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TRAVEL TO BUDAPEST
Passport, Visa
Entry with a personal ID card
Citizens of the following countries may enter the territory of Hungary with a personal identification card for a stay of maximum 90 days, provided the purpose of their visit is not take up work or to conduct business-related activities: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland.
Entry with a passport but no visa
Citizens of European countries (with the exception of Albania and Turkey) do not require a visa to enter Hungary, and citizens of the following countries outside Europe similarly do not require a visa: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Seychelles, Singapore, Republic of South Africa, South Korea, USA, Urugay, Venezuela.
For more, see the Foreigh MInistry website at: http://www.mfa.gov.hu
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Language
The Hungarian language belongs to the Finno-Ugric family. However, we cannot understand the speech of our European "relatives" the Finns and Estonians. Unlike other European languages, the family name precedes the given name. Service providers generally speak German and/or English, hotel staff members understand several languages, and so communication won't be a problem. Should you lose your way in town, do not hesitate to ask for help. Young people study one or two languages at school.
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Local Time
Hungary is int he Central European Time Zone (GMT+1). During daylight savings time (the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October) the time is GMT+2. When it is noon in Hungary, it is 03:00 in San Fransisco, 06:00 in New York, 11:00 in London, 12:00 in Paris, 13:00 in Bucharest, and 14:00 in Moscow.
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Electricity
Hungary's electricity network operates at 230 Volts. Plugs are the fegulation continental type.
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National Holidays
| 1 Jan
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New Year's Day
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| 15 March
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Central commemoration events in memory of the 1848 revolution; people wear tricolour cockades.
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| 11-12 Apr
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Easter Sunday/Monday (2004)
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| 1 May
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Labour Day
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| 30-31 May
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Whit Sunday/Monday (2004)
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| 20 Aug
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Foundation of the Hungarian State, Day of the Constitution celebrated by spectacular fireworks all over the country, especially in Budapest.
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| 23 Oct
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Anniversary of the 1956 Revolution against the Communist regime, celebrated by candlelight processions countrywide and centrally staged public commemorations
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| 1 Nov
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All Saint's Day
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| 25-26 Dec
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Christmas
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Working days may be changed into holidays, and vice versa, to produce long weekends
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Arrival in Budapest
Arrival by plane
The airport is relatively far from the city cenre (15 km), but travel in to the centre is simple.
The Airport Minibus is a popular and reasonably priced means of transport between the airport and the city (transport to any address in the capital costs 2100 HUF. Sign up and pay at the minibus counter inside the arrivals hall.
The public airport bus is the cheapest option. Exiting the airport, walk to your right from Terminal A, or left from Terminal B, to find the bus stop that says BKV Plusz Reptér busz. The bus goes to Kőbánya-Kispest metro station (on the blue line), 20 minutes away.
Airport information:
Central number: (+36-1) 296-9696
Flight information: (+36-1) 296-7155
Lost luggage
- Ferihegy 2A: (+36-1) 296-8108
- Ferihegy 2B: (+36-1) 296-3480
Airport Minibus service: (+36-1) 296-8555
Arrival by train
Budapest has direct rail links to 25 capitals. There are more than 50 international connections each day.
There are three major international railway stations in Budapest, and each has connections to the metro system as well as to other public transport.
- Keleti Train Station ( VIII. Baross tér)
- Nyugati Train Staion (VI. Nyugati tér)
- Déli Train Station (I. Krisztina krt 37/A)
For international information call tel: (+36-1) 461-5500
For domesticinformation call tel: (+36-1) 461-5400
Arrival by bus
All buses from abroad now arrive at Népliget Bus Station, tel: (+36-1) 264-3939. Open Mon-Fri: 06:00-18:00, Sat, Sun: 06:00-16:00. This station is located near to Népliget metro station (blue line).
Arrival by boat
Hydrofoils run scheduled services from Vienna and Bratislava to the heart of Budapest between April and October.
Information on Mahart Passnave sailings: (+36-1) 484-4025
Arrival by car
Drivers are obliged to purchase a motorway sticker for the motorways M1, M3 and M7 (obtainable at border crossing points and major petrol stations). Ont he M5 motorway a toll fee has to be apaid at booths on leaving the motorway.
The Hungarian Highway Code (KRESZ) is based on the Vienna and Geneva Convention, a sas such traffic signs and road markings are similar to those found in other European countries. However, it is important to highlight a few important traffic regulations that tourists visiting Hungary most observe at all times:
- use of seatbelts in the front and rare seats is compulsory,
- only mobile phones fitted with loudspeaker and microphone may be used in cars, and it is recommended that drivers making or receiving a call pull over to the side of the road in a safe area,
- drivers may not consume any alcohol before driving (blood-alcohol level has to be 0,00% - any drinking before driving is illegal,
- speed limits are 130 km/h on motorways, 110 km/h on main roads, 90 km/h outside built-up areas and 50 km/h in built-up areas,
- use of the horn in towns is only permitted in moments of danger (despite which, unfortunately, Hungarian drivers frequently use their horns without proper reason).
Hungarian Automobile Club 24 hour helpline: (+36-1) 345-1755
Roadside breakdown service: 188
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Money
Currency: The Hungarian currency is the forint (Ft). Coins in circulation are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 forints. Banknotes come in denominations of 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000 and 20000 Ft.
Exchanging money is only permitted in licensed, designated places. Do not take the risk of changing money on the street. The best exchange rates are to be found in the city centre. Banks generally give a middle rate, and the airport and hotel exchange rates are not so competitive.
The Hungarian National Bank gives official daily foreign exchange and currency rates on 23 currencies. Most banks have 24-hour banknote exchange ATMs.
Credit Cards: Paying by credit card is not the routine experience it is in much of the West. Cards are accepted by most tourist-related businesses such as restautants, hotels and travel agencies. Emblems ont he door of the establishment detail which credit cards are accepted.
Stopping a credit card: in general use the telephone numbers given by the bank which issued the card, or use the following numbers:
VISA Global: (00-80) 011-272 (free-phone)
VISA Centre - London: (00-44) 1-719-381-031
EC-Card centre - Frankfurt: (00-49) 69-740-987
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Taxis
Before getting into a taxi, it's better to ask the driver roughly how much it will cost you to get to your destination. Never get into a taxi not belonging to a reputed company.
Taxis are legally prohibited from charging more than the following amounts anywhere in Budapest: from 06:00-22:00 : 300 HUF basic fee, 240 HUF/km and 60 HUF/min for waiting. From 22:00-06:00 : 420 HUF basic fee, 336 HUF/km and 84 HUF/min for waiting.
It is worth noting down the phone numbers of the larger taxi companies, and then calling them because a taxi ordered by phone is cheaper than one called on the street, and also there's no chance to pick up the one or two 'private taxis' who charge outrageous fares.
Fôtaxi: 222-2222
Budataxi: 233-3333
Citytaxi: 211-1111
Tele5: 355-5555
Rádió taxi: 377-7777
6x6 taxi: 266-6666
All cars must have a taximeter installed, be able to give receipts. Taxi drivers will expect a tip from you at the end of the journey.
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Public Transport
The BKV (Budapest Public Transport Company) operates metro lines (M1-yellow, M2-red, M3-blue), blue local buses, yellow trams and red trolley buses. Public transport generally starts at around 04:30 and runs until 23:30.
Tickets may be purchased at metro stations, ticket machines, tobacconists and newsagents. It is perhaps best to buy your ticket at a metro station because there you have a choice of several types of ticket and various passes.
A ticket for a single one-way journey costs 140 HUF, and valid for bus, tram, trolleybus, metro, cogwheel reilway for the entire length of the journey, as well as the suburban railway within the administrative limits of Budapest. The ticket has to be purchase beforehand and validated in the ticket stampers found ont he public transport (on the metro, either before you enter the metro or on the platforms) before the trip starts.
Tickets are slightly cheaper if you buy them 10 or 20 at a time. A day pass costs 1100 HUF, a three-day pass costs 2200 HUF and a weekly pass costs 2600 HUF. More information about the types of tickets and costs can also be found on the following website: http://www.bkv.hu
You may be requested to show your ticket on all public transport or at exit points of metro by ticket inspectors who wear armbands and have a badge with photograph. For this reason, please keep your ticket until the very end of your journey or until you have left the metro station. The fine is 2000 HUF if you don't have a valid ticket.
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Telephone
Phone numbers change frequently as the network is modernised, so you will sometimes hear a short message both in Hungarian and English announcing that the number you have dialled has changed.
International calls: dial the international access code (00), the country code, the area code and the subscriber's number. There's no discount for calling abroad at off-peak hours.
National calls: for calls outside Budapest, dial the national access code (06), the area code and the subscriber's number.
Local calls: Budapest land-line numbers have seven digits.
Public phones are operated by 20-, 50- and 100- forint coins or phone cards issued by Matáv (the Hungarian Telecommunications Company). Most public phones are card-operated. Phone cards are sold at newsstands, tobacconists, post offices, supermarkets and hotels. Phone cards cost 800 or 1800 HUF. Almost all public phones have a number which can be called back.
Mobile phones
There are three mobile phone providers in Hungary. Mobile phone numbers have 11 digits, always prefixed with 06 30 (Westel GSM 900 Mhz), or 06 20 (Pannon) and 06 70 (Vodafone). To make calls between two mobiles ont he same network, drop these first four digits, to make calls between two mobiles on different networks, drop only the 06. To call a mobile from a public or private phone, dial the entire 11-digit number.
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Post
Airmail between Hungary and other European countries takes at least 4-5 days to arrive. Airmail between Hungary and the US takes place at least 6-8 days.
Smaller post offices have shorter opening hours, but also tend to have shorter lines.
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General opening hours
Shops: food shops are open from 7 am - 6 pm, clothes shops between 10 am ? 6 pm Mon. to Sat. Most shopping centres are also open on Sun. Tesco is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Office hours: generally from 8 am - 5 pm Mon. to Fri.
Post offices: Mon-Fri: 8 am - 6 pm, Sat: 8 am - 1 pm
Banks: Mon-Thur: 8 am - 4 pm, Fri: 8 am - 2 pm
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Security in Budapest
The general public security situation in the capital can be said to be good on an international average, and still it is better if tourists are prepared for certain situations so that they do not end up feeling cheated.
In general the tourist's wallet is in greatest danger, and so it is advisalbe when using public transport, at shopping centres, markets or any other busy area where people are jostling around to pay extra attention to wallets, purses and bags.
Always ask for a menu showing all the prices before choosing which restaurant to eat at. This way you can rule out any unpleasantness caused by overcharging.
Never get mixed up in changing money or gambling on the street. Carry documents, money and credit cards in a closed, inner pocket, and don't carry a lot of cash around town. Never leave valuables in your car.
If you lose your passport, immediately inform the police on 317-0711 (where they speak English). Once you have the necessary report of the loss, inform your local embassy for information on the next steps to take.
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