Acquiring Hungarian Currency

We spend every other Christmas in Budapest. You will have absolutely no problems with the ATM's. There are a number of banks in town with ATMs all over the place, but if this makes you feel better here are the locations of the OTP Bank ATMs: https://www.otpbank.hu/portal/en/BranchATMSearch

Thanks for your answers. It's good to know that getting currency in not an issue. The Eyewitness Budapest guide book led me to believe it might be more difficult.

I have been coming here (in Budapest today) a few times a year for a dozen years now. Call your bank and tell them you are going to Hungary and I promise that between ATM and credit cards you will get the best rate for the greatest convenience.

I can't speak to the Christmas season, but ATM's are as prevalent in Budapest as in any other city, i.e., they're everywhere. There are also currency exchange booths, some of which give decent rates; my hotel recommended the one nearby with the best rates (I had some leftover Czech koruna from a previous trip; otherwise, I use ATM's exclusively for cash). I assume many of the exchange booths will not be open Christmas Day, however.

As you probably know, the ATMs in Budapest will give you only forints, so don't overload or you'll have to exchange them for euros or other currencies as you cruise up or down the river, with attendant fees or bad exchange rates. I wouldn't worry about ATM availability in Budapest.

Great post!! I'll be taking a Viking Cruise in October and will be in need of money, too.
I doubt if ATMs will be empty on Christmas day. It shouldn't be any different than the States, where ATMs are everywhere.

You will not have any problems. If you find you have a lot left over at the end of the trip send me a PM and I will give you an address to mail them to. Thank you.

haha james. Ya you won't have any problems with the ATMs. In supermarkets, if you don't have forints, you can just use euros to make your purchase.

haha james. Ya you won't have any problems with the ATMs. In supermarkets, if you don't have forints, you can just use euros to make your purchase.

Try real hard not to use the euros. The shops, etc, will apply their own exchange rate and it wont be a good one. Figure a 10% loss at best. Almost everyone takes credit cards (but ask before running up the bill) these days and your US bank will give you very favorable exchange rates.

Thanks for all the helpful replies...and I will probably not have enough left over currency to bother you with, James. :-)
After all, I am going at Christmas and I am sure I can spend it somewhere!

This is where I send the left over forints: http://www.budapestshul.com/ You guys gotta learn to trust :-)