Those coming to Hungary’s charming capital will of course be considering whether Budapest is safe for remote workers and whether they can enjoy the city without having to worry about being the victims of crime. Thankfully, remote workers visiting Budapest can count on the city being safe and welcoming to all visitors. In fact, Hungary and Budapest statistically rank as extremely safe both by regional and world standards. Budapest itself for long has been a major tourist center in Europe and the city has a well-established security infrastructure for all citizens. Of course, you will want to be aware of the main forms of crime in the city, as well as some of the steps you can take to ensure your time here is incident-free.
Despite the fact Budapest is safe for remote workers, the most common forms of crime in the city are certainly pick-pocketing and bag-snatching. All visitors should be particularly vigilant around the more crowded touristic areas of the city such as the Hungarian Parliament, on the Chain Bridge and around the House of Terror. Furthermore, the main public transport methods - metro, tram and bus - have in recent times also become hotspots for pick-pockets. A good tip is to always keep an eye on all of your belongings as well as to carry only the essentials with you. Good practice is to always carry only the necessary amounts of cash and generally look like you know where you are going!
Scams can also be a common form of petty crime in Budapest. Remote workers and visitors to the city report that being overcharged for goods and services is common, and so we strongly recommend establishing prices before accepting any type of service. A good tip is also to avoid eating at restaurants which have no prices on the menu. It will also be important to consider that while sex work is legal in Hungary, taking part in this industry may increase your chances of being the victim of theft or other types of petty crime. In general, while Budapest is a safe city for remote workers, it will be important to use sound judgment to avoid falling victim to scams.
Budapest’s nightlife is certainly one of the major highlights of the city. From its wonderful cafe-bars on spring afternoons to the edgy ruin bars on summer nights, Budapest offers an attractive nightlife scene to all visitors. Drink-spiking does seem to be common here, however, and so all visitors are urged to keep an eye on their drinks at all times. At the same time, remote workers should not fear going out to the city’s excellent nightlife venues by themselves and enjoying a good night out without having to rely on others. If you are out alone at night, it is recommended you use popular public transport lines or a taxi service, although it is important to be on the lookout for local taxi mafias looking to overcharge (always make sure your taxi has the meter running!). We also recommend remote workers to avoid walking around District VIII and the main nightlife areas alone at night.
In general, all visitors should feel that Budapest is safe for remote workers. An increasingly global outlook means the city is largely safe for female solo travelers, although LGBTQIA+ acceptance lags behind across Hungary in general. The food in Budapest is delicious and generally safe to eat (although we recommend staying away from the Vaci utca area) and water is potable and safe to drink!
For more information about living in Budapest as a remote worker, check out our complete Budapest guide.