Make it a trip · Budapest, Hungary
What Budapest costs
once you land
Real prices, from the airport ride to a room for the night, each with where we found it. Checked October 2026, around District V and the Jewish Quarter.
Prices as the source quoted them.
Dorm bed, three cheap meals, getting around, a coffee, two beers and water.
Private room, a cheap lunch, dinner out (your half), a coffee, two beers, two rides and the top sight.
Half a villa or 4-star room, two meals out, a coffee, two beers and the signature experience.
Arriving
-
100E airport bus to Deák Ferenc tér Fixed
About 35 minutes, non-stop. City passes are not valid on it.
Sources: Budapest Trip, public transport tickets 2026 (2026), Wego, Budapest airport to city centre (2026-07)
Ft 2,500 Book an airport pickup -
Visa free for 90 days in Schengen Fixed
For AU, NZ, GB, US, CA, SG passports.
No fee yet; the €20 ETIAS has no start date. Hotels add a small city tax.
Sources: Deep Arrival, ETIAS 2026 (2026-10), Schengen Traveler, ETIAS launch date (2026)
Free -
EU citizens, ID card is enough Fixed
For IE, NL, DE, FR passports.
Free movement within the EU.
Source: Deep Arrival, ETIAS 2026 (2026-10)
Free
Getting around
-
Metro, tram or bus, single ticket Fixed
700 HUF if bought from the driver. Buy in the BudapestGO app.
Sources: Budapest Trip, public transport tickets 2026 (2026), Numbeo, Budapest (2026-10)
Ft 500 -
24-hour travelcard Fixed
Unlimited metro, trams, buses and the Danube boat lines. A 72-hour card costs 5,750 HUF.
Source: Budapest Trip, public transport tickets 2026 (2026)
Ft 2,800
Eating and drinking
-
Meal at a cheap local place Many reports
A bowl of goulash at Mama Goulash costs about 3,000 HUF.
Source: Numbeo, Budapest (2026-10)
Ft 4,500 -
Ft 3,400
-
Dinner for two, three courses Many reports
A mid-range restaurant, without drinks. Many add a 15% service charge.
Source: Numbeo, Budapest (2026-10)
Ft 20,000 -
Cappuccino Many reports
Source: Numbeo, Budapest (2026-10)
Ft 1,100 -
Draught beer at a ruin bar, half a litre Many reports
Neighbourhood bars sit at the low end; Szimpla Kert at the top.
Sources: Numbeo, Budapest (2026-10), Hungary Unlocked, is Hungary expensive (2026)
Ft 1,200 to Ft 2,500
At the supermarket
-
Ft 221
-
Ft 668
-
Ft 414
-
Lángos with sour cream and cheese Fixed
Fried dough at Retro Lángos. Tourist streets charge up to 5,500 HUF plus service.
Source: Hungary Unlocked, is Hungary expensive (2026)
Ft 3,500
Doing
-
Hungarian Parliament tour, non-EU adult Fixed
EU and EEA adults pay 7,000 HUF. Book online; tours sell out.
Source: Hungary Unlocked, Budapest prices (2026-10)
Ft 14,000 Get tickets -
Széchenyi thermal bath, day ticket, from Fixed
Usually 13,200 to 14,800 HUF. With a locker, weekday or weekend price. Peak days cost 15,800 HUF.
Source: Hungary Unlocked, Budapest prices (2026-10)
Ft 13,000 Get tickets -
Danube sightseeing cruise, from Range
Usually 3,500 to 5,500 HUF. An hour past Parliament and the Castle. The public D2 tram along the river is the cheap alternative.
Source: Budapest Trip, is Budapest expensive (2026)
Ft 3,500 Book the tour
Sleeping, per night
-
Hostel dorm bed, from Range
Usually 4,000 to 8,000 HUF. Summer weekends in the Jewish Quarter cost the most.
Source: Budapest Trip, is Budapest expensive (2026)
Ft 4,000 Find a hostel -
Guesthouse or B&B room, from Range
Usually 12,000 to 24,000 HUF. Private room, often with breakfast.
Source: Budapest Trip, is Budapest expensive (2026)
Ft 12,000 Find a guesthouse -
Four-star hotel, from Range
Usually 55,000 to 100,000 HUF. Central three-star hotels run 24,000 to 55,000 HUF.
Source: Budapest Trip, is Budapest expensive (2026)
Ft 55,000 Find a hotel
Prices change. Fixed fees come from official or widely reported figures; ranges are what travellers and operators report for 2026. Some links are affiliate links: they never change what you pay. How we make money.
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