Hungary — find the right stay, from deciding to booking
“Budapest, pearl of the Danube, and its thermal baths”
Hungary is a land of the Danube and thermal springs — the elegant capital of Budapest with its riverside Parliament building, Buda Castle and the Széchenyi baths, paired with goulash soup, Tokaji wine, and one of the best-value costs of living in Europe.
Hungary at a glance
Choose a city in Hungary
Each city has its own things-to-do and food guides plus in-depth ranked hotel reviews with real photos and price comparison — start with the city that fits your trip.
Decide — is Hungary right for you?
Why people love Hungary, how it compares to its neighbors, and which travel style suits you
Elegant Budapest
The Parliament building on the Danube, Buda Castle and the Chain Bridge — loveliest after dark.
A spa capital
The Széchenyi and Gellért thermal baths, mineral springs in the heart of the city.
Ruin-bar nightlife
Ruin bars in old buildings of the Jewish quarter — an atmosphere like nowhere else.
Great value
A lower cost of living than Western Europe, with affordable food and accommodation.
Hungary vs its neighbors
| Hungary | Austria | Czechia | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily budget (per person) | $37–70 | $65–115 | $45–80 |
| Visa (Thai passport) | Schengen | Schengen | Schengen |
| Getting around cities | Metro + trams, Budapest is well covered | Trains + metro, Vienna is the best | Metro + rail + trams, Prague covers a lot |
| English | Decent in tourist areas | Good, especially in Vienna | Decent in tourist areas |
| Known for | Thermal spas · Danube cruise · low prices | Classical music · Hallstatt · coffee | Beautiful old towns · cheap beer · good value |
Figures are rough per-person, per-day estimates — your real budget depends on your travel style.
How do you travel?
Thermal-spa lovers
Budapest has over 20 world-class thermal baths — soak in an Art Nouveau bathhouse and experience a uniquely Hungarian tradition.
See this plan → 🏛️Central Europe and Budapest
Cruise the Danube past the Parliament, Chain Bridge and Buda Castle — among the most beautiful night views in the world — and continue on to Vienna or Prague.
See this plan → 🍷Wine and local food
Tokaji's timeless dessert wine, hearty goulash and fragrant chimney cake — rich Hungarian food at better value than its Western neighbors.
See this plan →Plan — stay, eat, see
Start with where to stay (the heart of the trip), then add food and sights, and gauge your daily budget.
Find the stay you want
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City-by-city food guides — standout dishes and places to try, with real photos
Signature dishes across Hungary
- 1🍲
Goulash
A rich paprika beef soup — Hungary's national dish.
📍 Nationwide - 2🌶️
Paprikash
Chicken or beef in a creamy paprika sauce, eaten with dumplings.
📍 Nationwide - 3🥖
Langos
Crispy fried dough topped with sour cream and cheese — a popular street food.
📍 Nationwide - 4🍷
Tokaji
A world-class dessert wine once favored by European royalty.
📍 Tokaj - 5🍰
Dobos cake
A multi-layered sponge cake topped with caramel — a classic dessert.
📍 Nationwide
City-by-city sightseeing guides — real photos, locations and unmissable highlights
Top sights across Hungary
- 1🏛️
Parliament
A Gothic building on the Danube, stunning especially when lit up at night.
📍 Budapest - 2🏰
Buda Castle
The castle hill on the Buda side, with city views and the white Fisherman's Bastion.
📍 Budapest - 3♨️
Szechenyi Baths
Classic yellow outdoor thermal baths, relaxing to soak in all year round.
📍 Budapest - 4⛪
St. Stephen Basilica
A grand basilica in the city center; climb the dome for city views.
📍 Budapest - 5🌊
Danube Bend
The towns of Szentendre and Esztergom — a riverside day trip.
📍 Near Budapest
🚆 Getting around Hungary
Budapest metro
Line M1 is the oldest metro on the European continent, well covered and backed by trams.
Tram 2
A tram running along the Danube with lovely views of the Parliament, and cheap.
Intercity trains
Linking Vienna and Bratislava in just a few hours.
Danube cruise
An evening cruise to see the city, with the Parliament's lights reflected beautifully on the water.
🛂 Etiquette & culture in Hungary
Forint
The currency is the forint (HUF), not the euro; exchange rates in the city beat the airport.
Schengen
It's in the Schengen zone, so continuing on to Austria or Slovakia is easy.
Bathhouse etiquette
Bring a swimsuit and flip-flops; some pools have separate days for women and men.
Schengen visa
Thai citizens must apply for a Schengen visa in advance.
💸 Daily budget — a rough guide
Budget
🛏️ Hostel / 2–3★ hotel $15–25
Budapest is noticeably cheaper than Vienna and Prague, with very affordable food and public transport.
Comfortable
🛏️ 3–4★ hotel in the Pest district $35–65
Buy Széchenyi or Gellért Bath tickets in advance, and soak in the morning before it gets crowded.
Premium
🛏️ Luxury hotel on the Danube $85+
Stay in a hotel with a Chain Bridge view, take an evening dinner cruise, and enjoy a private spa in a 5-star hotel.
🗓️ When to visit Hungary
Spring
Apr – JunPleasant weather and flowers in bloom — a great time to explore Budapest.
Summer
Jul – AugWarm, with the Sziget music festival and busy outdoor pools — and crowds.
Autumn
Sep – OctCool, comfortable weather, grape-harvest season, and fewer crowds.
Winter
Nov – FebCold, but soaking in a thermal bath amid the snow has a magic to it, plus Christmas markets.
Book — hotels our team picked
Hand-picked from the highest guest-rated hotels we've reviewed in Hungary — compare prices across 3 sites.
★ 9.6👑 Great for your trip★ 9.5💑 Great for your trip★ 9.4👑 Great for your tripWant to see every option in Hungary?
Browse all our ranked stay reviews — every budget and area, with real photos and price comparison.
View the top city guide →FAQ — visiting Hungary
How many days do you need in Budapest?+
3–4 days works well for the Buda and Pest sides, the thermal baths, a Danube cruise, and a day trip to the Danube Bend.
Does Hungary use the euro?+
It mainly uses the forint (HUF) despite being in the EU; some places accept euros but at poor rates, so pay by card or exchange for forint in the city.
Do Thai citizens need a visa?+
You'll need a Schengen visa in advance, which also lets you continue on to Austria or Slovakia in the same trip.
Tips before you go to Hungary
- Apply for a Schengen visa in advance.
- Use forint (HUF) — exchange rates in the city beat the airport.
- Soak in the Széchenyi thermal baths — bring a swimsuit and flip-flops.
- Take a Danube cruise, or enjoy the view from Fisherman's Bastion after dark.