Hungary is Surging Tourism Industry with Visa Free Travel to 187 Countries Including USA, Japan, Brazil, Canada, Schengen and Gulf Nations

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Hungary, a central European landlocked nation, actively engages in outbound tourism, with Budapest as its capital. The historical context of the nation is deeply influenced by the aftermath of World War I, where under the Treaty of Trianon in 1920, it ceded 71 percent of its territory. This event left a profound impact on Hungary’s national psyche, often remembered as the “Trianon Syndrome”—a longing for a glorified past. Known in Hungarian as Magyarország, or “Land of Magyars,” Hungary is distinguished by its unique language, unrelated to any other major European languages. Hungarians enjoy visa-free access to 187 countries as of August 2024, underscoring their global mobility.

TTW Editor in Chief Mr. Anup Kumar Keshan says: “Hungary’s robust engagement in outbound tourism demonstrates its citizens’ global mobility and strong desire to explore diverse destinations. With visa-free access to 187 countries, Hungarians enjoy significant travel freedom. The nation’s unique historical context and vibrant culture, coupled with a well-developed transportation infrastructure and strategic geographic location, have positioned Hungary as a key player in the European travel landscape. With millions of Hungarians traveling abroad each year, their journeys significantly contribute to the economic impact on both Hungary and their chosen destinations. As Hungary continues to evolve and integrate further into the global tourism network, its outbound travel trends will remain a dynamic force shaping its economic and cultural exchanges with the world.”

In 2023, outbound travel from Hungary saw a significant upsurge, with an 11% increase in international departures. While Hungarian travelers explore various global destinations, there is a marked preference for travel within Europe, as evidenced by the top ten destinations being European countries. This year, approximately 21 million international trips were made by Hungarians, including both day trips and extended stays, reflecting a slight increase from previous years. The highest annual record was in 2018, with nearly 25 million outbound trips.

In terms of specific destinations, Austria topped the list in 2023, attracting over 7.1 million Hungarian tourists, while Slovakia was the second most popular destination with about 4.3 million visits. The economic impact of these travels was substantial; in 2020, outbound tourism expenditures reached 1,159 million US dollars, despite noticeable fluctuations over the previous two decades.

GDP Analysis

At the conclusion of 2023, Hungary’s GDP was officially valued at $390 billion, calculated in terms of purchasing power parity. World Economics has compiled a comprehensive database that recalculates GDP figures by considering purchasing power parity while incorporating factors such as the size of the informal economy and revisions for outdated GDP base year figures. According to World Economics, Hungary’s GDP stands at an estimated $481 billion, which is 24% higher than the official figures suggest.

Visa free Countries list:-

• Albania
• American Samoa ETA
• Andorra
• Angola
• Anguilla
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Armenia
• Aruba
• Austria
• Bahamas
• Bahrain VOA
• Bangladesh VOA
• Barbados
• Belarus
• Belgium
• Belize
• Bermuda
• Bolivia
• Bonaire; St. Eustatius and Saba
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Botswana
• Brazil
• British Virgin Islands
• Brunei
• Bulgaria
• Burkina Faso VOA
• Burundi VOA
• Cambodia VOA
• Canada ETA
• Cape Verde Islands
• Cayman Islands
• Chile
• China
• Colombia
• Comoro Islands VOA
• Cook Islands
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Curacao
• Cyprus
• Czechia
• Denmark
• Djibouti VOA
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• Egypt VOA
• El Salvador
• Estonia
• eSwatini
• Ethiopia VOA
• Falkland Islands
• Faroe Islands
• Fiji
• Finland
• France
• French Guiana
• French Polynesia
• French West Indies
• Georgia
• Germany
• Gibraltar
• Greece
• Greenland
• Grenada
• Guam ETA
• Guatemala
• Guinea-Bissau VOA
• Haiti
• Honduras
• Hong Kong (SAR China)
• Iceland
• Indonesia VOA
• Iran VOA
• Iraq
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Jordan VOA
• Kazakhstan
• Kenya ETA
• Kiribati
• Kosovo
• Kuwait VOA
• Kyrgyzstan
• Laos VOA
• Latvia
• Lebanon VOA
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Macao (SAR China)
• Madagascar
• Malawi VOA
• Malaysia
• Maldives VOA
• Malta
• Marshall Islands
• Mauritania VOA
• Mauritius
• Mayotte
• Mexico
• Micronesia
• Moldova
• Monaco
• Mongolia
• Montenegro
• Montserrat
• Morocco
• Mozambique VOA
• Myanmar VOA
• Namibia VOA
• Nepal VOA
• Netherlands
• New Caledonia
• New Zealand ETA
• Nicaragua
• Niue
• North Macedonia
• Northern Mariana Islands ETA
• Norway
• Oman
• Palau Islands
• Palestinian Territory
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Philippines
• Poland
• Portugal
• Puerto Rico ETA
• Qatar VOA
• Reunion
• Romania
• Rwanda VOA
• Samoa
• San Marino
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Saudi Arabia VOA
• Senegal
• Serbia
• Seychelles VOA
• Sierra Leone VOA
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Solomon Islands
• Somalia VOA
• South Africa
• South Korea ETA
• Spain
• Sri Lanka ETA
• St. Helena VOA
• St. Kitts and Nevis
• St. Lucia
• St. Maarten
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• Suriname
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Taiwan (Chinese Taipei)
• Tajikistan VOA
• Tanzania VOA
• Thailand
• The Gambia
• Timor-Leste
• Tonga
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tunisia
• Türkiye
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• Tuvalu
• Ukraine
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• United States ETA
• Uruguay
• US Virgin Islands ETA
• Uzbekistan
• Vanuatu
• Vatican City
• Venezuela
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe VOA

Transportation Trends for Outbound Travel Among Hungarians

In the summer of 2021, the preferred mode of transportation for Hungarians heading on vacations was overwhelmingly by car, spanning across various generations. For outbound travel specifically, younger generations tended to favor buses, reflecting a trend toward more economical or possibly environmentally conscious choices. In contrast, Generation X showed a preference for airplanes, aligning with their possibly greater travel budgets or shorter available vacation times. In 2019, the figures for outbound travel revealed that approximately 5.25 million international trips were undertaken by land, compared to 2.56 million that were made by air.

Popular European Visa free Destinations for Hungarian Travelers

• Croatia: Nestled in the northwestern segment of the Balkan Peninsula, Croatia is a small nation noted for its distinctive crescent shape and geographic diversity. Zagreb serves as its capital, positioned in the northern part of the country. The modern Croatian state encompasses traditional regions: Croatia-Slavonia in the upper reaches, Istria on the Istrian Peninsula along the northern Adriatic, and Dalmatia, which traces the coastal belt.
• Italy: Located in the heart of south-central Europe, Italy extends deep into the Mediterranean with its iconic boot-shaped peninsula. The country features a landscape that ranges from the rugged Alps at its northern fringe to scenic terrains that have become synonymous with Italian imagery. Notable peaks include Monte Rosa, near Switzerland, and Mont Blanc, close to France, highlighting Italy’s dramatic topography.
• Spain: Situated in the far southwest of Europe, Spain takes up the lion’s share of the Iberian Peninsula, which it shares with Portugal. Known for its rich tapestry of history, Spain boasts an array of stone castles, towering mountains, grand monuments, and cosmopolitan cities, all contributing to its status as a beloved travel destination.
• Slovakia: As a landlocked nation in Central Europe, Slovakia corresponds largely with the historical bounds of its namesake region, which was the eastern part of Czechoslovakia from 1918 until 1992. Since gaining independence, Slovakia has navigated its path from being a part of a federal system to full sovereignty, often motivated by the ambition to overcome its past moniker as “the nation after the hyphen.”

Prominent Airports in Hungary

• Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport: Situated 16 kilometers southeast of central Budapest, Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport stands as Hungary’s largest airport and a pivotal aviation gateway for Central and Eastern Europe. In 2011, it was renamed to honor the iconic Hungarian composer Franz Liszt on his bicentennial. In 2023, the airport handled approximately 14.7 million passengers, achieving a 91% resurgence to its pre-pandemic levels of 2019.
• Debrecen International Airport: Located just 5 kilometers south of Debrecen, Hungary’s second-largest city, Debrecen International Airport is an essential component of the eastern Hungarian aviation landscape, accommodating both domestic and international flights. In 2019, it saw passenger numbers surpass 600,000.
• Pécs-Pogány Airport: Pécs-Pogány Airport, also referred to as Pécs South Airport, is positioned near Pécs in Baranya County. Despite its smaller scale, the airport, which operates with the IATA code PEV and ICAO code LHPP, is crucial for enhancing regional access, supporting both business and leisure travel in Hungary and to selected European destinations.

Leading Airlines Operating in Hungary

• Wizz Air: Founded in 2003 with its headquarters in Budapest, Wizz Air is a Hungarian low-cost airline known for its distinctive bright purple aircraft. As a major budget airline in Europe, especially in Central and Eastern Europe, Wizz Air operates a fleet primarily made up of Airbus A320 family aircraft, ideal for short to medium-haul routes due to their operational efficiency.
• Smartwings Hungary: Originally established as Travel Service Hungary in 2001 and now operating as Smartwings Hungary, this charter airline is based in Budapest and functions as a subsidiary of the Czech company Smartwings. Focused on charter operations, Smartwings Hungary serves the tourism sector and provides customized air travel solutions for private and corporate clients.

Places to visit in Hungary:

Castle Hill
Located in the Castle District of Budapest, Hungary, Castle Hill is a kilometer-long limestone plateau standing 170 meters above the Danube. This area boasts Budapest’s most significant medieval monuments and museums and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Beneath Castle Hill lies a 28-kilometer-long network of caves formed by thermal springs.

Esztergom Basilica
Situated in Esztergom, Hungary, the Esztergom Basilica is the largest church in the country. Its central dome, soaring 72 meters high, is visible from many kilometers away. The construction of this neoclassical church began in 1822 on the site of a 12th-century predecessor destroyed by the Turks. Architect József Hild, known for his work on the Eger Cathedral, contributed to the final stages, and the basilica was consecrated in 1856 with a Mass composed by Franz Liszt. Key features include the dome, treasury, and crypt.

Memento Park
Memento Park, located 10 kilometers southwest of Budapest’s city center, features over 40 statues, busts, and plaques of figures like Lenin, Marx, and Béla Kun, whose statues have been removed from public spaces elsewhere. This park offers a remarkable glimpse into socialist realism, showcasing relics erected as recently as the late 1980s.

Basilica of St Stephen
The Basilica of St Stephen in Budapest is Hungary’s most sacred Catholic church and houses the mummified right hand of its patron, King St Stephen. This neoclassical cathedral, completed in 1905, faced significant construction delays, including the collapse of its dome in 1868, requiring a complete rebuild. The view from the dome is breathtaking.

Parliament
The Eclectic-style Hungarian Parliament, designed by Imre Steindl and completed in 1902, features 691 elaborately decorated rooms. A guided tour of the North Wing reveals highlights such as the Golden Staircase, the Dome Hall (which houses the Crown of St Stephen), the Grand Staircase, Loge Hall, and Congress Hall, where the House of Lords met until 1944.

Hungarian National Museum
The Hungarian National Museum in Budapest, housed in a purpose-built neoclassical building from 1847, contains the country’s most significant historical collection. The first-floor exhibits detail the history of the Carpathian Basin from ancient times to the arrival of the Magyars in the 9th century. The story of the Magyar people continues on the second floor, from their conquest of the basin to the end of communism.

Best time to visit:

Hungary’s peak tourist season spans from May to September.

Summer is the most popular time to visit Hungary, with nine to ten hours of sunshine most days, though occasional short, violent storms can occur. The long days of July and August offer many tourist activities and festivals, despite the sometimes overwhelming high temperatures and humidity. While summer temperatures are fairly consistent across the country, the Great Plain tends to be drier, and the Highlands wetter.

Spring and fall—specifically May, June, September, and early October—offer milder weather and fewer tourist crowds. These months are ideal for visiting Budapest, which hosts numerous spring and autumn festivals, and for exploring culinary delights and sights. May is particularly pleasant, albeit occasionally showery, and perfect for visiting places like the Danube Bend, Tihany, or Sopron before the main tourist season begins.

Winter travelers will find Budapest’s concert season in full swing, with minimal tourist crowds. However, some accommodations and attractions may be closed or operate on a limited schedule. The weather can be cold and dreary, with early sunsets. Outside of Budapest, most of Hungary offers little during winter, and appealing weather generally doesn’t return until late spring.

The best times to visit Hungary are the shoulder seasons of spring (April to May) and fall (September to October), when the weather is still warm, tourist crowds are fewer, and prices are more reasonable.

Hungary’s robust engagement in outbound tourism is a testament to its citizens’ global mobility and their strong desire to explore diverse destinations. The nation’s unique historical context and vibrant culture, coupled with a well-developed transportation infrastructure and strategic geographic location, have positioned Hungary as a key player in the European travel landscape. With millions of Hungarians traveling abroad each year, their journeys significantly contribute to the economic impact on both Hungary and their chosen destinations. As Hungary continues to evolve and integrate further into the global tourism network, its outbound travel trends are set to remain a dynamic force shaping its economic and cultural exchanges with the world.

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