Traveling to Hungary soon and looking for the best way to stay connected? Avoid high roaming costs and slow overseas data roaming by getting a local prepaid sim card in Hungary. This is the ultimate guide for buying a prepaid sim card in Hungary with where to buy a sim card, up to date prices as per July 2022, the best 4G/5G network in Hungary, my recommendation and even info about international and e-sim cards for Hungary.
Buying a local sim card is the first thing I do when I get to a new country and as I am aiming to visit every country in the world I have been to a lot of places around the world. Therefore on Traveltomtom you can find already more than 150 local prepaid sim card guides: USA, Canada, Mexico, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Europe, Italy, UK, Turkey, Israel, Colombia and many more.
Arriving at Budapest Airport? Check my article about buying a sim card at Budapest Airport. Not cheap, but the fastest and most convenient way to get your local sim card in Hungary.
RELATED: 15 Best Places to Visit in Hungary in 2022! Rent a car and get to see some amazing places around the country!
Why buying a sim card in Hungary?
First of all because wasting money on expensive roaming costs is useless! Staying connected while traveling makes just like in real life things so much easier. Ordering a taxi through an app, receiving a video call from your family at any given time, using Google Maps for directions, nearby restaurants, etc. There are a ton of reasons to get a local sim card when traveling.
Even though your hotel has free WiFi and so will the restaurant and bar provided that service. But what if it is slow and what about the unsecured network? Simply don't rely on other, buying a sim card is fast and easy.
Rather getting Wifi on the road and NOT change sim cards in your phone? A pocket WiFi could be the solution. Check out my HONEST review of these portable WiFi devices and I tell you everything you need to know!
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends a Vodafone sim card for Hungary. Their network is good and they have the best value deals for data packages. For $12 you get 5 GB data.
Another great way to stay connected when traveling is a global travel sim card. Not all of these sim cards are worth it but there are some amazing deals for traveling to Hungary. Check out my list of the best international sim cards for traveling in 2022 and pick the one that suits your trip the most.
Want to make it even easier for yourself then look into getting an e-sim card for Hungary.
E-sim card for Hungary
The easiest way to stay connected when traveling abroad in 2022 is an electronic sim card. You arrange everything online and it takes just a couple minutes. No more swapping sim cards, it is just a matter of following the instructions sent per mail and applying the settings on your phone. Check out the following Hungary e-sim card deals:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $5 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $10 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $15 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $22.5 USD
Click here to order an e-sim card for Hungary directly online or find more information. With an e-sim card you keep your own phone number.
An e-sim card is data-only so if you also want to make phone calls in Hungary and Europe then you are better off ordering a physical sim card for Europe. For $30 you can 10 GB + unlimited calls in Europe, but there are many more offers. Click here to order a sim card for Hungary online and get more info and see all the offers.
Hungary sim cards and free roaming in Europe
As Hungary is part of the EU there are no roaming costs for Hungary sim cards when traveling onwards in Europe. Also the other way around if you have a France sim card for example then you can freely use your data package on your France sim card in Hungary.
But be aware that this sometimes does NOT apply to Eastern European countries. Prepaid sim cards from countries like Poland, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia do NOT include free EU roaming, so be careful when buying a local sim card in Europe.
Click on the link to read my complete article and find the best European sim card with data for tourists in 2022 or my guide for buying a local prepaid sim card in Europe with more info about free EU roaming.
Hungary is an amazing country with some beautiful places to visit. After traveling around Hungary for a couple weeks I came up with the ultimate Hungary Itinerary including all the best places to visit.
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Mobile internet operators Hungary
There are 3 main mobile internet providers in Hungary: Vodafone, T-Mobile and Telenor. All of them sell prepaid sim cards for tourists.
Best 4G/5G network in Hungary in 2022
The best prepaid sim card in Hungary is not only determined by the prices for prepaid sim cards and the available data packages. What about going on a Hungary road trip and as soon as you leave Budapest you loose connection? A strong 4G/5G network is just as important. Therefore I compared the 4G/5G network coverage maps in Hungary.
Is there 5G in Hungary?
Yes, there is a pretty decent 5G network in Hungary in the popular tourist destinations in Hungary. Check below who has the best 5G network in Hungary.
Telenor Hungary 4G/5G network map
Vodafone Hungary 4G/5G network map
T-Mobile Hungary 4G/5G network map
From what we can see from the above Hungary coverage maps is that Vodafone has the smallest network, though is still prominent with 4G in all the tourist destinations in Hungary. All networks are good for tourists, but it is an easy conclusion that T-Mobile has the best 4G/5G network in Hungary in 2022.
Where to buy a Hungary sim card
There are multiple mobile internet stores in Budapest city center as well as in other big cities and tourist destinations in Hungary. The easiest way to find your preferred shop is through Google Maps. Go to the search bar and type in for example 'Vodafone' and Google Maps will show you where you can buy a sim card for Hungary.
You can also buy a Hungary sim card at Budapest Airport. That is what I did when I landed. It is much more expensive though. In the link you can read all about it.
For buying a Hungary prepaid sim card you need to have a photo ID or a passport with you. Don’t forget it otherwise you can’t get a prepaid sim card.
Prices prepaid Hungary sim cards in 2022
Below you can find all the prices for Hungary sim cards per provider. Prices are up dated in July 2022.
Telenor Hungary
They have relatively small data packages for Hungary sim cards but at least all the data and minutes are valid in the EU.
- 1,5 GB + 50 min = 2500 HUF ($8,50)
- 3 GB + 100 min = 3800 HUF ($13)
- 5 GB - data only = 3500 HUF ($12)
All Telenor prepaid sim cards for Hungary are valid for 30 days, data and minutes are valid in all of the EU. For the latest Telenor Hungary sim card offers check the Telenor website.
Vodafone Hungary
There is not much choice either when buying a Vodafone Hungary prepaid sim card:
- 1 GB = 1245 HUF ($4,20)
- 5 GB = 3559 HUF ($12)
All above prepaid Vodafone Hungary sim cards are valid for 30 days and there is free roaming in Europe. For the latest Vodafone Hungary prepaid sim card offers, check the Vodafone website.
T-Mobile Hungary
They only sell one prepaid Hungary sim card at T-Mobile, but at least it is fairly cheap.
- 1 GB - 80 min = 990 HUF ($3,35)
- Add extra 3.5 GB = 3.500 HUF ($12)
The T-Mobile Hungary prepaid sim card is valid for 30 days and their data and minutes can also be used all over Europe. For the latest T-Mobile Hungary sim card offers have a look at the T-Mobile website.
Best Hungary sim card for tourist in 2022
Since there is hardly any difference in network strength it all comes down to the price and the offered sim card packages. Prepaid Hungary sim cards are NOT appealing to me at all. Super small data packages. Traveltomtom recommends the following: Vodafone is the best prepaid sim card in Hungary in 2022!
For $12 you will get a prepaid sim card with 5 GB data. Unfortunately calling minutes are not included.
As you have seen Hungary prepaid sim cards are not the best for traveling in Europe and therefore when traveling onwards to other countries in Europe I recommend you to have a look at our list of the best prepaid sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2022.
Buy a Hungary sim card online
If this all sounds like too much hassle then you can also a sim card for Hungary online or get yourself an e-sim card. The following international sim cards for Hungary are pre-activated and will be send to your home address before your trip:
1. Orange Holiday ZEN - $29.90
- 8 GB data
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe
- 30 minutes worldwide
- 200 sms worldwide
- Valid 14 days
2. Three PAYG AIO15 - $29.90
- 10 GB data
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe
- Valid 30 days
3. Three PAYG AIO20 - $39.90
- 12 GB data
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe
- Valid 30 days
4. Orange Holiday Europe - $49.90
- 20 GB data
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe
- 120 minutes worldwide
- 1,000 sms worldwide
- Valid 14 days
Click here to order one of the above international sim cards for traveling in Hungary or find more info and a couple more sim card deals. Personally I would recommend option 3 or 4.
Another reminder that you can also order an e-sim card for Hungary so that you keep your own phone number. Click on the link for more info.
I hope all the above tips about buying a prepaid Hungary sim card are helpful. May you have any additional question please leave me a comment and I am more than happy to help you out.
Curious what it looks like trying to visit every country in the world? Go check out my Instagram account @traveltomtom and follow along. As of July 2022 I have visited more than 135 countries, so still a long way to go.
Enjoy your trip to Hungary!
