Best things to do in Hungary on a budget

With travel and tourism being largely shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s no shock that would-be travelers are eager to get out and explore. Thankfully, Hungary is a beautiful country with a lot of history, natural wonders, and plenty of attractions in our own backyard.

However, the cost of travel and sightseeing can add up to a small fortune. So, to help you out we’ve put together this list of the best things to do in Hungary on a budget.

1. Explore Eger

If you want to get in touch with the history of Hungary, then Eger is the perfect city to explore. Learn about the history of the Turkish occupation and marvel at the architecture left behind by the Ottoman Empire, who ruled the city in the 1600s.

Just a few places to visit include Eger Castle, the Ottoman minaret, and the Lyceum, a Baroque library that houses more than 130,000 rare books and a letter written by Mozart. If you’re feeling thirsty, walk through the Valley of the Beautiful Woman to sample the local wine.  

2. Trek Through the Caves of Aggtelek Karst

Located in Aggtelek National Park, the caves of Aggtelek Karst have the honor of being one of the country’s only UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You could spend weeks exploring the 712 caves that are spread over 55,800 hectares of land.

You can take a guided tour through the cave system, stopping in one which at 26 km long is the largest stalactite cave in Europe. If you’re feeling a bit congested, you can also visit the Peace Cave, which reputedly helps people who have asthma.

3. Visit the Ruin Bars

With some of the cheapest beer prices in the world, it’s no wonder Hungary—and more specifically, Budapest—has such a thriving nightlife. Perhaps the most famous bar district in the country is the ruin bars in the city’s Jewish Quarter.

The area, which was left abandoned and in ruins after World War II, is now home to an eclectic collection of bars. Perhaps the best part about this area is that the bars typically don’t charge cover, so it’s easy (and inexpensive) to hop from one place to another.

4. Soak in Lake Hévíz

Lake Heviz is home to the largest natural thermal lake in the world. Believed to have healing properties, the waters were used by the Romans more than 2,000 years ago. Ever since then, the mineral waters have been a hotspot for locals and tourists alike.

Admission to the lake costs a small fee and gets you three hours of relaxation time. If you’re still eager to explore, head to the nearby town of Hévíz for more wellness spas that offer mud wraps, weight baths, mud baths, and more.

5. Hike in Bukk National Park

Bukk National Park is the biggest national park in Hungary. It contains over 431,000 hectares of land, of which about 97% is covered in trees. Due to the incredible forested terrain, this park is full of diverse fauna, with over 90 different species of birds—many of which are endangered and can’t be found anywhere else in the world.

The park also has an incredible cave system in the karst mountains. Among the most famous caves is Istvánlápa, the deepest and longest cave in Hungary.

6. Play a Cheap Local Lottery

While this isn’t quite the same as visiting the wonderful places mentioned above, Hungary’s lotteries are actually pretty solid on an international scale and worth exploring. Hatoslottó, for example, is considered to have good odds, and both it and Ötöslottó offer a great cost investment vs. potential jackpot reward ratio due to their reasonably priced tickets.

Knowing details like which lotteries have the best odds and cheapest tickets is a great strategy for playing the lottery, as it can help you maximize your winnings and save you money.

If you want to explore some of the most interesting history, culture and nature that Europe has to offer, then Hungary is the place to be. This list includes just some of the incredible places that Hungary has to offer to tourists and Hungarian natives alike. Best of all, you don’t even have to break the bank to enjoy these attractions.