Smart Self-Managed Tours

Country guide

Hungary

A photograph of Hungary
Photograph · Jakub Hałun · CC BY-SA 4.0

Hungary is landlocked inside the Carpathian Basin, drains entirely into the Danube, and is dominated by wide lowland plains with seven neighbours around the rim. Just over 9.5 million people live here, and Budapest pulls hard enough that most itineraries amount to the capital plus one decision. The Danube cuts the city in two and carries on north through the bend towns; the plains run east toward Romania; Lake Balaton lies southwest and does the work a coast would do in a country that has none. Hungarian is one of the few languages in Europe outside the Indo-European family, which is the first thing a visitor notices on a road sign and the last thing they get used to.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information

Language spoken
Hungarian
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+36
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Hungarian forint (HUF)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
112
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type C and F · 230 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No verified nationwide visitor statement was recorded

Planning a visit

  1. January: seasonal closure recorded
  2. February: seasonal closure recorded
  3. March: seasonal closure recorded
  4. April: seasonal closure recorded
  5. May: seasonal closure recorded
  6. June: seasonal closure recorded
  7. July: seasonal closure recorded
  8. August: seasonal closure recorded — this month
  9. September: seasonal closure recorded
  10. October: seasonal closure recorded
  11. November: seasonal closure recorded
  12. December: seasonal closure recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Dohany Street Synagogue Dohany Street Synagogue
    02 30 min

    Dohany Street Synagogue

    Dohány utcai zsinagóga

    The Dohany Street Synagogue stands as a major Jewish religious and cultural monument in Budapest. Located on Dohany utca in the city's seventh district, it serves as the largest synagogue in Europe and a significant centre of Neolog Judaism.

    • Must see
    • Place of worship
    • Budapest
  2. Hungarian National Gallery Hungarian National Gallery
    03 1 hour

    Hungarian National Gallery

    Magyar Nemzeti Galéria

    The Hungarian National Gallery occupies a prominent position within Buda Castle, the historic palace complex overlooking the Danube from the Buda side of the capital.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Budapest
  3. National Theatre National Theatre
    04 1 hour

    National Theatre

    Nemzeti Színház

    The National Theatre in Budapest is Hungary's principal state theatre institution, occupying a prominent riverside position along the Danube. The current building opened in the early 2000s after decades of political and architectural debate about the theatre's proper home.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Budapest
  4. House of Music Hungary House of Music Hungary
    05 1 hour

    House of Music Hungary

    Magyar Zene Háza

    The House of Music Hungary is a cultural institution in Budapest dedicated to music. It forms part of the Liget Budapest project within City Park.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Budapest
  5. Budapest Circus Budapest Circus
    06 1 hour

    Budapest Circus

    Fővárosi Nagycirkusz

    The Capital Circus of Budapest is a historic circus venue located in the city. It stands as one of the notable entertainment establishments in the Hungarian capital, offering traditional circus performances to visitors.

    • Must see
    • Art and culture venue
    • Budapest
  6. Vajdahunyad Castle Vajdahunyad Castle
    07 30 min

    Vajdahunyad Castle

    Jáki kápolna

    Vajdahunyad Castle is a prominent architectural complex located in Budapest's City Park. The structure was originally built as a temporary exhibition for the 1896 Millennium Celebration, designed to showcase Hungary's historical building styles.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Budapest
  7. Fiume Road Graveyard Fiume Road Graveyard
    08 30 min

    Fiume Road Graveyard

    Fiumei úti sírkert

    Kerepesi Cemetery is a historic burial ground in Budapest, Hungary. Established in 1847, it serves as a major national pantheon where many prominent Hungarian figures are interred.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Budapest
  8. Inner City Parish Church Inner City Parish Church
    09 30 min

    Inner City Parish Church

    Belvárosi Nagyboldogasszony-templom

    The Inner City Parish Church stands as one of Budapest's oldest ecclesiastical structures, situated near the Elizabeth Bridge on the Pest embankment. Its foundations incorporate remains from Roman Contra-Aquincum, reflecting successive layers of Hungarian history.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Budapest
  9. Rumbach Street synagogue Rumbach Street synagogue
    10 30 min

    Rumbach Street synagogue

    Rumbach utcai zsinagóga

    Rumbach Street Synagogue stands in Budapest's Jewish Quarter as a significant 19th-century Moorish Revival religious building. Designed by architect Otto Wagner and completed in 1872, it served the Neolog Jewish community.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Budapest
  10. Kazinczy Street Synagogue Kazinczy Street Synagogue
    11 30 min

    Kazinczy Street Synagogue

    Sász-Chevra Zsinagóga

    Kazinczy Street Synagogue is an Orthodox Jewish house of worship located on Kazinczy Street in Budapest's historic Jewish Quarter. The synagogue forms part of the broader cultural and religious landscape of the district, which contains several significant Jewish heritage sites.

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Budapest
  11. Gellért Hill Cave
    12 30 min

    Gellért Hill Cave

    Magyarok Nagyasszonya Sziklatemplom

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Budapest
  12. Erkel Theatre
    13 1 hour

    Erkel Theatre

    Erkel Színház

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Budapest
  13. Zero Kilometre Stone
    14 1 hour

    Zero Kilometre Stone

    „0” kilométerkő

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Budapest
  14. Erzsébetliget Theatre
    20 1 hour

    Erzsébetliget Theatre

    Erzsébetligeti Színház – Corvin Művelődési Ház

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Budapest
  15. Holy Trinity column
    21 1 hour

    Holy Trinity column

    Szentháromság-szobor

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Budapest
  16. Madách Theatre
    22 1 hour

    Madách Theatre

    Madách Színház

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Budapest
  17. Columbo statue
    26 1 hour

    Columbo statue

    Columbo

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Budapest
  18. Magyar Theatre
    28 1 hour

    Magyar Theatre

    Magyar Színház

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Budapest
  19. Thália Theater
    29 1 hour

    Thália Theater

    Thália Színház

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Budapest
  20. Fasori Gimnázium
    30 30 min

    Fasori Gimnázium

    Fasori Evangélikus Gimnázium

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Budapest
  21. Óbuda Synagogue
    32 30 min

    Óbuda Synagogue

    Óbudai zsinagóga

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Budapest
  22. Újlaki Synagogue
    33 30 min

    Újlaki Synagogue

    Frankel Leó úti zsinagóga

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Budapest
  23. Városmajor Church
    38 30 min

    Városmajor Church

    Városmajori Jézus Szíve-templom

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Budapest
  24. ELTE Radnóti Miklós School
    39 30 min

    ELTE Radnóti Miklós School

    ELTE Radnóti Miklós Gyakorló Általános Iskola és Gyakorló Gimnázium

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Budapest
  25. New Theatre
    41 1 hour

    New Theatre

    Újszínház

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Budapest
  26. Cathedral of the Assumption
    42 30 min

    Cathedral of the Assumption

    Istenszülő elhunyta Nagyboldogasszony-székesegyház

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Budapest
  27. Minaret in Érd
    47 30 min

    Minaret in Érd

    Érdi minaret

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Budapest
  28. RaM Colosseum
    52 1 hour

    RaM Colosseum

    Radnóti Miklós Művelődési Központ

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Budapest
  29. Gólem Színház
    59 1 hour

    Gólem Színház

    Gólem Színház És Zsidó Előadóművészeti Központ

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Budapest
  30. Karinthy Theatre
    60 1 hour

    Karinthy Theatre

    Karinthy Színház

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Budapest
  31. Radnóti Theatre
    61 1 hour

    Radnóti Theatre

    Radnóti Miklós Színház

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Budapest
  32. St Elisabeth Church
    68 30 min

    St Elisabeth Church

    Árpád-házi Szent Erzsébet-templom

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Budapest
  33. Saint Roch Church
    78 30 min

    Saint Roch Church

    Szent Rókus-kápolna

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Budapest
  34. MOM cultural centre
    84 1 hour

    MOM cultural centre

    MOM Kulturális Központ

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Budapest
  35. Pinceszínház
    88 1 hour

    Pinceszínház

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Budapest
  36. Turay Ida Theater
    91 1 hour

    Turay Ida Theater

    Turay Ida színház

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Budapest

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Hungary be?

Five to seven days gives Budapest four days and leaves room for Eger, Pécs, Lake Balaton or the Danube Bend. Choose one extension; repeated returns to the capital can consume the time an overnight would preserve.

What entry documents are needed for Hungary?

Hungary’s consular information service carries the current entry and visa rules. Check the passport-specific requirement and the complete Schengen itinerary rather than assuming another member state’s answer applies unchanged.

What is the best way to travel around Hungary?

Budapest Airport is the principal international gateway. Intercity trains and coaches radiate from the capital, while Budapest uses its own metro, tram, bus and suburban-rail fare system.

When is a practical time to visit Hungary?

April through June and September through October are practical for Budapest and regional sightseeing. Lake Balaton’s summer season and winter operating patterns create different transport and opening considerations.

What money and payment basics apply in Hungary?

Hungarian forints (HUF) are the recorded currency even though some businesses may display other currencies. Fees and acceptance are Not recorded; verify the HUF total and avoid accepting an unclear conversion.

What practical safety details should I save for Hungary?

Call 112 in a Hungarian emergency. Electricity is 230 V through Type C and F sockets; national tap-water guidance is Not recorded in the cited material.