Beware of the new tourist scam in Budapest: Trained pigeons will trick you

In big cities, tourists often fall prey to various creative scams and robberies. Now, visitors to the Hungarian capital face a new scam involving trained pigeons. The district’s prospective municipal councillor is already taking steps to combat these petty crimes.

New tourist scam in Budapest

Blikk reports that visitors to the Buda Castle are encountering a new tourist scam in Budapest, where trained pigeons are used to lure unsuspecting tourists. Instead of the old petty scams, the new tactic involves charging ten euros for a photo with a pigeon, regardless of whether the tourist has the money on hand. Kristóf Wehner, the future municipal councillor for the district, has highlighted the new administration’s priorities, which include strengthening the public spaces police and establishing park police to address these issues.

Ensuring safety

Wehner criticised the pigeon photo scam as being entirely unworthy of the Buda Castle and District 1. He told Magyar Nemzet that enhancing public space surveillance and efficiency is a key objective for the new city administration. By focusing on these areas, the administration aims to curb such exploitative practices and ensure a safer, more enjoyable experience for visitors. In addition, he also notes that improving the cleanliness of the area is also of key importance. According to him, the daily amount of rubbish exceeds the capacity of the waste collectors. He says: