What to know before you go

How to get around

Budapest has excellent public transit, with a network of trams, metros, and buses. It’s best to get a pass, as you can travel without limits within the time your pass is valid. However, if you get a single ticket, validate it before getting on the metro, tram, or bus. A single ticket costs 450 HUF, a 24-hour pass is 2500 HUF, and you can buy tickets from ticket machines and counters or get a digital ticket on the BudapestGO app.

Currency

Hungary used the Hungarian Forint (HUF), roughly 370 HUF to the dollar.

International adapters you’ll need

Hungary uses the standard continental European plug with two prongs, so if you’re bringing a generic European adapter, that will do.

When to plan your visit

The shoulder season is a good time to visit, as it’s less busy than the middle of August during the Sziget Festival or December during the Christmas market season. Anytime is good to visit; it just depends on the weather, crowds, and what you’d like to do.

Your fun Budapest dinner party fact

Budapest has hundreds of caves carved out by thermal water. You can even go spelunking in the Buda Hills, but if you’re a licensed cave diver, you can dive the world’s largest known thermal water cave right in the city center opposite one of the thermal baths.