Good to know
Good to Know
- Budapest is a welcoming city that thrives on a balance of tradition and modernity.
- Never say "thank you" when paying; this is understood in Hungary as "keep the change". If you want to leave a tip, ten percent will do, and, in restaurants, is expected.
- Remove your shoes when entering Hungarian homes—this is non-negotiable. Hosts typically provide slippers.
- Never clink beer glasses; clink wine and pálinka instead by saying 'Egészségedre!' with eye contact.
- In lap pools at places like Széchenyi or Rudas, swim caps are mandatory. Yes, even if you're bald. No cap? You'll be whistled at, pointed at, and sent back to the changing room in shame.
- Bring gifts when invited to someone's home—flowers (in odd numbers, not 13), high-quality chocolates, or spirits work well. Avoid lilies, chrysanthemums, and red roses.
- Hungarians are generally proud of their country's history, culture, and language, which is one of the oldest and most unique in Europe. It's appreciated when foreigners show interest in Hungarian culture, whether that's by trying local dishes, learning a few phrases in Hungarian, or engaging with local customs.
Gifting
- Home Visits
- If invited to a Hungarian home for a meal, good gifts include high-quality chocolates, flowers or liquor. Generally, flowers should be given in odd numbers, excluding the number 13 (which is considered to be an unlucky number).
- Wine Caution
- Gifting wine from the Old World can be construed as insulting as Hungarians are very proud of their own country's wine-making heritage. A safer bet is a box of luxury chocolates or a fine liqueur.
- Opening Gifts
- Gifts are usually opened when received.
- Flowers To Avoid
- Do not give lilies, chrysanthemums or red roses.
Greetings
- Formal
- Men typically shake hands, and handshakes are firm and short, accompanied by direct eye contact. When meeting someone for the first time, it's polite to use titles such as "Mr." (Úr) or "Mrs." (Asszony) followed by their surname.
- Informal
- Hungarians who are close friends or relatives typically meet by kissing lightly on each cheek, starting with the left.
- Verbal Phrases
- For polite situations, a "Jó reggelt" (yoh reg-gelt) will do for good morning; "napot" (nah-poht) for afternoon; and "estét" (esh-tet) for evening. On the more relaxed end of the spectrum, "szia" (see-yah) for "hi" and "sziasztok" (see-yah-stoke) for "bye" are the colloquial forms.
Eye Contact
Hungarians view eye contact as indicative of sincerity and believe that people who cannot look them in the eye while speaking have something to hide.
Home Visits
- Shoes
- Hungarians often remove their shoes upon entering a home, and guests are typically expected to do the same. It's common for hosts to provide slippers, so you don't need to worry about walking barefoot.
- Hospitality Expectations
- If you are invited to someone's home in Budapest, expect warm treatment and plenty of food. In fact, over-serving guests is a cultural expression of generosity—declining a second portion may even be taken as impolite.
- Punctuality And Notification
- Punctuality is highly valued in Hungary, especially for social gatherings. Arriving late without notifying the host is considered disrespectful. If you know you'll be delayed, a quick phone call or message to the host is appreciated.
Punctuality
Punctuality is highly valued in Hungarian culture so, if possible, arrive about 10 minutes early for any meetings. Hungarians consider punctuality to be important. Thus, arrive on time if you are invited for dinner. If invited to a party or larger gathering, arrive no later than 30 minutes after the designated time.
Personal Space
Another cultural aspect is personal space. Hungarians value it highly, and standing too close or unnecessary touching can make people uncomfortable. On public transport, in queues, or even during casual conversations, keeping a reasonable distance is seen as polite.
Public Behavior
- Queuing
- Queues (lines) are another social habit to note. Hungarians respect waiting their turn, so cutting the line is frowned upon.
- Public Spaces
- Many Hungarians find whistling, humming or singing in public impolite. Always cover your mouth when yawning.
- Noise And Decorum
- Budapest's public transport operates like a mobile library. Keep phone calls brief and quiet, use headphones, and offer seats to elderly, pregnant, or disabled passengers. Loud tourists are universally despised and will be openly judged.
- Escalator Etiquette
- Stand right, walk left. This is the global escalator rule, and Budapest takes it seriously. Block the left side and you'll feel the collective frustration of an entire city's commuters boring into the back of your head.
Dining Etiquette
- General
- When invited to dine at someone's home or at a restaurant, it's considered polite to wait until the host is seated and begins eating before you start. Additionally, if you're dining with others, wait for everyone's food to arrive before starting your meal (unless you have ordered a starter, but the others did not).
- Dress Code
- When dining out, particularly at upscale restaurants, it's customary to dress well (some upscale restaurants require men to wear a suit and tie). Budapest has a rich café and dining culture, so casual wear is fine at many places, but avoid overly casual attire like shorts and T-shirts at more formal restaurants.
- Hand Placement
- In Hungary, it's also polite to keep your hands visible while eating (resting them on the table but not your elbows).
Tipping
- Standard Tip
- The standard tip is 10-15% of the total bill.
Sensitive Topics
- Safe Topics
- When making small talk in Budapest, certain topics are safe and enjoyable. Culture, literature, music, food, and travel are popular themes. Hungarians are proud of their artistic heritage, and discussing writers, composers, or cuisine often leads to lively exchanges.
- Topics To Avoid
- On the other hand, politics, religion, and sensitive historical issues should generally be avoided, especially with strangers. Asking about someone's salary or personal finances is also considered intrusive. Hungarians prefer to build trust gradually before sharing personal details.
- Historical Sensitivity
- Discussions about politics and history can be sensitive, particularly topics related to Hungary's complex past (such as World War I-II, the Soviet occupation, the Socialist/Iron curtain era between 1949-1989). If you're unsure about how to navigate a conversation, it's best to avoid controversial topics unless the other person initiates it.
Alcoholic Beverages
- Beer Cheers
- The Hungarian word for "cheers" is "egészségedre" (try saying that after you've had a few) but it should never be used with the clink of beer glasses. Hungarians traditionally avoid clinking beer glasses, stemming from the 1848 Revolution when Austrian soldiers clinked beers while celebrating the execution of Hungarian generals. The "ban" technically ended in 1999, but many still observe it.
- Wine And Palinka
- During a toast or before a meal, Hungarians will not clink glasses if the beverage is beer. With wine or pálinka, Hungarians will look others in the eye, clink glasses and say "Egészségedre" ("Cheers").
Communication Style
Hungarians are emotive speakers who say what they think and expect you to do the same. They do not like euphemisms or vague statements.
Language And Titles
Calling someone by their first name before being invited to do so is considered rude. When addressing a teacher, elder, or business colleague, the formal "Ön" or plural "Önök" is expected. Switching prematurely to informal speech can be seen as disrespectful unless invited to do so.
Language Appreciation
Even if you only learn a few words—like köszönöm (thank you) or kérem (please)—locals will appreciate the effort. Many younger people and those working in tourism speak English, but trying Hungarian shows respect.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this culture & etiquette research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
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Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.