Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about the most common mistakes that travelers often make when visiting Budapest. While many travel blogs will tell you the fun things to see when you travel in Budapest, we want to be sure you also know about the mistakes to avoid when you visit Budapest.
Trusting All Taxis
There are two kinds of taxis in Budapest and they are both yellow. However, one type will say “freelancer” on the side, while the others will have a taxi company logo on the side. Make sure you choose those with a company logo. Those are generally the most regulated and you will have less chance of being ripped off.
Things You Will Love & Hate About Visiting Budapest
Not Using Public Transportation
Lots of tourists come to Budapest and don’t bother using public transportation, which is a mistake. Budapest has one of the oldest Metros in the world, and the trams are another easy way to get around. The city is spread out, so you’re not going to be walking all the time. Take a chance on the public transportation in Budapest; it’s affordable and easy. I recommend buying a single-day or multi-day ticket so you can use it as often as you’d like; just don’t forget to stamp your ticket before you board!
Thinking Gellért Is the Only Bath in Budapest
There are over 120 hot springs and nine medicinal baths in Budapest. Gellért is one of the most popular and most photographed baths, and it’s worth visiting. But it’s not the only one. There are several other smaller bath houses with fewer people that are also worth visiting. If you’re having trouble deciding, ask your hotel for their recommendation.
Getting Upset at the Service
Service in Budapest is slow. Don’t take it personally; it’s just how it is. The service is friendly and helpful, just not super fast. Knowing this, it’s helpful to have your entire order ready the first time the server comes by as it may be a while before they come back!
Not Having Local Currency
Most of us are used to putting all of our travel expenses on a credit card, but that’s not always possible in Budapest. They have their own currency as well, so you can’t use your Euros in Hungary, you’ll use the Hungarian Forint. (A few super touristy places will take Euros) If you’re not sure, ask before you buy, especially in restaurants!
When you go to the ATM to get cash out, pay close attention to what you are doing. Know the amount you want before you use the machine. The default amount option is often some astronomical number, so it’s helpful to know how much money you want to withdraw. Do not accept the conversion from the ATM; have it withdrawn in local currency and pay your own bank. The currency conversion in ATMs is usually a rip-off. The same goes for credit card transactions; do everything in the local currency and let your own bank do the conversion.
Travel Money Tips & Exchanging Currency Abroad
And it should go without saying, but never just exchange money on the street with a random stranger. Go to a bank, ATM, or currency exchange.
Avoiding Paprika & Sour Cream
The two main ingredients of Hungarian cuisine are paprika and sour cream. If you try to avoid those, you’re going to miss out on a lot of good food in Budapest! Hungarian food is hearty and heavy, with soups and chicken dishes and rich sauces. You’ll see a lot of Italian restaurants in Budapest, but give the local food a chance first. It’s delicious!
Having Too Much Palinka
The affordability of Budapest makes it a great nightlife destination. Palinka is the local schnapps in Hungary and it comes in many flavors like pear, plum, and cherry. Because it’s fruity, it’s easy to overindulge. Make sure you take it slow, especially if you are traveling alone because not everyone will have your best interests in mind.
Not Leaving Budapest
Budapest is an amazing city and there’s a lot to see. But there are tons of cool things to see outside of Budapest as well. There are Roman ruins, underground caves, baths, and more attractions just outside of Budapest.
Staying Near Parliament
The Hungarian Parliament Building is breathtaking, especially when it’s lit up at night. However, staying near the Parliament is not the best idea. It’s not the safest area of Budapest, so you are better off staying in a better part of town, visiting the Parliament during the day and enjoying the nighttime views from across the river.
Falling for These Tourist Scams
As a touristy city, there are some travel scams to look out for when you visit Budapest. I’ve been visiting Budapest for over 20 years, and while a lot of things have changed, they are still trying to pull the same scams on tourists. Here are a few to look out for:
- Damsel in Distress: this is the oldest scam in Budapest and usually targets single men or a small group of men. A girl or woman might ask for your help and then offer to buy you a drink to thank you. Don’t agree to this; if you do, you’ll find yourself stuck with a pricy bar tab while your damsel in distress disappears. The bars are in on it and this is how they can make a bit of extra money. Be wary of extra friendly locals.
- Menu Mix-Up: the menu you order from might be different from the menu you pay off of. You may order your food and when the bill comes, the prices will look surprisingly higher than what you thought you were ordering. They’ll show you a second menu with higher prices. This really only happens in dodgy places, so it’s not a big worry, but something to look out for. Also, be specific when you order, especially when ordering drinks or you’re likely to get the most expensive drink in the house.
- Taxi Scams: as we mentioned above, try to avoid the “freelancer” taxis as they are prone to ripping off tourists. If that’s your only option, agree to a price beforehand. You can ask your hotel what you can expect to pay.
- Like any big city, Budapest is subject to the usual tourist scams like pickpockets and random gifts on the street which you are then expected to pay for.
Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!
Budapest is a beautiful, affordable city and there’s a reason I keep coming back 20 years after my first visit. Besides the travel scams which are easily avoidable, there are so many great things about Budapest. Avoiding these mistakes will only enhance your travel in Budapest.
Want more travel tips for Hungary and Central Europe? Check out some of our other blog posts: