It is better to obtain Hungarian Forints upon arrival to Hungary than
to exchange it with a bank at home, as local Hungarian banks work with
better rates than their counterparts abroad. Exchanging foreign currency
into Forints is therefore possible in banks, official currency exchange
offices (these are affiliates of larger banks) and travel agencies.
It is important to know that all official currency exchange offices determine the exchange rate on their own accord.
They
must fully inform you about their own rates, but not the real or the
best exchange rate available - they build their costs into their very
own rate.
The exchange rates must be visibly displayed at
the place of exchange. Changing money at Budapest hotels is not
advisable, as their rates are at least 10% lower than what is generally
available.
Under no circumstances you should change money
illegally in the street: beside the possible legal consequences, it is
highly probable that you will be cheated in one of the hundred possible
ways the street criminals can devise.
Most international credit cards are accepted in Budapest for shopping and currency withdrawals:
- AmEX
- Diners Club
- Maestro
- EnRoute
- Euro/MasterCard
- JCB
- Visa
