The forint is not in the eurozone but moves with EUR: what this means for the rate against the ruble
Hungary joined the EU in 2004 and is formally committed to adopting the euro someday, but without a specific date. The forint is managed by Magyar Nemzeti Bank with its own interest rate and inflation target. At the same time, a large share of Hungarian exports goes to EU countries, so HUF reacts to any changes in the eurozone: when the euro falls against the dollar, the forint generally weakens too - because exporters lose euro earnings. For those exchanging large amounts: the HUF/RUB cross rate is made up of two variables. If EUR against the ruble has risen but HUF against EUR has fallen at the same time, the resulting forint-to-ruble rate may barely change - the components cancel each other out.
Exchanging forints for rubles in Russia is harder than it seems: where it is actually possible
The forint is an infrequent currency in Russian exchange offices. Unlike euros or yuan, HUF is not in the standard set even at major banks. There are realistically three routes. First - specialized exchange offices with a wide range of currencies: these operate in Moscow and St. Petersburg, but forints are not always available - it is worth calling ahead to confirm. Second - individual bank order: some banks accept advance requests for rare currencies, receive them within a few days, and fix the rate at the collection date. Third - messenger service, for example ATM24: you message via WhatsApp or Telegram, agree on the amount and rate, and receive rubles by transfer or cash. The last option does not require a bank visit and often provides a rate close to market for non-standard currencies.
100 forints is less than 30 rubles: how not to misjudge the amount after Hungary
The nominal scale of the forint confuses many tourists accustomed to ruble price tags. At a rate of approximately 0.25-0.26 rubles per forint, 100 HUF is roughly 25-26 rubles. For reference: a Budapest metro ride costs about 450 forints, a coffee in a cafe - 500-700 forints, a meal at a mid-range restaurant - 3,000-5,000 forints. If you return with 10,000 forints - that is about 2,500 rubles: not a large amount. Many people underestimate the remainder because the number in forints looks large. Use the calculator at the top of the page to accurately convert forints to rubles before exchanging, rather than relying on impression.
