We are traveling to Budapest for a few days, then Vienna and finally Prague. Any advice on whether to take Forints or Euros with us to Budapest? Both? Why or why not?
Thanks in advance!

If any shop in Budapest actually accepts Euros they are likely to charge extra for it.

Try to pay with a card for most things in Budapest.

If you need to get Forints, get them from an ATM. Don't take out more than you absolutely have to. You're unlikely to be able to use them anywhere outside Hungary, so you'd have to get rid of them in some way at the end of your stay.

Chinos, does your local store take Canadian dollars being that close? If it does do they make a small carge for the pleasure.

Simple.

By the way, don't worry I did it by mistake myself and the guys tried to help until I worked out how stupid I was, foreign money all looks the same.

<<Any advice on whether to take Forints or Euros with us to Budapest? Both? Why or why not?>>

Why would you take Euros to a country that does not transact in Euros? I'm not taking dollars to the UK.

Why would you carry cash around that you can only use in next stop? That'll make you a mark and might have you worrying about carrying the Euros around while you're in Hungary.

The answer is neither. The airport has ATMs. Get cash there. Same is true for train stations, assuming you're bouncing about by train. Don't overdo it on the withdrawals - you're going to three different currency zones and forints are worth bugger-all to you in Vienna, while in Prague the Czechs will extract their pound of flesh on exchanging or transacting in Euros.

Much better to pay for as much as you can with credit cards - to avoid having too many currencies not useful elsewhere.

When you get to each country draw a minimal amount of local currency from an ATM - or you will pay significant overages by asking local merchants to act as your bankers by using euros (some will do this but smaller ones may simply refuse).

Euros are quite widely accepted in Budapest in tourist-related businesses like souvenir shope, many restaurants or coffee houses etc. in tourist hotspots like Vaci ut or Andrassy ut. But you usually cannot be sure to be able to pay at any museum or any eatery or shop, so withdrawing some forint would be wise.

It's not like taking dollars to UK as euros are used in Hungary as well as florists. We mostly used florists though so use the ATM .

I never paid for anything in Hungary with a florist.

Neither did I - I used florints hehe

I agree about withdrawing just what you think you'll need from an ATM once you arrive. That said, however, I like to travel with at least enough of the local currency to get me from the airport/train station to the hotel, get a drink/snack upon arrival, etc. I order from my local bank several weeks before the trip. It's always good to have some local coins too as many public restrooms require a small payment.

GinnyJo: Can you actually get foreign coins in Euros or Forints or whatever from your local bank? I can't, but I live in Sweden and have no idea if it's different for American banks.

We just returned from Budapest. We did what others suggested. We found an ATM and withdrew small amounts of Forints as needed. Otherwise we used our credit card when we were able to. We found Euros were not widely accepted. Have a wonderful time. Budapest is a beautiful city with beautiful people.

That's my experience too. Credit cards are quite widely accepted, including most restaurants and supermarkets, so the need to carry forints isn't great. Just enough for small purchases, admissions and tips. Euro not widely accepted with a high mark-up.

anyegy: yes, we get foreign currency from our local bank; we place an order and it takes 2 days to come in. They charge a few points higher in the exchange rate, but it's worth it to me to not be hunting down an airport or train station ATM (where we would have to pay something to use it also). In Budapest it would be worthwhile carrying some Euros around; the public toilet in the Central Market Hall wanted .5 E (not forints) to enter.

All of the above seems to hold true. We frequent Budapest often for school sports events, and in our experience have found that smaller stores and restaurants only accept Forints; and touristy stores accept paper Euros (and give Forints in change). The exchange rate in most cases is about the same as withdrawing currency at an ATM, so there really is no "advantage" to using Euros. Larger grocery stores accept Bankomat and credit cards. Most public WC where a person is in charge will accept either Euros or Forints. Perhaps the best is to have a little of both currencies on your person.

It would never have occurred to me to use euros in Hungary. On my recent trip I again used a CC and ATMs. I imagine the acceptance of euros for the loos in Central Market is because of the river cruise ship passengers - I hardly imagine the locals are paying in euros! I would expect the exchange rate for any transactions in euros to be distinctly unfavorable. I would not expect euros to be accepted at all if you get off the main tourist trail.

Do note that you need to watch out for the DCC scam, and not just when using a credit card. I noticed it several times on ATMs on my most recent European trip. Don't remember whether any of them were in Hungary, but it is certainly possible.

GinnyJo: Yes, but you said "It's always good to have some local coins too". I can get foreign bills from my bank, if I preorder them. I can't get foreign coins.

Forints, everything is priced in Forints, it's the currency the country uses.
Sure they'll take Euro's but you won't get a good exchange.

anyegy: I have never tried to get foreign coins specifically from a local bank, so I cannot comment on their availability.

Just buy something cheap on arrival, such as chewing gum, and get small change that way.