10 Days in Hungary

What You Should Know Before Going On A Hungary Tour

Where is Hungary? 

Hungary is a Central European country sharing its borders with many Eastern and Central European countries including Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia. Due to Hungary’s central location, you can see influences from all of these countries throughout Hungary. 

What is the Weather Like in Hungary? 

Hungary is home to a typical four-season climate. Summers in Hungary are dry and on average between 75 and 85 degrees. The summers can be humid so watch out for an occasional thunderstorm during the late afternoon. 

The spring and fall see more rain and cooler temperatures. The weather during the winter in Hungary depends on where you are. In the mountains, you can see some snow and face strong winds called bora. In the cities, you may see less snow but the temperatures can still be very cold. 

What to Pack for Hungary

Similar to other Central European such as Austria and Slovakia, what time of the year you are visiting will dictate what you put in your suitcase. During the summer, make sure to bring plenty of shorts, tank tops, and hats. The Hungarian sun can get warm so make sure to pack some sunscreen. 

If you’re visiting during the shoulder seasons, layers are the best. Packing a rainjacket, sweaters, and pants will best protect you from those rainy days and strong winds. Budapest is a great place to visit during the winter to experience the Christmas Markets. When visiting during the winter make sure to pack warm clothes, scarves, and hats to keep you warm when you are looking for that mulled wine. 

Another essential piece of clothing you shouldn’t forget when visiting Hungary is a bathing suit, no matter the season. Yes, you can wear a swimsuit in Budapest in January! Budapest is built on hot springs and many of the bathhouses are open year-round for you to relax.  

What is the Currency in Hungary? 

Hungary uses the Forint (HUF). You will find that some places do accept the Euro, but it’s best to stick with the Forint as it is easier and may seem rude if you use another currency. 

You’ll be able to find plenty of ATMs in Budapest and the other major cities around Hungary. Most restaurants and stores take a card. If you visit the Grand Market in Budapest, it’s best to bring along some cash as some stands may not take a card. 

Getting Around Budapest

Budapest is at the center of Hungarian life. Most tours of Hungary will start and end in Budapest. This means you need to know how to get around this city that is bisected by the Danube River. 

Budapest is a large city; however, you can easily get around by walking. There are plenty of tree-lined streets to protect you from the sun and many of the sites are located near each other If you are traveling a long distance you can hop on continental Europe’s oldest metro or take one of the many above-ground trams. 

Be very wary of taxis in Budapest. There have been issues with taxi drivers overcharging tourists. When hailing a cab on the street double-check the company or even better, call a reputable taxi company for a pickup. Uber was banned from Budapest, but there are one or two other mobile app options you may be able to find. 

Common Phrases in Hungarian 

Hungarian is one of the hardest languages for English-speakers to pick up. Magyar (the actual term for the language spoken in Hungary) is completely different than the languages spoken in the surrounding countries. Magyar is a Finno-Ugric language which means it is a combination of some Asian dialects along with Finnish and Estonian languages. 

There are 44 letters in the alphabet, 14 of which are vowels. To make things even more difficult some letters are a combination of 2-3 letters. Hungarian also has some extreme formation rules you will need to pay attention to. While this seems quite daunting, there are some phrases you can remember to get you by during your visit: 

• Szia/Sziasztok (see-ya/see-ya-stock) - hello (to one person); hello (multiple people)
• Jo napot (yoh nah-poht) - Good day or good morning
• Viszontlatasra (vee-sont-lah-tash-rah) - Good bye
• Igen (eeghen) - Yes
• Nem (nehm) - No
• Koszonom (kew-sew-newm) - Thank you
• Hogy vagy? (hodj vodj) - How are you?