If you are traveling to Hungary and plans to stay long, getting a SIM card is advisable. Using the services of your country’s network provider will cost you tons of money. It would be expensive to make calls, send messages, and use the Internet. It is easy and affordable to connect abroad if you buy a new SIM card in Hungary. There are available telecom companies in the country providing SIM cards to travelers. You can get a SIM card in Hungary upon arrival at the airport. You need to present your passport or official ID and fill up a form when buying a SIM card. Here are several things you must know when buying a SIM card in Hungary: Service providers There are three well-established network carriers in Hungary. These are the Telekom, Vodafone, Telenor, and Digi. If you are a first-time traveler in the country, it is better to choose from these companies. Vodafone – if you want to buy a new SIM card upon arrival, Vodafone SIMs are available at the airport. It is the only network provider that offers products at the Budapest airport. The rest of the carriers are available in the city. Telenor – the network provider is the most recommended SIM card for travelers. It is cheaper compared to other products but still provides wider network coverage. The company also has a good customer reputation as reviewed by users. Telekom – another network carrier you can consider is Telekom. It has the biggest market in the country. Meaning, it offers good service and wider network coverage. Telekom also has excellent 2G and 4G/LTE networks in Hungary. Using Telekom is ideal if you are staying in the capital or other major cities. Digi – is a newcomer in the market and has yet to offer prepaid plans. Places to buy SIM cards Airport – upon your arrival, you can easily get a Hungarian SIM card. You need to look for the Vodafone area or stall and ask for their product offerings. City proper – if you do not prefer the Vodafone SIMs, there are available SIM cards in the city proper. You can take a minibus or shuttle to get to the area. We recommend the WestEnd City Center in Budapest to buy your SIM card. This part of the city has corresponding Telekom, Vodafone, and Telenor shops. It would be easier for you to buy a new one because of the several options. Media Market and Digi shop also have cards to offer. SIM card prices Different networks in Hungary offer various rates, as well. Depending on the plan you want to buy, here are your top options: Vodafone offerings The company offers ‘Tuti’ plans for users. If you want a basic ‘Tuti’ plan, you will only have calls and text messaging. Data plans for the ‘Tuti’ Net packages particularly cost around $4 for one GigaByte. There is also an available 5G data plan for $11. If you are using call services, you need to pay less than a dollar per minute. Text is more affordable. Telenor offerings The company offers cheaper packages compared to Vodafone. You can buy a 1GB data packages for $3.5, which you can consume within a month. For a bigger data plan, Telenor has 3GB for $8 and 5GB for $11. It also has a call and texting package, which can cost from $3 to $10. Topping up Topping up in Hungary is simple and easy. You can go to the telecom shops and ask for a top-up. You have to provide your phone number and tell them the top-up you want. Online top-up is also available. You can use your credit card for this option. Or you can visit a kiosk or buy top-cards located in gasoline stations and post offices.