Skip to content
wheretotravel.info
Parliament building lit at dusk beside Danube river

Hungary travel guide

A landlocked country of thermal baths, river towns and plains, best explored in spring or autumn

Best: Apr, May, Sep, Oct

Photo: Leonhard_Niederwimmer / Pixabay

Capital
Budapest
Language
Hungarian
Currency
Hungarian forint
Time zone
UTC+01:00
Plugs
Type C, F · 230 V
Driving
On the right
Emergency
112
Entry
EU and Schengen area

Why visit Hungary

Hungary suits travellers who want historic cities, thermal spa culture and countryside towns without a coastline. Budapest, Szeged, Pécs and Miskolc all share a similar rhythm of mild shoulder seasons, with September, October, April and May standing out as the best months to visit. Summers can turn hot and crowded in the capital, so plan around the shoulder months if you want comfortable sightseeing weather.

  • A landlocked country with four strong seasons

    Hungary covers 93,028 square kilometres and sits in Central Europe without coastline. With a population of 9,488,428, it is compact enough that cities like Pécs, Szeged and Miskolc are all within easy reach of the capital Budapest.

  • Best weather in spring and autumn

    September, October, April and May are the months the data points to across the whole country. These shoulder-season months avoid summer heat and winter cold, making walking tours of Budapest or Buda comfortable.

  • Szeged and Gyula for warm, late shoulder season

    Szeged, with 157,282 people, and smaller Gyula, with 27,616 people, both list September, October, April and May as their best months. That gives visitors a wider window than cities further north.

  • Pécs stretches into summer

    Pécs, home to 139,412 people, adds June and August to its best months alongside September and October. That makes it one of the few Hungarian cities where summer travel is also recommended by the data.

  • Miskolc favours late spring and early summer

    Miskolc, with 141,440 residents, lists May, June and September as its best months. This shifts the ideal visiting window slightly later than in the rest of the country.

Is Hungary right for you?

Great for

  • Travellers who like warm, dry days: July highs average 28.5°C with just 9.2 rain days
  • City-break fans wanting mild shoulder-season weather, as in September highs are 22.7°C with only 7.8 rain days
  • Inland and landlocked trips, since no city in the pack is coastal
  • Spring visitors who like rising daylight: sun hours climb from 4.9 in January to 11.1 in May
  • Travellers who plan around September to October or April to May, the months the data marks as best

Less ideal for

  • Beach seekers, as none of the listed cities are coastal
  • Winter sun chasers, since December to February highs stay between 4.1°C and 8°C with only 4 to 6.3 sun hours
  • Travellers who dislike rain spikes, as May brings 79 mm over 12.6 rain days, the wettest month in the pack

Hungary right now: November

3.5/10
Avg high
10°C
Avg low
3°C
Rain days
9

Averages for Buda.

Weather by month

Based on data for Buda, April, May, September and October bring warm days (17–23°C highs) with fewer rainy days than summer, making them the most comfortable months to visit. January and February are toughest, with highs of just 4–8°C, lows below freezing, and barely 5–6 hours of sun a day, while July and August turn hot with highs near 28°C.

Average highs and lows in Buda by month January: high 4°C, low -2°C , 10 rain days . February: high 8°C, low -0°C , 9 rain days . March: high 12°C, low 2°C , 8 rain days . April: high 17°C, low 6°C , 9 rain days . May: high 21°C, low 11°C , 13 rain days . June: high 26°C, low 16°C , 12 rain days . July: high 29°C, low 18°C , 9 rain days . August: high 28°C, low 18°C , 8 rain days . September: high 23°C, low 13°C , 8 rain days . October: high 17°C, low 8°C , 8 rain days . November: high 10°C, low 3°C , 9 rain days . December: high 5°C, low -1°C , 9 rain days . 4°C -2°C JAN 10d 8°C 0°C FEB 9d 12°C 2°C MAR 8d 17°C 6°C APR 9d 21°C 11°C MAY 13d 26°C 16°C JUN 12d 29°C 18°C JUL 9d 28°C 18°C AUG 8d 23°C 13°C SEP 8d 17°C 8°C OCT 8d 10°C 3°C NOV 9d 5°C -1°C DEC 9d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Buda · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit Hungary: month-by-month weather →

Sample itineraries

7 days

Seven Days Across Southern and Western Hungary

  1. Day 1–3

    Buda

    Spend your first days exploring the historic hills of Buda, with its castle district and old streets. Best visited in September, April, May or June when the weather is mild.

  2. Day 4–5

    Pécs

    Head south to Pécs, a city known for its museums and old-town charm. September, October, June and August all offer pleasant conditions for walking around.

  3. Day 6–7

    Szeged

    Finish in Szeged, a sunny university city by the river. Visit in October, September, April or May for comfortable temperatures.

10 days

Ten Days Through Hungary's Regional Cities

  1. Day 1–3

    Buda

    Start in Buda to take in its historic castle area and riverside views. September, April, May and June are the best months to visit.

  2. Day 4–5

    Miskolc

    Travel northeast to Miskolc, a city in the hills with a quieter pace. September, May and June bring the most comfortable weather here.

  3. Day 6–7

    Gyula

    Continue to Gyula, a small town known for its thermal baths and relaxed atmosphere. September, October, April and May are good times to visit.

  4. Day 8–10

    Szeged

    End the trip in Szeged, enjoying its open squares and riverside walks. October, September, April and May give the mildest conditions.

Food to try in Hungary

Goulash (gulyás)

A paprika-spiced beef and vegetable soup, Hungary's national dish. It's eaten year-round, often as a hearty starter or main course in homes and restaurants.

Chicken paprikash (paprikás csirke)

Chicken simmered in a creamy paprika sauce, usually served with dumplings (nokedli). It's a common family meal across the country.

Lángos

Deep-fried dough topped with sour cream, cheese, or garlic. It's a popular street food, especially at markets and lake resorts in summer.

Töltött káposzta (stuffed cabbage)

Cabbage leaves filled with minced meat and rice, cooked in a tomato or sauerkraut broth. It's a traditional winter dish, often served at festive meals.

Dobos torte

A layered sponge cake with chocolate buttercream and a caramel top, created in Budapest. It's a classic dessert found in cafés throughout Hungary.

Tokaji wine

A sweet white wine from the Tokaj region in northeastern Hungary, made from botrytis-affected grapes. It's traditionally served with dessert or on its own as an aperitif.

Know before you go

  • Plugs and voltage: Hungary uses plug types C and F, the round two-pin plugs common in much of Europe. The supply is 230 V. Bring an adapter if your devices use a different plug.
  • Driving side: Traffic in Hungary drives on the right. If you come from a country that drives on the left, take extra care at junctions and roundabouts during your first days.
  • Emergency number: Call 112 for police, ambulance or fire services anywhere in Hungary. Save the number in your phone before you travel.
  • Currency: The currency is the Hungarian forint. Check the exchange rate before you go so you can judge prices quickly when you shop or eat out.
  • Language: The official language is Hungarian. It is not closely related to most other European languages, so learning a few basic words, like hello and thank you, can help.
  • Time zone: Hungary is on UTC+1, the same standard time as much of Central Europe. Check the time difference with home to plan calls and connections.
  • Phone calls: The country calling code for Hungary is +36. Use it when you share your Hungarian contact details or call local numbers from a foreign phone.

Hungary: frequently asked questions

What is the best time to visit Hungary?

September, October, April and May are the best months to visit Hungary. September scores highest at 8.4 out of 10, with warm days averaging 22.7°C and only 7.8 rain days. April and May bring mild highs of 16.9°C and 21.1°C with fewer crowds than peak summer.

Is Hungary good to visit in August?

Yes, August is rated good, with a score of 7.2. Expect hot weather, with highs around 28.4°C and lows near 17.8°C. There are 7.7 rain days and nearly 12 hours of sunshine, so it is dry and sunny but one of the hottest months.

Is January a good time to visit Hungary?

No, January scores only 2.3 and is rated as a month to avoid for comfort, not as a place to skip entirely. Daytime highs reach just 4.1°C and lows drop to -2.4°C, with limited sunshine at 4.9 hours a day. It still suits travellers who want cold, quiet city streets.

What is the rainiest month in Hungary?

May is the wettest month in Buda, with 79 mm of rain spread over 12.6 rain days. June follows closely with 73 mm over 11.5 rain days. Despite the rain, both months still score well overall, at 7.6 and 7.4, because temperatures are mild and sunshine hours are high.

What is the plug type and voltage in Hungary?

Hungary uses plug types C and F, with a standard voltage of 230 V. Travellers from countries with different plug shapes will need an adapter. The emergency number across the country is 112.

Is Hungary good to visit in November?

No, November is rated as a month to avoid for pleasant weather, scoring 3.5. Highs drop to 9.6°C and lows to 2.9°C, with sunshine falling to just 5.1 hours a day. It can still appeal to travellers who prefer cooler, grey autumn days with fewer tourists.

Similar destinations

Countries with a year of weather much like Hungary.