Hungary basics: Hungarian (Magyar) language (Uralic, unrelated to EU languages), Hungarian Forint (HUF) currency (NOT Euro), CET/CEST time, drive right. EU + Schengen since 2007. 112 emergency. Zero alcohol tolerance. Type F plugs 230V.
On this page
- Currency: the Hungarian Forint (not Euro)
- Language and useful phrases
- Electric plugs and voltage
- EU and Schengen status
- Customs and duty-free limits
- Time zone and daylight saving
- Climate and weather basics
- Public holidays
- Tipping practices
- Time and date formats
- Safety and security
- Driving documents to carry
- Practical tips for UK and other visitors
Currency: the Hungarian Forint (not Euro)
Hungary uses the Hungarian Forint (magyar forint, code HUF, symbol Ft). Despite EU membership since 1 May 2004, Hungary has not adopted the Euro and no clear timeline exists. The Magyar Nemzeti Bank (MNB) manages the currency and monetary policy.
Banknotes and coins
Banknotes in circulation: 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 20000 Ft. Coins: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 Ft.
Approximate exchange rates
| From | Approximate to Ft |
|---|---|
| €1 | ~395 Ft |
| 1 GBP | ~470 Ft |
| 1 USD | ~360 Ft |
| 1 PLN | ~92 Ft |
| 1 CZK | ~16 Ft |
Rates fluctuate daily; check current rates at mnb.hu.
Currency exchange
| Method | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bank exchange | Best rate | Limited hours (8:00-16:00 weekdays) |
| Airport exchange | Worst rate | 24/7 at Budapest Ferenc Liszt Airport |
| Downtown exchange offices | Variable | Only use certified ones with visible rates; avoid tourist-trap streets |
| ATM withdrawal | Excellent rate | Fee typically 400-1500 Ft per withdrawal |
| Hotel front desk | Poor rate | Convenience only |
Warning: some downtown Budapest exchange offices near Vaci utca and Kalvin ter are notorious for hidden fees. Use ATMs of major banks (OTP, K&H, Erste, Raiffeisen, MKB) or bank exchange desks.
Cards and contactless
Hungary is largely cashless-friendly in Budapest and larger cities. All shops accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express. Contactless payment universal (up to 15000 Ft without PIN, some terminals higher). Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay all work. Bolt and Fotaxi taxi apps are cashless.
Cash still useful for
- Small independent shops in rural areas
- Farmers markets (piac)
- Public toilets (100-200 Ft)
- Small parking meters
- Tipping (staff prefer cash)
- Small pastries and street food
Language and useful phrases
National language
Hungarian (magyar) is the sole official language of Hungary. It is a Uralic language (Finno-Ugric family), unrelated to English, German, French, Spanish, Polish, Czech or any other neighbouring language. This makes it one of the hardest European languages for foreign speakers. Written in Latin alphabet with additional characters (a, e, i, o, o, u, u).
English in Hungary
| Region/situation | English availability |
|---|---|
| Budapest (central, tourist) | High |
| Balaton resorts | Moderate to high |
| Debrecen, Szeged, Miskolc, Pecs | Moderate |
| Provincial small towns | Limited |
| Rural areas | Very limited |
| Near Austrian border (Sopron, Gyor) | German often more common than English |
| Police/officials | Basic, varies |
| Doctors/hospitals | Moderate at major hospitals |
| Petrol stations | Basic at major brands |
Essential Hungarian phrases for drivers
| English | Hungarian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello / good day | Jo napot | YOH NAH-poht |
| Goodbye | Viszlat | VISS-laht |
| Please | Kerem | KAY-rem |
| Thank you | Koszonom | KUH-suh-nuhm |
| Yes / No | Igen / Nem | EE-ghen / nehm |
| Excuse me | Elnezest | EHL-nay-zesht |
| Do you speak English? | Beszel angolul? | BEH-sayl AHN-goh-lool |
| I don’t speak Hungarian | Nem beszelek magyarul | nehm BEH-say-lek MAH-dyah-rool |
| I need help | Segitsegre van szuksegem | SHEH-geet-shayg-reh vahn SEUK-shay-gehm |
| Petrol/diesel | Benzin / Dizel | BEN-zin / DEE-zel |
| Fill up please | Teli tartallyal kerem | TAY-lee TAHR-tahy-yahl KAY-rem |
| Where is the nearest petrol station? | Hol a legkozelebbi benzinkut? | hol ah LEG-kuh-zeh-leb-bee BEN-zin-koot |
| I had an accident | Balesetem volt | BAH-leh-seh-tem volt |
| Call an ambulance | Hivjon mentot | HEEV-yohn MEN-tuht |
| Call the police | Hivjon rendorseget | HEEV-yohn REN-duhr-shay-get |
| The car broke down | Az auto lerobbant | ahz OW-toh LEH-rob-bahnt |
Useful greeting etiquette
- Formal greeting: “Jo napot” (jo NAH-poht, “good day”); informal “Szia” (SEE-ah, hi/bye)
- Handshake standard for first meeting
- Address people by surname + “ur” (Mr) or “asszony” (Mrs); given names only among close friends
- “Egeszsegere” (EH-gays-shay-geh-reh) is cheers/bless you
Electric plugs and voltage
Hungary uses Type F (Schuko) sockets:
- 2 round pins with two grounding clips on the sides
- Same as Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Belgium
- Type C (Europlug) also fits without grounding
- Type E plugs (French) also fit into Type F sockets
Voltage: 230V at 50 Hz.
What you need
| Origin country | Adaptor needed |
|---|---|
| UK (Type G) | Yes, UK to Type F adaptor |
| Ireland (Type G) | Yes |
| North America (Type A/B) | Yes, plus voltage converter if device is 110V only |
| Australia (Type I) | Yes |
| Germany, Austria, Netherlands (Type F) | No adaptor needed |
| France, Belgium, Poland (Type E) | Compatible, no adaptor needed |
| Switzerland (Type J) | Yes |
Adaptors at Budapest Ferenc Liszt Airport approximately 3000 Ft (€7.50); supermarkets (Aldi, Lidl, Auchan, Tesco, Spar) sell them from 1500 Ft.
EU and Schengen status
Hungary is an EU member state since 1 May 2004 and a Schengen area member since 21 December 2007.
EU membership
- Full EU member with all rights and obligations
- Uses EU driving licence recognition (all EU/EEA licences valid)
- EHIC/GHIC accepted for medical care (see emergency numbers)
- Free movement of goods, services, capital, persons
- Hungary has NOT adopted the Euro (uses HUF)
- Hungary has been in occasional conflict with EU over rule-of-law issues (relevant for visa/residency for third-country nationals)
Schengen
- Border crossings with Austria (M1 to Hegyeshalom), Slovakia (M15, M30 Milhost, M30 Rajka), Slovenia (M70), Croatia (M7 Letenye, M6 Ivandarda), and Romania (M43 Nadlac) have no passport controls
- Non-Schengen borders: Ukraine (M3 to Vasarosnameny, extra checks) and Serbia (M5 to Roszke, extra checks; migration hotspot)
- EU/EEA/Swiss/UK citizens: passport or national ID sufficient
- Third-country nationals: Schengen visa may be required
Post-Brexit UK visitors
UK citizens post-Brexit:
- Valid UK passport required (not driving licence)
- Passport must have at least 3 months validity after departure and be less than 10 years old on entry
- No visa needed for stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Green Card required for UK-registered vehicles
- International Driving Permit recommended (UK photocard licence accepted)
Customs and duty-free limits
EU/Schengen visitors
Free movement of goods for personal use. Typical guideline:
| Item | Personal use guideline |
|---|---|
| Cigarettes | 800 |
| Cigars | 200 |
| Tobacco | 1 kg |
| Wine | 90 litres |
| Beer | 110 litres |
| Spirits over 22% | 10 litres |
Above these, customs may question intended use.
UK visitors (post-Brexit)
UK is outside EU Customs Union:
| Item | UK to HU limit |
|---|---|
| Cigarettes | 200 |
| Cigars | 50 |
| Tobacco | 250 g |
| Wine | 4 litres |
| Beer | 16 litres |
| Spirits over 22% | 1 litre |
| Cash | €10,000 (about GBP 8,500) |
| Other goods | €430 value |
Above these limits: declare to Hungarian customs (NAV) and pay duty + VAT.
Restricted items
Not allowed (or only with permit):
- Meat and dairy from non-EU (UK post-Brexit)
- Plants and seeds from non-EU (phyto-sanitary certificate)
- Weapons (knives over regulation, pepper spray restricted, firearms need permit)
- Endangered species (CITES permit)
- Counterfeit goods forbidden
- Prescription medicines OK with prescription
Pet travel
For UK to Hungary:
- EU Animal Health Certificate
- Microchipping mandatory
- Rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel
- For dogs: no tapeworm treatment required (unlike UK/Ireland/Finland/Malta/Norway)
Contact UK Defra: gov.uk/take-pet-abroad
Time zone and daylight saving
Hungary is in Central European Time (CET):
- UTC+1 in winter
- UTC+2 in summer (Central European Summer Time, CEST)
Daylight saving changes:
- Spring forward: last Sunday of March at 02:00
- Fall back: last Sunday of October at 03:00
For UK visitors: Hungary is 1 hour ahead of London year-round. For Polish visitors: same time as Poland. For German/Austrian visitors: same time. For Romanian visitors: Hungary is 1 hour behind Romania (which uses EET).
Climate and weather basics
Hungary has a continental climate with hot summers and cold winters:
Great Hungarian Plain (Alfold, east central)
Very hot summers (up to 35 degrees), cold winters (-5 to 0 degrees). Puszta (grasslands) grow hot in summer. Debrecen and Szeged region.
Transdanubia (west, including Lake Balaton)
Slightly milder than Alfold. Balaton region: mild summers (25-30 degrees), cool winters (0-5 degrees). Wine regions of Villany, Tokaj, Eger.
Northern Hungary (Zemplen, Matra, Bukk hills)
Cooler summers (22-27 degrees), colder winters with snow (December to March). Wine region of Tokaj.
Budapest
Continental, hot summers (28-33 degrees peak) with occasional heatwaves; cold winters (-5 to +5 degrees). Occasional summer thunderstorms.
Live weather: Hungary weather page.
Public holidays
Hungarian public holidays (2026):
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year |
| March 15 | 1848 Revolution Day |
| Good Friday (variable) | Good Friday (added 2017) |
| Easter Monday (variable) | Easter Monday |
| May 1 | Labour Day |
| Pentecost Monday (variable) | Pentecost Monday |
| August 20 | Saint Stephen’s Day (National Foundation Day) |
| October 23 | 1956 Revolution Day / Republic Day |
| November 1 | All Saints Day |
| December 24 | Christmas Eve (public holiday since 2018) |
| December 25 | Christmas Day |
| December 26 | Second Christmas Day |
On public holidays: most shops closed, restaurants often open, museums often reduced hours. Motorway petrol stations always open.
March 15 - Revolution Day
Marks 1848 Revolution against Austrian rule. Widely celebrated with red-white-green cockade badges (kokarda) worn on lapels. Ceremonies at 1848 sites (Petofi statue Budapest).
August 20 - Saint Stephen’s Day
Hungary’s national day. Fireworks over Budapest Danube. Very busy in Budapest; hotels book out.
October 23 - Republic Day
Marks 1956 Revolution. Ceremonies at Kossuth Square (Parliament).
Tipping practices
| Service | Standard practice |
|---|---|
| Restaurant | 10-15% (some add szervizdij service charge automatically) |
| Cafe coffee | Round up to nearest 100 Ft |
| Taxi | 10%, round up |
| Hotel porter | 500-1000 Ft per bag |
| Hotel housekeeping | 500-1000 Ft per day |
| Hairdresser | 10-15% |
| Tour guide | 2000-5000 Ft per person |
| Toilet attendant | 100-200 Ft |
| Thermal bath attendant | 200-500 Ft |
Cash tips preferred. In restaurants, tell server total amount including tip when paying; do not leave cash on table (considered unclear).
Time and date formats
Hungary uses:
- 24-hour clock: 14:30 instead of 2:30 PM
- YYYY.MM.DD. date format: 2026.07.18. means 18 July 2026 (note trailing dot)
- Comma decimal: 1.500,50 Ft means 1500.50 Ft
- Space thousand separator: 1 000 Ft or 1.000 Ft
Safety and security
Hungary is generally safe for tourists. Common precautions:
- Pickpockets in tourist areas: Budapest metro line 1 (yellow historic line), Vaci utca, Great Market Hall, Chain Bridge area
- Currency exchange scams: use only bank ATMs or licensed exchanges (avoid unlabelled offices near Vaci utca)
- Overpriced taxis: use apps (Bolt, Fotaxi) not street hailing at Budapest airport or Vaci utca
- “Konzum girl” scam: solo male travellers approached by attractive women who invite to overpriced bars; check menu prices before ordering anywhere
- Alcohol strict: zero alcohol tolerance for driving
- Migration route: some border areas (M5 to Serbia) may have periodic disruptions
Emergency contacts
- 112: all emergencies (English available)
- 107: police (Rendorseg)
- 104: ambulance (Mento)
- 105: fire (Tuzolto)
- UK consular emergency: +36 1 266 2888 (Budapest)
- US consular emergency: +36 1 475 4400
See our emergency numbers page for details.
Driving documents to carry
- Driving licence: EU, EEA and UK licences accepted; non-EU need IDP
- Vehicle registration document (V5C for UK, forgalmi engedely for HU)
- Insurance Green Card: required for UK and non-EU cars; recommended for EU
- Passport or national ID: for non-EU visitors
- e-matrica confirmation: for motorway use, buy online
Photocopies not accepted. Police can demand originals at any check.
Practical tips for UK and other visitors
Ten concrete tips:
- Get Ft at ATM in Hungary (better rate than UK airport)
- Bring UK-to-Type-F adaptor (€5 online)
- Learn 5 essential Hungarian phrases (Jo napot, Koszonom, Kerem)
- Zero alcohol tolerance for driving - do NOT drive after any alcohol
- Buy e-matrica online BEFORE crossing border (motorway needs vignette)
- Only use bank ATMs, avoid downtown Budapest exchange offices
- Cash tips for waiters (added to card often does not reach them)
- Save UK consular emergency number: +36 1 266 2888
- Budapest thermal baths (Szechenyi, Gellert, Rudas) are national institutions
- Language completely unrelated to any EU language - English or German near tourist areas
Related topics: Hungary
- Driving rules · Speed, alcohol
- Traffic fines · Speeding, parking
- Emergency numbers · Numbers + apps
- Fuel prices · Per-station prices
- Toll roads · Per-country prices