Going to à BUDAPEST: Formalities and administrative steps
Organize your stay à BUDAPEST
Money à BUDAPEST
Hungary has no plans to adopt the euro. Payment is made in forint, symbolized by Ft (national abbreviation) or HUF (ISO code). Coins of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100, 200 Ft. 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000 Ft bills.
A few establishments accept euros (exchange rate rarely attractive).
Exchange rates (March 2025):
1 € = 397 Ft; 1,000 Ft = 2.51 €
Banks are generally open Monday to Thursday from 8am to 4pm, Friday from 8am to 2pm. Closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Euros are often accepted in tourist areas, but not always. Changing money on the street is forbidden by Hungarian law and has effectively disappeared. Bank exchange rates are not very advantageous. Don't change money at the airport: rates are prohibitive (cabs and transport ticket machines take CBs).
In Budapest, there are a large number of exchange offices on the main boulevard (Erzsébet boulevard: from Blaha Lujza to Oktogon, on Teréz körút - up to Nyugati pályaudvar and beyond), towards Déak Ferenc tér and Ferenciek tere. However, exchange fees can be multiplied by five from one exchange office to another (these fees are often already included in the posted exchange rate). The same applies in France.
You can also opt for a bank card. For card payments and withdrawals, the exchange rate used for operations is generally more attractive than the rates charged by exchange offices (don't choose the "advantageous" rate offered by certain Hungarian distributors, opt for the forint option and your bank will convert, at a better price. Bank charges are added to this rate).
Budget & Tips à BUDAPEST
Budapest is an inexpensive city. 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 area and access to housing for locals.
To give an idea of a small, detailedbudget per day for one person, you need to allow 5,000 Ft for two meals in a restaurant (small canteen), 8,000 Ft for one night's accommodation and 5,000 Ft for visits and transport, i.e. 18,000 Ft per day (45-50 €).
For a medium budget, count 14,000 Ft for two meals out, 20,000 Ft for one night's accommodation and 5,000 Ft for sightseeing and transport, i.e. 39,000 Ft per day (around €100).
For a large budget, count 25,000 Ft for two meals out, 50,000 Ft for one night's accommodation and 6,000 Ft for sightseeing and transport, i.e. 81,000 Ft per day (approx. €205).
Passport and visas à BUDAPEST
European Union nationals wishing to visit Hungary for stays of less than 90 days do not need a visa, nor do Canadians. A valid EU identity card or passport is all you need. Always take photocopies in case of loss or theft, to make the process easier. For stays of more than 90 days, you will need to apply to the Hungarian authorities for a residence permit. In the event of a problem, and to guarantee the safety of French nationals traveling abroad, a French government service called Ariane has been set up to keep you informed of any potential dangers.
Driver's license à BUDAPEST
European driving licences are recognized in Hungary. Those over 21 years old can rent a car there.
Health à BUDAPEST
You're not gambling with your life when you go to Budapest. If you're a European citizen, remember to ask your social security office for a European Health Insurance Card before you leave, so you don't have to pay in advance.
Mandatory vaccination à BUDAPEST
No vaccinations are mandatory. However, we recommend that you get vaccinated against influenza during the transmission period, and against tick-borne encephalitis if you're planning to go into the woods (the vaccine's effectiveness is disputed). Check that you are up to date with your DT-polio vaccinations, etc. 24-hour on-call pharmacy (it's the little window on the left) in Pest: Teréz Patika, Teréz krt. 41 +36 1 3 114 439.
Security à BUDAPEST
Crime is low in Hungary, and brawls are infrequent.
For the latest information on local safety, consult the "Conseils aux voyageurs" section of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/voyageurs). Be aware, however, that the site provides an exhaustive list of potential dangers, which sometimes gives a rather alarmist picture of the country's actual situation.
Time difference à BUDAPEST
Hungary is on the same time zone as France, Belgium or Switzerland (GMT + 1). Winter time is used there (time change at the same time as in France). This means that in winter, at 4:30 pm, it is already dark.
Spoken languages à BUDAPEST
In Hungary, we speak... Hungarian! It is a difficult language that is not related to any other in Central Europe. Hungarians in their forties and older often speak German and sometimes a little Russian, and more rarely English. The younger generation speaks English rather well, as it is compulsory at school. As for French, it is not very widespread, but you could be in for a pleasant surprise! In Budapest and the surrounding area, you will generally have no trouble making yourself understood; it is sometimes more difficult in the provinces. In Budapest there are several language schools to learn Hungarian, including Fungarian, which offers fun guided tours of Budapest.
Communication à BUDAPEST
Foreign SIM cards work without a hitch in Hungary (4G). Normally, since the abolition of roaming costs within the EU, whether in your home country or in Hungary, your calls are included in your package if you have a cell phone package from an EU operator. It is also possible to buy a cell phone with a Hungarian SIM card (9,000 Ft in total for the lower end). Always check with your operator. A Hungarian prepaid SIM card(feltöltőkártyás) costs around 1,500 Ft to buy, with some formulas including data for a smartphone. It can be purchased in operator stores. In theory, you have to be resident in Hungary to be able to get one, but if the salesman is complaisant (better to advise the shopping centers), it will be done without any problem. You need to show proof of identity. You can top up your credit (at least 3,000 Ft) by credit card at ATMs, by card at kiosks or with supermarket cashiers, or on the Internet.
Electricity and measurements à BUDAPEST
Hungary uses exclusively the metric system. The same voltage (220 volts) and the same type of plugs as in continental Europe (France, Belgium, but adapters are needed for Switzerland).
Luggage à BUDAPEST
The climate in Budapest is continental, with harsh winters and hot, sometimes very hot, summers. It doesn't rain much except in mid-season, and it snows a little in winter. But it's better to take a light raincoat even in summer, you never know. Summer evenings are not particularly cool, but a vest may be welcome, especially on the banks of the Danube. Don't forget mosquito repellent for trips to the countryside, or even Buda. Take your bathing gear and flip-flops with you whatever the season (for bathing). No dress code when going out, except in certain nightclubs (jeans forbidden, etc.).
Daily life à BUDAPEST
Hello? à BUDAPEST
Landline numbers consist of a one-digit area code (1 for Budapest) or two-digit area code (for the Hungarian province) and the following 6 digits (for the Hungarian province) or 7 digits (for Budapest).
Cell phone numbers have 9 digits after the country code, i.e:
+ 36 XXX XXX XXX. To call from a Hungarian cell phone to a landline, you have to dial 06 systematically, then the city code for Budapest (single digit: 1) or region (two digit code everywhere else outside Budapest) and the 7 other digits in the case of a Budapest landline or the 6 digits of a number in the province. From a cell phone or from a landline to a cell phone, you have to dial 06 + the 9 digits. Hungary code: 36, Budapest code: 1, exit code: 06.
To call from France to Hungary: international code + Hungary code + Budapest code or area code + the 6 or 7 digits of the local number (for Budapest: 00 + 36 + 1 + 321 00 00).
To call from Hungary to France: international code + France code + area code without the zero + the 8 digits of the local number (00 + 33 + 1 + 45 00 00 00).
To call within the same region: the 7 or 6 local digits (example: 666 0000 for Budapest).
To call from one region to another: 06 + region code + 6 or 7 digits (for the province; for Budapest).
Accessibility à BUDAPEST
The situation is far from rosy for people with reduced mobility in Budapest. In terms of transport, only metro line 4 is fully equipped with elevators. Older metro lines 1, 2 and 3 are often only accessible by staircase or escalator, except for Örs vezér tér and Pillangó utca and Puskás Ferenc Stadium (m° 2) as well as Árpád híd and Kőbánya Kispest (m° 3), which are equipped with elevators. Modern buses and streetcars, notably streetcar 4-6, are flat-floor (one train is specially dedicated to wheelchair users and baby carriages), and their stations are equipped with lifts (except Boráros Square), as is bus 16 to the castle. The most accessible institutions remain museums and monuments (elevators for Buda Castle and the National Gallery), as well as the most recent and largest hotels.
Health à BUDAPEST
In case of illness, contact the French embassy (which has a very extensive website), which has a list of approved French-speaking doctors on its website. In the city's pharmacies, you can buy aspirin, paracetamol and other parapharmaceutical treatments without a prescription. If you are taking a more specific medication, be sure to take your prescription.
Emergency numbers à BUDAPEST
In case of trouble, 112, the international help number, works. Ambulances(mentők) can be reached on 104, the fire department(tűzoltóság) on 105 and the police(rendőrség) on 107.
You can always go to the emergency rooms of major hospitals such as Szent János kórház (Diós árok 1-3) in Buda and the on-call health center in the 6th/7th district of Pest (Dob utca 86 ✆ 36 1 321 0440 - 24 hours a day), where the doctors speak English. Hungarian doctors are generally as competent as in Western Europe, but they (and the infrastructure) are underfunded, so the state of some public hospitals is frightening to see, even in Budapest. The staff are not necessarily English-speaking either. Finally, as doctors are poorly paid by the Hungarian social security system, until recently it was de rigueur to slip in an envelope proportional to the amount of the consultation(hálapénz), but this practice is now forbidden. If in doubt, consult a private practitioner (clinic), but first of all check the agreements with your insurance company. For your information, the morning-after pill is legal in Hungary, but it's only available on medical prescription, and it can be complicated to obtain one overnight. What's more, since September 15, 2022, a decree issued by the Orbán government has made it even more difficult to obtain an abortion in Hungary, requiring women to "listen to the vital signs of the fetus" before following the lengthy abortion protocol established in Hungary.
Securty à BUDAPEST
Budapest is a safe city, but pickpockets are quick to spot foreign tourists. They operate mainly on streetcars, the 4-6, preferably when crowds are crowded, so keep your bag in front of you to prevent clever hands from searching it.
Always use the checkrooms in discos (or take only the minimum with you) and - in bars - keep a constant eye on your belongings, including your cell phone or camera. Avoid leaving valuables in the baths, and at least use lockable lockers.
Beware of bogus police officers (who ask to see your cash): they should be able to show you their cards and badges.
Use cabs from reputable companies. Don't leave anything visible in your car (cars with foreign plates are regularly searched) and, if possible, park in a guarded parking lot.
Change your money at an official exchange office, checking with the clerk exactly how much you will receive in local currency (forint, Ft, HUF), including fees and commission. Make sure you're given forints and nothing else.
LGBTQ à BUDAPEST
LGBTQ people are fairly well "accepted" in the Magyar country: socially speaking, there's no particular rejection (except from the extreme right, mobilized in particular during the Budapest Pride, held once a year in July). In public and political discourse, however, LGBTQ people are often singled out by the powers that be. In the city, homosexuality is not flaunted, and rainbow flags are almost non-existent. Nevertheless, Budapest is a relatively popular destination for gay travellers in Central Europe: there are a number of places (saunas, bars, especially for gays) where the community meets up, as well as parties.
On March 18, 2025, Parliament passed an amendment to the law on the right of assembly, claiming to strengthen the protection of children. This decision bans the Pride March in Budapest on June 28, 2025, with the addition of a facial recognition system to impose heavy fines on potential participants. This prompted numerous protests in the capital.
Embassies and consulates à BUDAPEST
France has an embassy in Budapest (https://hu.ambafrance.org) as do Belgium, Switzerland and Canada. Not all of them have a consular service on site (often located in Vienna).
Mail à BUDAPEST
Offices are generally open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm, and Saturday from 8am to noon. To send a letter weighing less than 20 g from Hungary: for a letter to an EU country, the stamp costs 1,020 Ft (one week to reach the addressee) or 1,275 Ft for priority mail; to send a letter to another country (to the USA, for example), the stamp costs 1,180 Ft or 1,395 Ft for priority mail. A priority letter to France takes 3 to 4 days to reach its destination. France is written Franciaország.
Local media à BUDAPEST
The public service media are controlled by the conservative right, which has been in power since 2010. Their news is fragmented and sorely lacking in objectivity, and is broadcast in Hungarian except for a news service in English on MTVA once a day (https://mediaklikk.hu). To keep abreast of Hungarian news, you may prefer to read the Courrier d'Europe Centrale (by subscription), an independent media outlet run by journalists: https://courrierdeuropecentrale.fr/. For good tips, consult www.budapest-bons-plans.fr in French and www.spottedbylocals.com/budapest/ - www.welovebudapest.com in English.
