How much does it cost to travel to Budapest?
You should plan to spend around $89 (Ft32,957) per day on your vacation in Budapest. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $23 (Ft8,502) on meals
- $10 (Ft3,861) on local transportation
- $97 (Ft35,973) on hotels
A one week trip to Budapest for two people costs, on average, $1,250 (Ft461,400). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Budapest has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Budapest expensive to visit?
Prices in Budapest are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, Budapest is a reasonably affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in Europe for its affordability. You can find more affordable cities such as Novi Sad, but there are also more expensive cities, such as Avignon.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Budapest Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Budapest?
The average Budapest trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Budapest travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
Ft35,973
($97)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
Ft3,861
($10)
|
|
Food 2
|
Ft8,502
($23)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
Ft7,982
($22)
|
|
Tips and Handouts 1
|
Ft185 -
555
($1 - 2)
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
Ft3,294 -
9,882
($9 - 27)
|
Accommodation Budget in Budapest
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Budapest is $49 (Ft17,987). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Budapest is $97 (Ft35,973). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Budapest? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Budapest
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Budapest is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $10 (Ft3,861) per person, per day, on local transportation in Budapest.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$10
Ft3,861
How much does it cost to go to Budapest? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Budapest will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Typical prices for Transportation in Budapest are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Budapest, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
-
Short Taxi Ride
Ft2,550
-
Metro Pass
Ft1,400
Food Budget in Budapest
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Budapest can vary, the average cost of food in Budapest is $23 (Ft8,502) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Budapest should cost around $9.21 (Ft3,401) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Budapest is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$23
Ft8,502
Typical prices for Food in Budapest are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Budapest, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Entertainment Budget in Budapest
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Budapest typically cost an average of $22 (Ft7,982) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$22
Ft7,982
Typical prices for Entertainment in Budapest are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Budapest, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Tips and Handouts Budget in Budapest
Calculated from travelers like you
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps Budget in Budapest
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Unfortunately, bad things can happen on a trip. Well, you've just got to deal with it! The average price for a scam, robbery, or mishap in Budapest is $0.34 (Ft125), as reported by travelers.
-
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1
$0.34
Ft125
Alcohol Budget in Budapest
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $18 (Ft6,588) on alcoholic beverages in Budapest per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$18
Ft6,588
Water Budget in Budapest
Calculated from travelers like you
-
On average, people spend $1.20 (Ft442) on bottled water in Budapest per day. The public water in Budapest is considered safe to drink.
-
Water2
Bottled water for one day
$1.20
Ft442
Last Updated: Nov 29, 2023
Budapest On a Budget
Budapest
Budapest is the capital city of Hungary. It has been called the "Paris of the East" because of its impressive architecture and general beauty. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987 because of its cultural importance, its location on the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrassy Avenue. In addition to its rich history, Budapest still has a young vibe with a lot of energy. There's an active night life, an impressive music scene, and a good reputation with European youth.
Tourism continues to rise in Budapest as it becomes more recognized as a travel destination for its history, architecture and culture. Budapest is made up of two cities that are each unique. Buda is on the west bank of the Danube River and Pest is on the east. The atmospheres are different and each has something to offer visitors. Budapest is noted for its beauty, music, and architecture. It has grown into a cosmopolitan city that offers residents and visitors a high quality of life. Prices may be somewhat lower than those found in other large European cities, but the standard of living is good.
Sights
Budapest's main tourist sights are concentrated around Castle Hill in Buda and downtown Pest by the river. On Castle Hill the most famous sights include the Royal Palace, the National Gallery, the Fisherman's Bastion, Mattias Church, Lions' Courtyard, Hunyadi Garden, Savoyai Terrace. In downtown Pest the main sights include the Parliament Building, St. Stephens' Basilica, the Great Synagogue and the Jewish Museum and the Jewish Quarter.
Neighborhoods
Budapest is technically divided into 23 administrative districts but most people split the neighborhoods between Buda and Pest. Buda is west of the Danube and has Districts I-III, XI-XII, and XXII. Pest is east of the Danube and has Districts IV-IX. Castle Hill is District I of Buda. This is the oldest part of the city and it is where you will find the Castle and some of the most famous tourist attractions including Fishermen's Bastion, the Labyrinth and Mathias Church.
In Buda, the central part of the city is considered those areas near Nagykorut. This area is served by Tram 6. In Pest, the central area is bordered by Kiskorut, or Small Boulevard. This is where you'll find most of the tourist attractions.
Activities
There are many different activities in Budapest that you can enjoy. One of the most popular things to do is go to a thermal bath. The baths are a lingering influence of the Turkish culture in the area. They usually contain several pools, massage services, and drinking cures.
Many people also enjoy going to the Hungarian State Opera House, the Palace of Arts, Theatre Madach or one of the many other theaters around town. Popular festivals in Budapest include the Budapest Spring Festival, the Jewish Summer Festival, and Sziget, a rock music and culture festival.
Food and Dining
Traditional Hungarian food is hearty and filling. There are a diversity of restaurants throughout the city, some that serve up traditional Hungarian dishes and others that have international or fusion flavors. Prices are quite low by European standards and you can enjoy a hearty meal at lunch or dinner for a fraction of the price that you might pay in other cities.
Local dishes are usually heavy on meat and are often made with pork, beef, veal or poultry. Paprika is a common seasoning, although the food typically isn't spicy. Favorite dishes include gulyas, or goulash soup, which is a beef soup that is made with potatoes and paprika, papriaks, which is veal or chicken that is served with a creamy paprika sauce, and porkolt, which is a stew of sauteed onions and paprika.
Transportation
The central part of the city is easily walkable. This is where you'll find the highest concentration of attractions. Still, you'll likely want to head to some other neighborhoods that are accessible by public transportation. The system is good and comprehensive. It includes four metro lines, buses, trolley buses, and trams. It's relatively easy to navigate, but there can be delays so plan ahead.
For tourists, the metro is particularly useful as it connects the major transportation hubs with many different sights and hotels. Tram 2 follows the Danube on the Pest side, and Tram 19 and 41 go on the Buda side. Tram 4 and 6 are also useful as they run along Grand Boulevard and cross the river on Margaret Bridge or Petofi Bridge. Buses 16/16A and 116 will take you to Buda Castle from Szell Kalman ter and buses 7 and 107 join Keleti railway station with the city center.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.