Cash or card?

Cards are widely accepted in restaurants, shops and most attractions, but it's still worth carrying some Hungarian forint (HUF) in cash for smaller vendors, markets and some public toilets. Hungary hasn't adopted the euro — always pay in forint where you're given a choice, since venues offering to charge you in euros or your home currency ("dynamic currency conversion") almost always apply a worse exchange rate.

ATMs & withdrawing cash

ATMs are widely available. Choose ones physically attached to a bank branch when possible, and always select "without conversion" or "charge in local currency" if asked — declining the ATM's own conversion rate and letting your home bank handle the exchange almost always works out cheaper.

Getting online

EU/EEA visitors typically retain their home data plan under roaming rules at no extra charge. Visitors from outside the EU can buy a local SIM (Telekom, Yettel and Vodafone all have shops at the airport and around the city centre — bring your passport) or use an eSIM service set up before arrival. Free WiFi is common in cafés, and increasingly on public transport.

Tipping

See our full travel costs guide for tipping norms — the short version is around 10% at sit-down restaurants, not always automatically included.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use my EU phone plan in Hungary?

Yes — Hungary is an EU member state, so EU/EEA roaming rules mean most EU-based phone plans work in Budapest at no extra cost, under standard 'roam like at home' rules.

Where can I buy a local SIM card?

Major providers (Telekom, Yettel, Vodafone) have shops at the airport and throughout the city centre — bring your passport, as ID is required to register a Hungarian SIM.

Are ATMs widely available in Budapest?

Yes, ATMs are common throughout the city — stick to ones attached to actual bank branches where possible, and be aware some independent ATMs charge higher fees or offer poor exchange rates via a 'dynamic currency conversion' prompt, which you should decline in favour of being charged in forint.