Traveling to Hungary and flying to Budapest soon? Don't let high roaming charges or slow overseas data plans ruin your trip to Hungary. This is a complete guide for buying a sim card at Budapest Airport. Find where to buy a sim card, up to date prices as per July 2022, my recommendation and even info about international and e-sim cards for Hungary.
Throughout my journey to visit every country in the world I found out that sim card deals at airports are always more expensive than normal. You pay a little extra for the convenience of getting connected straight after you land. As a full time nomad I constantly get to new places and airport and everywhere I write local prepaid sim card guide to help other travelers. Therefore on Traveltomtom you can already find more than 200 prepaid sim card guides from all over the world: USA, Istanbul, Colombia, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Hong Kong, Europe, Geneva, Zagreb, Vienna, Venice, Brussels, Copenhagen and many more around the world.
Next time you start planning your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid sim card advice for your destination. Bookmark this website!
My recommendation
There is no choice! You can only buy a Vodafone sim card at Budapest Airport and it is rather expensive compared to what you get in Budapest city center.
Therefore Traveltomtom recommends buying a sim card at Budapest city center instead of Budapest Airport. In my article buying a sim card in Hungary in 2022 I will tell you exactly where to go, which provider has the best 4G/5G network and who has the best prepaid sim card deal.
There are also so-called worldwide sim cards that keeps you connected globally. Although more expensive these international sim cards are a great way to stay connected when traveling. Check out my comparison of the best travel sim cards with data and global coverage in 2022 and find the one that suits your trip to Budapest. There are also special designed sim cards for traveling in Europe.
E-sim cards for Hungary
However, the easiest way to stay connected when traveling in 2022 is an e-sim card. No more visiting a store or swapping sim cards, with an e-sim card you arrange everything online in just a couple minutes. Order an e-sim card, get a code in your email, follow the instructions and you are all set. Check out the following e-sim card deals for Hungary:
- 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 one of the above e-sim card deals directly online or get more info. With an e-sim card you keep your own phone number from home.
You can also still get a physical sim card for Hungary online. These pre-activated international sim cards will be shipped to your home address before your trip and also include calling minutes. For example: 20 GB data + 120 minutes = $49.90 USD. Click here to order this Hungary sim card deal or find more offers and info in the link.
Why buying a sim card for Hungary?
A prepaid sim card will keep you connected during your trip and simply makes your life easier. Think about getting directions from Google Maps, ordering an Uber or searching for a nearby restaurant. With a local sim card you also don't depend on WiFi, which can be not working or too slow to even upload a picture to social media. Also keep in mind that public WiFi is an UNSECURED connection, it is recommend to use a VPN therefore.
Buying a local prepaid sim card for Hungary at Budapest Airport is the easiest way to get connected on arrival, but also the most expensive way.
RELATED: 15 Best Places To Visit in Hungary! Rent a car and go off the beaten path in Hungary, you won't regret it!
Hungary sim cards and free EU roaming
Good news is that all the Hungary prepaid sim cards include FREE EU roaming, which means that you can use the data, voice and text allowance on your Hungary sim card also in London, Paris, Rome, etc. at no extra costs. If you are traveling onwards to Europe than I highly recommend you to check out my ultimate guide for buying a local sim card in Europe with all the tips and tricks I learned along the way.
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Budapest Airport - BUD
Budapest Airport is officially called Ferenc Liszt International Airport and is fairly easy to navigate. There are two Arrival Halls 2A and 2B. Most European flights tend to arrive at 2B, intercontinental flights mostly walk into Arrival Hall 2A.
Traveling in Hungary is so much more than Budapest. Rent a car and go on a road trip! Check out the castles in the East in my blog about the best places to visit in Hungary.
Where to buy a sim card at Budapest Airport
If you arrive at Arrival Hall 2B then you will have to walk over (3 minutes) to Arrival Hall 2A to buy a Hungary sim card. They don’t sell Hungary sim cards in Arrival Hall 2B! On your left hand side when walking into 2B you will see all the car rental booths. Head in that direction and keep on walking and you will arrive at Arrival Hall 2A and see the big Vodafone Budapest Airport shop.
When arriving at Arrival Hall 2A you can NOT miss the big official Vodafone Budapest Airport shop on your right hand side! The Vodafone Budapest Airport shop is the only place at Budapest Airport where you can buy a Hungary sim card.
Prices Hungary sim cards Budapest Airport in 2022
As Vodafone Budapest Airport is the only place to buy a Hungary sim card on arrival there is no such thing as a comparison or the best Hungary sim card for tourists. There is simply only one choice: Vodafone Hungary!
There are 4 Vodafone Hungary sim cards for tourists available:
Price: 7.500 HUF ($26)
- 5 GB data in all of Europe
- 100 minutes or text in all of Europe
- Valid 30 days
Price: 11.000 HUF ($38)
- 15 GB data in all of Europe
- Valid 30 days
Price: 12.000 HUF ($41,50)
- 10 GB data in all of Europe
- 100 minutes or text in all of Europe
- Valid 30 days
Price: 15.000 HUF ($52)
- 15 GB data in all of Europe
- 100 minutes or text in all of Europe
- Valid 30 days
Buying a Hungary sim card is more affordable once you get to Budapest city. Click on the link to find my article about the best sim card in Hungary for tourists in 2022.
Although it is relatively cheap to travel to Budapest, a 0.5L beer can already be found for less than $2, prepaid Hungary sim cards at Budapest Airport are expensive! It actually makes sense to order your sim card for Europe online.
Buy a Hungary sim card online
Buying a sim card at Budapest Airport sounds like too much effort? Get yourself a sim card online before your trip to Hungary. These pre-activated international sim cards will be send to your home address before your trip. Here are some great sim card deals:
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 within Europe
- Valid 30 days
3. Three PAYG AIO20 - $39.90
- 12 GB data
- Unlimited calls/sms within 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 directly order one of the above prepaid sim cards for Hungary online or find more info and offers in the link.
Personally I would recommend you one of the Three or Orange sim cards above that are linked.
Also a last reminder that you can arrange everything directly online. No more visiting a store or swapping a physical sim card: order an e-sim card for Hungary.
How to get from Budapest Airport to Budapest city
There are two options: a direct bus or a bus/metro combinations. In case your hotel is close to one of the metro stations I would go for that option, otherwise a direct bus into the city is pretty convenient.
The direct bus costs 900 HUF ($3) one way and stops at Deák Ferenc tér, Astoria Metro and Kálvin tér Metro, the combination ticket is only 530 HUF ($1,80).
I hope all the above tips for buying a Hungary sim card at Budapest Airport were helpful. Let me know if you have any additional questions by dropping me a comment below. I am more than happy to help you out, also with Hungary travel tips.
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 Budapest!
