5 Things You Should NEVER Do in Hungary 🇭🇺 Don't Do This in Budapest

In today's Hungary travel vlog, we discuss 5 Things You Should NEVER Do in Hungary and Don't Do This in Budapest.

There are a few other posts about Hungary: 25 Things to do in Budapest, Hungary Travel Guide, DO'S AND DON’T IN HUNGARY, Visit Budapest - Five Things You Will Love & Hate about Budapest, Hungary, and 3 Crazy Things About BUDAPEST. But none really touch on the things you should never do in Hungary. So I decided to make this travel vlog!

This isn't a complete list of what not to do in Hungary , just some things I observed from my recent trip to Budapest, Hungary. If you are Hungarian, a Hungarian expat, or living in Hungary and you have any other suggestions of things related to the topic of don't do this in Hungary , make sure you comment below. Make sure you also try Palinka! Palinka is a fruit brandy! If offered Palinka it is rude to turn it down.

Hungary tourism is a big driver of the Hungarian economy, so they do overlook somethings that tourist do, but try to respect the cultural differences when you travel Hungary.

Hopefully you can use this to supplement your Hungary travel guide advice and not be viewed as a rude tourist.

I love Hungary - don't let the rules or culture differences keep you from visiting. Just be mindful of those cultural differences and enjoy this awesome country.

5 Things You Should Never Do In Hungary

Let me start off by saying, if I had to recommend just one city in Europe to visit it would probably be Budapest. It’s got everything, old world charm but in a modern city, the architecture is amazing and exactly what you think of when you think European city, it’s very safe, the food is amazing and it’s soooo affordable compared to comparable cities.

1 - Never clink glasses or bottles together. There was a revolution in Hungary in 1848 that was defeated. Legend has it that Austrians celebrated in Vienna by toasting and clinking their glasses. Hungarians vowed not to cheers with glasses for 150 years. While that time frame ended in 1998 - many Hungarians still do not cheers! It was actually against the law until the mid 1990s!

2 - Never make the Hungry Hungary joke to a Hungarian. It’s one of those things that non Hungarians say to Hungarians and well….it’s just not funny. Don’t do that!!!!

3 - Never forget to tip. After spending 8 months in countries where tipping isn’t customary and sometimes considered offensive, I often forget to tip! In Budapest and Hungary in general tipping is customary. The acceptable tipping rate is around 15%. Side note: Don’t say thank you until you’ve paid your tab. Saying thank you when you pay your tab lets the server know you’re done and you don’t expect any change. So make sure you don’t do that if you want change back.

4 - Never refuse Palinka. Palinka is a fruit brandy that is a favorite with Hungarians. Hungarians like to say Palinka in small amounts is medicine, in large amounts a remedy! You don’t drink Palinka alone - it’s a drink Hungarians have with friends. It’s is a big no-no to turn down Palinka if it’s offered to you.

5 - Never say Buda-PEST. That’s the quickest way to get on a Hungarian’s bad side. It’s Buddah - PESHT. Side note: DONT CALL IT Bucharest! That’s in Romania! I made that mistake…didn’t turn out well for me! In my defense I had one to many Palinka!!!!

Also, never miss a chance to hang out at one of the Budapest ruin bars.
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#hungary #budapest #neverdothis

[theunitvector]

Dont use the hungry Hungarian joke anywhere lol I heard it a thousand times in grade school.

[marcik.]

"Budapest is safe"
hős utca: exist

[kun-szabolevente]

About the beer clinging just about nobody cares about it in Hungary, so good history lessons but dont worry about it.

[bigplayloci]

"Budapest is safe"
"Transparation is good"
Man with groceries at the metro who missed it:
"Megöllek te K*rva megöllek"

[csbalazs]

Calling Budapest as Bucharest is like calling New York as Pyongyang

[gergelykoppany]

One more thing, especially if you are from US. Don't say "how are you" as a greeting, only if you really want to know.

[notmapis]

"Budapest is safe"


6-8 Districts: Allow us to introduce ourselves.

[dratelectasis]

I'm American but lived in Hungary for about 8 years.. People don't really care about the clinking of the glasses. I used to do it with my Hungarian friends all the time. And palinka is amazing, especially the plum flavor. I went to med school there and they have the greatest tradition when you graduate that you take a horse drawn carriage with all your classmates and go to all your professor's homes and serenade them by singing outside their homes. Some will arrange a huge get together in their yards if its large enough to accommodate all the people. And you get WASTED with your professors. I can't tell you how much Palinka by anesthesia professor made us drink. So much that I literally didn't even remember going to my pathophysiology and pharmacology professor's homes. I was gone.

[piciManaska]

Soha ne kommentelj Magyarországról szóló videó alatt magyarul mert elindítod a trasht

[noramegyerei]

I mean.. being Hungarian is a different lifestyle.

[l_szabi]

"Never refuse pálinka"
I mean, you can try... but it won't be easy.

[ProfitFactorVerified]

Being Hungarian and working in hospitality for over 25 years I couldn't be more precise! Thank you!

[leventekis]

A random American person pronounces Budapest the incorrect way

Hungarians: *Angry hussar noises*

[loredanaradbea]

I have visited Budapest a few times. Beautiful city, lovely people, delicious food.. Greetings from Romania! 👌

[izabellaevamazsa]

A plus one, we dont really love small talks most of the people say we are rude, but no just we have are own close friendgroups, and we don’t really love talking with strangers! Also some of us don’t speak in English or barely speaks it ☺️ btw I loved the video

[nikolettperedi]

Video poll: have you been to Hungary?
Me, a Hungarian, laying in bed in my Hungarian house in Hungary: *votes no*

[__greG]

you forgot the cap. You should never wear a cap or a hat in a building.

[TheParkanyi]

Couple of more things for post-COVID:
- Pubs are really cheap, but that doesn't mean, that you don't have to be responsible. Yes, you probably have more money to spend for a night than the average Hungarian would spend in a week for beers, but please, please, be polite and don't be loud.
- A 'Single ticket' is valid for 30 to 90 minutes for a SINGLE ride on the same public transport line. If you change, or pause your ride, you have to validate a new ticket. The only exception is metros, where you can change and use the same ticket.
- DO NOT use the hop on-hop off buses. They're expensive, pollute the city and you can get to your destination easily with public transportation.
- When getting a taxi, DO NOT wave to stop one, because they'll overcharge you a lot. Instead call a taxi company or use their mobile application.
- If you see 'Felszállás az első ajtón" on the display of the bus, that means, that the line is a front door boarding only line, and upon getting on the bus you'll have to show your ticket or pass to the driver.
- DO NOT drink in public places (e.g. streets, playgrounds). It is illegal and you can be fined up to HUF 50 000.
- Smoking in public transportation vehicles or stops, playgrounds, enclosed public places is forbidden and can be fined up to HUF 50 000.
- DO NOT jaywalk. We hate it.
- NEVER use the 'EURONET' ATMs, they're a scam company, if you put in a foreign card, they'll charge you a lot. If you need to withdraw money use a responsible Bank's ATM (Like OTP, K&H, ERSTE, MKB etc.). A lot of the pubs and all taxis accept credit card, so you don't always need the Good Hungarian Forint with you. Also, never change currency with strangers. They could give you fake money or screw you over with the exchange rates. Best option is to go tho a bank.
- If you're in a public place, ask us, Hungarians for our favorite places to eat. I'm sure, you'll get better and cheaper options than the average tourist traps.

[ilonanemeth]

- The beer thing is kinda accurate, although I've never really heard this reason why we don't do it. I think it's just a myth, we are just simply like that.
- Yeah, I really hate that joke too. It's so overused.
- We even give tip to the delivery man. (Or at least most of the time.)
- I personally don't mind how you pronounce the city as long as you know how is it called.
- I've never heard it before and I don't think that refusing a shot is considered rude here. Maybe at some places.

Here are some more don't dos (from my and my family aspects):
- Chewing loudly or speaking while there's food in the mouth - it's really rude here. It's okay if you talk while eating but please do it with empty mouth.
- going up on the stairs and not staying right - we like to give some place for those who's late or those who wanna go the opposite direction.

[souland]

If you refuse palinka at 2 AM, you will be likely called “gyenge szar” which means weak sh*t. 😂😇