Traveling to Hungary and flying to Budapest and wondering if you can buy a tourist sim card at the airport? Don't let high roaming charges or slow overseas data plans ruin your trip.
This is a complete guide with everything you need to know before buying a sim card at Budapest Airport in 2025.
Find out where to buy a sim card, up to date prices as per January 2025, my recommendation, info about EU data roaming and more about eSIMs for Hungary.
Throughout my journey to visit every country in the world I found out that prepaid sim card deals at airports are in general more expensive. You pay extra for the convenience of getting connected straight on arrival.
But now with the rise of eSIMs there is an alternative and I mostly use eSIMs to stay connected when traveling abroad.
Traveltomtom also wrote a complete guide on how to buy a prepaid sim card in Hungary and a comparison of the best eSIMs for Hungary in 2025.
Table of Contents
- My recommendation
- Why buying a sim card for Hungary?
- Arriving at Budapest Airport - BUD
- Where to buy a sim card at Budapest Airport
- Prices sim cards at Budapest Airport
- Hungary prepaid sim cards and EU data roaming
- Best eSIMs for Hungary
Some links in this guide about the buying a sim card at Budapest airport 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.
RELATED: 15 Best Places to Visit in Hungary in 2025.
My recommendation
Traveltomtom does NOT recommend buying a prepaid sim card at Budapest Airport!
There is only one ridiculously overpriced tourist sim card available at Budapest Airport, starting price €50 EUR ($52 USD). No EU data roaming included, no eSIMs available.
As a comparison there is a Jetpac eSIM for Hungary with 10 GB data is only $12 USD. Ordering an eSIM is simply much cheaper than buying a sim card at Budapest Airport.
Check out many more eSIM plans in my comparison of the best eSIMs for Hungary in 2025.
If your phone is not eSIM compatible then wait till you reach the city center and hop into a phone store. Check out my guide for buying a prepaid sim card in Hungary in 2025.
There are also so-called worldwide travel sim cards that keeps you connected globally, a great alternative to stay connected when traveling abroad. Check out Traveltomtom's comparison of the best travel sim cards with data and global coverage in 2025.
Or there are specially designed sim cards for traveling in Europe, which are particularly great for those on a Europe trip.
Why buying a sim card for Hungary?
A local prepaid sim card or an eSIM will keep you connected during your trip to Budapest without losing money on high roaming charges. It simply makes your life easier. Think about getting directions from Google Maps, ordering an Uber or searching for a nearby restaurant or finding friends.
Don't depend on free public WiFi. Keep in mind that public WiFi is through an UNSECURED connection, it is recommend to use a VPN when surfing the web on an unsecured network to protect your data.
Buying a local prepaid sim card for Hungary at Budapest Airport is the fastest way to get connected when buying a sim card in Hungary. But much easier is ordering an eSIM if your phone is eSIM compatible. You can even use the free WiFi at Budapest Airport to arrange everything in just 2 minutes.
Depending on the length of your trip to Hungary a prepaid sim card or an eSIM is the best way to stay connected and save money on high roaming charges. One of the first things I do when planning my next trip abroad is figuring out what is the best way to stay connected and whether to order an eSIM on the internet or buying a local prepaid sim card on arrival.
As a full time travel blogger and nomad I constantly get to new countries and airports and everywhere I go I look for the best ways to get connected. Since I like to document all my travel tips you can already find more than 200 sim card guides on Traveltomtom from all over the world: USA, Istanbul, Colombia, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Hong Kong, Europe, Geneva, Zurich, Zagreb, Vienna, Venice, Brussels, Copenhagen, Asia, Singapore, Bali, Abu Dhabi, Ivory Coast 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!
Arriving at 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 flights arrive at 2B. The two arrival halls are near to each other and you can walk from one to the other. Arrival Hall 2A is pretty small and only few flights arrive here.
There is free WiFi at Budapest Airport and it works good, but it is only valid for 2 hours.
Where to buy a sim card at Budapest Airport
There is only one place at Budapest Airport that sells prepaid sim cards for tourists. The shop is called Universal Airport Hub.
The Universal Airport Hub is located in Arrival Hall 2B and it is on your right side when you come through the sliding doors from the luggage claim area.
In Arrival Hall 2B there is a Money Exchange, car rental companies, tourist information, a cafeteria as well as a Spar Supermarket. Next to the Spar Supermarket there is the Universal Airport Hub.
The Universal Airport Hub is not just a phone store, they also double as drugs store. There is a sign outside saying that they have sim cards available.
Prices sim cards at Budapest Airport
As the Airport Hub store is the only place that sells prepaid sim cards at Budapest Airport there is no such thing as a comparison or finding the best Hungary sim card for tourists.
There is only one choice: Yettel prepaid sim cards and they have 2 tourist plans:
- 50 GB data + 25 minutes for 30 days = 15,000 HUF / €50 EUR / $52 USD
- unlimited data + 50 minutes for 30 days = 20,000 HUF / €60 EUR / $62 USD
No need to state that this is very expensive for tourist sim cards and therefore Traveltomtom does not recommend buying a prepaid sim card at Budapest Airport.
Prices for prepaid sim cards are much cheaper once you get to Budapest city center and walk into a phone store from Vodafone, Yettel or Telekom. These are the main mobile internet providers and they all sell prepaid sim cards for tourists.
For more info check out Traveltomtom's guide for finding the best prepaid sim card for tourists in Hungary.
Given the prices for sim cards at Budapest Airport it makes even more sense to order your sim card for Hungary on the internet. There are
Reminder that a Jetpac eSIM for Hungary gives you 10 GB data for just $12 USD. Airalo has eSIMs for Hungary starting from $4.5 USD. SimOptions has international eSIMs for all of Europe with 30 GB data including unlimited calls for just $32.90 USD.
Check out many more eSIM plans in my comparison of the best eSIMs for traveling to Hungary in 2025.
On a trip to Europe and visiting more countries after Hungary then check out Traveltomtom's list of the best sim cards for Europe in 2025.
Hungary prepaid sim cards and EU data roaming
In general most of the Hungary prepaid sim cards include free EU data roaming. That means you can use the data, voice and text allowance on your Hungary sim card also in London, Paris, Rome and all other countries in Europe at no extra costs.
However, the Yettel sim card you can buy at Budapest Airport does NOT include EU data roaming!
Therefore always ask for the EU data roaming restrictions when buying a sim card in Budapest.
But if you are traveling onwards to Europe after visiting Budapest then I highly recommend you to check out my guide for buying a local prepaid sim card on arrival in Europe with all my tips and tricks I learned along the way or order a sim card for traveling in Europe online.
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 Budapest 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 Budapest, 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, 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.
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 100E costs 2,200 HUF ($6 USD) for a one way ticket and stops at Deák Ferenc tér, Astoria Metro and Kálvin tér Metro. This express bus takes you from Budapest Airport to the city center in just 25 minutes.
Outside the terminal there is also a taxi stand where you can buy your prepaid taxi ticket so you don't need to fight with the taxi driver about the price.
Of course there are also taxi apps. Unfortunately there is no Uber in Budapest, but there is Bolt. Ordering a Bolt taxi from Budapest Airport to the city is pretty expensive. I paid around $35 USD one-way and it took me about 35 minutes.
Vlog about arriving and buying a sim card at Budapest Airport
Check out my YouTube video what it looks like arriving at Budapest Airport. Including my complete vlog about buying a sim card at Budapest Airport.
I am sure some of the above tips for buying a sim card at Budapest Airport were helpful. Let me know if you have any questions. Please drop 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 Budapest!