Find the best place to exchange currency in Budapest

Budapest is a city of thermal baths, history, and stunning architecture. The last thing you want to be doing between exploring Buda Castle and enjoying a Danube river cruise is worrying about finding the best place to exchange currency in Budapest. For UK travellers, navigating the pound (GBP) to Hungarian Forint (HUF) exchange rate can sometimes be confusing.

Whether you're organising your trip weeks in advance or you're already standing in Liszt Ferenc International Airport right now, securing a favourable exchange rate and minimising fees is key.

With this guide, we'll clear up the confusion and explore simple, easy options to help you manage your money in Budapest, so you can focus on enjoying your time there. We walk you through the common options for currency exchange, outline the costs you need to watch out for, and introduce a smarter, more convenient way to convert currencies.

Fair usage limits and weekend fees may apply. T&Cs apply.

Traditional money exchange: where can you exchange cash in Budapest?

The Hungarian capital is becoming increasingly card-centric, especially in restaurants and major retail areas. While you can pay for almost anything with a card, there are still times when a small amount of cash is necessary, such as when you’re tipping at a thermal bath, paying for public toilet access, or buying small items at a market stall.

If you’re planning on doing any of these things, you’re probably wondering where to convert money in Budapest.

Exchange bureaux and offices in central Budapest

Cash exchange offices, operating as currency exchange bureaux in Budapest, are mostly located in busy tourist locations. These include:

• Liszt Ferenc International Airport. The bureaux are located before and after security.
• Major railway stations. There are usually bureaux at train stations such as Keleti or Déli.
• Central tourist zones. Look out for currency exchange bureaux in spots like Váci Street, the area around St. Stephen's Basilica, and near the Chain Bridge.

These locations are convenient, but often the most expensive options. They’re rarely the best places to exchange currency in Budapest if you’re trying to save money.

The additional costs of cash exchange

Many traditional exchange services, including large bureaux and independent operators, rely on confusing pricing structures that cost you money without charging an overt fee.

The no-commission illusion

In Budapest, you might see signs advertising 0% commission or fee-free exchange. While this may technically be true — they don't charge a percentage commission on top of the transaction — the real cost is hidden in the exchange rate margin.

The bureau buys pounds from you at a low rate and sells you Forints at a high rate. They keep the difference between the 2 rates as profit. By offering an uncompetitive exchange rate, they ensure a profit, and you receive fewer HUF for your pounds than you should. Always ask the counter staff for the final amount of Forints you’ll get for your total sterling amount, as this number is the clearest indicator of the real cost.

Non-sterling transaction fees

If you choose to use your UK debit or credit card to purchase Forints at a bureau, your home bank may still charge you a non-sterling transaction fee. These charges often range from 1–3% of the transaction amount, increasing the cost of your exchange and reducing your holiday spending money.

Tips for exchanging money and avoiding additional fees

To get the most out of your money and avoid costly mistakes, follow these guidelines when dealing with the Hungarian Forint in Budapest.

Always check the base rate

The key to saving money when you’re exchanging currency is knowing the mid-market rate. This is the rate at which large banks and financial institutions trade currency with each other. It's the real-time, true value of one currency against another, with no mark-up.

This rate should serve as your benchmark. If an exchange service, bank, or ATM offers you a rate that's significantly worse than the mid-market rate, you know they're adding a hidden margin for profit.

If you want to find the best place to exchange currency in Budapest, look for the provider who offers rates closest to this mid-market standard.

At Revolut, we always try to get as close to the mid-market rate as possible. You can even check the live exchange rate in-app or compare our exchange rates and fees with competition.

Understanding dynamic currency conversion (DCC)

Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) is probably the most frequent and unnecessary cost for UK travellers. It gives you the option to pay or withdraw in your home currency (GBP) rather than the local one (HUF).

It seems helpful at first because you immediately see the final cost in pounds. However, when you choose to pay or withdraw in GBP, you give the local operator control over the exchange rate. This rate is almost always significantly marked up.

When the ATM screen or card reader asks you to choose between the local currency or your home currency, always choose the local currency (HUF). This ensures that the conversion is handled by your card provider, which typically uses a much fairer rate.

Here’s why you should always avoid DCC:

• Poorer conversion rate: the DCC rate isn't set by a clear financial institution but by the local terminal operator or ATM owner. This rate isn't set by us, and is nearly always significantly marked up compared to the rate your own multi-currency provider would offer.
• Loss of control: accepting DCC means you can't use your card provider’s upfront rate and instead accept an unknown, unfavourable rate on the spot.
• Potential double-charging: even after accepting the poor DCC rate, your home bank might still consider it an international transaction and apply an additional fee, meaning you pay twice for one conversion.

Using local bank ATMs strategically

Since Budapest is generally card-friendly, you may only need a small amount of cash. When you do need to use an ATM to get cash in Budapest, adopt a strategic approach:

• Look for bank-owned ATMs: stick to ATMs attached to reputable, major Hungarian banks. Independent ATMs (those often found in convenience stores or standalone kiosks) are more likely to charge high surcharges and present the DCC option.
• Inform your home bank: before leaving the UK, check with your bank about their foreign transaction fees for ATM withdrawals. If their fees are high (many charge a flat fee and a percentage), consider an alternative spending method like ours before you travel.
• Withdraw larger sums less often: if your home bank charges a fixed fee per transaction, it's more cost-effective to make one larger withdrawal than several smaller ones. But make sure you carry your cash securely.
• Use Revolut: as long as you're within your plan's limits, you can withdraw from any ATM within our global network of 55,000 ATMs with no withdrawal fees from us. If you withdraw from an ATM outside our network, third-party ATM fees may still apply. You can locate nearby ATMs in-app and filter for our in-network ATMs.

By planning your cash withdrawals well and refusing DCC, you can get more from your money.

No fees within plan limits. T&Cs apply. Third parties may charge ATM fees.

The Revolut alternative for your currency exchange in Budapest

Instead of relying on the rates offered by traditional services like a currency exchange bureau or independent operator in Budapest, the smartest way to handle your money abroad is to start using a more modern platform like ours. Here’s why:

Clear conversion rates every time

We offer competitive conversion rates and remove the guesswork and hidden margins common with traditional currency exchange.

When you use your Revolut travel card, we show you the conversion rate right away — before the transaction is completed — so there are no surprises when you check your account.

You spend like a local, paying in HUF with a real-time competitive rate. This clarity helps you budget effectively without worrying about hidden mark-ups eating away at your spending money.

Fee-free ATM withdrawals (within limits)

Having access to cash in Budapest is still important for some small transactions. We offer fee-free ATM withdrawals up to a certain limit each month, depending on your plan (third-party ATM fees may apply).

Lock in your exchange rate: converting GBP to HUF

With a multi-currency account designed for global spending, you can hold both GBP and HUF in the same account. This means that when you use your Revolut travel money card in Hungary, you're spending directly from your HUF balance.

This allows you to take advantage of favourable market movements whenever they happen, not just when you're already in Budapest. You can check the GBP to HUF exchange rates in-app and set-up alerts, allowing you to convert when the rate is more favourable.

If your HUF balance is too low for the payment you’re making, we automatically convert the necessary amount from your GBP balance right away and at a clear exchange rate, removing the need for expensive, last-minute exchanges.

18+, T&Cs apply.

Travel finances beyond currency: security and budgeting

A stress-free trip to Budapest involves more than just getting the best exchange rate — it also requires smart management of your budget and security.

In-app security features for safer spending

While Hungary is a safe country, financial security is always important, especially when you’re travelling. We offer protection with robust, in-app controls.

Key security measures we offer include:

• Instant card control: you can instantly freeze and unfreeze your physical or virtual card in-app with a single tap if you lose it.
• Virtual cards: for online bookings or purchasing tickets for attractions (like the House of Parliament or a wine-tasting tour), you can use a temporary virtual card. This means the actual details of your physical card are never exposed online, offering an extra layer of protection.
• Location-based security: this optional feature helps us protect your account by blocking card payments if your phone's location doesn't match the country where the payment is being attempted.

Tracking your budget in real-time

One of our main goals is to bring clarity to your travel budgeting. You get real-time notifications for every transaction, and every purchase made in Forints is instantly shown in-app and converted to GBP for easy tracking. You can use our in-app tools to:

• Set a budget: allocate a specific amount for your Budapest trip
• Track by category: see exactly how much you're spending on accommodation, food, or attractions without manually checking each payment
• Receive alerts: get notified when you start approaching your set spending limits

This level of detail makes it easier to stick to your budget and helps you get the most out of your holiday money without constant worry or complex calculations.

Getting started with Revolut

Ready to stop searching for the best place to exchange currency in Budapest and start travelling smarter? We make it simple to get started:

1. Download the app from the App Store or Google Play
2. Follow the steps to sign up for Revolut and verify your identity
3. Choose your plan (Standard is free to sign-up, while paid plans offer higher fee-free ATM limits and more travel benefits)
4. Once your account’s open, add money in GBP using a debit card or bank transfer
5. Go to Exchange and instantly convert the amount you need into HUF

The information provided is accurate as of 28 October 2025.

The content of this page is for general information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. If you have any questions about your personal circumstances please seek professional and independent advice. Revolut is not a financial adviser.