How many tourists visit Budapest each year?

Budapest has experienced significant fluctuations in tourist arrivals over recent years, influenced by global events and recovery efforts. Below is an overview ofBudapest tourism statisticsfrom 2019 to 2024:

• 2019: The city welcomed approximately3.9 million tourists, marking a peak in visitor numbers prior to the pandemic.
• 2020:Due to COVID-19 pandemic, and subsequent travel restrictions, tourist arrivals plummeted to722,000, reflecting a substantial decline.
• 2022: As global travel began to resume, Budapest saw a gradual increase in visitors with 6.9 million in figures.
• 2023:Budapest recorded approximately 5.3 million tourist arrivals, indicating a strong rebound.
• 2024:While exact figures are yet to be confirmed, projections suggest that Budapest's tourism will continue to grow, potentially surpassing pre-pandemic levels, especially with events like the European Tourism Forum held in the city.

How many tourists are expected to visit Budapest in 2024?

Budapest has demonstrated a strong resurgence in tourism, particularly in theearly months of 2024:

• Budapest tourism statisticsindicate a promising recovery, with1.2 million guestsarriving in the capital between January and March 2024, an23% increasecompared to the same period in 2023.
• 3 million guest nightswere registered in Budapest during the first quarter of 2024, representing a14% increasefrom pre-pandemic levels in 2019, reflecting a strong rebound.
• The overall increase in foreign visitors contributed to nearly50% of accommodation turnover, with key source markets being Germany (317,000 tourists), the UK (300,000), and Italy (276,000).

How much do tourists spend in Budapest each year?

While specific data for Budapest alone is limited, Hungary's overall tourism expenditure provides insight into spending patterns:

• 2023: International tourist spending in Hungary reached over3.1 trillion forints, indicating a robust recovery in the tourism sector.
  
• 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted tourism, resulting in the lowest inbound tourist expenditure recorded during the observed period.

Where do visitors to Budapest come from?

Budapest attracts adiverse range of international visitors, with a particularly strong appeal to travelers from Southern and Northern Europe:

• 96.8%of travelers fromSpain and Portugalwho visited Hungary also visited Budapest, followed closely by95.8% of Finnishtravelers and94% of Greektravelers.
• 91.4%of visitors fromIrelandand88.8%fromItalyalso chose Budapest as a key destination, highlighting its popularity among European travelers.
• The city also has a significant number of foreign residents, with5.8%of the nearly100,000residents in Budapest being foreign nationals, primarily fromGermany, Romania, Slovakia, France, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Ukraine.

How many tourists visited Budapest in 2022?

Budapest experienced a significant resurgence in tourism during 2022:

• Budapest tourism statisticsshow that nearly6.9 million touristsvisited Budapest in 2022, marking a strong recovery from the pandemic's impact.
• This growth represents a major improvement compared to the steep drop in 2020, when tourist arrivals fell to just over700,000due to COVID-19.

How much did tourists spend in Budapest in 2022?

Tourist spending in Budapest and across Hungary showed a strong upward trend in 2022, indicating recovery and growth:

• According toHungary Today,hotel revenuesreachedHUF 668 billion (EUR 1.7 billion)in 2022, representing a52% increasecompared to 2021, even after accounting for inflation.
• Catering revenuesrose significantly toHUF 1,490 billion (EUR 3.8 billion), up42%compared to the previous year, and24% higherin real terms than in 2021, demonstrating the revival of the tourism sector.

Coronavirus Pandemic Impact – Budapest Tourism Statistics 2020 and 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on Budapest's tourism sector, resulting in significant losses and changes to travel patterns:

• In 2020, travel restrictions and global fears over the pandemic led to a drastic88% declinein tourists staying in Budapest's commercial accommodations.
• Despite these challenges, there was a slight uptick in domestic tourism, with more Hungarians opting for domestic trips rather than international travel. However, the overall utilization of accommodation in Budapest remainedsignificantly lowerthan usual, with most domestic tourists favoring destinations outside the capital.
• Domestic tourism started to recover in 2021, with domestic overnight stays rising by14.2%compared to the previous year. However, these numbers still fell28.5%short of pre-pandemic levels.

Budapest Inbound Travel Statistics for 2019 – International & Domestic Tourism

In 2019, Budapest welcomed 3.9 million international and domestic tourists.

• According toBudapest Info,428,985 visitorsspent967,677 guest nightsin commercial accommodations in Budapest during October 2019. This made October the fastest-growing month for tourism in 2019.
• Notably, there was a significant increase in visitors fromIsrael,Germany, and severalV4countries, contributing to this growth.

How long do visitors stay in Budapest?

• In2022, theaverage length of stayfor domestic touristsin Budapest was2.9 nights, a decrease from3.6 nightsin2021, reflecting a shorter duration of visits compared to the previous year.
• By2023, the average stay continued to decline, reaching2.6 nights, indicating a trend of decreasing lengths of stay among domestic tourists in Budapest over the three-year period.

How popular is Budapest as a tourist destination?

• Budapest welcomed approximately6.9 million visitorsin 2022, making it a popular destination in Hungary, which ranks6thon DW's list of the10th most visited countries in Europe.
• Renowned for its stunning architecture, iconic bridges, and historical landmarks, the Hungarian capital continues to attract a large number of travelers.

Economic Impact – Budapest Tourism Statistics

Tourism plays a vital role in theHungarian economy, growing at a faster pace than overall economic growth in the decade preceding theCOVID-19 pandemic.

• In 2022, theOECD iLibraryrevealed that thetotal gross value added by tourism industrieswas6.2%, compared to6.8%in 2019.
• Tourism also remained a significant source of employment, accounting for383,700 jobsor8.7% of national employmentin 2021, which was a decline from421,000 jobsin 2019.
• Travel exportscontributed18.4% of total service exports, a drop from the24.2%recorded in 2019. TheseBudapest tourism statisticsunderline the impact of the pandemic while emphasizing the sector's continuing importance.

What are the top destinations to visit in Budapest?

In 2022, Budapest stood out as Hungary's top tourist destination, with4.3 million visitorsstaying in accommodations across the city. Here are some of themost visited places in Budapest:

• Buda Castle: Known for itsHistorical MuseumandMatthias Church, Buda Castle offers breathtaking views of the Danube River and is a symbol of Hungary's rich heritage.
• Parliament Building: Famous for itscrown jewelsand intricate interior, the Hungarian Parliament Building impresses visitors with its stunning neo-Gothic design along the banks of the Danube.
• Széchenyi Thermal Bath: Featuringmedicinal thermal poolsand grand architecture, this thermal bath is a must-visit for those wanting to experience Budapest's spa culture.
• Fisherman's Bastion: A popular site for itsview of the cityandstatues of Stephen I, Fisherman’s Bastion is known for its fairy-tale-like architecture and scenic vantage points over Budapest.

What are the reasons people visit Budapest?

This summary indicates why people visit Hungary based on theHungarian Central Statistical Officefrom 2022 to 2023.