Budapest IS my favourite city in the world. I’m lucky enough to of been there 5 or 6 times. However it’s the scams that are allowed to continue to operate when they are purely business to hack tourists out of hundreds of dollars or euros which is the most disappointing. Here are some scams I see every single time I’m in town for a week.

1. Tinder scam. Long story short. Match with attractive girl. Girl messages you instantly. Within 5 minutes invites you out to a specific bar. You go to the bar they mentioned, the waitress brings out drinks you didn’t even order. 30 mins later your bill is 500 euro. Big scary looking guys come over. Most people pay. Some bluff it off.. unfortunately there are quite a few bars in Budapest for this, particularly ‘hajos caffe budapest’ you only have to google this place to see it’s been operating for many years for one purpose only. If it was in my city or country, it would be closed instantly and the people would be in court.

2. Strip clubs, particularly “ Broadway “ on Nagymezo Utca. This place has 1 star review in total after years of operating. Not 1.1, 1!. I know of this place because my regular Airbnb is in the same street. Every night they have big scary, stupid bouncers on the doors with a couple girls roaming the nearby streets trying to take advantage of drunk tourists. Unfortunately many fall for the trap. Again , if you enter this place , no matter what you buy, your bill is going to be more then your hotel stay.

3. Direction scam: a girl approached me asking for direction totally out of the blue. I hurried along saying sorry I have no idea and got out of there. Very suss

4. Airport scam: it only happened once. I hopped off the airport shuttle and a girl approached me before I could even get my suitcase and asked if I spoke English. I said yes. She then said they are collecting money urgently for children in Africa or some ridiculous crap.

Thankfully I have not been a victim Of any scams while in Budapest. Have you? What do you think? Have you been involved in any scams before? Why do Hungarian police allow this to continue?