Home > Budapest (Hungary)

What to wear in Budapest?

Comfortable Clothes for Each Month & the Fashion Style in Budapest.

Budapest is a brobdingnagian city with intriguing architecture and impressive avenues like Grand Boulevard. The locality has a four-season climate with grim winters and hot luminous summers. Hungary in general has a continental climate defined by frigid temperatures, regular snowfall, and comparatively average precipitation throughout the year.

see 5 Day Clothes Forecast: Budapest

Top of Page

Clothes for each Season & each Month

We provide information on appropriate clothes for each season and clothes for each month (Monthly Recommended Clothes).

Clothes for each Season

Dressing for the Seasons in Budapest

Men should dress casual in a light jacket and nice pair of slacks, or shorts if the weather permits. Business suits are also a regular part of menswear. In fact, business attire is appropriate for all formal occasions. Women also dress casually with fashionable dresses and a light jacket. Ripped jeans or showing too much skin with off-the-shoulder tops are all right; however, Budapest fashion sense is rather conservative for the most part.

Summer/Spring Attire
The average temperature in Budapest during the summer season is around 80 degrees but drops exceedingly at night. Consequently, dressing properly for protection against the daily temperature fluctuations is a must. Light short-sleeved attire with light outerwear is best. The summer season gets pretty hot and just like anywhere else with hot weather; loose clothing and light colors are terrific for deflecting heat. Tank tops, skirts, and shorts for both men and women, are acceptable. For men, going without a jacket and tie is fine. Slacks and no tie or shirt and tie with no jacket for walking around is common. Short-shorts with t-shirts are not au courant but not uncommon. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes. In the old town, where many beautiful historic sites are located, the streets are cobbled and unsuitable for high-heels. Stylish flat shoes, brogues, deck shoes, or shoes with a small medium block heel will do.

Fall Attire
Autumn in Budapest is called ‘old woman's summer’ or ‘Indian summer’ due to the brief cool temperatures that linger for weeks at a time. Temperatures remain high until the end of October alternating between 60 and 68 degrees. In November, the temperature starts to drop with plenty of rain and sometimes snow. Layering is practical during the fall season as days are warm and nights are cool. Loose tops, short sleeved t-shirts, jeans, leggings, and a blazer or jean jacket will fit right in. Also rain gear and rain boots are frequently worn.

Winter Attire
Temperatures regularly dip below freezing hovering around 30 degrees. Daylight hours are short with less than 1.5 hours of sunshine each day. A warm wool or fleece/polyester coat will keep you comfortable. Jeans or wool pants, long sleeved tops or thick tights with dresses/skirts are accepted attire.

As a rule:

May, June, and November are extremely wet, so a light raincoat will come in handy.
December, January, and February are a bit frigid so layer up with a coat, gloves, hat and scarf, and a pair of fleece lined boots for extra warmth.
It gets dry and cold so be sure to keep your skin moisturized and use sunscreen in summer.

Monthly Recommended Clothes

The following are the recommended clothes for daytime and nighttime based on the average high/low temperatures for each month.

Jan - Mar
Apr - Jun
Jul - Sep
Oct - Dec

Recommended Clothes in Budapest

month	Clothes
Jan	Daytime: A down jacket, gloves, warm hat and so on. Nighttime: Clothes are the same as daytime, but very cold outside.
Feb	Daytime: A coat or down jacket, gloves, a warm hat and so on. Nighttime: A down jacket, gloves or mittens, warm hat and so on. Very cold outside.
Mar	Daytime: A jacket or coat. Gloves and warm hat may be necessary. Nighttime: A coat or down jacket, gloves, a warm hat and so on.
Apr	Daytime: A light jacket, sweater, or light winter clothes (jacket or coat). Nighttime: A jacket or coat. Gloves and warm hat may be necessary.
May	Daytime: A long-sleeved shirt, light jacket or sweater, but sometimes a short-sleeved shirt is good. Nighttime: A light jacket, sweater, or light winter clothes (jacket or coat).
Jun	Daytime: A T-shirt, tank top or short-sleeved shirt. Nighttime: A long-sleeved shirt, and a light jacket or sweater.
Jul	Daytime: A T-shirt or tank top, and shorts or jeans. Nighttime: A long-sleeved shirt, and a light jacket or sweater.
Aug	Daytime: A T-shirt, tank top or short-sleeved shirt. Nighttime: A long-sleeved shirt, and a light jacket or sweater.
Sep	Daytime: A long-sleeved shirt, light jacket or sweater, but sometimes a short-sleeved shirt is good. Nighttime: A light jacket, sweater, or light winter clothes (jacket or coat).
Oct	Daytime: A light jacket, sweater, or light winter clothes (jacket or coat). Nighttime: A jacket or coat. Gloves and warm hat may be necessary.
Nov	Daytime: A jacket or coat. Gloves and warm hat may be necessary. Nighttime: A coat or down jacket, gloves, a warm hat and so on.
Dec	Daytime: A coat or down jacket, gloves, a warm hat and so on. Nighttime: A down jacket, gloves or mittens, warm hat and so on. Very cold outside.

Average temperature

Low : Average low temperature, High : Average high temperature

More Information

BUDAPEST

Budapest is the capital of Hungary divided by the River Danube with a metropolitan vibe, as it is the commercial, industrial, administrative, and political center of Hungary. The city is home to approximately one-fifth of the Hungarian population. A cable railway operates up Castle Hill to Buda's Old Town and Trinity square is domicile to 13th century Matthias Church while the towers of the Fishermen's Bastion offers amazing views.

Budapest Fashion Customs

There is a difference between the older and younger generation in dress style. The former prefers a more conservative classic dress sense with three-piece suits while the younger set prefers a more western dress appearance. You'll fit right in whether you prefer a more traditional style of dress or a more laid-back approach with jeans and t-shirts. In rural areas clothing is more historic with women wearing scarves known as peasant-babushkas and floppy brimmed hats are worn by men. Of course, there's no reason for you to dress in traditional Hungarian clothing unless you want to!

There are some things to avoid if possible. Though the dress style in Budapest has become more modern and westernized, avoid wearing clothing that draws too much attention like neon colors or ripped jeans that look like they're held together by a few threads! Another thing, tattoos are not widely accepted in Budapest. A huge tattoo on your arm of Lady Gaga will probably get you a lot of stares! Whether the stares are out of curiosity or disapproval is up for debate.

Budapest has a typical European style of dress so casual or smart-casual attire is favored. A swimsuit/trunks and flip-flops are a practical addition to your closet for visiting the famous thermal baths.

Top of Page