Money in Hungary

Hungary uses the Forint, not the Euro

Despite being an EU member since 2004, Hungary has not adopted the Euro. The currency is the Hungarian Forint (HUF), issued in banknotes of 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, and 20,000 denominations and coins from 5 to 200 Ft. Some tourist-facing businesses in Budapest quote prices in Euros and accept Euro cash, but the exchange rate they apply is almost always unfavourable — you will get significantly more for your money by paying in Forints. ATMs, card terminals, and shops all operate in HUF. Always decline the “pay in your home currency” option (dynamic currency conversion) at card terminals and ATMs — it lets the merchant's bank set the rate, which is consistently worse than your own bank's.

ATMs are everywhere — but choose wisely

ATMs (bankjegy-automata or bankautomata in Hungarian) are plentiful in Budapest and available in every town of any size. Visa and Mastercard are universally accepted at ATMs. OTP Bank, K&H, Erste, Raiffeisen, CIB, and UniCredit are the major domestic networks and all dispense HUF to foreign cards. Avoid standalone ATMs in tourist hotspots (Váci utca, airport arrivals hall, major train stations) operated by independent companies like Euronet — they charge high fixed fees and push dynamic currency conversion. Instead, use ATMs attached to bank branches. Withdrawal limits typically range from 100,000 to 300,000 HUF per transaction.

Cards widely accepted in cities, cash for markets and rural areas

Contactless card payment (Visa, Mastercard, and increasingly Apple Pay and Google Pay) is standard across Budapest — restaurants, cafés, shops, hotels, public transport ticket machines, and even most taxis accept cards. Outside Budapest, card acceptance is good in Debrecen, Szeged, Pécs, Győr, and other larger cities but thins out in villages, at rural guesthouses, and at market stalls. The Great Market Hall in Budapest, Lake Balaton beach vendors, and highway toll booths all handle cards, but individual stallholders at farmers' markets and flea markets are cash-only. Carrying 10,000–20,000 HUF in small notes as a cash reserve is sensible even in Budapest.

Tipping is expected at 10% — and is usually cash

A 10% tip is customary at sit-down restaurants, and the standard method is to tell the waiter the total you want to pay when settling the bill (e.g., if the bill is 8,400 HUF, say “nine thousand” or “tízezer” for a round-up). Tips are not usually added to card payments — carry small Forint notes. Rounding up taxi fares by 10% is standard. Hotel porters and spa attendants appreciate 500–1,000 HUF. At thermal baths, locker attendants in some facilities expect a small tip. Bartenders at ruin bars do not expect tips but won't refuse them.