Ticket prices have soared, yet Hungarians are still flying: where are they travelling most?
Although airline ticket prices to many major European cities have risen by double digits this autumn, Hungarian travellers have not been deterred. According to fresh data from Repjegy.hu, demand continues to strengthen, and the list of the most popular destinations has shifted noticeably – especially in favour of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cities.
Istanbul’s remarkable rise
One of the biggest surprises of the season is that Istanbul has become the second most sought-after destination among Hungarian individual travellers, overtaking London. Demand for the Turkish metropolis has increased by 35%, driven partly by its favourable value for money and the growing popularity of sightseeing long weekend trips, Népszava reports.
Rome also remains firmly in the top ranks, despite the fact that flights there have become on average 22% more expensive. Similar price increases can be seen for Brussels (+31%), Milan (+30%), London (+18%) and Naples (+11%).
Bari and Catania among the major winners
Two southern Italian cities have surged onto the list of top autumn bookings:
- Bari: +89% increase in demand
- Catania: +64% increase in demand
Both now rank ahead of Berlin and New York. This marks a clear preference among Hungarian travellers for sunnier, coastal destinations, even for shorter trips.
Shorter city breaks – Except in London
For most European destinations, the average length of stay has decreased. For example:
- Istanbul: down from 4.5 to 4.1 days on average
- Milan and Berlin continue to be typical “lightning trips,” with stays of under 3 days
London is the notable exception: Hungarian travellers are now staying an average of 5.3 days, nearly one full day longer than before.
Shifts among long-haul destinations
For travel between November and March, interest in several exotic destinations has temporarily declined, including Bangkok, Phuket and Bali. However:
- Dubai: +38% growth
- Krabi (Thailand): +163% growth, making it now the 6th most popular long-haul destination
Trips to Thailand remain highly popular, but costly: flights to Bangkok and Phuket typically hover around 330,000–340,000 forints.
New routes, new opportunities
Several new routes will be available from Budapest in the 2025/26 winter schedule:
- Ryanair: Marrakech, Newcastle
- Wizz Air: Turin and Tallinn (three flights per week)
- EasyJet: Bordeaux and Nantes
- American Airlines: direct flights to Philadelphia
Announcements have already been made for summer 2026 as well:
- Air Canada: Toronto
- Condor: Frankfurt
The return of direct flights to the United States is particularly significant, as Hungary had no such direct connection for years.
However, due to capacity optimisation, Wizz Air’s routes to Genoa and Glasgow will be discontinued.
Asian travel on the rise
This year, the number of trips to Asia has increased by 40% overall, largely thanks to new direct flights by Chinese airlines. Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and other major cities are now reachable from Budapest without transfers. Travel to Japan is also growing, partly due to the upcoming Osaka World Expo.
Despite rising airfares, Hungarian travellers are not giving up flying. They are simply travelling more flexibly, taking shorter trips and seeking out new destinations – while airlines continue to launch new routes at a record pace.