The biggest health issue in Budapest is dirty air. Though it has gotten much better since Toyota replaced Trabants, ther is still a fair amount of pollution from cars. Additionally, smoking is prevalent. Despite recent changes in laws, most restaurants allow smoking and have little in the way of barriers between the smoking an dnon-smoking sections.
Tap water in Budapest is generally safe to drink. Public restrooms can be a bit grungy, often with no soap or only bar soap, a shared cloth towel for hand drying, and no toilet paper. It is recommended that tourists carry hand sanitizer and extra tissues in their bags to overcome this. FirstMed Centers operates an english-speaking, multi-ligual clinic near Moszkva Ter in Buda.
Safety
Violent crime is relatively rare in Budapest, though petty theft is rampant, especially aimed at tourists. Pickpocketing and bicycle theft are common. Travelers should use caution and common sense when on crowded trams or in tourist-heavy areas.
* Wallets should not be kept in a back pants pocket or outside bag pocket
* Passports and travel documents should be kept in a safe place
* Backpacks should be removed and placed on the floor between your legs while riding on public transportation
* Do not flash cash, particularly large bills, unnecessarily
* Use ATMs in well-lit areas, preferably one inside a vestibule of a bank branch
Begging is also common. Beggers can be persistent, so firmly state “no” or “nem” and walk away quickly. Margit Sziget (Margaret Island) should be avoided at night time.
Safety for Women
Women travelling alone should feel at ease in Budapest. The city center is quite safe for a large city. Common sense should always rule, don’t take unnecessary risks just because you are on vacation.
Safety for Men
Men are subject to certain types of scams and dangers in Budapest. The common thread of all these scams is a beautiful woman. Avoid strip clubs and be wary of strange women who approach you out of the blue. These encounters will likely end in theft or a forcible trip to the ATM machine, sandwiched between two very large men.
Scams vs Bribes
The distinction between bribes and scams should be noted, as travellers would do well to avoid treating officials in the same manner they would treat a scam artist and vice versa.
This can be difficult for tourists to navigate. Police making traffic stops or ticket-checkers on public transportation may actively seek a bribe from those they catch breaking the law. Bribes are usually posed as “The fee for speeding is 50.000 forint, but I will lower it to 20.000 if you can pay in cash right now.” A bribe can also be a scam, with the official’s “great deal” actually much higher than the legitimate fine for the infraction. A real official will have identification and will write a ticket for the infraction once the bribe is refused.
Outright scams are characterized by “officials” who do not have identification or badges, or who will not issue tickets and insist on immediate payment. Another sign of a scam is being charged with an infraction you have clearly not committed.
Popularity: 36% [?]
