Planning your trip to Hungary and looking for the best tourist sim card for your trip? Avoid high roaming charges and slow overseas data roaming plans.
This is the ultimate guide with everything you need to know before buying a prepaid sim card in Hungary in 2025.
Find out where to buy a sim card, up to date prices as per January 2025, the best 4G/5G network in Hungary, my recommendation and more info about eSIMs for Hungary.
Having internet on your phone while traveling makes life so much easier. In the past I always used to buy a prepaid sim card in every country, nowadays I mostly use eSIMs to stay connected.
Traveltomtom also wrote a guide for the best eSIMs for traveling to Hungary in 2025.
Table of Contents
- My recommendation
- Why buying a sim card in Hungary?
- Where to buy a sim card for Hungary
- Mobile internet operators Hungary
- Registration process
- Hungary sim cards and EU data roaming
- Best 4G/5G network in Hungary in 2025
- Prices Hungary prepaid sim cards in 2025
- Best prepaid sim card in Hungary in 2025
- Best eSIMs for Hungary
Arriving at Budapest Airport? Check out my guide for buying a sim card at Budapest Airport in 2025.
RELATED: 15 Best Places to Visit in Hungary in 2025.
Some links in this article about the best prepaid sim cards for Hungary are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. Don't worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you.
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends a Yettel sim card for Hungary. Yettel has a good 4G/5G mobile data network in Hungary and the best prepaid sim card plans for tourists. For around $10 USD you get a 5 GB data-only sim card.
But eSIMs for Hungary are cheaper and you are online as soon as the plane lands. There is a Jetpac eSIM for Hungary with 10 GB data for just $12 USD.
Check out many more eSIM plans in my comparison of the best eSIMs for Hungary in 2025.
Traveltomtom also recommends global travel sim card with data. Especially if you are visiting multiple countries on your trip to Europe. Check out my list of the best international sim cards for traveling in 2025 or check out my comparison of the best Europe eSIMs for 2025 for sim cards specifically designed for traveling in Europe.
Why buying a sim card in Hungary?
First of all because wasting money on expensive roaming costs is stupid. Staying connected while traveling to Hungary makes life so much easier. Order a taxi through an app, receiving a video call from your family at any given time, use Google Maps for directions, find nearby restaurants, bars, friends, etc. There are a ton of reasons to get a working data connection on your phone when traveling to Hungary.
Even though your hotel has free WiFi and also most restaurants and bars provided free WiFi. But what if it is slow and what about the unsecured network? Simply don't rely on others, buying a prepaid or eSIM for traveling in Hungary is fast and easy.
As Traveltomtom is on a mission to travel to every country in the world I get to about 30 - 40 different countries every year and therefore I use about 30 different sim cards per year. As I am already traveling full time since 2012 buying prepaid and eSIMs became part of life and that is how Traveltomtom became the ultimate specialist in providing info about sim cards for tourists.
As I like to document all my travel tips you can find already more than 200 sim card guides on Traveltomtom from all around the world: USA, Canada, Asia, Mexico, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Europe, Italy, UK, Turkey, Israel, Colombia, Peru, Brazil, New Zealand and many more.
So next time you are planning your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid and eSIM advice for your next holiday destination. Bookmark me and let me help you save money!
Where to buy a sim card for Hungary
Budapest Airport
The most convenient place to buy a sim card in Hungary would of course be directly on arrival at Budapest Airport. Yes, there is a sim card store, but is it worth it? Well, it is expensive!
Check out my guide for buying a sim card at Budapest Airport in 2025 for more info. Trust me eSIMs for Hungary are cheaper than buying a tourist sim card at Budapest Airport.
Phone stores mobile internet providers
There are multiple mobile internet provider stores in Budapest city center as well as in other tourist destinations in Hungary. The easiest way to find your preferred sim card shop is through Google Maps. Go to the search bar and type in for example 'Vodafone' and Google Maps will show you the nearest Vodafone stores.
At the official retail stores of Vodafone, T-Mobile and Yettel you will get the best service, the best prepaid sim card offers for tourists and the staff will make sure everything is set up and the data on your phone works instantly.
Plus in these phone stores you are able to get an eSIM for tourists.
Gas stations and convenience stores
Yes, you can also buy a prepaid sim card for tourists at gas stations and the bigger convenience stores but you will need to do the registration by yourself online or go to an official retail store to activate your prepaid sim card. Therefore, Traveltomtom does not recommend buying a Hungary sim card at a convenience store, only if you have no other option.
Online
The easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Hungary is by ordering a sim card for Hungary on the internet. No more buying a sim card in Hungary. As soon as the plane lands you are connected to the internet.
A Jetpac eSIM with 10 GB data for just $12 USD is one of the best-buy eSIMs for Hungary in 2025.
Read my full guide with everything you need to know before ordering an eSIM for Hungary.
If your phone is not eSIM compatible then look into ordering an international prepaid sim cards that will be delivered to your home address. Check out SimOptions for ordering a physical prepaid sim card for Hungary.
Mobile internet operators Hungary
There are 3 main mobile internet providers in Hungary: Vodafone, T-Mobile and Yettel.
All of them sell prepaid sim cards for tourists and as of 2025 they also offer eSIMs for tourists.
Registration process
For buying a prepaid sim card in Hungary you need a photo ID or a passport. Your new Hungary sim card will be registered on your name and your passport number. You will receive a sim card with a new phone number starting with +36.
If you want to avoid this registration process then order a sim card for Hungary on the internet. Physical prepaid international sim cards as well as eSIMs for Hungary do not need a passport registration.
Hungary sim cards and EU data roaming
As Hungary is part of the EU there should be no roaming costs when using a Hungary prepaid sim card anywhere else in Europe. Also the other way around if you have a sim card from France for example then you can freely use your data plan from your France sim card while traveling in Hungary.
But be aware that this does often NOT apply to Eastern European countries. Prepaid sim cards from countries like Poland, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia do NOT include free EU data roaming, so be careful when buying a prepaid sim card in Eastern Europe. Always ask the provider for the EU data roaming limitations.
Find out more info about EU data roaming, Brexit, EU roaming in Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, etc. in my guide for buying a local prepaid sim card on arrival in Europe.
You can simply avoid all this hassle by ordering a sim card for traveling in all of Europe. There are prepaid as well as eSIM versions available.
Hungary is an amazing country with some beautiful places to visit. After traveling around the country for a couple weeks I came up with the ultimate Hungary Itinerary including all the best places to visit.
Best 4G/5G network in Hungary in 2025
The best prepaid sim card in Hungary is not only determined by the prices for prepaid sim cards and the available data plans for tourists. What about going on a Hungary road trip and as soon as you leave Budapest you lose connection?
A strong 4G/5G network is just as important and even when going off the beaten path in Hungary we want to find a phone signal.
Therefore I compared the 4G/5G network coverage maps of the mobile internet providers in Hungary to find the best 4G/5G network in Hungary in 2025.
Is there 5G in Hungary?
Yes, there is a pretty decent 5G network in Hungary as of 2025. Almost all the popular tourist destinations in Hungary have a 5G signal. Check the below network coverage maps to find out which provider has the best 4G/5G network in Hungary.
Yettel Hungary 4G/5G network map
Vodafone Hungary 4G/5G network map
Telekom Hungary 4G/5G network map
Although the above mobile data network coverage maps are updated for 2025 they are not 100% accurate. However, they are a great reference to compare the 4G/5G networks of the mobile internet providers in Hungary in 2025.
From what we can see from the above Hungary coverage maps is that all mobile internet providers have an excellent 4G/5G mobile data network and cover all the best places to visit in Hungary.
But it seems that Vodafone has the best 5G network in Hungary in 2025, but it is a very close call. In Eastern and Southern Hungary Telekom seems to have the best 4G/5G network and in Western Hungary Vodafone has the best 4G/5G network.
Prices Hungary prepaid sim cards in 2025
All info and prices are updated as per January 2025. Prices are in Hungarian Forint (HUF): $1 USD = 395 HUF and 1,000 HUF = $2.5 USD.
Yettel 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 GB + 50 min = 1,100 HUF - $2.8 USD
- 3 GB + 100 min = 2,500 HUF - $6.3 USD
- 5 GB - data only = 3,300 HUF - $8.4 USD
All Yettel prepaid sim cards for Hungary are valid for 30 days and are valid all over Europe. data and minutes are valid in all of the EU. For more info check the Yettel website.
Vodafone Hungary
There is not much choice either when buying a Vodafone Hungary prepaid sim card. A Vodafone prepaid sim card is free and comes with 100 MB free data. I tried to find out if there are data plans you can top up with but sincerely couldn't. All I could find is a prepaid sim card for Hungary with unlimited data for 30 days:
- unlimited data (30 GB data in EU) + unlimited calls/sms = 11,990 HUF - $30 USD
Check the Vodafone Hungary website for more info.
Telekom Hungary
This is the best Telekom prepaid sim card plan for tourists and it is really expensive:
- 1 GB + 80 minutes = 1,990 HUF - $5 USD
- Add extra 3.5 GB = 3,500 HUF - $9 USD
This T-Mobile Hungary prepaid sim card is valid for 30 days and valid in all over Europe. For the latest T-Mobile Hungary sim card offers have a look at the Telekom website.
Best prepaid sim card in Hungary in 2025
A simple conclusion is that Traveltomtom highly recommends eSIMs for traveling to Hungary in 2025. Why?
eSIMs are more convenient and even cheaper than buying a prepaid sim card in Hungary.
There is already a Jetpac eSIM with 10 GB data for just $12 USD. Check out many more eSIM plans in my comparison of the best eSIMs for Hungary in 2025.
All mobile internet providers in Hungary have a great and similar 4G/5G network so it comes down to the prepaid sim cards for tourists.
All in all Traveltomtom rates Yettel as the best sim card for Hungary in 2025. For around $10 USD you will get a prepaid sim card with 5 GB data. Unfortunately calling minutes are not included.
If you want a sim card for Hungary with unlimited data then you should buy a Vodafone sim card, but it is around $30 USD.
A general conclusion is that Hungary prepaid sim cards for tourists are pretty disappointing. Data plans are very small and especially in a time where prepaid sim cards have to compete with eSIMs I expected better Hungary prepaid sim card plans for tourists.
If you are traveling to Europe and visiting multiple countries then you are better off with a sim card that is valid in all of Europe. Check out my list of the best prepaid and eSIMs for traveling in Europe in 2025.
Best eSIMs for Hungary
The easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Hungary in 2025 is an eSIM. You arrange everything online in just a couple clicks. No more visiting a phone store in Hungary and swapping physical prepaid sim cards.
You order online, receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have a Hungary eSIM installed on your phone.
Upon arrival in Hungary it automatically connects you to an available network and you enjoy data on your phone pretty much when the plane lands.
For more info check out my guide with everything you need to know before ordering an eSIM for Hungary.
Here are some recommendations.
Jetpac
Jetpac quickly made name in the eSIM world by not only offering very affordable eSIM solutions, but also by adding a couple benefits for travelers who order an eSIM via Jetpac. Check out our extensive Jetpac eSIM review with all pros and cons.
Check out the Jetpac eSIM plans for Hungary in 2025:
- 1 GB data for 4 days = $1 USD
- 3 GB data for 7 days = $5 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $7 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $12 USD
- 15 GB data for 30 days = $15 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $18 USD
- 30 GB data for 30 days = $30 USD
- 40 GB data for 30 days = $35 USD
Click here to order a Jetpac eSIM for Hungary.
Traveltomtom readers now get an extra 10% off on all Jetpac eSIMs when using the promo code: TOMTOM10 at check out!
The Jetpac Hungary eSIMs are data-only and only valid in Hungary. Incoming and outgoing calls are not supported. Jetpac eSIMs operate on the 4G/5G network of Yettel and Vodafone. 5G is supported.
Airalo
Airalo is a reliable eSIM provider that sells eSIMs from pretty much every country in the world. Traveltomtom has been using Airalo eSIMs for almost 4 years now without a problem.
Here are the Airalo eSIM plans for Hungary in 2025:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 2 GB data for 15 days = $7.5 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $9.5 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $13.5 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $22 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $36 USD
Click here for more info or to order an eSIM for Hungary via Airalo.
The above eSIMs for Hungary from Szia! are data-only and only valid in Hungary. Szia! eSIMs operate on the Yettel (former Telenor) 4G/LTE network in Hungary.
SimOptions
SimOptions is a very reliable eSIM provider and Traveltomtom has used SimOptions uncountable times in more than 50 countries around the world. I can totally recommend using SimOptions for ordering your Hungary eSIM.
The Traveltomtom Team wrote down all pros and cons about SimOptions in our full SimOptions Review.
SimOptions is specialized in international eSIMs valid in all of Europe including unlimited calls.
These eSIMs support incoming and outgoing calls/sms as they come with a phone number.
Bouygues Telecom
- 15 GB data-only for 15 days = $15.90 USD
- 20 GB data + unlimited calls for 15 days = $21.90 USD
- 30 GB data + unlimited calls for 30 days = $32.90 USD
- 60 GB data + unlimited calls for 30 days = $39.90 USD
Orange Holiday Europe
- 12 GB data + unlimited calls/text + 30 minutes international for 14 days = $28.90 USD
- 30 GB data + unlimited calls/text + 120 minutes international for 14 days = $49.90 USD
- 70 GB data + unlimited calls/text + 120 minutes international for 28 days = $55.90 USD
Click here for more info or to order an an international eSIM for Hungary via SimOptions.
If you download the SimOptions app and use the coupon code TOM10 you get an extra 10% discount on all SimOptions eSIMs.
These eSIMs are valid all over Europe and they include free EU data roaming. The best thing about these eSIMs for Hungary is that they also include unlimited calling and texting.
Make sure that your phone is unlocked and eSIM compatible before ordering an eSIM for Hungary.
For many more eSIM plans check out my comparison of the best eSIMs for Hungary in 2025.
Order a prepaid sim card for Hungary online
If your phone is not eSIM compatible but you would like to order a sim card for traveling to Hungary online before your trip then check out the following.
Arrive prepared in Hungary with an international prepaid sim card. You order them online and a physical prepaid sim card will be delivered to your home address. You put this sim card in your phone and it automatically connects to an available network upon arrival in Hungary, basically when the plane lands you are instantly online.
SimOptions is the only sim card provider that sells physical prepaid sim cards for Hungary:
- 15 GB data-only for 15 days = $15.90 USD
- 20 GB data + unlimited calls for 15 days = $21.90 USD
- 10 GB data + $2 calling credit for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 10 GB data + unlimited calls/sms for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 12 GB data + 30 minutes international + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $29.90 USD
- 30 GB data + unlimited calls for 30 days = $44.90 USD
- 30 GB data + 120 minutes international + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $49.90 USD
- 60 GB data + unlimited calls for 30 days = $51.90 USD
Click here for more info or to order an international sim card for Hungary via SimOptions.
Traveltomtom has used the Bouygues Telecom, Three as well as the Orange physical prepaid sim cards in the past and I was always satisfied. However, it is no secret that nowadays I rather use eSIM for traveling to Europe instead of physical prepaid sim cards.
Vlog about buying a sim card in Hungary
Here is my YouTube video with my experiences buying a prepaid sim card for tourists in Hungary.
I am sure some of above tips for buying a sim card for Hungary were helpful. If you have any questions please leave me a comment below and I am more than happy to help you out with all your Hungary travel questions.
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 January 2025 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go.
Enjoy your trip to Hungary!