Essential Apps for Hungary Travel
At a glance
Bolt, Budapest metro, maps, dining, payments — 13 must-haves for Hungary.
TL;DR – install these right away
| Category | Apps |
|---|---|
| Taxi | Bolt, Uber, FREE NOW |
| Metro & transit | Budapest GO, Moovit |
| Long-distance | Omio |
| Maps | Google Maps |
| Translation | Google Translate |
| Payments | Wise, Revolut |
| Dining | TheFork, Google Maps |
| Tours | GetYourGuide, Klook |
1. Taxi
Bolt
A ride-hailing app with a dominant market share across Eastern Europe. In Budapest, it's cheaper than Uber with better vehicle availability, and both locals and travelers use it heavily.
- All of Budapest: covers all major attractions — Chain Bridge, Fisherman's Bastion, Széchenyi Baths, Heroes' Square, and more
- Airport pickup: request a Bolt at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD)
- Fare transparency: shows an estimated fare before you leave, and issues a receipt automatically after the ride
- Driver info: view the license plate, driver name, and rating before boarding
- Avoiding overcharging: charged exactly the app price with no meter, so there's no cash dispute
- Tip: Buda Castle hill and Gellért Hill are quite steep — use Bolt if walking feels too strenuous.
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
Uber
A global ride-hailing app also operating in Budapest.
- Compared to Bolt: recommend opening both apps at once and choosing whichever has the lower fare
- Uber Comfort: roomier and premium vehicle options
- English-speaking drivers: a high proportion of drivers speak English in tourist areas
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
FREE NOW
An app for hailing officially licensed taxis in Europe, also usable in Budapest.
- Metered taxi: connects you with an officially licensed taxi driver for clear legal protection
- Advance booking: book ahead for airport pickup or an early-morning departure
- Fixed fare: fixed-price airport↔downtown options also available
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
2. Metro & public transit
Budapest GO
The official app for Budapest public transit (BKK — Budapesti Közlekedési Központ), integrating the metro, trams, buses, and boats in one place.
- Budapest Metro: 4 lines — M1 (yellow, the world's second-oldest metro line), M2 (red), M3 (blue), M4 (green)
- Trams: trams 4 and 6 along the Danube are especially famous for their beautiful scenery
- E-tickets: buy single, 24-hour, 48-hour, 72-hour tickets, and the Budapest Card in the app
- Fares: single ticket HUF 450, 24-hour HUF 2,500, 72-hour HUF 5,500
- Real-time arrivals: real-time tram/bus arrival information for every stop
- Tip: the Budapest Card includes unlimited public transit plus discounts on major attractions like Széchenyi Baths and the Buda Castle Funicular.
Moovit
An app providing real-time transit routes across Budapest and Hungary.
- Real-time tracking: check the current location of buses/trams in real time
- Route comparison: suggests optimal routes combining walking, bus, and metro
- English support: an English interface that's friendly to foreign travelers
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
3. Long-distance travel
Omio
Compare and book trains, buses, and flights from Budapest to neighboring countries all on one screen.
- Major routes: Budapest↔Vienna (2h30), Budapest↔Prague (6h), Budapest↔Bratislava (2h), Budapest↔Zagreb (6h)
- Budget buses: travel cheaply with Flixbus or RegioJet
- Early booking: booking earlier secures cheaper train tickets
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
4. Maps & navigation
Google Maps
Provides maps, public transit, and walking routes across Budapest.
- Offline saving: save the Budapest map in advance for use in underground sections or areas with weak signal
- Attractions: information on major sights like the Parliament Building, Buda Castle, Matthias Church, and the Danube riverside
- Reviews: reviews for goulash restaurants and Hungarian thermal baths
- Transit integration: includes BKK route information
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
5. Translation
Google Translate
Hungarian (Magyar) belongs to the Finno-Ugric language family, completely different from the Indo-European languages, making it very distinctive. English is widely understood in downtown Budapest, but Hungarian may be needed at thermal baths, traditional markets, and provincial restaurants.
- Camera translation: instantly translate Hungarian menus and signs
- Offline Hungarian pack: usable even in underground sections with no signal
- Tip: useful for translating locker numbers and price lists at Széchenyi Baths, and price tags at the Great Market Hall.
- Translating Hungarian food: translate Gulyás (goulash), Lángos, Halászlé (fisherman's soup), Töltött káposzta (stuffed cabbage), and more
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
6. Payments
Wise
Hungary is an EU member state but uses the Hungarian forint (HUF). At roughly 1 EUR = 400 HUF, the numbers can look large. A Wise card lets you pay in HUF at the real exchange rate.
- Direct HUF payment: pay directly with no double-conversion loss through euros to forint
- ATM withdrawals: free withdrawals up to a monthly limit
- Tip: some ATMs in Budapest offer "Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC)" — always choose "Hungarian forint (HUF)" instead.
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
Revolut
Strong in multi-currency management and spending analysis features.
- HUF payment: pay in forint at the real-time exchange rate
- Travel insurance: the travel insurance included with Premium plans is useful
- Spending analysis: automatically categorizes spending — baths, sightseeing, dining, and more
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
7. Dining & reservations
TheFork
A European restaurant reservation platform, also usable in Budapest.
- Traditional Hungarian cuisine: book restaurants known for goulash, halászlé, and palacsinta (Hungarian crêpes)
- Michelin restaurants: book Budapest's Michelin Guide-listed restaurants
- Ruin bars: search restaurants near Hungary's distinctive ruin bars (converted derelict buildings)
- Discounts: up to 50% off in credits when booking
8. Tours & activities
GetYourGuide
Book Hungary's major travel products.
- Széchenyi Baths: book admission tickets or a VIP private cabin, skip-the-line entry
- Danube night cruise: view the Parliament Building and Chain Bridge lit up beautifully at night, from the river
- Parliament Building interior tour: an interior tour of the golden interior, with an English-speaking guide included
- Gellért Baths: book Art Nouveau-style historic thermal baths
- Bike tour: a half-day guided bike tour covering Buda + Pest
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
Klook
Conveniently book Hungary travel products through a Korean-language interface.
- Budapest Pass: an integrated admission pass to major attractions
- Baths combo: a Széchenyi Baths + cruise package
- Vienna/Prague day trips: day trips to neighboring countries departing from Budapest
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
9. Accommodation
Booking.com
Compare and book accommodations along the Danube riverside, around Buda Castle, and in Belváros (the inner city) in Budapest.
- A range of prices: from budget hostels to 5-star boutique hotels
- Spa hotels: filter for hotels with a Hungarian thermal spa
- Free cancellation: available at most listings
📱 Download: App Store | Google Play
App installation checklist
- Bolt (essential for taxis)
- Budapest GO (metro/tram)
- Google Maps (saved offline)
- Google Translate (Hungarian pack)
- Wise or Revolut
- GetYourGuide or Klook (baths/cruise bookings)
Why an eSIM matters for a Hungary trip
Calling a Bolt, checking a Budapest GO ticket, using Google Maps, and checking your GetYourGuide baths admission ticket all require data. The line to buy a SIM card at Budapest Airport can be long, and setting up a local SIM can take time, so installing an eSIM from home in advance and using it the moment you land at the airport is more convenient.
👉 Compare the best Europe eSIM prices on esimoa
Note: app details are current as of 2025 and service policies may change.
