What budget to travel en Hongrie? Money and currency

The euro is accepted in most hotels and restaurants. Do not change your euros on the street, prefer exchange offices rather than banks. Only major hotels, restaurants and retail chains accept international credit cards. Hungary remains an inexpensive destination. The prices of tickets and services are relatively moderate (museums, shows, concerts, baths...). Be careful with the invoice in high-end restaurants.

What budget for activities and outings en Hongrie?

Visiting Hungary won't break the bank, even if entrance fees have risen considerably in recent years. Most museums are free for children under 6 and over 70. Those under 26 and/or students with an ISIC student card are entitled to reduced admission. Reduced admission is also available for over 62s and children under 14. Family tickets are available for two parents and two children. You'll have to pay extra for any photos you may take - well, in theory..

The Budapest Card from the tourist office is a good option if you plan to visit several cultural sites in the capital (reduced entrance fees), as well as taking free public transport.

On national holidays (March 15, August 20, October 23), admission to museums is often free.

As far as food is concerned, shopping in traditional market halls is inexpensive (even in Budapest's large central market, admittedly touristy, where you'll find fruit and vegetables at Hungarian prices). Go in the morning, especially early on Saturdays, to take advantage of the presence of small producers.

Club tickets may be free (especially for women), but if they're not, they'll cost you around 1,500 Ft (€4). The same applies to art-house movies. Concerts, plays, operas and other shows are far from costing a fortune in Hungary. A concert costs between €10 and €30. Discounts are systematically available for pensioners (on presentation of their card) and students. In Budapest, at the MUPA's Bartók Béla Hall, tickets are 500 Ft for students who purchase them 1 hour before the concert. Napi bontás recommends the best evenings day by day, Klubadatok A-tól Z-ig presents an alphabetical classification of places that move, zene is devoted to concerts, színház to theater, mozi to cinema. There's also the free monthly English-language magazine Funzine (www.funzine.hu).

Ruined bars and kert often offer decent food at reasonable prices.

What budget to eat en Hongrie?

In Budapest and other densely populated cities, doggy bags are available in some establishments, and take-away food is now commonplace. Traditional canteens serve lunch at ridiculously low prices. Many establishments, including gourmet restaurants, offer lunch menus (starter-main course-dessert) for around €12-18. Take advantage of this, as the bill goes up in the evening! When it comes to eating on the go, establishments are springing up all over the world. For a taste of Hungarian charcuterie, why not try lunch at a butcher's? That's right, these butchers grill beautiful sausages that you eat with a slice of white bread and tarragon mustard. Sandwich culture as we know it in France doesn't really have an equivalent in Hungary, and bakeries are often devoid of them (except for artisanal bakeries and baristas' cafés), but you'll find plenty of rather good kebabs, often run by Turks. Two Hungarian specialties to try out on the street: lángos, fried doughnuts topped with garlicky crème fraîche and grated cheese, and kürtőskalács, those "waffle" pasta cones that are caramelized over the embers.

A drink/coffee won't cost you much more than €3. Hungarians like to drink beer by the pint (less than €3), bearing in mind that the best-known Hungarian beers - Soproni, Dreher, Arany Aszok - are fairly light, rather unremarkable blondes. But craft beer has made a big breakthrough in the capital. Hungary is also a great wine-growing country: wine lovers, you're in for a treat! Bear in mind that clubs and bars, and even cafés and tea rooms, do not always accept payment by credit card (which is becoming increasingly rare).

What is the budget for accommodation en Hongrie?

Hungary has accommodation to suit every budget, from ten euros a night in a youth hostel dormitory to 5-star palaces. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of boutique hotels - modern, often charming, design-oriented and ultra-comfortable establishments with less than forty rooms. Guesthouses are often cash-only. There are also campsites (or glampings) scattered all over the country.

If you wish to pay by credit card, most hotel chains offer payment in either forint or euros, which may save you some bank charges...

Travel budget en Hongrie and cost of living

Generally speaking, Hungary is an inexpensive country. Entrance fees and services are moderate (museums, shows, concerts and baths can all weigh heavily on the budget). Beware of the bill in luxury restaurants, which can easily rise. All these services remain expensive for most of the population, with an average salary of around €600 per month in Budapest. For the visitor, it's accommodation that's the most expensive, even if, out of season, you can get by with a bed in a hostel for €15-20. There's a plethora of accommodation on Airbnb and other platforms at €20 per person for a small room (double that in high season), but here as elsewhere, unscrupulous short-term rentals have consequences for the vitality of the district and access to housing for locals.