Major city · Hungary
Ráckeve
Go as a day trip from Budapest, not a base: 1 day covers the Serbian church, the water mill and the Danube bank; sleep here only for the spa.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- HUF
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- avoid Jul–Aug (hot, busy strand), Nov–Mar (many sights closed)
- Airport
- BUD
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 7Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Central Europe ↗Six of the nine countries here — Austria, Switzerland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia — charge a time-based motorway vignette, mostly digital and linked to the number plate; buy it before the first motorway past the border, because cameras, not toll booths, do the checking.
- Central Europe ↗Temporary police checks at internal Schengen borders are common in this region in 2026 (Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovenia among others — check): keep your passport on you on every cross-border train, bus and road even though there is no fixed control post.
- Hungary ↗Hungary is in the EU and the Schengen area: check entry rules, the EU Entry/Exit System and any travel authorisation requirement for your passport on official sources.
- Hungary ↗The currency is the Hungarian forint (HUF), not the euro: decline dynamic currency conversion at cards and ATMs.
- Hungary ↗Motorways need an electronic vignette (e-matrica) bought before you drive on them.
Ráckeve sits at the southern end of Csepel Island, about 40 km south of Budapest, and is one of the few places in Hungary with a standing Gothic Serbian Orthodox church, built in 1487. The town is small, flat and walkable, with a baroque palace-hotel, a reconstructed boat mill and a riverside strand. Most travellers see it in a half or full day from Budapest by HÉV; an overnight makes sense only if you want the Aqualand water park or a slow riverside evening.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Ráckeve, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Hungarian forint (HUF, Ft).Hungary-wide
- SIM or eSIMYettel, Telekom and One (Vodafone) sell prepaid SIMs; passport needed.Hungary-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe.Hungary-wide
- TippingRestaurant without service charge: 10–15%, said as you pay.Hungary-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Hungary-wide
- SafetyRáckeve is a quiet small town and feels safe day and night; the real risks are the river (no lifeguards outside the strand season), summer heat…
- RestroomsPublic toilets often charge HUF 200–400; carry coins.Hungary-wide
- Emergency numbers112 General emergency · 104 ambulance · 107 police (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMuseums close Mondays.Hungary-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportBUD Budapest Ferenc Liszt International (About 45–60 km; no direct rail link to Ráckeve, so you cross Budapest first).BUD Budapest Ferenc Liszt International (About 28–37 mi; no direct rail link to Ráckeve, so you cross Budapest first).
- Getting aroundThe centre is flat and small: churches, galleries, the palace and the water mill are all within about 20 minutes on foot.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or soft drinkFt 500–900
- Sit-down mealMain course in a local restaurantFt 2,500–4,500 (≈ US$8–14)
- Street or quick mealGreek gyros or sandwichFt 1,200–2,000 (≈ US$4–6)
- BeerDraught beerFt 700–1,200
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekFt 2,000–4,000 (≈ US$6–12)
- Budget bedPrivate apartment (up to 4), a night, per roomFt 16,000 (≈ US$50)
- Mid-range bedGuesthouse double room, a night, per roomFt 18,000 (≈ US$55)
- High-end bedGuesthouse double room, a night, per roomFt 26,000 (≈ US$80)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget Ft 8,000 (≈ US$25) · Mid Ft 14,000 (≈ US$45) · High Ft 25,000 (≈ US$75)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- BUD Budapest Ferenc Liszt International (About 45–60 km; no direct rail link to Ráckeve, so you cross Budapest first)BUD Budapest Ferenc Liszt International (About 28–37 mi; no direct rail link to Ráckeve, so you cross Budapest first)
Weather and climate
Ráckeve: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
3°C37°F
−3°C27°F
6 rd
Feb
5°C41°F
−2°C28°F
6 rd
Mar
11°C52°F
1°C34°F
6 rd
Apr
17°C63°F
6°C43°F
7 rd
May
22°C72°F
11°C52°F
8 rd
Jun
25°C77°F
14°C57°F
8 rd
Jul
28°C82°F
16°C61°F
7 rd
Aug
28°C82°F
16°C61°F
6 rd
Sep
23°C73°F
12°C54°F
6 rd
Oct
17°C63°F
7°C45°F
6 rd
Nov
9°C48°F
3°C37°F
7 rd
Dec
4°C39°F
−1°C30°F
7 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The centre is flat and small: churches, galleries, the palace and the water mill are all within about 20 minutes on foot. The HÉV suburban rail station is 1 km north of the centre. Local buses (Volánbusz) run to Kiskunlacháza, Dömsöd and Makád; a car helps for the islands and the neighbouring villages.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 1 h 30 min
HÉV suburban rail from Ráckeve station to Vágóhíd, roughly hourly
The default return leg; buy a single ticket at the station.
Kiskunlacháza
cautionDoor to door: About 30 min
Volánbusz from the HÉV station bus stop, about 7 km eastVolánbusz from the HÉV station bus stop, about 4.3 mi east
Reformed church, pillory and a small local history collection; only if you have a car or spare time.
Dömsöd
cautionDoor to door: About 40 min
Volánbusz from Ráckeve station toward Dömsöd, Kossuth Lajos utca
Petőfi memorial museum and river beaches; check bus times before you go.
Door to door: About 1 h
Bus or car via Kiskunlacháza and the M6, no direct rail
Better as a separate trip from Budapest than a loop from Ráckeve.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Town centre (Kossuth Lajos utca / Szent István tér)
Walk to the churches, the mill and the restaurants; best for one night without a car.
Danube bank east side (Dömsödi út)
Kék Duna Wellness Hotel and the strand; 10–15 min walk from the centre.
HÉV station area (north)
Cheapest guesthouses and the fastest exit back to Budapest; about 1 km from the centre.Cheapest guesthouses and the fastest exit back to Budapest; about 0.6 mi from the centre.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- Ft 8,000–13,000 (≈ US$25–40) excl. bed
- Mid
- Ft 13,000–22,000 (≈ US$40–65) excl. bed
- High
- Ft 22,000 (≈ US$65)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Guesthouse double room1 × 1 night × Ft 18,000 | Ft 18,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × Ft 14,000 | Ft 28,000 |
| HÉV Budapest → Ráckeve, one way2 × Ft 900 · check | Ft 1,800 |
| Serbian Orthodox Church entry2 × Ft 500 | Ft 1,000 |
| Water mill entry2 × Ft 300 | Ft 600 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × Ft 2,500 | Ft 5,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | Ft 5,440 |
| Trip total≈ Ft 29,920 per person per day, bed included | Ft 59,840≈ US$180 |
2026 estimate in forint; Budapest transport and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee or soft drink | Ft 500–900 |
| Fried fish plate at the fish bakery | Ft 2,000–3,500 (≈ US$6–11) |
| Greek gyros or sandwich | Ft 1,200–2,000 (≈ US$4–6) |
| Main course in a local restaurant | Ft 2,500–4,500 (≈ US$8–14) |
| Draught beer | Ft 700–1,200 |
| HÉV ticket from Budapestcheck | Ft 700–1,000 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | Ft 2,000–4,000 (≈ US$6–12) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The Serbian Orthodox Church keeps short, split opening hours and closes on Mondays Apr–Oct: check before you travel.
- The water mill is closed in winter and on Mondays; the grinding show runs on selected Sundays only.
- Angyali Island can be reached by boat only — no bridge, no bus.
- Some sights sit outside the centre (HÉV station, Aqualand, the cemetery): plan the walk or take a local bus.
Emergency numbers
- General emergency
- 112
- Ambulance
- 104
- Police
- 107
- Fire
- 105
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
RáckeveRáckeve
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Erre a címre kéremTo this address, please
Emergency
- General emergency112
- Ambulance104
- Police107
- Fire105
Embassy
No embassies in Ráckeve; the US, UK, Canadian, Australian and most other embassies are in Budapest (check the address).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- HÉV Budapest Vágóhíd → Ráckeve: about Ft 900, about 1 h 15 min (check)
- Volánbusz Ráckeve → Kiskunlacháza: about Ft 400–600, 20–30 min (check)
- Taxi in town: Ft 1,500–3,000 (≈ US$5–9) for most in-town trips (check)
Say or show
- Jó napot — Good day (yoh NAH-pot)
- Köszönöm — Thank you (KUR-sur-nurm)
- Kérem — Please (KAY-rem)
- Mennyibe kerül? — How much is it? (MEN-nyi-beh KEH-rool)
- Fizethetek kártyával? — Can I pay by card? (FEE-zet-heh-tek KAR-tyah-val)
- Hol van a WC? — Where is the toilet? (hol van a vay-tsay)
Tourinform Ráckeve, Eötvös u. 1, next to the former town hall, has maps and programme tickets; hours are seasonal (check).
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Ráckeve. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (hot, busy strand), Nov–Mar (many sights closed) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for BUD: last HÉV departures field-checked, taxi fallback from Budapest, overnight rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Szent István tér, Kossuth Lajos utca, the Danube bank and the water mill, the HÉV station and Aqualand.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Serbian Orthodox Church, water mill, Savoyai Castle, Aqualand) and eat pages with last orders.
- Golden and hostile arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialRáckeve official site
- officialTourinform Ráckeve
- secondaryWikivoyage: Ráckeve, revision 5300863 (CC BY-SA 4.0)