Summer success: Here are the most popular Hungarian destinations among foreign tourists

The 2024 summer season exceeded all expectations in Hungarian tourism, largely boosted by the increased number of foreign tourists. Between June and August, Hungary saw a 14 percent increase in the number of foreign visitors, with more than 3 million international tourists spending nearly 8 million nights in Hungarian accommodations.

As reported by Lelépő, more than 1.7 million tourists visited the Hungarian capital, Budapest, in the summer of 2024. To put this number into perspective: more than half of of all overnight stays booked by foreign tourists have been registered in Budapest which made the capital stand out not only in terms of the number of visitors but also in terms of total revenue. International visitors produced the overwhelming majority of hotel revenues: 90 percent, or almost HUF 103 billion (more than EUR 256 million).

Rural hotels and other accommodation providers also performed well, especially in spa towns and around Lake Balaton. 1.4 million foreign tourists visited Hungary outside the capital, generating nearly 4 million overnight stays and HUF 67 billion (almost EUR 167 million) of revenue, which is a 13 percent increase outside Budapest and 15 percent around Lake Balaton.

Swans in Lake Balaton near Siófok, Hungary. Photo: depositphotos.com

Most tourists came from Germany, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, and the United Kingdom. The number of British and Slovakian tourists increased by 9 percent each compared to the previous year, while the number of Chinese visitors doubled in the same period.

The successful summer season underlines the importance of tourism in the economy of Hungary, as revenues generated by the sector account for 12 percent of the country’s GDP. According to Olivér Csendes, CEO of Visit Hungary, the successful summer season is significant not only in terms of immediate results but also in terms of annual tourism turnover, as almost 37 percent of annual foreign overnight stays are generated in the summer period.

These were the most popular destinations among foreign tourists

Outside the capital, Lake Balaton, Bük-Sárvár, and the Mátra-Bükk regions, Debrecen (the second largest city in Hungary), Siófok, Hajdúszoboszló, and Hévíz (three of the most popular towns by Lake Balaton) attracted the most visitors.

Mátra mountains in northern Hungary. Photo: depositphotos.com

Main square of Debrecen, Hungary. Photo: depositphotos.com

• Read more about the magic of Lake Balaton here.
• Here you can find the best Hungarian towns to visit this autumn.
• Discover the Mátra mountains and other stunning regions of the Hungarian countryside here.

Featured image: depositphotos.com