money by cooking the meal yourself.
• You can limit your transportation expenses by deciding to explore the beauty of Hungary on foot. There are wide networks of walking tracks spread in all cities, making it really easy for the traveler to visit different tourist spots without paying any transportation fare.
• By having an ISIC card (International Student Identity Card), you can save up to 50% of entry fees for museums or other tourist spots.
• Drinking tap water in a different country isn’t a good choice, rather you can end up admitting to the hospital. While relying on purified water bottles can the whole journey can cost you a handful amount of money, therefore the best choice is to exploit any natural or artificial source such as fountains.
• While on a tight budget doesn’t mean that you cannot explore the history, and get a detailed overview of the city. There are many free walking tours and you can join any of them to efficiently visit all of the important spots without any charges, however, it is good to tip.
• Ridesharing apps can further reduce your expenses as it is among the cheapest and convenient way of getting around the city. Above all, it is absolutely safe since all of the users are verified and registered with the ridesharing company.
• Some other ways to minimize your expenses is to opt for the off-season, flying on an off-peak time, and buying less stuff.
• Plan your trip strategically and book all of your activities ahead of the schedule to keep the budget in hand.

Hungary Pre-Travel Advices Health and Security

You must consult a health practitioner and receive all the necessary vaccination. A traveler must be vigilant and use his common sense to avoid any security issue.

A few of the most important aspects of security are as follows:

• Keep all of your important documents organized and in a safe place such as a hotel vault. Make sure that you’ve copies of all of your documents and small plastic bags to keep them safe.
• Even if you’re away from the hotel then don’t forget to keep your passport in your bag or any pocket.
• Do not place your bags anywhere except your hotel room, and beware of a pickpocket.
• Whenever you’ve to conduct the transactions, always head towards the nearest money exchange, do not deal with any local.
• Always keep your mobile phones in your pocket and save the phone number of local police in your contact list.
• Due to the high level of arsenic, it is strongly advised not to drink the tap water, rather stick to the purified water bottles.
• Do not forget to keep mosquito/insect repellant in your luggage.

What souvenirs are best to shop for?

Here is the list of all of the famous souvenirs you should bring back from Hungary. All of these souvenirs will always give you a flashback of your unforgettable experience.

Hungarian paprika

Hungarian paprika comes in eight different flavors and regarded as the basic spice of every traditional dish. Kalocsa as well as Szeged, a little town of Hungary, are famous for the production of these spices. Hungarian paprika is available all across Hungary and tourists can get them in lovely packaging.

Pálinka

Pálinka is a fruit spirit that is a part of Hungary tradition and it is known by many different names. By composition, it is made up of apricots, pears, and plums, and alcohol ranges from 37% and 86%. It is believed that it has many different benefits such as disinfection, and many antibacterial properties.

Air from Budapest

There are more than a few iconic gift ideas and souvenirs that can certainly add colors to your homes. But, Air from Budapest, is among my personal favorite souvenirs due to its super-stylish packaging, and impressive drawings of different monuments.

Tisza Shoes

The Tisza is among the famous shoe brand which reflects contemporary Hungarian style in its design. It is named after the Tisza River, one of the biggest rivers across Hungary. Once there, you can purchase these shoes from brand outlets, however, it is available at different online stores as well.

Matyó embroidery

Matyó embroidery, which is mostly characterized by floral motifs and also an important part of Hungarian folklore.

What sort of gadgets and clothes I should bring while my visit to Hungary?

Check out must-have travel accessories and Best travel accessories for long flights

Clothes/Essentials

• Your toothbrush
• Tube of toothpaste
• Razor
• A bottle of shampoo
• Towel and handkerchiefs
• Deodorant and Perfume
• 3-4 pair of jeans (different colors such as Khaki, Dark Blue, Light Blue, Black)
• 1 pair of shorts
• 3-5 T-shirts
• Full sleeve T-shirt
• At least 2 pair of sneakers
• 4-6 pairs of socks (as most of the time you can lose them during your stay)
• 3 pairs of boxer shorts for sleeping

Medical kit for emergency

• Good-quality hand sanitizer
• Pack of face mask
• Few pair of gloves
• Band-aids
• Antibacterial cream
• Antiseptics (betadine, alcohol)
• Thermometer (digital)
• Personal toilet tissues
• Cleansing gel and Anti-bacterial soap

Plugs

• Plug adaptor
• Universal travel adaptor
• Voltage converter

FAQs – Hungary Travel Tips

What is the currency in Hungary?

The official currency is the Hungarian Forint (HUF) is hungry, you can also pay with Euros in most places. If you are going to exchange your money for the local currency make sure to do it in one of the Hungarian banks because they will offer you better exchange rates than the foreign ones.

Is free Wi-Fi available all across Hungary?

Yes, you will get the facility of free and fast Wi-Fi at almost all of the hotels, public places, shopping centers, and bars. Even the flixbus services also include free Wi-Fi service and electrical outlets for charging your electronic gadgets as well. As a rule of thumb, one way to protect your information from hackers while using free WIFI is with a VPN.  From hacked emails, governmental spying, and credit card numbers getting stolen, there are plenty of risks that come through our laptops and smartphones. Think about it. Check out by Best VPN for Travel Article.

What is the voltage in Hungary?

With AC 50Hz, the standard voltage is 230 volts and you’ll require to bring a plug with two round pin varieties. Above in the guide, we’ve mentioned some important plugs that must be a part of your luggage.

Is it a good idea for the solo-female traveler to visit Hungary?

Hungary is a peaceful and ideal travel destination whether you’re traveling with your partner or all alone. Even if you’re a solo female traveler, you should not hesitate to visit Hungary. But if you face harassment in the form, you shouldn’t wait for a second and call the local police.

There is no denial of the fact that Hungary is among the safest country in the world, but you still need to follow some precautions to avoid any unpleasant situation. For instance, avoid going for a walk in an isolated area especially during the late night. Similarly, if you’re out for the drink then be alert and keep an eye on your drinks.

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