The company said travellers mostly preferred cultural trips and city breaks during the spring months, but demand is now shifting towards lakeside and wellness destinations as the summer holiday season gets closer.

After Budapest, the most popular spring destinations were Eger and Pécs. The top ten also included Szeged, Siófok, Gyula, Miskolc, Nyíregyháza, Hajdúszoboszló and Balatonfüred.

Hotels accounted for about one-third of spring bookings, while apartments made up 27 per cent, guesthouses 22 per cent and pensions 13 per cent.

Short stays continued to dominate the market, with one- and two-night trips representing around 80 per cent of all spring reservations. Nearly two-thirds of bookings were worth less than HUF 70,000, while only 8 per cent exceeded HUF 170,000.

Looking ahead to summer, advance booking data puts Siófok in first place, followed by Hajdúszoboszló and Gyula. Balatonfüred, Eger, Szeged, Balatonlelle, Budapest, Nyíregyháza and Pécs also appear among the most sought-after destinations.

According to Szallas.hu spokesperson Lili Kelemen, the rankings may still change, as last-minute booking behaviour remains a strong trend among Hungarian travellers.

The company also noted that more than 26 per cent of online payments processed through its platform so far have been made using SZÉP cards, Hungary’s popular employee benefit payment system.

That share could rise further before the end of the month, as unused 2024 balances can still be spent without deductions until 31 May.

The Lake Balaton region currently accounts for 33 per cent of domestic summer bookings, followed by Northern Hungary with 14 per cent and the Southern Great Plain with 11 per cent.

Longer holidays are also becoming more common. Reservations of at least five nights account for 22 per cent of summer bookings, while three-night stays remain the most popular option at 25 per cent.

Two-night trips make up 22 per cent, four-night holidays 19 per cent and single-night stays 12 per cent.

Apartments are the most popular accommodation type for the summer season, attracting 36 per cent of bookings. Guesthouses account for 25 per cent and hotels for 24 per cent.

In terms of spending, a quarter of summer reservations are worth less than HUF 70,000, while 40 per cent fall into the HUF 70,000–170,000 range. Bookings above HUF 170,000 make up 34 per cent of all summer reservations.

Close to 40 per cent of Hungarians plan to travel abroad this summer

Around 39 per cent of Hungarians plan to spend their summer holiday abroad, according to a representative survey by insurer Groupama Biztosító and OTP Bank.

The most popular destinations for Hungarian travellers are Croatia, Italy and Austria. Only 7 per cent said they intend to travel outside Europe, while nearly half plan to go by air.

On average, those heading abroad expect to spend around HUF 500,000 on their trip. Most said they are planning a holiday of three to seven days.

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