Overview

Hungary is no stranger to health tourism; for centuries the well-heeled have been flocking to its restorative mineral springs, lakes, baths, and spas. German and Swiss patients head to Budapest and Hungary’s border towns—sometimes by the busload—for inexpensive, high-quality dental work, and patients from the US and Canada are beginning to catch on as well.

Hungary boasts more dentists per capita than any other country, and post–Cold War Hungarian dentists have long prided themselves on their state-of-the-art equipment. Since the country’s admission to the European Union in 2004, travel and communications have grown easier, and Hungary has begun to upgrade accreditation and care standards to match those of Western Europe. Hungary’s cosmopolitan capital, Budapest, boasts the country’s largest number of dental clinics—although they tend to be the region’s most expensive.

ungarian dentists must complete five years of dental training. In order to practice, a dentist must be registered with the Hungarian Medical Chamber. Accreditation and standards are set by the State National Health Commission and Medical Service, Hungarian Medical Chamber, and International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. All that said, compliance to standards varies widely in Hungary, and health travelers should rely doubly on trusted sources.

Note: Dental clinics literally line the streets in northwestern Hungarian towns, such as Heviz, Mosonmagyarovar, Sopron, and Gyor, with wide variations in service and expertise. Even the top clinics can vary in the amount of English spoken and the level of customer service provided. Travelers to Hungary should make an extra effort to attain the highest comfort level with their clinic and doctor beforehand.

State Department Information

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Alerts and Warnings

Securing Your Money When You Travel

Carrying large amounts of cash is obviously unsafe in a foreign country. Also, be careful using your credit cards when you travel. Never give out your PIN, never let anyone else swipe your card and don't ever let anyone take your card out of your sight (example: at a restaurant). Make sure your cards are "Chip" enabled, require a PIN to use and carry in a wallet or case that shields the data from being scanned on the street.

Many clinics are no longer accepting personal checks, cash or travelers checks. Wire transfer and credit cards are your best bet however they can come with high bank fees per use internationally, variable exchange fees and lower daily spending limits when being used in a foreign country.

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