Is It Safe to Travel to Hungary in 2026?
Hungary - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and Slovenia to the southwest, and Austria to the west.
Is It Safe to Travel to Hungary in 2026?
Hungary is currently rated Level 1 — Exercise Normal Precautions by the U.S. Department of State. Hungary is generally a safe destination for travelers. Most crimes against foreigners are crimes of opportunity, like purse snatching and pickpocketing, especially in tourist areas and major train stations in Budapest. Passport theft has been reported on trains between Budapest, Vienna, and Bratislava. Travelers are encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate. It is recommended to buy travel insurance before traveling.
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers in Budapest should be cautious of pickpockets and purse snatchers, particularly in crowded tourist areas and public transportation hubs.
Business travelers can expect reliable infrastructure in Budapest, though they should remain aware of petty crime in tourist-heavy locations.
Families with children may face minor risks from petty crime in tourist areas, but overall healthcare access is adequate in urban centers.
Remote workers will find good connectivity in major cities like Budapest, but should avoid rural areas where internet access may be less reliable.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Hungary.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Hungary has an overall threat severity of 1.2 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 3.5/10, terrorism risk 0.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Partly Free — scored 65/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Not required for U.S. citizens
Currency
Forint (HUF)
Language
Hungarian
Vaccinations
Recommended:
Active health notices:
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Hungary
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Hungary?
▶Is it safe to travel to Hungary right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Hungary?
▶What vaccines do I need for Hungary?
▶Is Hungary safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Hungary?
More Hungary Data
Partly Free — 65/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.