The Hungarian state spent more than HUF 387 million on President Tamás Sulyok’s official foreign trips between March 2024, when he took office, and the end of 2025, according to figures released following a public information request.

The data, obtained by HVG from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after an earlier request was rejected on national security grounds, show that 33 official overseas visits cost taxpayers a total of HUF 387,401,585 (EUR 1,069,494).

Paris Olympics trip accounted for most of the spending

By far the most expensive journey was Sulyok’s visit to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, which accounted for HUF 231.6 million of the total expenditure, which was almost two-thirds of all travel costs. According to the report, the accommodation for the Olympic visit had originally been booked during the presidency of Katalin Novák before she resigned earlier in 2024.

Although hotel rooms were reserved for the full duration of the Games, Sulyok reportedly spent only three days at the hotel. He later returned to Paris for the Paralympic Games in September, travelling with a nine-member delegation and a six-person security team. That visit cost an additional HUF 15.8 million.

Japan was the second most expensive destination

Excluding the Olympic trip, Sulyok’s costliest official visit was a nine-day trip to Japan, which reportedly cost around HUF 39 million, including travel, accommodation and other expenses. During his presidency, Sulyok also made official visits to destinations including:

  • Japan
  • Vietnam
  • Qatar
  • Angola
  • Kazakhstan
  • Poland
  • Romania
  • France
  • the Vatican

According to the published figures, Poland was his most frequently visited destination, with five official trips.

Some trips cost almost nothing

Not every journey carried a significant price tag. The least expensive official visit was a one-day trip to Croatia in November 2024, which reportedly generated no costs for the Foreign Ministry. A one-day working visit to Slovenia two weeks later cost just HUF 50,000, covering accommodation expenses.

Average trip cost nearly HUF 12 million

Including the unusually expensive Olympic visit, Sulyok’s official foreign trips cost an average of HUF 11.7 million each. Without the Paris Olympics, the average cost falls to around HUF 4.9 million per trip.

Accommodation represented the largest expense on most visits, while the size of the presidential delegation also had a significant impact on overall costs. According to the figures, Sulyok’s wife accompanied him on 19 of the 33 official trips.

If you missed it: Hungary reviews EUR 13 million spent on former FM Szijjártó’s private jet travel, criminal liability under examination

Travel spending becomes political issue

The travel expenses have become part of a political dispute after Prime Minister Péter Magyar recently published details of several presidential journeys that he suggested may have included private elements.

Among the trips highlighted by the prime minister were a February visit to the United States, during which Sulyok’s son reportedly accompanied him, and a January trip to the United Kingdom, where the president stayed near the residence of his daughter.

What’s next? Orbán: Hungary’s new president is ‘illegitimate’, refuses to recognise decisions