Hungary travel guide: where to go and how long to stay
Hungary is a small country that most visitors know as one city. Budapest is the reason to come, and it fills a long weekend on its own. If you have more time, the wine town of Eger, the Danube Bend and Lake Balaton are each a train or bus ride away. Pay in forint, and book trains and the big sights ahead in summer.
The short answer
- First trip
- Start with Budapest and give it three or four days. Add a day trip to the Danube Bend or Eger if you have a week.
- How long
- Three to four days for Budapest. Five to seven if you add Eger, the Danube Bend or Lake Balaton.
- Best time to go
- April to June and September to October. Summer is hot and busy, and the lake is at its best in July and August.
- Getting around
- Trains and buses from Budapest reach most places worth visiting. Eger is about two hours by train, Lake Balaton about an hour and a half.
- Money
- Forint (Ft), not euros. Cards and contactless are taken almost everywhere, but carry some cash for markets and small stalls.
- Book ahead
- Parliament tours, summer stays by Lake Balaton and long-distance trains in high season.
Best cities to visit in Hungary
Budapest
A grand capital split by the Danube, with thermal baths, old coffee houses, ruin bars and a very good food scene. It suits first-timers, couples, food-led trips and anyone who wants a big city that still costs less than Vienna.
Give it 3 to 4 days
Best places to visit in Hungary outside Budapest
Eger
A baroque town of about 50,000 people, known for its castle and its red wines. It is about two hours from Budapest by train, so it works as a long day trip or one night.
The Danube Bend
The river turns south between hills north of Budapest. Szentendre, Visegrád and Esztergom are the usual stops, reached by suburban train, bus or river boat in about an hour to an hour and a half.
Lake Balaton
Central Europe's largest lake, with beach towns on the south shore and wine hills on the north. Trains from Budapest to Siófok take about an hour and a half, and summer is the season.
Tokaj
A wine region in the north-east, known for sweet white wine. It is a long day from Budapest, about three hours each way by train, so most people stay a night.
Pécs
A southern city with a mix of Roman, Ottoman and modern buildings. It is about three hours from Budapest by train and suits a trip that has days to spare.
Hungary itineraries
- Four days: Budapest
Stay four nights in Budapest. Spend one day on the Buda side, one on the Pest side, one at a bath and a market, and the last on a half-day trip to Szentendre. You will not need a car.
- One week: Budapest, the Danube Bend and Eger
Four nights in Budapest, with a day trip up the Danube to Szentendre and Visegrád. Then take the train to Eger for two nights, and return to Budapest for the last night or the airport.
- Ten days: Vienna, Budapest and Lake Balaton
Start in Vienna for three nights, then take the train to Budapest in about three hours for four nights. Finish with three nights at Lake Balaton, reached by train from Budapest in about an hour and a half. Best from June to September.
- Two weeks: Budapest, Eger, Tokaj and Balaton
Five nights in Budapest, two in Eger, two in Tokaj, then a loop back through Budapest to Lake Balaton for four nights. It is a lot of train time, so keep one fixed base on the lake and travel light.
Best time to visit Hungary
April to June and September to October are the best months for a city break. The weather is mild, the terraces are open and the crowds are smaller than in high summer. Autumn is also the grape harvest in the wine regions, which makes Eger and Tokaj good in September and October.
July and August are hot, and Lake Balaton is at its busiest. Winter is cold and gray but suits the baths, the coffee houses and the Christmas markets in Budapest. Many lakeside places close from late autumn to spring.
How to get around Hungary
- TrainsMÁV, the national operator, runs the main lines out of Budapest. Eger, Lake Balaton and Pécs are all reachable by direct train. Seat reservations are compulsory on InterCity services, and Interrail and Eurail passes do not cover them.
- Interrail and Eurail passesBoth passes are valid in Hungary. Look for the unreserved fast-train (gyorsvonat) coaches on long routes if you do not want to book each seat, and check which services need a reservation before you rely on a pass.
- BusesRegional coaches fill the gaps the trains leave, such as parts of the Danube Bend and the north shore of Lake Balaton. Buy tickets at the station or online.
- River boatsIn season, boats run up the Danube from Budapest to Visegrád and Esztergom. They are slower than the train but are a pleasant way to see the Bend.
- DrivingA car helps in the Tokaj and Balaton wine hills. Motorways need a digital vignette bought before you drive, and you should ask your rental company how it is handled.
What to book before you go
These are the ones that sell out across Hungary. Each city guide has its own list.
- Parliament tour2 to 4 weeks ahead in season
Tours run in set time slots in several languages and fill up in spring and summer.
- Lake Balaton stays2 to 3 months ahead for July and August
The good places near the water go first, and many are small guesthouses.
- Long-distance trains with a seat reservationA few days ahead, longer in summer
InterCity seats are compulsory to reserve, and busy weekend trains can sell out.
- Festivals and big eventsAs soon as dates are announced
Budapest hotels fill and prices rise around large events, so check dates before you pick yours.
Money, tipping and practical things
- CurrencyThe Hungarian forint (Ft). Hungary is in the EU but has not adopted the euro. Always pay in forint, and decline any card machine that offers to charge you in your own currency.
- Cards and cashCards and contactless are taken at most restaurants, shops, hotels and ticket machines. Carry some cash for markets, lángos stalls, small cafes and tips.
- TippingTipping is modest. Check the bill first, because many restaurants add a service charge of around 12 to 13 per cent. If it is not on the bill, leave about 10 per cent, in cash where you can.
- Tourist taxesEach town or district sets its own tourist tax, up to a national limit of 4 per cent of the room price or a small fixed amount per person per night. It is usually added to your hotel bill, so check whether your booking includes it.
- EntryNon-EU visitors are registered at the border by the EU's Entry/Exit System. Whether you need a visa, and an ETIAS travel authorization once it starts, depends on your passport: check the EU's official site, travel-europe.europa.eu, before you book.
- PlugsType F sockets at 230 volts, the same as most of mainland Europe. Bring an adaptor if your plugs have a different shape.
What to skip in Hungary
- Changing money at street kiosks
Exchange booths with big signs and poor rates are common in tourist areas. Use a bank cash machine and pay by card where you can.
- Trying to see the whole country in a week
Distances are short, but train times add up. Pick Budapest plus one or two bases, such as Eger or Lake Balaton, rather than a place a day.
- Lake Balaton in the cold months
Many hotels, beach clubs and boats close from late autumn to spring. If you come in winter, go to the baths and the wine towns instead.
Hungary: questions people ask
How many days do you need in Hungary?
Three or four days covers Budapest. Add two or three for Eger, the Danube Bend or Lake Balaton, so five to seven days is a comfortable first trip.
What are the best places to visit in Hungary outside Budapest?
Eger for wine and a castle, the Danube Bend for river views and small towns, and Lake Balaton for the beach in summer. Tokaj suits wine drinkers with more time.
What is the best time to visit Hungary?
April to June and September to October for a city break. Go in July or August only if the lake is the point of the trip.
Does Hungary use the euro?
No. Hungary uses the forint (Ft). Cards are widely accepted, but carry some cash for markets and small stalls.
Is Hungary a good country to travel by train?
Yes for the main routes out of Budapest, such as Eger, Lake Balaton and Pécs. Seat reservations are compulsory on InterCity trains, and Interrail and Eurail passes do not cover them.
Is Hungary expensive?
It costs less than Austria, Germany or the Nordic countries, though Budapest prices have risen. Eating out and local transport are the best-value parts of a trip.
Do you need a car in Hungary?
Not for Budapest, Eger or the main stops on the Danube Bend. A car is useful only for the wine hills around Tokaj and the north shore of Lake Balaton.