It is possible to visit the Hungarian capital without breaking the bank! Whether you’re on a tight budget or prefer free activities, there are plenty of ways to discover Budapest without spending too much.
With so much to see and do, a trip to this magnificent capital doesn’t have to mean a hefty bill. From transport and accommodation to cheap activities and affordable restaurants, here’s our guide to Budapest on the cheap!
Getting to the city centre from the airport – Budapest cheap
The direct bus service, called Bus 100E Airport Express, runs daily between Budapest airport and the city centre of the Hungarian capital. This means of public transport also offers the lowest fare (≈ €5.5) to get to the city centre from the Hungarian capital’s only airport (around 40 minutes). During the day, buses depart from the terminals every 10 minutes or so, and every 30 minutes between midnight and 3.30am.
For further information on the 100E bus, please see our dedicated article on this link.
Public transport in Budapest
Public transport in Budapest is well developed, with the city being served by metro, tramway, trolley bus and high-frequency bus services. The price of a single ticket has been 500 Forint (≈1.2€, 1.1€ if you buy a book of 10) since June 2025, which is why it is important to check the different options for buying tickets or passes for public transport in Budapest. EU students with an International Student Identity Card (ISIC) can benefit from discounts on public transport in Budapest.
Find all the information in our article on public transport in Budapest on this link.
IMPORTANT: public transport in Budapest is free for over-65s from the European Union and under-14s. There are no prior steps to take or documents to obtain, you just need to have a valid identity card in your possession in case of a check when using public transport in Budapest.
Change your money – Budapest cheap
The Hungarian currency is the forint, abbreviated in Hungary as HUF (Hungarian Forint) and sometimes Ft (“Forint”). The fluctuation of the forint against the euro has been quite marked in recent years, so it’s important to have the euro/forint conversion rate “in mind” before changing your money in Budapest.
We do not recommend changing your money in Hungary at the exchange offices at Budapest airport or in the capital’s hotels, as their rates are unfavourable.
Where to find exchange offices with good rates, what pitfalls to avoid with cash dispensers, what currency to use to pay for your meal, etc. Check out our tips and advice in our article on the Hungarian currency and how to change money in Hungary on this link.
Accommodation in Budapest
Budapest has over 200 hotels and more than 2,000 flats or rooms for short-term rental. We recommend that you book your accommodation in advance to take advantage of the best rates, especially during the months of May, June, July (Budapest Formula 1 Grand Prix), August (Sziget Music Festival) and Christmas when the good hotels and accommodation in Budapest are quickly fully booked. January to March and November are the cheapest months in Budapest.
OUR TIP: the Maverick City Lodge youth hostel
The Maverick City Lodge youth hostel is aimed at students and offers private rooms and dormitories with nice communal areas and Wi-Fi. Located in the centre in the ruin bars area, it is surrounded by shops and bars.
Address: Maverick City Lodge, Kazinczy utca 24-26, 7th district, Pest.
Hostel Maverick City Lodge data sheet: click here.
Discover other hotels and accommodation in Budapest in our dedicated article on this link.
Eating out – Budapest cheap
Budapest offers a wide choice of restaurants, from Michelin-starred restaurants to small street food stalls. You can find our selection on this link.
For those on a budget, here are a few addresses available in 2025 in the city centre:
Belvárosi Disznótoros
This traditional restaurant offers cheap, no-frills Hungarian food in a self-service format where you order at the counter and choose from a range of sausages and traditional meat dishes. 2 addresses: Károlyi Mihály utca 17. in the 5th district and Király utca 1 in the 7th district.
Pizza Manufaktura
Located next to the Great Market Hall, this pizzeria offers some of the city’s best pizza at attractive prices in an industrial setting.
Address: Erkel utca 4, 9th district.
Lángos – Hungarian street food
Lángos is a local culinary speciality that resembles a mixture of pizza and doughnuts. The dough is rolled out into a flat loaf and then deep-fried. It is then covered with a layer of sour cream, followed by plenty of cheese and various other toppings if you wish.
Our addresses in the centre: Retro Lángos Büfé – Podmaniczky Frigyes tér 4 (5th district), Tomi Lángos – Blaha Lujza tér 1 (8th district) and Retro Lángos: Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út 25 and Vécsey utca 3.
Frici Papa Kifőzdéje
A very popular restaurant offering tasty portions of Hungarian specialities (Hungarian goulash, chicken paprika, etc.) for less than 10 euros.
Address: Király u. 55, 7th district.
Bors gastro bar
Located next to the unmissable ruin bar Szimpla kert, Bors offers some of the best sandwiches and soups in the city. Attention, it is not possible to eat inside and it is open from 11.30am to 9pm.
Address: Kazinczy utca 10 in the 7th district.
Going out – Budapest cheap
Budapest’s nightlife is famous for its Ruin bars, located in the centre of the city in the 7th district. These are bars and clubs that have set up in abandoned buildings, taking over the inner courtyard and sometimes several floors.
Most of them offer free admission, but some rooms are reserved for special events (concerts), which may be subject to a charge.
Find out more in our article on going out in Budapest on this link.
Tourist sites
Budapest is a major European capital with many monuments, museums and tourist sites. Entrance fees apply for the most part, with reductions for senior citizens and students (for EU students with an international student card).
