Budapest Packing List (+ Free Checklist)

If it’s your first time travelling to Budapest, it can be difficult to decide what to pack. You may wonder, how do people dress in Budapest? Or, what clothes should I pack at certain times of the year (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter), right?

Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered – here is the ultimate Budapest Packing List by a local!

I am originally from Budapest, and people usually dress very casual. If you go out at night (river cruise, bars, theatre), then it is nice to dress up a bit smarter, but you’ll still see plenty of people in sneakers.

When packing for clothes, it is best to pack clothes that you can wear in layers, especially if you visit in the Spring, Autumn, or Winter.

Apart from clothes, make sure to pack electronics (plug, portable charger), travel essentials (insurance, bank card, cash), toiletries, medicines, and accessories (re-usable water bottle, daypack, sunscreen).

So, here is what to pack for Budapest + a free checklist so you don’t forget anything at home!

What to Pack for Budapest

Here is everything you need to pack for Budapest, including clothes, electronics, accessories, travel essentials, medicines/first aid kit and toiletries.

CLOTHES

COMFORTABLE WALKING SHOES

Budapest is a walkable city, and it is great to explore the city center on foot.

Even if you take the taxi or use the public transport, your feet will get tired if you are out exploring the city all day long – so a comfortable, good pair of walking shoes are essential for any trip to Budapest.

JACKET

Depending on the season you are visiting Budapest, a jacket is a must have, especially in the Spring and Autumn. It is best if you have a waterproof jacket with you.

In the winter, you should pack a proper winter coat. While in the summer, you don’t need a jacket, but you can get by wearing a cardigan in the evenings.

T-SHIRTS

T-shirts are a must for any trip! Depending on the season, you may need short sleeve T-Shirts (summer), or long-sleeve T-shirts (winter). In the Spring and Autumn, you can pack both and make sure that you pack some cardigans as well to layer up.

JEANS

Jeans are classic and you can never go wrong with it! I recommend to pack at least one pair of jeans for any season when visiting Budapest.

DRESS/SMART OUTFIT

It is good if you also pack at least one smart outfit for events. Budapest is famous for its river cruises and has great theatre shows as well. While it’s not a must to dress up fancy for any events, it’s nice to have a more elegant outfit even if it’s to celebrate a special occasion.

SHORTS/SKIRTS

Summer is very hot in Budapest, so if you are planning to visit anytime between May to September, you can definitely pack some shorts or skirts.

SWIMSUIT

Whether you stay in a hotel with a swimming pool or plan to visit the thermal baths, packing a swimsuit is a must.

The thermal baths in Budapest are very chill, and you shouldn’t miss out on it on a trip to Budapest. While you can buy swimsuits at the thermal baths, it is better if you bring your own as they have limited options and are overpriced.

FLIP-FLOPS

Packing flip-flops for Budapest is not a must, but it comes handy if you plan to visit the thermal baths.

For the thermal baths in Budapest, you have to take your own slippers and towel. They also have a shop in the thermal baths where you can buy towels and flip flops, but they are overpriced, so it is useful if you have it.

SUNGLASSES

If you are visiting Budapest in the late Spring (April-May) or Summer, then definitely pack a pair of sunglasses.

The summer in Budapest is very hot and sunny, so sunglasses are both useful and stylish!

UMBRELLA

An umbrella is great to have, especially in the Spring, Summer or Autumn, when it can rain some during the day. Nevertheless, in case you forget to pack an umbrella, there are lots of shops in Budapest where you can get one.

CLOTHES APPROPRIATE TO THE WEATHER

Overall, when deciding what to pack for Budapest, the best thing is to pack clothes you can wear in layers.

Click here for a list of outfits for each season:

• What to Pack for Budapest in Spring
• What to Pack for Budapest in Summer
• What to Pack for Budapest in Autumn
• What to Pack for Budapest in Winter

ACCESSORIES

DAYPACK

Get a comfortable daypack for your trip, so you can carry all essentials with you while you are exploring Budapest.

I recommend a daypack around 15L, which can nicely fit everything you may need during the day: wallet, phone, portable charger, umbrella, cardigan/jacket, and water bottles on the side.

RE-USABLE WATER BOTTLE

The tap water in Budapest is safe to drink (even tap water in hotels!), so if you have a re-usable water bottle, then you can just keep refilling it. It reduces plastic waste, plus it saves you money, so it’s a win-win.

SUNSCREEN

If you visit Budapest between May to September, you should also pack sunscreen. The typical summer months are between June to August, but the weather starts to get hot in May and it remains hot going into September.

QUICK-DRY TOWEL

You have to have your own towel when visiting the thermal baths in Budapest, so it is worth packing a small, quick-dry towel if you plan to visit the thermal baths.

HAND SANITIZER

Hand sanitizer is a must for any trip (and even during everyday life), so make sure to pack a small travel-sized version of hand sanitiser with you.

EAR PLUGS

If you are a light sleeper, or planning to stay in a hostel, then ear plugs are great to ensure to get a proper night’s sleep.

I stopped sleeping in hostels a couple of years ago when I realised I can’t handle all the noise and snoring it comes with – and I even had ear plugs in.

EYE MASK

I love to take an eye mask with me on my trips, not only for sleeping at night, but also on the plane. I travel a lot even on long distance buses and trains, and an eye mask really helps you to sleep.

TOILETRIES

Whenever I travel, I find it is best to pack small, travel-sized toiletries and keep everything to a minimum. I love the re-usable travel bottles that you can refill anytime you go on a trip.

Toiletries to pack are tissues, toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, shower gel, body lotion, face cream, lip balm, deodorant, hairbrush, nail clippers, and sanitary products (if there is a chance you may have your period during your trip).

Some hotels may have shampoo, shower gel and body lotion, so if you only stay for a few days in Budapest, you may not even have to pack these.

FIRST AID KIT/MEDICINES

It is also recommended to take a small first aid kit and any personal medicine you take. If you travel in a group, even one person can pack the first aid kit for the whole group.

Some medicine to pack in the first aid kit are medicines for common cold, paracetamol and plasters.

ELECTRONICS

PORTABLE CHARGER/ POWER BANK

Portable chargers are a must for any holiday! Imagine, you spend the whole day exploring a place, taking hundreds of photos and videos – your phone’s battery is likely to not last the whole day. That’s where portable chargers save the day!

I always have a power bank with me during the day in Budapest, even just on a regular day, as it is always great for a backup to charge your phone.

PLUG ADAPTER

Hungary uses the Type C plug (two round pins), so make sure you have the correct plug before starting your trip. Nevertheless, in case you forget it at home, you can buy a plug in shops all across Budapest.

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

PASSPORT

Passport, phone and money are the three things to always check you have packed before leaving to the airport!

Most travellers don’t need a visa to visit Hungary if your visit is less than 90 days, including citizens from USA, Canada, Australia, UK and EU. You can check whether you need a visa or not here.

MONEY/BANK CARD/TRAVEL CARD

Most places accept card payments in Budapest, so you don’t have to take a lot of cash with you. The Hungarian currency is the Forint (HUF), and 1 USD is around 340 HUF.

My favourite travel card is Wise, which is a multi-currency card and offers one of the best exchange rates. I have had it for years for trips around Europe and Asia, and I can’t recommend it enough. You have to pre-order the card, that can take up to 7 days to arrive, so make sure to order it in advance.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Don’t forget to get travel insurance for your trip to Budapest! Travel insurance is great to cover any unexpected emergencies, like stolen items, lost baggage, or medical emergencies.

I recommend the SafetyWing Travel Insurance, as it is one of the best and most affordable travel insurance I found in my 15 years of international travel.

ESIM

EU residents get free roaming in Budapest, however, if you are coming from outside the EU, then roaming charges apply.

To avoid the massive roaming charges, it is best to get an eSIM for your trip. My go to eSIM is Airalo – they have affordable prices and data packages for 7, 15, and 30 days.

FREE Download: Budapest Packing List

What to Pack for Budapest in Winter

Budapest gets pretty cold in the winter – well, not extremely cold, but the temperature does go down to around -5 °C (23 °F).

If you visit Budapest during winter, the best plan is to pack warm winter clothes that you can wear in layers.

Budapest Packing List for Winter:

• Winter coat
• Ankle Boots
• Jeans
• Sweater
• T-shirt (long-sleeve)
• Hat/Beanie
• Scarf
• Gloves
• Thick Socks