Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It shares its borders with Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia. Two-thirds of Hungary’s geographic area is less than 200 meters above sea level. Budapest, its capital is among the 15 most popular tourist destinations in the world.

• Official Name: Hungary
• Capital: Budapest
• Population: 9.77M in 2021
• Currency: Hungarian Forint 1 $ = 359.2 HUF
• Some stores, restaurants, and hotels accept payments in euros
• Official Language: Hungarian
• Visa Requirements: Hungary is a member of the European Union (EU) and Schengen area. Anyone can visit it with a valid Schengen visa.
• Best Time to Visit: late Spring(April-May) to early Autumn(September-October) is the best time to visit Hungary.

Compared to 2018 and 2019 Hungary’s overall crime rate remained relatively low, in all major crime categories. It is a good sign for tourists, so they can make their plans to visit this beautiful country. However, there are certain potential points that every tourist must keep into consideration while their visit to Hungary.

Budapest’s major train stations, public transportation systems (i.e. tram, subway, bus), and most tourist-frequented areas are popular venues of such petty crimes. The main tourist attractions where your belongings are likely to be nabbed are the Chain Bridge area on both sides of the Danube, and on the bridge itself, the Royal Palace Museum, Basilica, Heroes Square, Fishermen’s Bastion, and Matthias Church.

Roads are generally in good condition. Areas under construction do not always have adequate markings or blockades, and train crossings are not always well-designated. Rural roads are often narrow and poorly lighted.

Reports of overcharging at some restaurants, clubs, and nightspots, especially in those areas of the city tourists frequent, remains a concern. The consumption (or honeypot) scam, is one in which criminals grossly overcharge victims (typically men) for drinks. This activity had been on the decline in previous years

A  Recent Report is beneficial before a visit to Hungary.

The last Note: No need to panic. These are the types of things travelers should be aware of before traveling to Hungary especially Budapest, plus a few safety tips to help you out of trouble if you land in it.

Transportation – Hungary has a robust, reliable, and safe public transportation system including buses, trams, underground metros, and intercity trains. Budapest BUS system BKK and its app BKK FUTAR are useful tools while traveling there.

Public transportation outside of Budapest is not as dependable. A pre-reservation is recommended. Hungry offers a nationwide bus system like Volan. Other budget options like Flix Bus are also a useful source of travel there.

Hungary’s train service is generally reliable. Also, remember to validate a new ticket every time you switch lines. The metro runs from 4:30 am to 11 pm.

Taxis in Budapest are plentiful and generally inexpensive. All taxis are yellow, marked accordingly, and should have meters. Currently, the rideshare services Uber and Lyft do not operate in Hungary

Cycling, Public sharing bicycle program Mol Bubi is in operation since 2017 and encourages residents to use it. It is a part of its transport system.

Accommodation – Budapest is famous for its hostel culture so you’ll find hundreds of options of varying quality here. A hostel dormitory bed starts under €10 and most hostels come with breakfast.

Budget hotels start at around €50 per night for a single room with basic amenities.

I stayed in Pal’s Mini Hostel and I fully recommend it.

Other sites to plan and choose your accommodation might be Booking.com,  Air BnB,  Agoda, or Hostelworld. However, when you’re looking for a hostel, do your research, read reviews to get a feel for the place. and book somewhere that suits you

Food and local Dishes – Budapest is a great city to eat in on a budget. Some of the must-have dishes when in Hungry include

• Lángos, a traditional and street food, a Hungarian snack, and a deep-fried dough with cream cheese and other ingredients.
• Somlói Galuska, Hungary’s favorite cake
• Krémes, a massive portion of custard between layers of pasty
• Kürtőskalács (Chimney Cake), wrapped around cone-shaped spits that are brushed with butter and roasted over charcoal.