Although Budapest is quite safe for tourists, there are traps for tourists, and is useful to know these little inconveniences and take some precautions to be more relaxed during our stay in this city.
Any city like Budapest faces the following security issues:
Travelling by taxi only if clearly needed to reach your destination within Budapest. Otherwise, use the public transport network.
Travel taxis only carry a plate of yellow taxi sign on the roof of the cabin and take in the driver’s door of the name or logo of a taxi company in Budapest reliable (Tele 5 taxi, taxi or Budapest Citytaxxi). Look inside the car the fee schedule, which usually tends to be on the dashboard.
Cojáis No taxis in the street, always call on the phone and send you one. If you have no choice but to catch one, always agree on price beforehand.
Budapest has numerous restaurants, bars and nightclubs and some of them are directed exclusively to tourists. Some of these places are simply too expensive: they charge much more for the food and service than you would pay in an exclusive location. Do not ask for anything without asking the price.
Pickpockets are most active in public transport vehicles in the metro escalators in shops in the tourist places (Matthias Church, Fisherman’s Bastion, Parliament, the Danube promenade, Vaci Street , the zoo).
Do not change money on the streets. It is against the law and can be easily deceived or end with counterfeit money. You can change money at any of the major banks or exchange houses.
Summary of areas at night in Budapest:
The center of Budapest (Castle District, districts V and VI) is quite safe at night.
Avoid outside of district VII, VIII and IX.
As a general rule, avoid poorly lit streets and subways.
Popularity: 2% [?]