Caleb and I had visited Budapest several times and even lived there. So we’ve spent much time and money visiting the gorgeous city while drinking wine so good that you’ll despise all other wines. ← Not exaggerating. 🍷
You may have heard that Budapest is extremely affordable, therefore you’re thinking about how much to budget as a couple to visit Budapest and enjoy it without skimping or breaking the bank.
In this guide, we’ll share exactly how much it costs us, a “foodie couple,” to visit for three days, eat amazing food, drink good wine, and see all of the important so that that’s so that you can use it as a budgeting guide for your trip! Spoiler alert: it was roughly USD 1100, but let’s dive into the details, beginning with a glimpse at the must-do wine tasting we paid for!
A Quick Note About Hungarian Currency
Hungary’s official currency is the Hungarian Forint (Ft or HUF). While most shops accept Euros or USD, the conversion rate is terrible, so you’re better off with local currency or a credit card.
PRO TIP: When paying by card, always pay in the local currency rather than your own, since you will get a better exchange rate.
And that may not be your vacation style! We refer to ourselves as “bougie backpackers” because we exist in a strange limbo between trying to save money when we can (such as on accommodation) and wanting to indulge where we believe it is worthwhile, which is usually in nice cuisine, drinks, wine, and unique/local experiences.
So, the rest of our guidance on how much we spend will be based on our credit card receipts. Not a sample of what we discovered that you might spend depending on your trip style. Keep it in mind while you plan your trip!
How Much Did We Spend On Food And Drinks?
We’ll start with the good stuff: the average food and drink costs in Budapest’s best restaurants!
- Bakeries: $2-USD 4 for each pastry, depending on how “fancy.”
- Coffee costs approximately $2.50-3.00 for an Americano at a quality coffee shop.
- Nice brunch restaurants: around $13 to $15 per person.
- Dinners in Budapest typically cost between $40 and $60 per couple (with a glass of house wine). This is for a nicer restaurant, not fine dining.
- Langos: about $10-$11 for a filled langos that can be shared
- Chimney cake costs about $10 for a *good* one that you can share.
- Wine bars: A glass of wine costs between $4 and USD 6 at our best wine bars in Budapest. We also brought a few bottles back as mementos!
- Fancy cocktail establishments charge roughly USD 13 for each cocktail.
A Note About Tipping in Restaurants:
We recommend 10-12% in restaurants, and many restaurants already include it on the bill, so double-check before you pay.
How Much Did We Spend on Accommodation
We’ve stayed in a variety of locations and areas in Budapest, but District 7 is always our favorite. It boasts excellent cocktail bars and is in a convenient, central position where everything is within walking distance. It is slightly less expensive than District 5, which is the “central district” for tourists.
Our favorite place to stay has been the 7seasons Hotel since it is conveniently located between Districts 5 and 7, the apartments are spacious and reasonably priced, and you have the luxury of hotel-style front desk service.
We paid a nightly rate of USD 63.
Average Costs for Main Sites
We’ll now break down the average prices in Budapest for the main sites/tourist activities that we did.
- The Hungarian Parliament Tour costs roughly $32 per person.
- Thermal baths cost about $30 per person for the day, which includes only locker use.
- St. Stephens Basilica: USD 17 per person to visit all of it.
- Fisherman’s Bastion is mostly free, however you can pay roughly USD 5 to access some more beautiful views.
- Buda Castle is free to walk about, or about USD 15 per person for a guided tour (which you don’t need, to be honest).
Heroes Square is FREE 🙌🏻. - Dohany Synagogue: around $30 per person.
Average Transportation Costs
If you opt not to walk around Budapest, you may need to use public transportation.
- Bus/tram/metro tickets cost approximately USD 1.50 per person or USD 6 each way from the airport to the city center. You may learn more about pricing here.
- Taxis/Ride Share: Prices in Budapest are regulated at 1100 Ft base (USD 3) + 440 Ft (USD 1.50) per km + 110 Ft (.50 USD) (<15 km/h) minimum.
- Car rental: If you’re only visiting Budapest for a few days, you don’t need to rent a car, as we explain in this budget guide. But, for your reference, we opted to visit Lake Balaton and rented a car for three days for USD 63.
Our Cost For Visiting For Three Days And Four Nights As A Pair Is $1080
We normally recommend at least three days in Budapest (though two is acceptable if necessary), and more is even better! However, to give you an idea of how much you could spend in Budapest as a pair, this three-day estimate is a decent starting point.
Of course, it will alter depending on how many days you spend. It will, of course, alter depending on how much you eat out or drink. If you forego some of the activities we performed, such as culinary classes or wine tastings (BUT WHY?! Those were the finest ones, although it may be less.
However, if you travel similarly to us, this is a useful guide!
We included in the price of the lodging we listed for four nights and three days, where breakfast was a great brunch with coffee, a langos/chimney cake/bakery snack, a nice dinner, two fancy drinks, one night, and eight glasses of wine. We’ve also included ALL of the activities in our activity section, save for the synagogue, one thermal bath visit, and the transport to and from the airport.
Hungary Has Become Significantly More Expensive
Were you surprised? We have to be honest with you: Budapest has become much more expensive in recent years.
When we visited in 2020, it was nearly unbelievably affordable. Then, a few years later, we returned to the Christmas market and were astonished by the pricing of the food. We returned to live there, and we nearly lost our minds when we discovered how high the prices remained!
Yes, it is still comparatively cheap in comparison to many other European nations, but let us not ignore the elephant in the room: Budapest’s “cheapness” is no longer what it once was! We just want you to know what’s going on before you go!
Quick Tips for Saving Money
Isn’t that the finest motivation to save money? That’s what we believe, at least! Here are our greatest Budapest ideas and strategies to save money so we can spend it on the things that are important to us, such as fantastic food, drinks, and fun experiences:
- Choose cheaper hotels over glamorous, pricey ones. If you’re like us, you won’t spend much time in the room.
- Take free walking tours – tipping is expected. 🙂
- Get the Budapest Pass – if you intend to use public transportation, the Budapest Pass can help you save money! You can purchase it for a set number of days and receive unlimited trips on all modes of public transportation (except taxis and Bolts) as well as discounts at some destinations!
- Walk more – it’s free and burns calories, so you can have more food and wine. Do you understand our priorities? 😅 We walked everywhere.
See free sights. - Skip the Synagogue – We don’t believe it’s worth $30 per person.
Conclusion:
Visiting Budapest as a food and wine-loving couple in 2024 was a fantastic and affordable experience. The city has a distinct blend of history, culture, and modern charm, all while being reasonably priced in comparison to many other European locations. From the delectable goulash to the superb wines of the Tokaj area, we relished every moment of our culinary adventure.
Overall, the great quality of the events made our money for meals, beverages, hotels, and activities well worthwhile. Whether you want to splurge at a Michelin-starred restaurant or eat traditional cuisine at a neighborhood cafe, Budapest has something for everyone.
We hope this breakdown of our spending provides you with a good indication of how much you may anticipate spending on your vacation. If you enjoy cuisine and wine, we highly recommend adding Budapest to your vacation itinerary. It’s a destination where you can indulge in superb food, fine wine, and rich culture without breaking the bank!
Travel safely and enjoy everything this gorgeous city has to offer!
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