Budapest Travel Guide
First Time in Budapest
The practical primer for a first visit — paying in forints, tickets and the airport bus, taxi fares after the August 2026 rise, closing days that catch people out, the Gellért closure, tipping, scams and the tourist tax.
Budapest is one of the most rewarding capitals in Europe and, for the most part, an easy one to visit. It is safe, walkable, well connected and good value by Western European standards, and English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants and sights. But it has its own currency, its own transport rules and a few traps that catch first-timers every year. Here is what to know before you go.
Money: forints, not euros. Hungary is in the European Union but does not use the euro; the currency is the Hungarian forint, HUF. Some tourist businesses accept euros, but at poor rates, with change given in forints. The easiest approach is to pay by card, which is accepted almost everywhere, including at most market stalls, bars and taxis. When a card terminal or an ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, always decline and choose forints; the conversion offered is usually poor. For cash, use ATMs belonging to Hungarian banks, and avoid the standalone cash machines in tourist areas, which charge high fees. Exchange offices vary widely; compare the rates actually paid out, not the headline numbers.
Getting around. Budapest's public transport, run by the city transport company BKK, is extensive and efficient, with four metro lines, trams, buses and trolleybuses. In 2026, a single ticket costs around 500 HUF and is valid for one journey only, so changing from the metro to a tram needs a new ticket; time-based tickets of 30 and 90 minutes allow unlimited transfers. For visitors, the 24-hour pass, around 2,750 HUF, and the 72-hour pass, around 5,750 HUF, are the simplest options. Buy tickets in the BudapestGO app, which also plans journeys, or at machines. Paper tickets must be validated before you pass the metro gates or as soon as you board a tram or bus, and digital tickets must be activated before you travel. Inspectors check often, and fines are substantial. At metro stations, you can also tap a bank card or phone with Budapest Pay&GO to buy and validate a single ticket. EU citizens aged 65 and over can travel free with ID.
From the airport. The 100E Airport Express bus runs day and night between Liszt Ferenc International Airport and Kálvin tér, Astoria and Deák Ferenc tér in about forty minutes. It needs a dedicated airport ticket, around 2,500 HUF, sold in the app, at machines or by tapping a card on board. A cheaper option is the 200E bus to Kőbánya-Kispest and the M3 metro into the centre, on ordinary tickets. Taxis from the official rank are regulated; from 1 August 2026, the base fare rose to 1,300 HUF and the per-kilometre rate to 521 HUF, and trips to and from the airport carry an extra 800 HUF surcharge. Use licensed taxi companies or apps rather than accepting offers in the arrivals hall or hailing unmarked cars.
What is closed, and when. A few closures catch visitors out. The Gellért Baths, once the most famous in the city, closed on 1 October 2025 for a renovation expected to last until 2028. The Széchenyi baths are open but undergoing a phased renovation, so some sections may be fenced off. The Dohány Street Synagogue is closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays and closes early on Fridays. The Hungarian National Gallery and the House of Terror are closed on Mondays, as are many other museums. The Great Market Hall is closed on Sundays. St. Stephen's Basilica opens to visitors only in the afternoon on Sundays, and the Parliament can close for official events. On the good-news side, the Citadella on Gellért Hill reopened in March 2026 after eleven years, with a free park and new terraces.
Booking ahead. Book the Parliament tour, especially in English and in summer, and the Széchenyi baths if you want a specific day. Book organ concerts at the Basilica, evening Danube cruises at peak times, and restaurants with a reputation, such as the city's Michelin-starred kitchens, well ahead. Most other sights can be visited without advance tickets, and the House of Terror sells tickets only at the door.
Tipping and service charges. Many restaurants add a service charge of around 10 to 15 percent to the bill; check before tipping, as you do not need to add more if it is included. Where service is not included, a tip of around 10 percent is customary. In cafés and bars, rounding up is common. Tip when you pay, rather than leaving money on the table.
Scams and nuisances. Budapest's crime rate is low, but pickpockets work the crowds at Fisherman's Bastion, the Christmas markets, the busiest trams and the metro. The classic Budapest scam involves friendly strangers, often attractive and chatty, who invite tourists to a bar where the bill is outrageous; politely decline. Check menu prices in restaurants on the most touristy streets, and avoid places without prices displayed. Use official taxis, and pay in forints.
Tourist tax. Budapest charges a local tourist tax, calculated as a percentage of the room rate for each night. It is usually included in the price or added to your bill at the hotel, and it is worth checking whether apartment rental prices include it.
When to go. Spring and early autumn are the sweet spots, with mild weather and fewer crowds. Summer is hot and busy, but long evenings, outdoor baths and riverside bars are compensations. Winter is cold, with short days, but the Christmas markets, the steaming outdoor baths and the cosy cafés make it magical. Avoid the national holidays of 15 March, 20 August and 23 October if you dislike crowds, or embrace them: the 20 August fireworks over the Danube are spectacular.
A last word. Budapest is a city to linger in. Leave time for an unhurried hour in a historic café, a long soak in a bath and a walk along the river at dusk. That is when it reveals itself.