Hungary has issued a regulation allowing entry for anyone from Ukraine, with the Hungarian Defence Forces expecting up to 600,000 refugees. Hundreds of refugees have begun arriving at the border, many traveling on foot. Before Ukraine’s announcement, Britain, Canada, France, Italy, and the United States told their airlines to avoid certain airspace above eastern Ukraine and Crimea.
Hungary shares an 85-mile border with Ukraine, and travelers should review the Country Security Report for Hungary and visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to their travel. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency and consider safety and security measures.
The Department of State continues to advise U.S. citizens not to travel to Ukraine due to Russia’s war against Ukraine. The extent to which travelers will feel the effects of the war depends on where they are going, but experts say the rising price of oil will likely affect all airline ticket prices.
Under no circumstances is it safe to travel to Budapest, as the Ukrainian situation doesn’t change it. Budapest is far enough away from the Hungarian-Ukrainian border and even farther away from the current conflict zones. Tourists can be targets for petty crime, such as bag-snatching and pickpocketing, and street crime is more likely.
Ukraine refugees have been extended the opportunity to use public transport for free until September 30, 2024, except for some routes. FCDO travel advice for Hungary includes safety and security, insurance, entry requirements, and legal differences.
📹 We Visited 5 Countries Close to Ukraine | What is it Like to Travel Nearby a War?
From Germany via Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary to Rumania – that’s the route our two DW reporters …
Is Budapest affected by the Ukraine war?
Ukraine’s plan to cut off a key revenue source for the Kremlin is causing concern in Hungary, which relies on Russia for 70% of its oil imports and Lukoil for half. Hungary has long enjoyed cheap Russian oil, but new sanctions are changing this, and Hungary is fuming. Hungary urges Ukraine to accept the Russian oil loophole, while Hungary has refused to divest from Moscow’s cheap crude. Teresa Ribera faces a nuclear hurdle to running EU green policy, as nuclear-friendly lawmakers and countries like France want her to prevent an atomic revival.
Where not to stay in Budapest?
Budapest is generally safe at night, but the outer parts of districts VII, VIII, and IX should be avoided due to poorly lit streets and underpasses. While downtown Budapest is generally safe, there are common tourist traps and inconveniences that visitors should be aware of. Similar to other touristy cities, Budapest faces similar safety problems. Being prepared for these issues can help ensure a comfortable and enjoyable stay in Budapest.
Is now a good time to visit Budapest?
Budapest is a popular destination for travelers during spring and fall, with fewer crowds and milder weather. However, this is also prime convention time, with hotels often filling up and charging top rates. Winter is a full concert season with no crowds, but some accommodations and sights may be closed or on a limited schedule. It’s essential to confirm sightseeing plans locally, especially when traveling off-season, as the weather can be cold and dreary.
Is it safe to travel to Budapest now with war?
The US State Department issues a recommendation for US citizens to exercise normal precautions in Hungary, including vaccinations for hepatitis A, B, rabies, tickborne encephalitis, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap, chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia, and influenza. Additionally, the CDC and WHO recommend these vaccinations for LGBTQIA+ travelers.
Does Hungary support Russia or Ukraine?
Hungarian President János Áder and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and declared their support for Ukraine. Áder argued that the conflict was not provoked by Kyiv and held Russian Federation leaders responsible for the bloodshed. Orbán, however, ruled out military support but would provide humanitarian aid. In the lead-up to the 2022 Hungarian parliamentary election, Orbán avoided directly criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin and expressed opposition to potential blockades of Russian oil and gas.
He also mentioned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as one of the “opponents” he had overcome to win the elections. Hungary signaled its intent to pay for Russian gas in rubles, breaking ranks with the rest of the European Union. In early May, Hungary vetoed a proposed European Union sanctions package against the Russian energy sector.
Is Budapest safe to go right now?
The travel advice for Hungary has been revised and now recommends that travelers take normal safety precautions. A driving permit may be obtained for a period of one year on the basis of an Australian driver’s license accompanied by a Hungarian translation or an International Driving Permit. The condition of the highways is generally satisfactory.
How close is the Budapest to Ukraine border?
The distance between Budapest and Ukraine is 1, 171 kilometers, with a road distance of 1, 114 kilometers. The distance is 9 kilometers. However, the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has resulted in significant disruptions to transportation, leading to considerable delays. The Rome2rio travel planner provides users with step-by-step directions and an option to compare ticket prices.
Is Hungary part of NATO?
In a recent address, Prime Minister Orbán articulated regret over Hungary’s prolonged experience navigating the complexities of an increasingly interconnected global environment. Despite the country’s independence since 1991, he asserted that it has continued to confront a range of challenges. He asserted that Hungary’s accession to NATO has finally secured its position as a Western European nation.
How far is Budapest from Russian border?
Budapest is located 1589 km from Russia and can be reached without a car by train and bus via Brest, which takes 34 hours and costs $95 – $180. Moscow, the capital and largest city of the Russian Federation, is located on the Moskva River and has a population of 13. 0 million within the city limits, 18. 8 million in the urban area, and 21. 5 million in the metropolitan area. With a total area of 2511 km2, Moscow is the most populous city in Europe, the largest urban and metropolitan area in Europe, and the largest city by land area on the European continent.
Rome2Rio, a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, offers up-to-date schedules, route maps, journey times, and estimated fares from relevant transport operators, allowing users to make informed decisions about their travel options.
Is it safe to travel to Hungary because of Ukraine?
Hungary is facing widespread military action in neighboring Ukraine, causing widespread petty crime such as bag snatching, passport theft, and pickpocketing. New Zealanders should avoid crossing into Ukraine from Hungary and contact the New Zealand Embassy in Austria or the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs 24/7 Consular emergency line. Petty crime is common in tourist areas, larger cities, and public transport. New Zealanders should be alert to their surroundings and take steps to safeguard their personal belongings.
Avoid showing signs of wealth and carrying large sums of cash. Travelers on trains are often targeted for theft, so keep bags locked. Vehicle theft and highway robberies may also occur, so be cautious at gas stations and parking areas, especially after dark.
📹 Life in Budapest After Ukraine. 🇭🇺 🇺🇦
It’s been a tough week after fleeing the war zone in Kyiv, Ukraine and making it to Budapest, Hungary. I hung out with …
It’s Bald’s ability to see the beauty in everything that sets him apart from a lot of Youtubers. Always positive, very knowledgeable, appreciative and has an almost child like excitement regarding wherever he’s exploring. B&B is IMO one of the best Youtubers out there, love seeing his perspective on wherever he’s at, like a breath of fresh air, cheers.
Hello. Just wish to thank you very very much, for the article. It is exciting to see Budapest trough your eyes. I am Hungarian, living in Canada for many years. Happy to see the both of you made it from the war zone. Enjoying your articles for few weeks already, and looking forward to the new ones. Stay safe, stay positive and happy. God bless you. I cry for the suffering people in Ukraine, praying the war to end! 💙💛🙏
I highly recommend you go ahead and settle down somewhere for at least 6 months. Even if the war does end soon, it’s going to take a while for them to clean up/repair the war zone. Start looking at some apartments for long term renting, preferably with a 6 month lease. I wish you all the best and as always, Слава Україні!
Nice to see Mr. Bald ✌ I know thousands of innocent people and children have lost their lives in ukraine including russian soldiers and I cry almost everyday when I think about the situation and I know its really bad. I don’t have any friends and I don’t know anybody in russia or ukraine but I hope russia and ukraine knows the world loves them all and I send my special love and best wishes to russia and ukraine all the way from Trinidad and Tobago 🇹🇹.
“Conversation” between Johnny and the volunteer interpreter starting around 25.53: Volunteer (in Ukrainian): “Треба да помогать людям” (“We need to help people”) Johnny (in English): “I don’t speak Hungarian” Volunteer (in English): “Russian?” Johnny (in broken Russian): “По руский чуть чуть, да” (“In Russian little bit, yes”) Volunteer (in Russian): “Hадо людям помогать” (“need to help people”) Johnny (in broken Russian/gibberish): “Я …unintelligible… не надо, спасибо” (“I …unintelligible… no need, thanks”) The look on the young lady’s face, priceless!!! Edited. Thanks PobedaV
I love Hungarian food, never been to Budapest or the greater area but I’d love to at some point. I know you’re so stressed man, I really hope your home and investments will be relatively unscathed once its safe to return. I’m helping logistically as much as I can with support and volunteer efforts there. Slava Ukraini.
war shows true colors. and his are wide open for the world to see now. hope this guys looses alot of subs over this. cant imagine someone supporting this guy anymore. its ok to not fight, what not ok is to berate locals, berate your fans, and stand on your pedestal like “im too important to die” We all die eventually Johnny, just some of us will be on our feet when we do. dont make anymore articles for awhile for real. @ <<< Real Heros my brother went with his friends and we live in Texas.
Johnny show some class. You obviously know how bad things are in Ukraine and yet here you are posting articles of your life of ease in Budapest. Show some sensitivity to the Ukrainians. Now is not the time to be posting articles of you eating well in a restaurant. You’re cashing in on the miserable situation in Ukraine. Hopefully you have enough sense to be sending your proceeds from these articles back to the people of Ukraine (who you supposedly love so much).
This article is absolutely disgusting. It’s all about ranting, degrading everything and “Easterneuroping” as much as possible. It’s one of the most impolite things to go to a country to despise it and point out its real or supposed flaws. It’s especially tasteless when you do it with a country you fled to from war.
If you don’t like Budapest and have problems with sim cards etc.etc.why don’t you go somewere else??? Are you hoping to go back to your apatments if and when the war is over? That will be a shock because you’ll be surrounded by devastation. Johnny we all like you and respect you but please stop complainig and just be happy you got away from that disaster. xo
Pro tip: if you walk up to a group of people at a pro-Ukraine rally, who look like they come from Ukraine, who are wearing Ukraine flags, who are speaking Ukrainian, who are in a country with Ukrainian refugees, you probably don’t need to ask “Where are you from?”. 99% likely they’re Ukrainians. Maybe ask “what city in Ukraine are you from?” or “did you just come from Ukraine?”, so people won’t laugh at you for asking an obvious question like in this article.
I’ve been following you since you featured in one of Bald’s vids. That is just a simple observation and a view point. I hope you can take some criticism, my point is not to insult you. So, Johnny, you remind me of Beavis with that awkward laughter, get it – “uhuh-uhuhuh”, especially when you do it around the protesters and refugees. Some of your statements are rather dull or inappropriate and you say nice things, but you really give the impression that all you care about is your business in UA. You are kinda phoney is what I’m saying, you leave that impression. God bless and take care 😀
9:15 You don’t need to tell us that you aren’t going to take up the place of actual refugees, that’s supposed to be a given. “I’m sure there’s a lot of people in my situation that would take it anyways, but, I’m not going to do it.” You don’t need to constantly try and remind people that you are a good person, the fact that you do it so naturally and consistently says a lot about you. But then again, why should I expect more from a guy who’s idea of fighting for his country is getting a photo-op with an AK.
Why don’t you go home for 6 months, take the money you would spend on renting an apartment, and totally re-do your parents’ home? Tell them they must agree to let you upgrade the house for their safety, convenience and increasing the value of the house. This will give you something to do and make a real difference for your family. You can’t do anything for your apartments now.
so the hungarian dude kinda misled you when he said that you aren’t supposed to spread Erős Pista on your slice of bread 😀 :D, you can totally do it although we do tend to spread something else on the bread under the paprika paste (butter or a small amount of pig’s or duck’s fat or something similar). but the hungarian dude totally redeemed himself when he showed you the Piros Arany tubes on his phone, saying you’d be better off getting that, it is indeed more practical. (it has a more consistent texture but a relatively similar taste). I also think that the sandwich you had on the border probably had some Piros Arany on it, it’s a common thing to add on top of sandwiches here.
Budapest is a lovely city and most importantly a neutral city. We love everyone here and we dont discriminate against anyone either. In this conflict between superpowers, we dont take anyone`s side, we are out of it ! So if you come to our lovely city, make sure to refrain from creating a division of any kind, it wont be tolerated here ! God bless Hungary, Russia, Ukraine and the rest of the world !
@9:09 Sadly I don’t think Kyiv will be a place to return to in “a few days or a few months”. You may want to find a longer term living situation because AirBNB’s are way too expensive if you are going to need to stay 1-2 years. You could head to Chiang Mai for the time being to keep your cash burn rate down.
Next time just go to the OTP if you need Hungarian Ft. Budapest has got many beautiful spots also many cool pubs where you can let the steam out. I have lived there for a couple of years, I have discovered the beauty of that town. Ofc, there areas in not so good condition, but you are in safe at least. Make the best out of it, enjoy the local food, discover parks, thermal baths (very important and awesome in Hungary, literally every town has at least one, also villages), try some wines, and lángos. 🙂 I wish you all the best!
I’ve followed you and Bald’s articles now for about 3 years. These two young Ukrainians you interviewed, show no hate for Russia and Russians. Must commend you for bringing us one viewpoint; In all the articles both you and Bald brought us, none is on the violence happening in Luhansk and Donetsk = another viewpoint would have put some balance on reporting this tragedy.
Hungary is nice but there are some things what you should be careful about. 1. NEVER EVER use those ATMs again! They are ripp off. Use real bank ATM, better if they are actually in a bank, or open a revolut account. You can top up that with money, change it to Huf with the best price, and also can get some cash with normal price from the ATM. Also if you have a paper what showed that you had ukranian visa, you can open a Hungarian bank account. I think in Erste. 2. Thanks God I didn’t see u using it… But later you should only call taxi via app (bolt). Don’t try to stop one on the street… 3. Older ppl barely speak any language … Maybe those who are above 60, and they still remember, can speak some Russian, as it was mandatory to learn. If You need help, try to look for someone who is 20-30 yrs old… Highest chance that they speak English. 4. Right now it’s impossible to change ukranian currency to Huf. Also only change money in real exchange shop. 5. Yeah, Hungary is famous about waiting…. I wasn’t surprised that you supposed to wait hours at Vodafone. Unfortunately this will be like this everywhere. 6. If someone get “too friendly” with you at the tourist area… Pls just walk away, especially if they say let’s continue in a bar. 7. Also you should contact your embassy if you didn’t yet, so they can update u with whatever is eligible for you (healthcare etc.) 8. Don’t fall asleep on public transport as you might “lose” some stuff. 9. In a restaurant/bar only order if you have seen the menu what have price on it.
Watched your RT interview today, read the comments, bit harsh mate, you are a travel vlogger trying your best to do well, a small business so ignore the comments, we can all look back in hindsight now with the terrible war raging but at the time you were getting exposure for your work. Keep going and keep doing well, more surprised that Candy & co got no comment? Sweet friends doing aid work in a time of crisis. Good on you all.
You’re basically crusing my hood, the 7th district. St. Elizabeth Church and Peterfy Sandor Ucta medical center. It’s the block of buildings with the 4 statues on the roof. Saw our house in the article as well. Most of those bullet holes are from 1956. Oh BTW, the church. St. Elizabeth was damaged in the wars both of them and rebulit.
You are right Bald, it really is the Rome of Eastern Europe, especially when I spotted Tecnocasa (estate agents) whilst Johnny was walking on the streets, lol! 🇮🇹 🇭🇺 I love a good gulasch! The white sauce was sour cream but not sure how Hungarian call it, I was in Budapest way back in 2008 only for a weekend.
I visited Budapest a few years ago and absolutely agree with you and Bald – it’s a beautiful city with cool architecture, super friendly people and great food. Really enjoyed this article but I really wanted Bald to stay and feature in the whole article with you! Do you know where he’s gone on his “secret adventure?
1. Never ever use the Euronet ATMs. It’s just a tourist ripoff schema. 2. Try to solve problems like the sim card in bigger malls like Arena Plaza, Westend, Corvin Plaza or on the “Korut” = Szent Istvan korut + Terez korut + Erzsebet korut + Jozsef korut + Ferenc korut. If you need any help or guidance feel free to contact me. We are glad to help or give advice. 🙂
I’ve been so worried about you. I didn’t notice this article was posted. I’ve had depression and was really tired since Thursday. When I go somewhere else, I like to see the different bus signs. I used to volunteer for the American Red Cross, Great organization. The American red cross flag is the inverted Swiss flag.
Johnny, You seem like a decent guy and I’m sure you have good intentions. However, this article is in bad taste and is out of touch with what is going on. You escaped your country which you call home because you don’t want to fight in a war which like I said is your choice and your choice alone. As the children of your “home” country are being murdered and family’s torn apart you have become a travel blogger and seem to lost touch with your home. You have a large following and a great platform to make positive changes I know you didn’t want to stay and fight but just my opinion you and bald should head to Poland and volunteer to help other fleeing refugees or find something you can help with just saying.
Johny dont use EURONET cash machines!!!!!!!!!! They are considered as a biggest scam for the tourist in all Europe. Just find a cash point which bellongs to the bank instead. I couldn’t believe that you even said it will charge you $5 and you accepted it. Just walk around next time and find a normal ATM!!
Hi Johnny, I wish you a speedy return to Ukraine, but the Russians are not going to just stop and say sorry, mistake and pack up and leave anytime soon. I’m afraid you at least should start thinking in terms of a six to even twelve month interim plan. Keep your powder dry as long as you can. You are in fact a refugee from Ukraine and perhaps you can stay with a local family and still carry your weight with them. It could perhaps be a mutual good life for you and a local family. Just don’t let your pride prevent you from taking a little help right now. perusal your blog for some time now tells me you are a person who will return the favor many times over in the future when the opportunity presents itself. Take care brother. Peace out.
I’m so sorry to these ppl of Ukraine. I live in Canada, we have the highest population of Ukrainians outside of Ukraine and Russia. We are taking refugees. I have A Russian friend who are young family, they left Russia two days ago bc they don’t support the war, its dangerous for them to be there as their lives are at risk. My gov will continue to support Ukraine. Peace and love to you all.
I felt uncomfortable perusal this. Well couldn’t watch it all. You show stuffing yourselves with huge plates of food, whilst Ukrainians are starving ! How damn insensitive is that?! On top of Johnny done a runner, when should have stayed to fight for the Ukrainians and country he says he loves. Bought 2 apartments, there getting citizenship. Am disgusted! Not perusal any more of this guy’s articles.
2:47 I love how people have smartphones and dont use translator immediatelly to know what is written there … but im guilty of it too :D… plenty of buildings are protected and are left after war to … just be visual reminder. I bet the owner is prohibited to insulate it or paint it over etc. It is good to have it for everybody to see (if you have buildings that were shot at and are still standing 😀 … cuz that is quiet rarity itself) 😀
Johnny, it is astonishing that you are such an experienced traveller and still go to money exchange in a wrong places. Honestly as people said below, use OTP bank atm machine, do not worry about the money exchange as they will give you the WORST EXCHANGE RATE EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD, not just in Hungary. About the infrastructure and do not think it is worst then in any cities you lived in Ukraine. In comparison of Austria yes, all worst but with Czechia not so. Also you are there in the wrong season, believe me this places would look nicer during the spring and summer. Same thing you would experience if you would go to any park in Stockholm, or Oslo in the same period of time. All grey and dark. This is winter for us, i guess it was the same in Ukraine too. About the refugees, well as people mentioned you are very very lucky as lots of them have no access to such a resources than you. Also the guy did not say anything in Hungarian at the end..sounded like more slovakian language really. Enjoy your time there are lots to do and stop annoying the red cross workers as believe me they are rather busy helping people and not keen to be on cameras. Perhaps you should try some of the thermal spas with nice massage to rest you a bit 🙂
To those who criticize them for not staying to fight with ukrainians know first that they are not ex soldiers and it ll take time and energy to train them to be so . secondly as foreigners if they get caught by the russians they could be tortured to death as russians made it clear that foreigners caught fighting won’t be considered as POWs. So you re free to go n fight but stop bitching about them being cowards, ungrateful etc
The smybol at around 5:26 is not communist, since it is 2 hammers, communist symbols are like a hammer and a sickle. I’m not 100% sure, but it can be a symbol of miners, or just the manufacturer of those particular bricks. And the other thing they point at saying “oh that’s probably from before communism” is actually the coat of arms of the city of Budapest 🙂
hi from cyprus! i was in airport 24 of febryary to fly in odessa when the war start. my family from odessa 3 days before were in greece for pasports so they stay there in our hoyse.budapest i was from 1996 up to 2012 many times. i think from budapest is better to go in belgrad servia! the servian people like the georgians are very friendly and the life is cheeper than budapest half prices.from belgrad you can visit sarajevo another calm city in bosnia or sofia bulgaria.
Thanks Johnny, nothing hurts more than seeing innocent people are suffering, and those who do not want to participate in war. I heard Ukraine is not allowing civilians to leave their town and it’s becoming a big problem. Are there any humanitarian aids for Ukrainians’ refugees? Could you ask people how was their escape from Ukraine?
I am glad he is safe and sound and I hope he will enjoy his stay in Budapest or at least he can find his peace. And this is for those who have a bad impression about Budapest based on this article. -where the YouTuber is walking, this park is probably the outer part of the city not much used for relaxation or walks, I would say.There are only nicer ones than that one:) the districts where he is walking are the 7th and 8th district which are in the center, totally the busiest ones in the whole city, therefore the dirtiest as well. Thx also to the 10000 of bars in these districts where many ppl get drunk and yeah…these districts are heavily used by tourists, travelers, inhabitants, commuters, homeless ppl /sadly/, literally everyone! hope he won’t miss out on the beautiful locations! There are many, at least Prague level (to me even nicer) -the place where he is eating is a mediocre one. There are wayyybetter ones! Trust me on that! Budapest is welcoming YOu! Don’t miss out 💕
Johnny, this is a perfect example of the use case for holding crypto on a hard wallet and linking it to a crypto debit card. You can use it at any ATM or pay anywhere they accept debit cards. You can load it with crypto or stable coins if you are concerned with price fluctuations. It will automatically convert to the local currency. Its also much safer than keeping your money in the corrupt banks which can collapse at any moment.
First of all, I am glad you are safe. I am a new subscriber but have been worried about you and your Bald friend. I am sorry this has happened to you and milions of Ukrainians. I cry for them every day. I know you are full of hope and I dont want to come as a Debbie downer but I dont think this war is the matter of weeks. History shows that Russians have this nasty habit of staying for way too long in the countries they invade. Try to look for a long term rentals rather than airbnbs it will save you a ton. And perhaps visit Poland (my home country). It is almost like Ukraine (similar language, food), very welcomig towards Ukrainian refugees right now and I think even a bit more affordable than Hungary. Good luck!
Just an FYI: Hungarian forints are (or at least were in the last few days) degrading faster than Hrivnyas, so exchanging them to HUF isn’t a good investment right now. (It’s stagnating right now, but in Monday 1€ went from ~385HUF to 399HUF under two hours and then back to ~390HUF at the and of the day)
Yes it is a real pain to excange UAH. You can possibly do it in the Allee in the 11th district but even that is not sure now. I once was in Russia and there are a few large money-change spots In Moscow where it is possible to change HUF or similar but at a terrible rate. For me it was easier to buy some USD and then change it in Russia to roubles.