Hungary in cash.
Budapest, pearl of the Danube — steaming Art Nouveau baths, ruin bars and paprika. The forint makes luxury affordable: the gilded grand café costs a Geneva espresso.
Helvetica Exchange prepares your HUF travel envelope at Rue Pierre-Fatio 19, 1204 Geneva (Rive district) — the posted rate, no separate commission, Monday–Friday 08:30–18:30 and Saturday 09:00–17:00. Reserve and your rate is held for 3 hours during opening hours; ID from the LBA thresholds.
The cities, chosen.
Budapest
Royal Buda facing living Pest, stitched by the Chain Bridge.
Széchenyi Baths — A yellow thermal palace, 38° pools under the sky — chessboards in the water.
The Hungarian Parliament — The neo-Gothic giant of the Danube, St Stephen's crown inside.
Eger
Baroque, a heroic castle and the Valley of the Beautiful Women with its Bikavér cellars.
Valley of the Beautiful Women — Horseshoe of cave cellars — Bull's Blood by the glass.
Eger Castle — The fortress that repelled the Ottomans in 1552.
Lake Balaton
The “Hungarian sea” — Tihany peninsula, vines and milky sunsets.
Tihany Abbey — Benedictine on its promontory, lavender in June.
Badacsony vineyards — Vine-capped volcanoes, olaszrizling facing the lake.
Getting around.
Budapest is walked, ridden on tram 2 (Europe's most beautiful, along the Danube) and the listed M1 metro. Balaton and Eger are 1–2 h by train.
Cash & banknotes.
HUF 18'000–32'000 a day covers baths, two meals and transport — Pest's grand restaurants remain half Swiss prices. Book Széchenyi online in summer, or go at 6 am opening for empty pools and the morning tariff.
| Rate reservation | held 3 hours, during opening hours |
| Counter hours | Mon–Fri 08:30–18:30 · Sat 09:00–17:00 |
| Commission | none — the margin lives in the posted rate |
Before you go.
How many forints per day?
HUF 18'000–32'000 per person covers baths, two meals and transport — Pest's grand tables stay at half Swiss prices.
The baths — book ahead?
Széchenyi and Gellért sell out summer slots online; on weekdays at 6 am opening you get the pools to yourself and the morning rate.
Indicative amounts — rate reservable for 3 hours · Rue Pierre-Fatio 19, Geneva · Guide complet en français