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What do Budapest and eSIMs have in common? You’ll definitely need a reliable internet connection while you’re there.
Budapest is one of those cities where you’re constantly pulling out your phone.
Whether it is to take photos, or find the next activity or thing to do, staying connected in 2026 is not a nice to have but mandatory.
It’s also one of my favourite cities in Europe and one I’ve now visited more than half a dozen times. It also helps that my family lived there for a few years.
If you’re visiting Hungary, I highly recommend getting an eSIM before you arrive. If you’ve never used one before, don’t worry, I’ll explain exactly what they are, how they work, and which provider I recommend.
🥳 MY TOP BUDAPEST SUGGESTIONS
- 🏨 Hotel: For an affordable hotel right on Kiraly utca, check out this. It gets booked in advance and it is perfect for a solo or couple weekend escape. Check out all my recommendations for hotels here.
- 🎟️ Activities: I really loved this chimney class, especially if it is your first time in the city. 👉 Book here.
- 🍽️ Favorite place to eat: At for Sale pub for the quirky vibes, Vaj Bakery for breakfast and Food Market for Langos.
- 🚲 Must do repeat activity: Rent a bike from these guys and head to to Margaret Island and also Szentendre village. It is stunning!
How mobile networks work in Hungary
Hungary has three main mobile networks: Magyar Telekom, Yettel, and One Hungary (which used to be Vodafone).
Every physical SIM or virtual eSIM you buy will run on one of these three networks.
That is whether you purchase directly from the carrier or through an international provider like Saily.
The main difference isn’t the network itself but the provider you’re buying from. Some companies focus on affordable prepaid plans, others bundle unlimited data allowances. Some come with extra perks, guarantees, and better customer support.
Why not just buy the physical SIM
In my experience, physical SIMs have two main disadvantages that are immediate and one that can occasionally become an issue.
The two biggest reasons I avoid them are:
- I have to remove my actual SIM from my iPhone.
- I have to wait in line to buy it and activate it.
If I remove my primary SIM, it means I may not receive important authentication codes or other security messages.
The third issue is one that might come up. If something goes wrong with a physical SIM, you’ll usually have to find a store, visit during opening hours, and wait in line to get help.
With the providers I recommend, like Saily, any issue can usually be handled online through live chat or email without having to leave your hotel.
As you’ll see, the process of activating an eSIM takes under 60 seconds. If you’ve done it before, it’s probably half that because you don’t need to download the app or log in again.
🔥 TOP CHOICE
Photo Credit: Booking.com
Saily Budapest eSIM
Saily wins on features, support, pricing and overall bundle experience for Budapest. You can easily add an affordable calls and messages plan if you need to make calls, or buy just the data as needed. There is no throttling on hotspot usage or data sharing.
The coverage map
As you’ll know from all my eSIM reviews so far, I like to take this stuff seriously. The first step is to check the nPerf coverage map to see how my preferred carrier matches the areas I’ll be visiting.
Even though the differences are quite small, it’s still useful to know where the outliers are.
I will say that coverage maps don’t tell the whole story, but they do show weak spots.
As we can see from the maps below, One (formerly Vodafone) and Telekom are pretty evenly matched. There are only small differences, although Telekom has slightly better coverage in some rural areas. If you live outside the main cities, that stronger coverage could make a difference.
Yettel looks a little less extensive on the map, but it appears to offer excellent speeds wherever it has coverage.
The app
In the age of apps, we also need to judge eSIM companies by the quality of their app. Saily really delivers on that front. It’s simple, looks good, and does exactly what it needs to do.
I’m also a fan of the Google sign-in option. I hate having to manually type in all my information every time I just want to buy a product. For those on the other team, it also supports Sign in with Apple.
The three main things Saily promises are speed, ease of use, and affordability. And honestly, who wants to pay more than they have to for mobile data? Certainly not me.
Installing and set up
After downloading the app, signing up, and purchasing a plan, it’s time to activate your eSIM.
There is a big yellow button you can’t miss that starts the installation process.
Your phone will then begin activating the eSIM, and there are precisely four more buttons you’ll need to press:
- Activate
- Select where you’ll use it
- Choose your data plan
- Complete
Once that’s done, the eSIM is installed on your phone. On my iPhone, it’s found under the Mobile Service settings.
The first thing I like to do after installing any eSIM is rename it to something I’ll actually recognize. This is especially useful if you travel often and keep multiple eSIMs stored on your phone for future trips.
The next two steps are to switch your mobile data from your regular provider to Saily and, if you want to avoid unexpected charges, turn off data roaming on your primary SIM.
I usually do all of this before boarding my flight. That way, the moment the plane lands, my phone is already connected and ready to go without having to rely on airport Wi-Fi.
After activating, I was able to hotspot to my laptop and go online with no drop in speed immediately.
Network coverage
Saily offers excellent network speeds and reliable connections throughout Hungary. My one piece of feedback, as someone who likes digging into the details, is that it doesn’t actually list which local carrier it connects to on either its website or in the app. I like knowing that information ahead of time.
One workaround is to check your phone after you’ve activated your eSIM to see which network it connects to. The other is to search for that information online.
Personally, I think it would make more sense if Saily shared this information from the start. That said, I’m probably in the minority here. Most people are likely more interested in getting an affordable eSIM that simply works than knowing the name of the underlying network.
Refunds
Last year, I jumped the gun and bought a Saily plan without realizing I wouldn’t actually need it. I was in New Zealand at the time and had a business phone that was already covered under a different plan. I’d just purchased the eSIM when I realized… that was a waste of $40.
It took one email and a little explaining, and my refund was processed the very next day. That’s what I call good customer service, and it’s also what separates established brands from smaller providers trying to break into the market.
Of course, Saily probably wasn’t thrilled about refunding me. But when you have a reputation to maintain—and a company like NordVPN behind the brand—making sure customers leave happy is worth far more in the long run than keeping one unhappy customer. Overall, I would say that was a really positive +1 in my books. And yes, I brought receipts in case that sounds like a made up story.
Do you really need a local number in Hungary?
In all the times I’ve visited Hungary, I’ve never come across a situation where I genuinely needed a local phone number, unlike in some other countries.
For starters, most businesses can be contacted through WhatsApp or other messaging apps, so you can usually reach them using your existing number.
Messenger and Viber are also widely used, which makes it easy to contact friends or even businesses if you need to book a table, ask a question, or get in touch with your hotel. Of course, most places are also very responsive by email.
I find that I book most of my activities through Viator or GetYourGuide, so calling directly is less of an issue.
When I visited Kekes (the highest peak) and when I did my bike tour across to Szentendre village, I just used my mobile data for navigation and Google Maps as normal.
If you do find yourself needing to make traditional phone calls, Saily also offers a subscription called Saily Ultra.
It includes a global plan with calling minutes and text messages, depending on the country you’re visiting, and you can choose how many minutes you need. Plans start at around $10, making it a handy backup if you unexpectedly need to make local or international calls while travelling.
Should you get an airport SIM instead?
In my experience across dozens of countries, airport SIM options are rarely the best choice. The one exception I’d make is South Korea, where SIM cards are often bundled with a T-money card for public transportation. Since you’ll probably be stopping to get one anyway, you might as well save time and do both at once.
Other than that, for most European destinations—including Hungary and Budapest—you’re usually better off activating an eSIM before your trip.
That way, you’ll have mobile data the moment you land without having to queue at an airport kiosk or compare plans after a long flight.
The airport SIMS at Budapest airport are also insanely overpriced!
Comparison table for eSIMs in Hungary
I always use the same data allowance for my comparison guides because it reflects how I personally travel. The key word here is I. If your travel style is different, feel free to play around with the plans to find the best value for your needs.
That said, 20GB for around two weeks is my sweet spot. Saily’s closest option is a 30-day plan, which can actually work in your favour if you’re travelling for longer or simply want a bit more flexibility.
For Budapest, though, I rarely stay longer than two weeks, so I’ll use a 15-day comparison as the baseline.
| Provider / Plan | Data | Duration | Approx Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saily 🔥 Recommended | 20GB | 30 Days | $31 + add a phone plan for $9.89 | Great security, pricing and duration. Overall best choice. 🎁 CODE: BOF10 for 10% OFF |
| Superalink | 1GB daily | 15 days | $61.42 | Some of their packages make sense for some destinations but not for Hungary. You get 1GB per day and select how many days. 🎁 Code: BACH20 |
| Airalo eSIM | 20GB | 30 days | $31 | Simple flat data bucket |
| Holafly | Unlimited | 15 days | $47.90 | Best for unlimited data. But Fair Usage Policy applies. |
| Local Physical SIM (Yettel / Telekom / One) | Range from 3GB-5GB to 50GB | 5-30days | $5-$60 | Ridiculously overpriced at the airport and generally low data in stores. |
Holafly has always looked like a great option on paper thanks to its unlimited data plans, but I’ve found myself frustrated by the lack of transparency around fair usage policies and actual speeds. My other pet peeve is the hotspot allowance. You’re limited to around 500MB per day, which, in my case, would barely last an hour of working from my laptop.
What about overseas roaming plans?
If you’re still not convinced to switch to an eSIM here is a personal story. But I have more than just one unfortunately.
You arrive at a destination and buy a physical SIM card. But then you’re on a mountain or a cruise or the middle of the road. You need data because your Google Maps is not working.. but the allowance is out. You need to add more data. So what do you do? You turn on the data roaming plan.. just for one minute. Total charge: $80
That is a real story and I’ve learned from this experience. However, I have done it again. Which brings me to the final point of this review…
The top up test
One thing I evaluate in all my eSIM reviews is whether you can top up or purchase another data plan directly from the app or website without needing to find Wi-Fi.
Why?
Because of the exact situation I described above.
If you suddenly run out of data, you need a way to buy more without turning on expensive roaming or wandering around looking for a café with free Wi-Fi. It’s one of the features I most wish eSIM companies would implement.
Unfortunately, Saily hasn’t added this functionality yet, so you’ll still need an internet connection to purchase or top up a plan.
The closest alternative is Auto Top-Up. You can enable it in advance so your plan automatically renews or adds more data once you reach a limit that you set yourself.
You can also disable Auto Top-Up at any time from within the app.
It’s a simple feature, but it’s intuitive and gets pretty close to the solution I’d ideally like to see when I travel.
FAQ about eSIMS in Hungary
Do eSIMS allow you to keep your normal phone number?
Yes. The phone number you have remains working as usual. You just need to shut off the mobile data and roaming options so you don’t accidentally use them.
How much data do you need for 1 week in Budapest?
Really hard to tell! Quick way to check is to go to your phone (different places depending on model) and find the usage of data feature. Then use it for a day without WiFi and estimate how much you need. My rule of thumb is 10GB for 7 days minimum, and more if the area or hotel has bad WiFi.
Can I use WhatsApp with an eSIM?
Yes, all the apps work as usual. Nothing changes when it comes to how your phone works.
Can I use Saily to hotspot to my laptop?
From the information shared, Saily has NO hotspot or tethering restrictions on data plans. Only on unlimited data plans. That means the 20GB plan can be used across your phone, shared with others, or as hotspot for your laptop.
Final words
Budapest remains one of my favourite cities in Europe, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have over the years and make use of all the things to do there.
Make sure to pick your eSIM in advance, ideally before you leave for your trip, so you don’t have to work through any set up or support issues when you arrive.
My go to recommendation for Budapest as of 2026 is Saily as it combines good packages, affordable rates, high speeds and additional security. I also like that this is a company backed by another major security name such as NordVPN and that they are working to combine various products and services into their suites that can serve customers better.
Short on time? Top Budapest recommendations
📲 Best eSIM for Budapest: I love testing different e-sim companies. My go to eSIM for Budapest in 2026 based on testing and reviewing, is Saily. Won on speed, affordability and security features. Use BOF10 coupon code for 10% off.
🚖 Airport Tip: Grab the 100E bus or book an affordable shuttle from around €35 return per person.
🏺 Best Tours:
There are so many organized tours in Budapest. I personally love cooking classes, walking tours, museums and unique experiences. Start with these:
- Budapest: Unlimited Prosecco, Beer and Aperol Spritz Cruise – Super popular social cruise!
- Széchenyi Spa Day Ticket – Most well known spa in the city!
- Hungarian Chimney Cake Workshop – Fun and tasty! Loved this class
- Budapest downtown: Real shooting experience – Highly recommend and very safety focused!
- Budapest: Buda Castle Cave Tour
- Budapest: Parliament Building Entry Ticket and Audio Guide
