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How to Get Wifi in Hungary: Tourist Guide
17 June 2024
pocket wifi
Joseph Philipson
How to Get WiFi in Hungary for Your Holidays
Whether you’re heading on a city break to Budapest or Lake Balaton, visitors to Hungary must stay connected.
You might need the Internet to look for directions, book a restaurant reservation, or work out what a sign says in Hungarian.
As much as we want to disconnect while traveling, it’s still helpful to have an internet connection just in case we need it.
Here are the most popular options for anyone visiting Hungary, along with the pros and cons of each and their costs.
The Best Ways of Getting WiFi in Hungary
Hungary boasts some of the fastest mobile internet connection speeds, ranking 17th in the world. Over 99% of the population enjoys at least 2G coverage.
These high connection speeds aren’t just for Hungarians, though. Visitors can also enjoy the coverage and speed of the Hungarian mobile data network by using different internet connection types like pocket WiFi, a prepaid travel SIM, eSIM technology, data roaming, or local WiFi networks.
So which is the best? Which should you use? How much does this all cost?
Let’s take a look.
Pocket WiFi
Pocket WiFi is a dedicated device to connect to Hungary’s mobile network. The device, essentially a wireless modem, will create a wireless network for users to connect to the Internet.
Travelers can rent pocket WiFi, take the device with them wherever they go, and return it once they’ve finished their trip.
One of the most convenient options for staying connected in Hungary is pocket WiFi. This device allows several users to connect to the WiFi network at once, making it an ideal choice for groups of travelers.
Pros
The advantage of pocket WiFi is that it offers a fast and stable internet connection. Pocket WiFi devices typically have better antennae than smartphones, making them better at connecting to the Internet in places away from the bigger cities like Aggtelek National Park and Őrség National Park.
You can also use pocket WiFi to connect to several devices at once. Most pocket WiFi devices can handle around 10 connections, though premium devices can manage dozens of connections simultaneously.
Hungary borders seven different countries and many are very accessible from Budapest by train. You can rent pocket WiFi for all of Euope.
Cons
The only real disadvantage of pocket WiFi is that you have to bring the device with you, which is just another thing you must have when traveling.
Fortunately, pocket WiFi lives up to its name. Most devices are very small and rarely bigger than your average smartphone.
Cost
Consider the cost of pocket WiFi before making your decision.
My Webspot costs around €9.50 a day for unlimited Internet.
The Hungarian company Yettel offers 30GB, 80GB, and 250GB options for a month at a time, with prices ranging between €18 and €30.
TravelWiFi has portable hotspots with daily limits of 1GB, 5GB, and 10GB for €8.25, €9.25, and €12.25 per day.
RentConnect charges $6.99 a day for an unlimited 4G mobile hotspot.
Hippocketwifi is the best value for money and charges between €4.90 and €7.90 a day for 1GB a day, depending on the length of rental. For unlimited data, the cost is between €6.90 and €9.90.
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SIM Cards
You can also buy a prepaid SIM card for tourists in Hungary. These are offered by local and global telecom companies like Yettel, Vodafone, and Magyar Telekom.
Prepaid travel SIM cards can be bought in phone companies’ stores or online, in some cases. They’re also sold at stores like MediaMarkt, Tesco, Auchan, and Edigital, gas stations like OMV and MOL, and newspaper kiosks.
You can insert the SIM card into your phone’s SIM card slot (or spare slot if you have one). When you turn on your phone, you’ll either have immediate internet access or need to register and set up the SIM.
Pros
Prepaid travel SIM cards are not only a convenient way to access the Internet while traveling in Hungary, but they are also a cost-effective option, ensuring you stay within your budget.
You don’t need to bring anything extra besides the SIM card itself besides the SIM card itself, and they’ll work with most phones provided they aren’t locked to a mobile network (check before you buy).
Cons
The downside to prepaid travel SIM cards is that if your phone only has one SIM card slot, you’ll need to keep your everyday SIM somewhere safe, and you won’t be reachable on the phone number associated with that SIM.
However, you can still use a travel SIM to access web-based apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, etc.
Cost
You can get Magyar Telekom’s Domino Fix SIM cards with various data packages at Magyar Telekom stores. If you’re a foreigner, you must show a photo ID when registering for your starter pack. The “Maraton” packs include data that doesn’t expire, and you can get 1GB of data for 1490 HUF or 5GB for 3990 HUF.
Yettel offers a variety of data packs for its prepaid SIM cards, with packs available for 1 day, 5 days, or 30 days. The prices range from 300 HUF for 300MB for a day to 5000 HUF for 10GB for 30 days.
Vodafone’s prepaid SIM cards also offer data packs, which cost between 1290 HUF and 7990 HUF for 1GB and 500GB.
eSIM
More modern phones have replaced the SIM card slot with an integrated eSIM. This is a virtual SIM card that you can buy and activate without needing a physical card. It allows users to change their mobile network provider without changing their physical SIM card.
This allows users to buy virtual SIM cards and change to an international data eSIM without waiting for delivery.
Pros
For those with more modern smartphones, international data eSIM solutions are a quick and easy way to enjoy a data connection in Hungary. You can buy one of the eSIMs from any of the many providers on the market, ensuring you stay connected wherever you go.
Cons
An eSIM is only available for more modern smartphones. If you don’t have an eSIM-compatible phone, you won’t be able to use an eSIM.
Much like prepaid SIM cards, since an eSIM uses a smartphone antenna to connect to the mobile data network, it’s not usually as fast or stable as renting pocket WiFI in Hungary.
Tethering devices like laptops and tablets to an eSIM connection makes it slower. This will also deplete your phone’s battery more quickly.
Cost
GoMoWorld offers a Europe plan starting at €3.99 for 4GB. You can get 40GB for €19.99.
Airalo’s Szia! range of local eSIM solutions for Hungary ranges from $4.50 for 1GB for 7 days to $36 for 20GB of data for 30 days.
EtravelSim offers unlimited data for seven days for $19.99 or unlimited data for 30 days for $59.99.
Data Roaming International Plan
Suppose you don’t choose pocket WiFi, a prepaid SIM, or an eSIM. In that case, you can always get a data connection through your domestic mobile carrier.
By arranging data roaming with your domestic network, you’ll get internet access through a partner network in Hungary.
You can usually arrange this by calling your carrier, sending an SMS, or using their app or website.
Pros
Data roaming doesn’t require another device or SIM, and if you don’t organize any other solution before you land in Budapest Ferenc Liszt airport, you can quickly and easily contract it.
Cons
As you’ll be on a partner network, these connections are rarely fast or reliable.
Cost
Data roaming can cost a small fortune if you’re on a good contract. Still, it’s standard for international data roaming to be the most expensive solution, especially if you only arrange it after you arrive.
Use Free WiFi
Suppose you want to avoid paying for Internet access in Hungary. In that case, you can always use the free WiFI networks offered by local businesses, specific public spaces, etc.
Just open the WiFi settings on your device and connect to the network.
Pros
This is a simple and free option, and if you have no other choice, free WiFi could help you out of a jam.
Cons
There are many downsides to using free or public WiFI. For one, the connection speeds will be embarrassing when many users use a network.
Public networks don’t offer the best security, either. Be very careful about sharing sensitive information across them, as hackers could steal your personal data.
Scammers also set up fake WiFi networks in popular tourist spots. Don’t connect to unknown WiFi networks, as these could be used to steal your data.
Cost
Most public WiFi networks are free or offered by local businesses when you buy something. Some free networks will ask for your email address (to add you to a mailing list). Some premium WiFi connections offer faster connection speeds at a lower cost.
How to Choose the Best WiFi Option for Your Hungary
While pocket WiFi offers the fastest and most stable connection speeds and is the best option for most travelers, we understand that every visitor to Hungary is different, so what works for one mightn’t work for another.
Here’s what to think about when making up your decision.
Rental Duration
How long you plan to spend in Hungary may affect the best option. Pocket WiFi becomes cheaper the longer you rent it, though if you’re only in Hungary for a few hours, you might want to contract data roaming.
Connectivity
If you’re traveling to the national parks, you’ll need a solution that offers a good connection. Pocket WiFi provides the fastest and best connections. However, SIM and eSIM solutions in cities can enjoy Hungary’s fast and far-reaching mobile data network.
Data Limit
How much data you use is an essential consideration for travelers. SIM and eSIM solutions come with confusing data limit choices. Still, if you can work out how much data you typically use (look in your phone’s settings for this), you can pay for almost precisely how much data you intend to use.
Usage
Groups will likely benefit from pocket WiFi since you can simultaneously use it for multiple devices.
Casual users should find 4G fast enough. Still, business users and large groups may opt for 5G solutions since these are around 100x quicker and better for video calls, streaming, and sending and downloading large files.
