Exchanging Money in Budapest
Posted in Budapest Info by arpiboy on November 7th, 2006 Exchanging money in Hungary and in Budapest only permitted in licensed, designated places. Don’t take the risk of changing money on the street form Arabian guys. You’ll see such an illegal operations mainly on railway stations (Westren Railway station – Nyugati palyaudvar, Southerny railway station - Keleti palyaudvar) and in the city center (Vaci Street) as well. You are likely find yourself with counterfeit money besides witch such transactions are illegal in Hungary. If you do not get counterfeit money but they offer you a very good exchange rate but they cheat on you and easily can steal your money. So forget them.
The Hungarian National Bank gives official daily foreign exchange and currency rates on 23 currencies.
Most banks in Budapest have 24 hours banknote exchange ATMs. Besides this there are many credit card and cash card ATMs in operation day and night Budapest and Hungary.
Banks and travel agencies can set (and modify) their own exchange rates taking the bank of issue’s as the basis. Any bureau de change has to have the current money exchange rates clearly displayed. Keep your exchange receipt in a safe place until you depart Hungary.
The best HUF (Hungarian Forint) exchange rates are to be found close to the rail stations and in the Budapest city center (Vaci street, Petofi Sandor Street). I don’t recommend banks to exchange your foreign money because they generally give a middle rate as well as the airport and hotel exchanges.
The best if you use your credit card or debit card as many places as you can. In hotels, most of the restaurants, malls, shops they accept VISA, Mastercard Eurocard, American Express cards.
Find a bank ATM you can get enough Hungarian banknotes to pay. It’s a better way than you have US dollars or EURO or any other money and bring it to any bank to exchange it.
If you have foreign banknotes and you want to exchange it find in downtown “Exchange†displayed legal offices and check some of them on the rates before make the transaction to find the best exchange rates. They are smart to use similar rates but you can find better ones.
If you want to exchange more money some thousands of USD or EUR or other money you can get special exchange rate deals in those legal offices just ask them.
Exchanging money in Budapest is easy.
