Hi, I’m Miki – and Hungary is the country I’ve visited more often than almost any other. Budapest has become something of a second home for us: it’s our gateway for long-haul flights to Asia, it’s an easy drive from Croatia, and every visit shows us something new along the Danube. On this page I’ve put together everything you need to plan a trip to Hungary in 2027 – from Budapest and the thermal baths to Lake Balaton, the wine regions and the quiet towns most visitors never reach.
Start with my detailed one-day Budapest itinerary, then use this guide to decide where to go next, when to travel, how to get around and what it really costs. More one-day itineraries for Hungarian towns are on the way.
Why visit Hungary in 2027
- Budapest, one of Europe’s most beautiful capitals – the Parliament on the Danube, Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion.
- A thermal bath culture like nowhere else – soaking in steaming outdoor pools, even when it snows.
- Lake Balaton – Central Europe’s largest lake, with beaches, vineyards and the Tihany peninsula.
- Serious food and wine – goulash, lángos, chimney cake, Tokaji and Egri Bikavér.
- Great value – generally cheaper than Austria or Western Europe, and easy to combine with Croatia, Austria and Serbia.
Hungary region by region
Hungary is compact and flat enough to cover quickly by train or car. Budapest sits in the middle, and most highlights are within two to three hours of the capital.
Budapest & the Danube Bend
The capital is two cities in one: hilly Buda with the castle and the best views, and flat, buzzing Pest with the Parliament, cafés and ruin bars. Just north, the Danube Bend hides the artists’ town of Szentendre, the hilltop fortress of Visegrád and Esztergom with Hungary’s largest basilica. Plan your day: Budapest in one day.
Lake Balaton
Summer holidays the Hungarian way: shallow, warm water on the south shore (Siófok), and vineyards, volcanic hills and the abbey of Tihany on the north shore. Keszthely with its Festetics Palace and the thermal lake at Hévíz are perfect day trips.
Northern Hungary & the wine country
Baroque Eger with its castle and the Valley of the Beautiful Women wine cellars, plus the UNESCO-listed Tokaj wine region in the northeast – home of the famous sweet Tokaji Aszú.
Southern Transdanubia
Pécs is one of Hungary’s most charming cities, with an early Christian necropolis on the UNESCO list, Ottoman-era mosques and the Zsolnay ceramic quarter. The nearby Villány hills produce some of the country’s best red wines.
The Great Plain
Wide skies, horse shows and paprika: the Hortobágy national park (UNESCO-listed puszta), art nouveau Szeged close to the Serbian border and the university city of Debrecen.
Western Hungary
On the way to Vienna: the river city of Győr, the medieval centre of Sopron and the hilltop Pannonhalma Archabbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded over a thousand years ago.
My one-day itineraries in Hungary
Every guide is built around one perfect day: the must-sees, my favourite food stops and practical tips. Budapest is live – more Hungarian towns are coming soon.
Best places for a perfect day in Hungary
- Szentendre – colourful lanes, galleries and Danube views, 40 minutes from Budapest.
- Eger – castle, minaret and wine tasting in the Szépasszony Valley cellars.
- Tihany & Balatonfüred – the abbey, lavender and the best Balaton panoramas.
- Pécs – Mediterranean-feeling squares, the Zsolnay Quarter and Ottoman history.
- Győr – baroque old town where three rivers meet.
- Szeged – art nouveau architecture, fish soup and the sunniest city in Hungary.
- Visegrád & Esztergom – castle ruins and the giant basilica above the Danube Bend.
- Hévíz – swimming in a warm thermal lake, even in winter.
Planning a trip to Hungary?
Start with my Budapest one-day itinerary and add Balaton, Eger or Pécs for a longer trip.
Budapest in one dayFollow my trips on InstagramBest time to visit Hungary
My short answer: April to June and September to October for pleasant city walks, or December for Christmas markets and steaming thermal baths. July and August are hot and busy – great for Lake Balaton, less so for sightseeing in Budapest.
| Season | What to expect | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (April–June) | Mild, blossoms along the Danube, fewer crowds. | City breaks, Danube Bend, wine regions |
| Summer (July–August) | Hot (often above 30 °C), festivals and busy weekends at the lake. | Lake Balaton, festivals, ruin bars |
| Autumn (September–October) | Grape harvest, golden light, comfortable temperatures. | Eger, Tokaj, Villány, city sightseeing |
| Winter (November–March) | Cold and grey, but magical Advent markets. | Christmas markets, thermal baths, low prices |
How many days do you need in Hungary?
Two to three days are enough for Budapest. With 5–7 days you can add Lake Balaton and one or two regional cities.
3 days: Budapest & the Danube Bend
- Day 1: Budapest – Castle District, Fisherman’s Bastion and a night cruise past the Parliament.
- Day 2: Pest side – Great Market Hall, Andrássy Avenue, a thermal bath and ruin bars.
- Day 3: Szentendre, Visegrád and Esztergom along the Danube Bend.
7 days: Budapest, Eger, Balaton & Pécs
- Days 1–3: Budapest and the Danube Bend
- Day 4: Eger – castle and wine cellars
- Days 5–6: Lake Balaton – Tihany, Keszthely and Hévíz
- Day 7: Pécs before heading home or on to Croatia
Coming from Croatia? Hungary combines perfectly with a road trip through Croatia – Budapest is an easy drive from Zagreb or Slavonia.
Getting to Hungary and getting around
Arriving
Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport is the main gateway, with connections all over Europe and beyond. Budapest also has good direct trains and buses from Vienna, Zagreb and other neighbouring capitals. We usually drive from Croatia and fill the empty seats via BlaBlaCar – it covers the fuel and makes the trip more fun.
Public transport in Budapest
Budapest has an excellent network of metro lines, trams (don’t miss trams 2 and 4–6), buses and trolleybuses. Buy tickets in the official BudapestGO app or at machines and always validate them – inspectors are common and fines are high. Recent fares: a single ticket is HUF 500, a 24-hour pass HUF 2,750, a 72-hour pass HUF 5,750, and the 100E airport bus needs a dedicated ticket (HUF 2,500). Check bkk.hu before you travel, as prices change.
Trains and buses
Hungarian State Railways (MÁV) connects Budapest with Lake Balaton, Eger, Pécs, Győr, Szeged and Debrecen. Intercity coaches (Volánbusz) fill the gaps. Trains to the lake get very busy on summer weekends.
Driving and the e-vignette
Hungarian motorways require an e-vignette (e-matrica), linked to your number plate – there is no sticker. Buy it before you drive onto the motorway. Published 2027 prices for cars are HUF 5,630 for a day, HUF 6,990 for 10 days and HUF 11,320 for a month. Buy only from the official national toll operator or its authorised resellers.
Entry rules for Hungary in 2027
Hungary is in the EU and the Schengen Area, so the same rules apply as in the rest of Schengen. Non-EU visitors can usually stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period (check whether your nationality needs a visa).
- EES (Entry/Exit System): live at Schengen borders since April 2026. Non-EU travellers have their photo and fingerprints taken at the first entry instead of a passport stamp.
- ETIAS: not required yet. When it launches, visa-free travellers (e.g. from the US, UK, Canada and Australia) will need to apply online before the trip; the fee is set at €20 and no start date has been announced.
- Use only the official EU website for ETIAS – copycat sites charge extra fees.
Money and daily budget
Hungary uses the forint (HUF), not the euro. Some shops and restaurants accept euros, but usually at a poor rate – pay in forints, and when a card machine asks, always choose to be charged in HUF. Cards are accepted almost everywhere. Many Budapest restaurants add a service charge (szervízdíj) to the bill, so check before tipping; where it isn’t included, around 10% is normal. Accommodation adds a local tourist tax.
| Travel style | Rough daily budget (per person) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | €45–65 | Hostel or simple guesthouse, street food, public transport |
| Mid-range | €90–140 | Comfortable hotel, restaurant meals, a thermal bath and a cruise |
| Comfort | €200+ | Boutique hotels, fine dining, wine tastings and taxis |
These are my rough estimates – Budapest is the most expensive place in Hungary, while regional cities and the countryside are noticeably cheaper.
Where to stay in Budapest
For a first visit, stay in District V (Belváros) near the Danube and the Parliament – everything is walkable. District VII, the old Jewish Quarter, is lively and full of ruin bars (and noise at night), while District I around the Castle District is quieter and more romantic. Staying near a metro line makes day trips by train easy.
What to eat and drink in Hungary
- Gulyás (goulash) – a paprika-rich beef soup, not the thick stew you may know from abroad.
- Lángos – deep-fried dough with sour cream and cheese, the ultimate beach snack at Balaton.
- Paprikás csirke – chicken in creamy paprika sauce with nokedli dumplings.
- Halászlé – fiery fisherman’s soup, a speciality of Szeged and Baja.
- Töltött káposzta – stuffed cabbage, especially popular in winter.
- Kürtőskalács (chimney cake) – baked over coals and rolled in sugar. I always order mine plain – it’s sweet enough and you taste the pastry.
- Dobos torta & Esterházy torta – classic layered cakes from Budapest’s grand cafés.
- Tokaji Aszú – the legendary sweet wine from the Tokaj region.
- Egri Bikavér – “Bull’s Blood”, the red blend from Eger.
- Pálinka – strong fruit brandy, often offered as a welcome drink.
- Unicum – a bitter herbal liqueur you’ll either love or hate.
In Budapest, don’t miss the Great Market Hall (built in 1897) for paprika, salami and a quick lángos upstairs.
Top experiences in Hungary
- A night cruise on the Danube – the illuminated Parliament is one of the most beautiful sights in Europe.
- Fisherman’s Bastion & Matthias Church – go at sunset for golden light over Pest.
- Thermal baths – Széchenyi is the classic (magical in winter); Rudas has rooftop views. Note that the famous Gellért Baths are closed for a major renovation and are expected to reopen around 2028.
- Ruin bars in Budapest’s Jewish Quarter.
- Christmas markets at Vörösmarty Square and St. Stephen’s Basilica.
- Wine tasting in Eger, Tokaj or Villány.
- Swimming in Lake Balaton and soaking in the thermal lake at Hévíz.
- Hortobágy National Park – the Great Plain’s cowboys, grey cattle and wide-open skies.
My honest local tips
- Validate every ticket on Budapest public transport – inspectors are strict.
- Avoid tourist exchange booths with “0% commission” signs; use ATMs of real banks and decline dynamic currency conversion.
- Book the evening Danube cruise in advance in high season.
- Check the bill for the service charge before adding a tip.
- Dress for the weather – summers are hot and winters seriously cold.
- Get out of Budapest – Eger, Pécs and the Balaton north shore show a very different Hungary.
Beyond the border: easy trips from Hungary
Hungary is perfectly placed for a multi-country trip. Head south to Croatia for the Adriatic coast, west to Austria – Vienna is only a few hours by train – or southeast to Serbia. Right across the border, Subotica shares Szeged’s art nouveau charm. Find more ideas in my Europe travel guide.
Work with me
Hotel, tourist board or travel brand in Hungary?
I create honest, practical one-day itineraries read by travellers planning their next trip – plus photos, drone shots and Instagram stories from the road. I’m open to collaborations with hotels, apartments, restaurants, wineries, tour operators and destinations across Hungary: sponsored itineraries, destination features, press trips and social media campaigns.
Work with me Get in touchHungary travel FAQ
Is Hungary expensive?
Hungary is generally cheaper than Western Europe and Austria. Budapest is the priciest place; expect roughly €90–140 per day for mid-range travel, less in regional cities.
Does Hungary use the euro?
No. The currency is the Hungarian forint (HUF). Some places accept euros, but at a poor rate, so pay in forints and choose HUF when paying by card.
What is the best time to visit Hungary?
April to June and September to October are best for sightseeing. December is great for Christmas markets and thermal baths, and July–August for Lake Balaton.
How many days do you need in Budapest?
Two to three days are ideal for Budapest. With five to seven days you can add the Danube Bend, Lake Balaton, Eger or Pécs.
Do I need ETIAS to visit Hungary?
Not yet. ETIAS has no confirmed start date (as of November 2026). Non-EU visitors are already registered in the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) at the border.
Do I need a vignette to drive in Hungary?
Yes. Motorways require an electronic vignette linked to your number plate. Buy it online before you enter the motorway.
Is the Gellért Bath open?
The Gellért Baths are closed for a major renovation and are expected to reopen around 2028. Széchenyi and Rudas are great alternatives.
Is Hungary safe for tourists?
Yes, Hungary is a safe destination. Watch out for pickpockets in crowded areas, overpriced exchange booths and unofficial taxis.
Ready to explore Hungary one day at a time?
Start with Budapest – the Parliament by night will stay with you forever.
Budapest in one dayExplore Croatia next