Hungary travel guide: when to go, where to go and how to plan it together

November 8, 2026 · 9 min read

Hungary is one of the best-value countries in Central Europe, and Budapest is the reason most people come. The city is split by the Danube into hilly Buda and flat Pest, with a castle on one bank and a vast neo-Gothic parliament on the other, thermal baths in grand old buildings and cafés that have been open for a century. Everything is walkable or a short tram ride away.

Beyond the capital the country is gentle: river bends, wine towns, a huge shallow lake and the open plains of the Great Plain. It is easy to link with Vienna, Prague and Croatia by train. This guide covers when to go, where to go, an eight-day route and how to plan it with a group.

Capital: Budapest
Currency: Hungarian forint (Ft)
Languages: Hungarian
Plugs: Type C and F, 230 V
Driving: On the right
Time zone: UTC+1, UTC+2 in summer
Best time to go: April to June and September to October
Daily budget: About US$90–170 a person a day, mid-range, 2026

When to go

Spring (April to June) is green and mild, with terraces opening and the city at its best for walking. Easter and the long weekends around 1 May are busy with Hungarians travelling too. By June it can be hot, but evenings along the river are long and pleasant.

Summer (July and August) is hot, and temperatures above 35 °C are not unusual in Budapest. The city quietens during the day and revives at night, when the ruin bars and riverside terraces fill. This is the season for Lake Balaton, the biggest lake in Central Europe, where Hungarians go to swim. Large music festivals fill hotels in the city in August. On 20 August, St Stephen's Day, the national holiday, there are fireworks over the Danube and the whole waterfront is packed.

Autumn (September and October) is the other great season. The weather is warm and clear, grape harvests are under way in the wine regions and the city is calmer. This is the best time for Eger and Tokaj. Mid-October brings the first chill.

Winter (November to March) is cold, grey and sometimes snowy. The reward is Christmas markets in December, empty museums and the thermal baths, which are at their best in cold air. Many Balaton hotels and restaurants close for the season.

Three national holidays, 15 March, 20 August and 23 October, are public holidays marked with events in the capital, and many shops and offices close.

Where to go

Budapest

Budapest rewards time. Cross the Chain Bridge to climb to Buda Castle and the Fisherman's Bastion, walk along the Danube promenade to see the Parliament lit at night, and wander the Jewish Quarter and the Great Market Hall. Go to a thermal bath, such as Széchenyi, early or late to avoid crowds. In the evening, try a ruin bar, a pub in a crumbling building with mismatched furniture. Give it three or four days. For a day-by-day plan, see the 3-day Budapest itinerary.

The Danube Bend

North of the capital, the Danube turns sharply between hills. Szentendre is a pretty town of colourful houses, galleries and craft shops, reached in about 40 minutes by suburban train from Budapest. Further on, Visegrád has a hilltop castle with views over the river, and Esztergom has Hungary's largest church, a basilica on a hill beside the Slovak border. A day trip, or two if you take it slowly.

Eger

A baroque town of pastel buildings, a castle with a famous siege and some of the country's best wine, including Egri Bikavér, a red blend known as Bull's Blood. The Valley of the Beautiful Women is a street of cellars where you can taste wine from the producer. It is about 2 hours from Budapest. Stay two nights.

Tokaj

The wine region further north-east is a UNESCO World Heritage landscape, known for sweet Tokaji aszú, among the oldest dessert wines in Europe. The town is small, with cellars in volcanic hills and river views. It is easiest with a car, or with a driver for wine tasting. Allow one or two nights.

Lake Balaton

Central Europe's largest lake is shallow and warm in summer. The north shore has hills, vineyards, the Tihany peninsula with its abbey and lavender, and small resort towns such as Balatonfüred. Nearby Hévíz has a large natural thermal lake you can bathe in all year. In summer, expect crowds; in spring and autumn, calm. Allow two to four nights.

Pécs

In the south, a warm and creative city with Roman-era Christian tombs, a mosque converted to a church and a ceramics tradition. It is far from Budapest, so it suits a longer trip, or a route to Croatia.

Hortobágy

On the Great Plain, a flat, windswept grassland and national park where shepherds, grey cattle and horse shows are part of the landscape. It is a good half-day or day trip for a different side of Hungary, best with a car.

An 8-day itinerary

Days 1–4: Budapest. Spread the city over three full days: Buda on the first, Pest on the second and a bath and ruin bars on the third. Keep one day for a break or a side trip.

Day 5: The Danube Bend. Take the suburban train from Budapest to Szentendre, then continue to Visegrád by bus or boat if the season allows, and return to the city in the evening.

Days 6–7: Eger. A train or drive of about 2 hours from Budapest. See the castle and the old town, spend an afternoon in the wine cellars and stay two nights.

Day 8: Back to Budapest. About 2 hours by train, in time for a final dinner or an evening flight.

With more time, trade the Danube Bend for Lake Balaton in summer, or add Tokaj for wine. Many visitors arrive from or leave to Vienna, a trip of about 2½ hours by train, so read the Austria travel guide; from Prague the train takes longer, as described in the Czech Republic travel guide.

Getting around

Trains run from Budapest to Eger, Balaton, Pécs and across the border. The national operator, MÁV, has several stations in Budapest, so check which one your train leaves from. Some regional services are slow, and the fast intercity trains are the best choice. International routes to Vienna, Prague and beyond are covered in train travel in Europe.

Buses cover places trains do not reach, and are often the quicker way to reach villages and small towns. Coach services link Budapest to many towns and across the region.

In Budapest, trams, buses, trolleybuses and four metro lines cover the city. Line M1 opened in 1896 and is one of the oldest underground railways on the European continent. The same ticket system works across modes, and tickets are bought from machines or an app. Trams 2 and 19 follow the river and are scenic.

Taxis should be booked through a licensed company or a ride-hailing app, not hailed on the street, to avoid overcharging.

A car is useful for Tokaj, Hortobágy and the wine villages, and not for Budapest, where parking is hard. Motorways require an electronic vignette, which rental cars usually carry already; ask when you collect the car. Hungary has a zero-alcohol rule for drivers, so no drink at all before driving.

Money and costs

Hungary uses the forint, not the euro. Cards work in most hotels, restaurants and shops in Budapest, but cash is useful in markets, small villages, some bars and for tips. Use bank ATMs, not exchange booths on the street, and if a machine or terminal offers to charge you in your home currency, choose forint.

Tipping is customary. In restaurants, 10% is normal, and many add a service charge to the bill, so check before you pay and do not tip twice. Round up in cafés and taxis.

Hungary is good value. Meals, wine, public transport, baths and museums cost far less than in Western Europe; hotels in Budapest in summer and at festival times cost the most. Lunch menus in restaurants, called napi menü, are a good deal. Local dishes include goulash soup, chicken paprikash, lángos (fried dough with toppings) and chimney cake.

Rough daily costs a person, in 2026:

Budget: about US$50–90, with hostels, street food and public transport.
Mid-range: about US$90–170, with hotels or apartments, restaurant meals and a bath visit.
Comfortable: US$220 and up, with good hotels, wine tastings and private transfers.

Planning Hungary as a group

Hungary is an easy and cheap place to travel with a group, with a few points to settle early.

Apartments. Budapest has large apartments in old buildings that sleep six to ten, often with high ceilings and balconies. They are usually cheaper per person than hotels, but check lifts and stairs, and the noise level in the nightlife district. Where to stay with a group lists what to check.

Baths. Thermal baths are a highlight, but popular ones get crowded. Plan the visit for early morning or evening, agree a time to meet and check what to bring, since some require swim caps in lap pools and towels.

Wine regions. Eger and Tokaj are much easier with a designated driver or a hired driver for the day. Agree this before the tasting begins.

Cash and splitting. Because some places prefer cash, one person often pays and the others owe them. Log each cost as it happens, in forint, and settle once at the end, rather than passing notes around the table.

Before you go

Entry rules: check the official government site of Hungary and your own government's travel advice before you book. Hungary is in the Schengen area, so the rules depend on your passport.
Travel insurance that covers medical costs and cancellations.
Connectivity: an eSIM or local SIM works well, and wifi is common in cafés and hotels. Travellers from the EU can use their home plan.
A plug adapter for Type C or F if you are coming from outside continental Europe.
Health: no special vaccines are usually needed; ask a travel clinic. Tap water is safe in Budapest.
Customs: a little Hungarian goes a long way: köszönöm for thank you and szia for hello and goodbye among friends. Hungarian is unrelated to most European languages, so do not expect to guess words. Dress modestly in churches, and take care at night in nightlife areas.

What to pack

Comfortable shoes with grip come first. Budapest's streets are cobbled and hilly around the castle, and baths have wet floors. Bring flip-flops or pool sandals for the baths, a swimsuit and a quick-dry towel.

For summer, light clothes, a hat, sunscreen and a refillable bottle, as the heat is strong. For spring and autumn, layers and a light waterproof. For winter, a warm coat, gloves and a hat; the baths feel best in the cold. A small day bag with a zip is useful in busy markets and on crowded trams.