With more than 20 million guests, the tourism sector achieved a new record year in 2025.
The sector grew far faster than in tourism destinations such as Austria, Croatia, or the Czech Republic. The international Ferenc Liszt Airport contributed significantly to this success. It was handling 19 million passengers, the best result in its 75-year history.
Nationwide, the number of overnight stays rose from 46.6 million to 48.9 million. Budapest attracted one-eighth more tourists, including more than 7 million foreigners. Accommodation providers around Lake Balaton generated revenues of HUF 218 billion (approx. EUR 550 million) from overnight stays by more than 2.5 million domestic and around 830,000 foreign guests.
One fifth of tourism outside the capital was concentrated around Lake Balaton, which ranked among the five most popular destinations with Siófok, Hévíz, and Balatonfüred. Hajdúszoboszló and Bük, known for their thermal baths, took third and fifth place.
In 2025, employers transferred around HUF 500 billion (EUR 1.2 billion), an increase of 10%, to SZÉP cards.