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Money in Hungary, sorted.
A calm, current plan for the money side of your trip: where your card is fine and where forint still helps, the ATMs and exchange booths to skip, the taxes to know, and why shopping here earns the best VAT refund in Europe.
The way you cross the border changed in 2026, though not the cost. Since April 2026 the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) has been live: instead of a passport stamp, you give a quick fingerprint and photo at the border, which then tracks your 90 days automatically. There is no fee and no form. A separate online authorization, ETIAS, is due to start in late 2026 and will add a small fee once it applies, but for now a US passport is all you need.
The three things people ask
Will my card work? Do I need cash? Are ATMs easy?
The quick read for a first trip.
Your card
Taken almost everywhere
Visa and Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay work in most hotels, restaurants, shops and even many market stalls and ruin bars. Amex is patchier. You can lean on your card, keeping forint for the cash-only corners.
Check yours →Cash
Some, in forint
Carry some forint for the Great Market Hall, smaller eateries, thermal-bath extras, and taxis. Remember it is forint, not euros: tourist spots that take euros use a poor rate. Get cash from a bank ATM, not an exchange booth.
How much to bring →ATMs
Bank machines only
Use an ATM attached to a real bank (OTP, K&H, Erste) and avoid the standalone Euronet machines and the tourist-area exchange booths, which give poor rates. Whichever you use, decline the 'pay in US dollars' offer and choose forint.
See ATMs in Hungary →(opens in a new tab)Cash or card
Card-friendly day to day, with forint for markets, baths and taxis.
A rough feel for everyday spending. Cards and phones cover most hotels, restaurants and shops. Cash is a moderate share, for market stalls, smaller eateries, thermal-bath lockers, taxis and tips, and it helps to keep a little forint on you.
See what the trip really costs →Your money plan
Four steps and you're set.
Before you go
- Bring a no-foreign-fee Visa or Mastercard, plus a backup. Amex is patchier here.
- Plan to pay by card for most things, and carry some forint for markets, baths and taxis.
- Know it is the forint, not the euro, so do not arrive expecting euros to spend.
- At the border you will now be fingerprinted and photographed under the new EES system. There is no fee and no form, and a US passport is all you need for now.
At the airport
- Skip the exchange counters and Euronet ATMs. Use a bank ATM, and decline 'convert to US dollars.'
- Grab about 15,000 to 25,000 forint for your first day or two of cash needs.
- Take the official 100E airport bus or a Bolt into the city rather than an unmarked taxi.
- Set up an eSIM before you land; Hungary has fast, cheap mobile data.
Day to day
- Tap your card or phone for most things, and choose forint every time.
- Keep some forint for market stalls, thermal-bath lockers, smaller eateries and tips.
- For taxis, use the Bolt app or book by phone; do not hail an unmarked cab.
- If a booth, ATM or shop offers to charge you in dollars or euros, say no and pay in forint.
A golden rule
- Always pay in forint, never US dollars. Dynamic currency conversion, exchange booths and Euronet ATMs all quietly cost you a few percent.
- Tip around 10% for good table service, but check the bill first for a service charge (szervizdij) that is already added.
Staying connected
Will my phone work here? And what will it cost?
Excellent and inexpensive. Hungary has fast, wide 4G and strong 5G across Budapest and the main routes, from Magyar Telekom, Yettel and One. A prepaid SIM is cheap, but for most visitors an eSIM from Airalo, Nomad or a similar provider is the easy route. Your US plan may include some roaming, so check the rate first. You do not need mobile data to pay by card, but you will want it for maps, the Bolt taxi app and tickets. The cost is where people get caught out, and on most US plans it lands in one of two buckets.
Your plan may already include it
Often, do nothing
Some US plans include slow data abroad at no extra cost. If that is you, the honest move is to leave it alone.
we earn nothing
Or it charges quietly, after the fact
The bill lands later
On pay-per-use plans the cost runs in the background while you travel, and the charge can show up weeks after you are home. Forgetting to switch off data roaming is the classic one. For a week or more, an eSIM is usually cheaper and keeps you in control.
Check what your own carrier charges before the trip, not after.
If an eSIM is the cheaper call, Nomad covers Hungary.
Get your Nomad eSIM for Hungary→(opens in a new tab)we may earn a commissionMedical cover
The one cost with no price tag.
Every other number on this page has a price you can look up. This one does not, and it can be the largest of them all. Most US health plans cover little or nothing once you leave the country, and Medicare covers essentially none of it abroad. A serious illness or injury is paid up front, and a medical evacuation runs from tens of thousands of dollars to past $100,000 if you are remote or an ocean from home.
First, you may not need to buy anything.
A cheap, refundable trip close to home does not need this. And if you are healthy, headed somewhere with good care, and one of the premium cards on the shortlist above already includes emergency medical and evacuation, you may be covered already. Check your card's benefits guide before you buy. Saying that costs us the commission, and it is still the right call.
How much cover matters here
Here, good hospitals are easy to reach and the care is high quality, so for a healthy traveler this leans more toward your call than a must.
If you do want cover, this is what it is for: the evacuation and the up-front hospital bill, the part no card limit is meant to absorb.
Enough for most trips
Faye, or a comparable whole-trip policy
Bundles trip protection with emergency medical, which is enough cover for most travelers on a typical trip.
The deeper end
A dedicated travel-medical plan built for serious care and evacuation abroad
Stronger on medical care and evacuation, for a remote or higher-risk trip where that is the real exposure.
If it happens
Call it first, then call your insurer's 24/7 assistance line, which is what confirms payment and arranges an evacuation. 112 reaches every service, in English. If you prefer the direct lines, 104 is an ambulance, 105 the fire service and 107 the police. The 911 number does not work here.
TrueTripCosts explains the gap and points to options. It does not set your coverage amounts or act as your insurance advisor, and every policy carries its own exclusions, so read them before you buy. Emergency number checked Jul 2026. Confirm the current number before you travel, as local lines can change.
Currency basics
The Hungarian forint, in plain terms.
Quick conversion
Hungary uses the forint (written Ft, code HUF), not the euro. At about 315 to the US dollar in 2026, 1,000 forint is roughly 3.20 dollars and 5,000 forint about 16. Notes run 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000, and prices already include the 27% VAT, so the tag is what you pay.
It's forint, not euros
Hungary is in the EU but kept the forint, so shops, taxis and restaurants price and take forint, not euros. Some tourist spots quote euros at a poor rate. Pay in forint, or better, by card.
Cards widely taken
Cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay work in most hotels, restaurants, shops and even many market stalls and ruin bars. Keep some forint for the Great Market Hall vendors, smaller eateries, thermal-bath lockers and taxis.
Tipping is expected
Tipping is a little more customary here than in much of Europe. Around 10% is normal for good table service. Check the bill first for a service charge (szervizdij) already added, and hand the tip to the server rather than leaving it on the table.
Real exchange rate
What your money is really worth here.
This is the mid-market rate, the one the banks trade at and the yardstick every other rate is measured against. Your card lands a little below it, and if a screen ever offers to bill you in dollars, that is worse again. So this is the number to expect, and how you spot a bad one.
1 US dollar is about
Taxes and refunds
The EU's highest VAT means the best refund on shopping.
Two things. Budapest adds a tourist tax of 4% of your room price per night (most other towns charge a small flat fee instead), with under-18s exempt. Separately, Hungary has the highest VAT in the EU at 27% (hotels are just 5%, with some food and books at 18% or 5%), already included in the price you see. That high rate is good news if you shop: non-EU visitors can reclaim it. Spend over about 55,000 forint in one store, ask for a tax-free form, keep the goods unused, and have customs stamp it when you leave the EU. Hungary gives back about 18% after fees, the best net refund in Europe. Refunds are for goods, not hotels or meals.
Before you book: passports, the six-month rule and whether you need a visa. Not a US citizen, or connecting through Europe? The rules can differ, and even a layover can need its own visa. See our passports and visas guide →
Watch out for
The small traps that catch first-timers.
Tipping
Tip around 10%.
Hungary tips a little more than much of Europe, and it is genuinely appreciated. In a restaurant with table service, around 10% for good service is normal, and a bit more for something special. First, check the bill for a service charge (szervizdij), often 10% to 12.5%, already added, in which case nothing more is needed. When you do tip, the local way is to tell the server the total you want to pay as you hand over cash or your card, rather than leaving money on the table. For taxis, round up the fare, and for a helpful hotel porter, a few hundred forint is gracious.
Common questions
Quick answers.
Do I need cash in Hungary?
Some. Cards and phones cover most hotels, restaurants and shops, but market stalls, smaller eateries, thermal-bath extras and taxis often want cash. Keep some forint on you and top up from a bank ATM as needed.
Is it forint or euros in Hungary?
Forint. Hungary is in the EU but kept its own currency, the forint (Ft, HUF). Shops and restaurants price and take forint; some tourist spots accept euros at a poor rate, so pay in forint or by card.
Which ATMs and exchange should I avoid in Hungary?
Avoid the standalone Euronet machines and the tourist-area exchange booths, which give poor rates. Use an ATM attached to a real bank such as OTP, K&H or Erste, and always choose forint, not dollars.
Should I pay in forint or US dollars?
Always forint. If a terminal, booth or ATM offers to charge you in US dollars, decline; that dynamic currency conversion adds a few percent. Paying in forint lets your card's network handle the exchange fairly.
What is the Budapest tourist tax?
Budapest charges a tourist tax of 4% of your room price per night, added at your accommodation, with under-18s exempt. Most other Hungarian towns charge a small flat fee per person per night instead.
Can I get a VAT refund on shopping in Hungary?
Yes, and it is the best in Europe. Hungary's VAT is 27%, so after fees you get back about 18%. Spend over about 55,000 forint in one store, ask for a tax-free form, keep the goods unused, and have customs stamp it when you leave the EU. It is for goods, not hotels or meals.
Are Budapest taxis safe to use?
Yes, if you book rather than hail. Use the Bolt app or call a reputable company, and avoid the unmarked cabs waiting at the airport and tourist areas, which are known to overcharge visitors.
Do you tip in Hungary?
A little more than elsewhere in Europe: around 10% for good table service. Check the bill first for a service charge (szervizdij), often already added. When tipping, tell the server the total you want to pay rather than leaving cash on the table.
Do I need a visa or ETIAS for Hungary?
Not right now. US citizens visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180. Since April 2026 you give a fingerprint and photo at the border under the new EES system, with no fee and no form. ETIAS, a small online authorization fee, is due to start in late 2026.
What it really costs
What you'll really spend in Hungary.
Your flights if you want them counted, your room, your on-the-ground spending, the two fees most US cards add without telling you, and Hungary's tourist tax. One number, nothing waiting on the statement. No bank to pick, no sign-up, nothing saved.
Optional. Enter your round trip fare per traveler to fold flights into the total.
In Hungary, plan for about $0.
Realistically somewhere between $0 and $0.
Whether at an ATM or a card terminal in a shop or restaurant, always choose to be charged in the local currency, not dollars. Paying in dollars (called dynamic currency conversion) lets the machine set its own, worse, exchange rate on top of any fee.
Rough guide, not a quote. The percentage here is a blended stand-in for a typical US card's foreign fee, not your exact rate. The real number moves with the card you carry: one no-foreign-fee card can cover both sides, while a plain rewards credit card only removes the fee on what you buy, and cash still costs a little unless that card also waives ATM and foreign-cash fees. A debit card, or accepting the "pay in dollars" (dynamic currency conversion) offer at a till or ATM, can push it higher. Rates checked Jun 2026 and rounded.
How this estimate is built
These are the assumptions behind the number. Change the room price, nights, travelers, or travel style above, and every line here moves with them.
- Hotel
- Daily spending
- Flights
- Cash vs card
- ATM withdrawals
- Foreign fee
- The range
- Tourist tax
Not sure which card to bring? See my pick for Hungary.
Already carry a card with no foreign transaction fee? Then you are set for Hungary, and can skip this. There is nothing to buy.
If you are getting a card for Hungary, this is the pairing I would pick: a no-foreign-fee credit card for spending, and a fee-free ATM debit card for cash. We earn nothing on these today. Always confirm the current fee with the issuer before you apply. Checked Jun 2026.
Capital One charges no foreign transaction fee on any of its cards.
No foreign transaction fee
Fee-free ATM cash worldwide
Want one account that holds and spends in the local currency? A different job from the three above, and the one I reach for abroad. It is free to open; you can create a virtual card in the app and add it to your phone wallet in minutes, without waiting for the physical card; and you can convert US dollars into the local currency inside the account before you travel, then spend from that balance. Wise uses the mid-market rate plus a small conversion fee (around 0.4% and up), with no flat foreign fee.
The three picks above pay us nothing, and their tags say so. Wise is the only option here that can earn us a commission, and its tag says that too. Paid or not, the pick is still the pick.
Travelers, not touristsA little Hungarian goes a long way
A little Hungarian goes a long way
Hungarian is unlike the languages around it, so nobody expects you to speak it, but a warm szia, a koszonom, and some curiosity about the country's baths and history mark you as a guest rather than a tourist. It is warmly received.
Say a few words
Tip: Budapest runs on its thermal baths and its grand old coffee houses. At a bath, bring flip-flops and rent a cabin or locker; at a historic cafe, lingering over a coffee and a slice of cake is the whole point, not a quick stop. And a small warning on the toast: clinking beer glasses is traditionally avoided by some Hungarians, a custom tied to 1849, so follow your host's lead.
Know a story
The Parliament on the Danube
Budapest's neo-Gothic Parliament, one of the largest in the world, glows over the Danube at night and anchors a river view among Europe's finest. The two banks, hilly Buda and flat Pest, were once separate cities, joined in 1873 into the capital you see today.
Good to know: the classic evening view is from the Buda embankment
Chess in the thermal baths
Budapest sits on a field of hot springs, and its thermal baths are a way of life. At the grand Szechenyi baths, locals soak in steaming outdoor pools year round, and a pair of older regulars can often be found playing chess on a floating board, unbothered by the winter air.
Good to know: bring flip-flops and rent a locker or cabin
Horsemen of the puszta
Out on the puszta, the great Hungarian plain, the csikos herdsmen keep a centuries-old riding tradition alive, famous for the daring move of standing astride a pair of horses while driving several more at a gallop. It is a living link to the horseback Magyars who settled here more than a thousand years ago.
Good to know: ranches near Kecskemet stage it for visitorsHungary is proud and distinct, with a language like no other, a deep cafe and bath culture, and a capital that ranks among Europe's most beautiful. A few Hungarian words and a genuine interest are warmly returned.
No links here, nothing to buy. This part is just to help you travel well.
Sources, and how this guide was checked
Last checkedJul 2026
Changed since last checkFirst publication. Confirmed the money facts that matter most this year: the forint sits at about 315 to the US dollar, cards are widely taken, and Hungary has the highest VAT in the EU at 27%, which also means the best tourist refund in Europe, about 18% back after fees. Budapest charges a 4% tourist tax on the room. On entry, the EU's biometric Entry/Exit System went live in April 2026, and a US passport is still all you need for now.
- National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV)the 27% VAT and the tax-free refund for non-EU travelers
- European Union travel portalthe Entry/Exit System (EES) now in operation at Schengen borders, and ETIAS due to follow
- VisitHungarythe official tourism site, for getting around and visitor basics
Our own judgmentThe daily cash share, the tipping feel, and which vendors will want cash are our own estimate from experience and consistent traveler reports, not an official figure. Town tourist-tax amounts outside Budapest vary and are shown here as a representative figure.
More money guides in Europe
If you are also weighing up nearby destinations, each guide covers cards, cash, ATMs and the fees to expect.
Going deeper on Hungary
The money questions people ask on the ground.
Short, focused answers to the specific things that catch first-timers out in Hungary.
- Tipping in HungaryHungary tips a little more than Western Europe: about 10 to 15% at a restaurant. Watch for a service charge in Budapest tourist spots, and tip in forint. Here is what you actually owe.
- Do I need cash in Hungary, or can I use cards?Short answer: cards in Budapest, some forint elsewhere. Hungary keeps the forint rather than the euro, its notes run into the thousands, and it is a bargain by Western European standards. Here is how to handle it.
- Bringing your dog or cat to Hungary.Hungary runs on the single EU pet-entry process for a US-origin dog or cat: microchip, rabies in the right order, and an EU health certificate on a 10-day clock. No quarantine, no rabies titer. Here is what that means for Hungary, and the local parts worth knowing.
This is how Hungary stands today.
Money rules move. We can let you know for free if that changes.