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This article contains the following major sections:
In separate files:
Some highlights from the official Hungarian home-page and from other sites:
Remarks: Hungary does NOT lie in the Balkan peninsula. That is some hundred kilometres from us to the South. We belong to Eastern part of Central Europe as Austria does (in fact, the geographical centre-point of Europe is in Northern Hungary). Nor is Hungarian a Slavic language. Moreover, Bucharest (Bucuresti) is NOT our capital: that is the capital of Romania. (You should just look at your map.) In 1996, Hungary celebrated the 1100th anniversary of its founding in the Carpathian Basin. Among almost 200 countries of the world, Hungary is one which, due to geographic size and economic potential, cannot be considered a major power. It is in the heart of Europe, its role being a bridge between West and East. This geopolitical situation, extensive developing relations, and tourist attractions have aroused the interest in the Republic of Hungary. Hungary ranks among the top tourist destinations in Central and Eastern Europe; the country welcomes more than 20 million tourists each year. What makes Hungary attractive for foreign visitors? It is a mixture of different components: our ancient culture; our particular climate, unique to the Carpathian Basin, which produces succulent fruits and vegetables of a quality unsurpassed in the world; integration of various cultures and cuisine; Budapest, the "Queen of the Danube", plus other historical cities. And then there is Lake Balaton, "the Hungarian Sea"; the famous "puszta", the westernmost open steppe in Europe; folklore and traditions; our rich music culture, and abundance of thermal waters, one of our unrivalled resources. Western visitors to Eastern or Central Europe may want to start their travel in Hungary. The culture shock is far less pronounced here than in some Eastern European countries, in part because Hungary is comparatively unscarred by the legacy of Communism. Even during the height of the Cold War, Hungary attempted a kinder, gentler totalitarianism, which encouraged certain types of private enterprise and rejected the complete collectivisation of the land. This "goulash communism", as it came to be called, was not freedom, but it surely was not Romania. As Hungarian Communism differed from the other Eastern European models, so Hungarians as a people differ from those of the neighbouring countries. Whereas most of this part of the world is Slavic, the 10 million (13 million with the ethnic minorities in neighbouring countries) Hungarians are Magyars, descendant of an Asian tribe that arrived in Europe during the 9th century. Hungarians' closest relatives are the Finns, the Estonians, and the Vogul and Ostiak peoples of Siberia. The most obvious reminder of this unusual genealogy is the language, a tongue so unlike any other in the world that even its closest relative, Finnish, is less similar to it than Italian is to German. Their language gives the Hungarian a sense of national identity - and national isolation - that helps insulate them from the tensions that have ripped apart more ethnically diverse Central and Eastern European nations. When the Soviet-style economy collapsed in the late 1980s, it dragged the Hungarian Socialist Labor Party down with it. Hard-line leaders were removed in May 1988, a multiparty system was introduced in October 1989, and Hungary's first free elections in more than 40 years were held in 1990. Free elections do not automatically put food on the table, however, and Hungary remains beset by such woes as unemployment and inflation. On the bright side, its economic growth ranks second among former Soviet-bloc nations. It joined NATO on 13th March 1999, and membership in the European Union also seems likely in the next several years. For travelers, Hungary provides the opportunity to witness a society in transition to democratic capitalism. What will emerge from the clash of Eastern heritage and Western aspirations remains to be seen. Forty-five years of isolation and relative powerlessness under Soviet rule are a mere blip in Hungary's 1100-year history, and traces of socialism are evaporating with each passing iron-free day. Budapest dominates the country, though the capital by no means has a monopoly on cultural attractions. Try not to forsake the beauty of the countryside for a whirlwind tour of the capital -- you will have seen the heart of the country but will have missed its soul entirely. The Magyars, as Hungarian call themselves, arrived from Central Asia in the 9th century. Over the course of the next millennium, a succession of tribes, royal houses, and countries laid claim to part or all of the country. Mongols invaded in the 13th century, while the 15th and 17th centuries saw the arrival of the Turks and Hapsburgs. W.W.I redistributed two thirds of Hungary's territory and 5 million Hungarians. During W.W.II the Nazis occupied the country until the six-month Soviet siege of 1945. A short-lived Hungarian Republic gave way in 1949 to the Communist People's Republic, under which the country became strongly tied to the USSR. In 1956, Hungarian patriots led by Imre Nagy rose up against the new government, paving the way for János Kádár's "goulash-communism". In the fall off 1989 the Hungarian people fulfilled the dreams of the previous generation and broke away from the Soviet orbit in a bloodless revolution. The 1990 elections transferred power to the center-right Hungarian Democratic Forum, led by Prime Minister József Antall and President Árpád Göncz, a former Soviet political prisoner. The renamed and revamped Socialists were again entrusted with power in 1994. Change continues at dizzying pace, but Hungarians have adapted well since the last Soviet troops departed in 1991. However, the socialist-liberal government lost the last elections (in 1998) within a hair, and a right-wing, so-called "civil" coalition of the Fidesz Hungarian Civil Party with the Hungarian Democrats' Forum and the Independent Small-Holders' Party took its place. Hungarian culture has flourished throughout the country's tumultuous history:
musical contributions include 19th-century composer Ferenc (Franz) Liszt,
as well as 20th-century geniuses Zoltán Kodály and
Béla Bartók. Many current musical groups in Hungary enjoy world-wide respect, and
theatre and film also thrive under the direction of such luminaries
as István Szabó and Miklós Jancsó.
There are also lots of finely drawn Hungarian cartoons of
Attila Dargay and Marcell Jankovics. Folk music collectors should
look for CDs/tapes by Márta Sebestyén.
Hungary in numbersArea: 93033 km2 (35921 sq. miles) BudapestBudapest is the political, administrative, social, economic, scientific, and cultural centre of the country. The visitor finds the capital a vibrant, cosmopolitan metropolis with a colourful night-life and shops of almost every description. The city is a harmony of fascinating contrasts: ruins bear witness to its 2,000-year past alongside modern buildings; there are organ concerts and operetta; religious services and casinos; luxurious meals with gypsy music, and fast food snacks; fairs and festivals; deluxe downtown hotels and accommodations provided in bucolic settings. Do you ask what is Budapest like? Briefly: untouched. Beautiful. Exciting. Startling. In so many words: One of the most beautiful capitals of Europe, the vista of the Buda part has been declared as the part of the World Heritage registry by UNESCO. It is to be discovered, like a small town, in some details, almost provincial, but in fact it is a city with all of its splendour and seamy side. Budapest has a smack of nostalgia, its mood recalls the turn of the century at many places: you can meet Secession everywhere. Our town is dynamic, with memories of the Roman era and the Turk dominium inlaid as well. It had been the prominent cultural capital of Central Europe in the first half of the twentieth century, and someone "travelling in culture" cannot omit Budapest from his itinerary nowadays. History has not spared our city but has not succeeded in destroying it either. Budapest and the country have given uniquely numerous philosophers and inventors to the world. Its citizens are mercurial and leery, they skip the unpleasant and the "I-don't-like-it" with healthy and wise sense of humour. They are a bit on the loose, they do not like rules (including traffic regulations). And that is very important: hospitable and liberal people live here, whose sparkling city receives the visitor with pleasure. Buda was settled during the 9th century by Magyar tribes, who built on the Roman military camp Aquincum. Since then, this ancient city has been the focus of foreign oppression and Hungarian resistance. Burned to the ground in 1241 by the Mongols, the city rose from ashes to Renaissance glory under King Mátyás, was conquered by the Turks in 1541, and then conquered again by the Hapsburgs in 1686. Buda became the second city of the Hapsburg empire and prospered in this role; unfortunately, this alliance with Austria put it on the wrong side of both world wars. In 1872, Pest, Buda and Óbuda merged in a new city: Budapest. At the end of the World War II, a two-month battle for Buda between the Nazis and the Red Army and English-American bombing left all the bridges destroyed and the severed halves in the city in ruins. The cycle of occupation and revolt continued through the Cold War: Stalinist hard-liners kept the city in fear until Imre Nagy's reforms left the door open for the anti-Soviet uprising of 1956, which was quickly crushed by Soviet tanks. Subsequent "goulash-communist" governments stirred a little capitalism into Hungary's Eastern-bloc socialism, setting Budapest up to be the charming "Western city with Eastern flavour" that is today. At once a cosmopolitan European capital and the stronghold of Magyar nationalism, Budapest has awakened from its Communist-era coma with the same vigour that rebuilt the city from the rubble of W.W.II. Endowed with an architectural majesty befitting the Hapsburg Empire's number-two city, the Hungarian capital also possesses an intellectual and cultural scene often compared to that of Paris. Today, the city maintains its charm and a vibrant spirit -- refusing to buckle under the relentless siege of glitzification -- while pursuing a difficult course of modernisation. Budapest in numbersArea: 525 km2 (203 sq. miles) two-third of which
lies on the Pest side, one-third lies on the right riverbank, Buda. On the west bank of the Danube, Buda inspires countless artists with its hilltop citadel, trees, and the cobblestone Castle District, while on the east side Pest pulses as the heart of the modern city. Nine bridges connect the two halves, including the old Széchenyi-lánchíd (Chain Bridge), the slender, white Erzsébet-híd (Elisabeth Bridge), the green Szabadság-híd (Freedom Bridge), while the newest Lágymányosi-híd has a modern design and a special lighting system with mirrors. Budapest has long been famous not only as a splendid capital city but also as a splendid spa, with 123 springs yielding 50,000 cubic meters of thermal water daily for use in baths and thermal hotels for both therapy and recreation. Another special attraction is the caves, many of which can be visited -- for example the Szemlõhegy and the Pálvölgy caves. When you come to Hungary, your greatest experience will be meeting people who are easy-going and friendly; almost everyone in the tourist business speaks English and/or other foreign languages. A few Budapest highlights: Buda Castle, featuring a magnificent Danube panorama that includes the Hungarian National Gallery, Mathias Church, and Fishermen's Bastion. Not to be missed are Gellért Hill; Margaret Island; the Chain Bridge; the Parliament ; the Opera House; Heroes' Square, featuring the Millennium Memorial, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Palace of Exhibitions, and, directly behind the square, the City Park, where one can find Vajdahunyad Castle and Széchenyi Baths. You can see maps:
Sights of Buda (450
kB) or Sights of
Pest (500 kB). Many street names occur more than once in town; always check the district (with Roman numbers) as well as the kind of the street. Utca, abbr. u (street), út or útja (avenue), tér or tere (square, but may be a park, plaza or boulevard), híd (bridge), and körút abbr. krt. (ring-boulevard). Numbers on either side of the streets are not always in sync; a few streets are numbered up one side and down the other (default is odd/even). Moreover, streets occasionally arbitrarily change their names from one block to the next. Since many have shed their Communist labels, an up-to-date map is essential. To check it: there should not be Lenin krt. exist on the Great Ring Boulevard. Anyone planning an exhaustive visit should consider purchasing Budapest: A Critical Guide, from András Török.
RailwayThe capital can easily be reached by train from all directions. The railway stations are near the centre of the city and they are connected to the public transport network. Hungarian trains (vonat), most of which pass through the capital, are reliable and inexpensive; Eurail and EastRail are valid. Train travel to and from Budapest is fast and efficient. Travel between other towns is more difficult - you will often have to go back to Budapest to change trains. To avoid confusion, ask "Át kell szállnom?" ("Do I have to change trains?"). If the town you are travelling to is on the gyorsvonat (fast train) route, definitely travel on them; személyvonat (local trains) can be painfully slow because they stop at every station; gyorsvonat trains (listed in the schedules in red) cost the same and move at least twice as fast. All ticket prices are one-way (csak oda) unless you request oda-vissza (round-trip). One-way tickets are valid for the day you buy them, round-trip tickets are valid for the next 3 days or for a month (over 100 kms) from the day of purchase. Air conditioned Inter-City trains are the fastest (blue in printed schedules) and they offer extremely comfortable travelling conditions from some foreign cities as well. Seat reservations are required on trains marked with an "R" in the schedules and on every ICs. Travellers under 26 are eligible for a 33% discount on domestic train fares, and an ISIC earns 30% discount on international tickets at IBUSZ, Expressz and station ticket counters. Flash your card and say "student" (diák). Other important words include érkezés (arrival), indulás (departure), vágány (track/platform) and állomás or pályaudvar (station, abbr. pu.). The 7- and 10-day discount train passes (about $35 and $45), good for unlimited domestic travel, are worth buying only if you plan to see the entire country. You can check the whole timetable of MÁV with legend of schedule signs, etc. or Inter-City timetables (Nem közlekedik = does not run, kivételével = except). AirplaneBudapest has three airport terminals, Ferihegy 1 (20 km/12 miles from the city) and Ferihegy 2A/2B (24 km/15 miles). The first handles only cargo planes and charter flights. You can see timetables, fares, etc. at this site. There are three possibilities to get into the city from the airport. (Besides taxi which I do not recommend at all.)
With private airplane you may arrive at the following airports:
ShipWhy not to travel differently someday? There is a very fast hydro-foil service on the Vienna-Bratislava-Budapest route between April and November. It takes 5 hours (Vienna-Budapest) and 6 hours (Budapest-Vienna). The agreeable journey, through nice scenery, ends in the heart of Budapest. Eurailpass gets 50% off. Coach (Bus)The Hungarian Volánbusz Rt., member of Eurolines, runs regular services to 15 countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Yugoslavia. Coaches arrive in the city, near to Deák tér, at the coach station (V., Erzsébet tér). The extensive domestic bus system is cheap but usually crowded; it links many towns whose the only connection is to Budapest. Buy intercity tickets on board (get there early if you want a seat). At big bus stations you can buy tickets in advance, with free seat reservation for the intercity lines. All ticket prices are one-way (csak oda) unless you request oda-vissza (round-trip). A final note: Hungarian buses are only better than trains for short hops from village to village, such as along the Danube bend - otherwise, they are more crowded and far less comfortable. Car, motorbikeFrom the west one can arrive by car or by coach along the
highway M15-M1/E5. Toll must be paid on this route, and also on almost all
highway
s. When you do not wish to get into the centre of Budapest,
you should use the M0 motor-way
ring around Budapest. (Warning! This is not a highway!) You can save a lot of time. Vignettes/stickers for the highways can be bought at filling stations and some kiosks. There are weekly, monthly and yearly vignettes. Beware: these stickers are not valid on the M5/E5 highway (heading to the South). Furthermore, this is the most expensive highway toll in Europe. Valid driving license, vehicle license and the country-sign on the vehicle are enough to enter the country. Third-party liability insurance is obligatory in Hungary, though the number plate on your car is usually enough proof. Green card (environmental) is compulsory for citizens only of a few country, however, it is advisable for everyone. You can drive according to the rules of the road as usual elsewhere in Europe. Trucks and coaches should always drive in the rightmost lane. Trucks are prohibited on the roads during weekends. You must not drive intoxicated, the legitimate blood alcohol level is 0.08 percent.
You must use dimmed headlights on cars outside built-up areas (however, always with motorbike). You must always use safety belt on the front seats and as well on the back seats when outside built-up areas. Children shorter than 150 cms (5 feet) can travel only in a safety child seat in the front of the car. It is obligatory to wear safety helmet on motorbikes. You must not use your mobile phone in hands while driving. You will not have trouble with filling up. There are innumerable filling stations along the roads, the big international companies are present besides the Hungarian MOL. Available fuels: 91, 95, 98 petrol (all unleaded only), diesel oil, and LPG at some places. If your car needs leaded fuel, you can buy leading additive at filling stations. You can find garages and service stations of the largest motor companies at Budapest, too. Rent-a-car: The well-known international companies have agencies at Budapest with offices in the city and at the airport. May I suggest that you drive a car in Budapest only if you are well acquainted with the city. Sometimes there are huge traffic jams due to the large number of vehicles, and there are inscrutable traffic restrictions around construction sites. One can drive between Buda and Pest only through the bridges, often at a snail's pace. It is very hard to find a parking lot inside the center. Parking is expensive. Anyway, do not pollute us, please. Thanks. Driving suggestions for foreigners in a nutshell:
CyclingAt present, there are only a few bike-routes in Hungary. However, the bike-route network develops very dynamically nowadays. You can visit many tourist places around Budapest by bicycle. You can transport your bike on many train lines (for a half-price bicycle-ticket), HÉV and Fogaskerekû lines (for a full-price BKV ticket) also. One should be circumspect when biking on the carriageway because car drivers do not care about them and seldom like to give way for cyclists (just as for pedestrians) even if they should. Don't be surprised if you find a parking car on the bike-route. Public transport in BudapestIt is relatively easy to find your way at Budapest. The Danube flows through the middle of the city, the right bank is Buda, the left is Pest. The main traffic routes are the boulevards (the inner Károly krt.-Múzeum krt.-Vámház krt., the Grand Ring Boulevard [Szt. István krt.-Teréz krt.-Erzsébet krt.-József krt.-Ferenc krt.], the outer [Róbert Károly krt.-Hungária krt.-Könyves Kálmán krt.]), and the radial avenues. The main traffic junctions are Moszkva tér and Batthyány tér at Buda, and Deák tér, Nyugati tér, Ferenciek tere and Blaha Lujza tér at Pest. The three underground metro lines (from 4:30am to 11pm), trams and buses (usually from 4:45am to 11:30pm) make up an extensive public transport network. The three underground lines meet only in one point, at Deák tér. Tickets must be purchased in advance at the stations. Fares cannot be paid on board. Tickets are valid for one ride only; a new ticket must be used every time you change lines. Tickets have to be canceled in meters (red punch slots) on board [tram, bus] or at [metro] station entrances (orange boxes). Daily, weekend, weekly, biweekly and monthly passes are also available at discount. For prices and other information you may want to visit BKV's home page. On trolleybuses and some buses you can buy a ticket from the driver. It is more expensive than otherwise! (So if the driver asks for more money, do not think he's cheating.) I suggest that you buy a Budapest Card which is valid for 2 or 3 days, gives free travel on public transport vehicles and free entrance to museums. It can be bought at the ticket offices and is valid for an adult plus a child. The schedules for tram and bus lines display the departure time from the terminal. This means you have to add the time the tram/bus needs to reach your current stop (it is usually indicated on the left side of the schedule). However, I wouldn't rely on these schedules for anything coming more often than 20 minutes. HÉV trains are usually on schedule within one minute. Buses with red numbers are express buses. They don't stop everywhere, so be careful! There are also night buses for the most frequently used places which run all night. (Sign: letter "É" is attached to the line number, e.g. bus number "6É". The bus line 182É runs for the M3 and 78É for the M2 underground routes.) Some of the BKV buses travel to cities/villages outside Budapest. They are marked with a diagonal brown stripe across the line number plate. You have to validate another ticket if you cross the boundary of Budapest even if you have a pass. [You'd rather validate while still within Budapest. Some controllers make sport of catching people right at the boundary.] The modern buses have an electronic display showing the name of the next stop. Usually you can trust it, but sometimes the driver misses to push its button especially if there was nobody to get on or get off. If you are not sure, just ask someone. It is recommended especially as many stops have several names (eg. "Bocskai út", "Skála-piac", "SZTK" is also used for the "Október 23-a u." stop).
Taxis
Taxis have a yellow traffic plate. The usual fare is about 140...150 Ft/km, 100...120 if called by telephone. Fares from/to the airport are higher, usually 200 Ft/km since it is outside of Budapest; the total price is around 3000-4500 Ft depending on where do you travel within Budapest. If you decided to travel with a taxi, it is suggested to call one by phone instead of stopping a "no-name" taxi on the street, and to ask the approximate fare before the ride. The fares must be displayed on/inside the taxi. Do not accept much higher rates! Other modes of transportThe underground line M1 (Milleniumi Földalatti Vasút, MFAV - Millenium Underground Railway) was built in 1896, as the first underground in Europe, on the occasion of the World Exhibition in Budapest, celebrating the millenium of Hungary's founding in the Carpathian Basin. While the other two underground lines run deep below the surface, M1 is just below street level. Its stations and vehicles were reconstructed in 1996, now they are worth to see. The capital can also be praised for its peculiar means
of transport. Such are the Sikló (funicular railway) which was opened
in 1870 and runs between period stations with period cars. It connects Clark
Ádám tér at the Buda end of the Lánchíd and
the Southern part of the Buda Castle. The travel takes only a few minutes. The Children's Railway
(Gyermekvasút) is a narrow-gauge
(760 mm) railway, with partly opened waggons that covers the 11.1 km (6.7 miles) long route in
50 minutes, mostly in the woods. The difference in elevations between the two terminals is 235 m
(771 feet). The duty is carried out by children of age 10-14 (except the engine-driver)
in uniform, under the supervision of adults. The route touches János-hegy, the highest
point of the city, on which stands the 23.5 metres (77 feet) high Erzsébet look-out
tower with four storeys. The terminal of the railway is Hûvösvölgy with a vast
field which is a fashionable outting place for the people of Budapest. Libegõ (Chair lift). This means of transport which principally
reminds of a ski-lift might be surprising in a capital. The path has a length of appr. 1 km
(0.6 miles) and an elevation of 262 m (860 feet) to the János-hegy.
The trip takes appr. 15 minutes in an average altitude of 8 metres (26 feet)
above ground, and the sight from the height is unforgettable. The Fogaskerekû vasút (Cog-wheel railway) is an experience and a sight as well. It has been built as the third cog-wheel railway of Europe, in 1874. Runs regularly between the Városmajor and Széchenyi-hegy. An ordinary BKV ticket is valid for the trip. HÉV (suburban railway) lines are part of the Budapest transport system. You can easily reach such places of interest as Szentendre (20 kms / 12 miles from Budapest) or Gödöllõ (30 kms / 18 miles) in 45 minutes. Warning: ordinary BKV tickets and passes are valid only within the boundaries of Budapest. You should buy extra HÉV ticket in advance to travel further that is validated by the controller.
Climate: temperate continental Though our climate is called "moderate", the daily temperature fluctuation is quite high. Prepare to wear sweatshirts or jumpers with jacket in spring and autumn mornings then undress to a single T-shirt in the afternoon. Or you can experience 5 Celsius (41 F) dawns after a 35 Celsius (95 F)-warm day in a summer mountain excursion. See also chapter Hungary in numbers for more information! Daily mean temperature:
It is possible to have a month without any rain as well as
to have 200-300 mm pouring down in a summer month. Our summers are dry and warm. Occasionally there are thunders with showers. Winters are moderately cold and usually dry. Autumns are cool, foggy and rainy. By clicking, you can visit
Local timeCentral European Time, GMT + 1 hour. When it is 12:00am at Budapest, the time in the following places is:
The unit of currency is the forint (Ft or HUF) and fillér for the change (100 fillér = 1 Ft), though these days fillér coins are rare (officially out of use) and not worth much. The 50 Ft coins are easy to confuse with the 10 Ft coins. Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200# Ft. #: If you accidentally get one, do not give it to anyone. It is rare therefore worths more than 200 Ft. There is a value added tax (VAT) in Hungary. (In Hungarian: ÁFA.) It is included in hotel charges, in the price of meals and the items you are likely to buy (souvenirs). Ask "Nettó vagy bruttó?" (Net or gross?) if you are unsure. There is no obligation for foreigners to change currency daily. You should remember that the majority of monetary transactions is in cash besides credit and debit cards. All of the major credit cards are accepted in Hungary where it is indicated at the shop enctrance. Valuta = foreign currency, deviza = foreign exchange (cheques etc.) For actual exchange rates see FORNAX Monitor (which is a Hungarian firm) I suggest that you do not change too much money before arriving in Budapest. All major currencies can be exchanged at a number of places such as the airport, railway stations, exchange offices, hotels or banks. The best rates were found at branches of OTP Bank, ABN-Amro Bank and MKB in Budapest. At the few exchange offices with extended hours the rates are generally poor. Cash advances on credit cards are available at all OTP branches. Most Hungarian cities have plenty of ATMs, which will provide you with the best exchange rates. Exchange rates are more advantageous in Budapest, especially at restaurants, at pump stations and even at large supermarkets. All major credit cards are welcome in Hungary, the most popular ones are EuroCheck, Visa, EuroCard/MasterCard, American Express or Cirrus/Maestro. With the forint's continuing devaluation and inflation of about 10% p.a., prices are on the rise. However, Hungary is still cheaper than the Czech Republic and slighly more expensive than Eastern European countries. Staying in budget hotels and pensions (doubles $10-$20) and eating all your meals in restaurants ($6-$10 per person per meal), you can expect to spend about $40 per day. You will spend much less if you stay in private homes ($5-$10 per person), university dorms and youth hostels ($2-$5) or campgrounds ($5-$10 per two-person campsite), and buy some of your food in produce markets. Prices in Budapest and Balaton are much higher than elsewhere in the country (hotel and hostel rates are double). In public phones you can use 20, 50 and 100 Ft coins (~ 20 Ft/impulse) in blue/silver pay-phones. Don't use pay-phones if possible. They are just like slot-machines. And then for international calls you will need a companion to feed the machine. It is much better to use a phone card (can be bought in post offices, newspaper kiosks and at high traffic junctions) which is even cheaper (13..15 Ft/impulse). For inter-city (long-distance) calls a "06" goes before the city code. International calls begin with "00" and are charged independently from the time of the day. Public telefax service is available at the larger post offices such as the ones at the Nyugati and the Keleti railway stations. You can get almost all of the public directories of the world at the Belvárosi Telefonközpont (V., Petõfi Sándor u. 17.). The phone number of international inquires: 199.
Postal tariffs for a normal letter (old prices from 2000!)
To neighbouring countries (Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Yugoslavia, Croatia, Slovenia) standard size letters cost only 32 forints. Air mail: + 15 Ft for every 10 g. For foreign mail you should write an "X" in the first printed box of the envelope and put your postal code elsewhere. Unless your mail has a blue Légiposta sticker or "Airmail" printed on it, it might arrive home after you do. Airmail letters are usually delivered in about a week. Newpapers in EnglishYou can find almost all of the well-known foreign newspapers and magazines at the major hotels and news-agents. The only newspaper about Hungary in English that I found on the net is Budapest Sun. Write me if you know more.
First of all, we use our names in reverse order. Surnames first, given names second, e.g. Peter Smith is Kovács Péter in Hungarian. Hungarian people are humorous and kind, even if they are trying to disguise it. In the years of the last regime, we were called as the "happiest shed/bivvy" of the socialist camp. If you see unhappy faces, it is just because we are tired. We have had lots of trouble in our history, nevertheless Hungary survived. Some people say that we are pessimistic but it is just "experienced optimism". Nothing serious. :-) Hungarian people also have a tendendcy to "be the first". You can expect one politely giving way to everyone at a revolving door, nevertheless, you can be sure he will come out first of the same door. Or, for example, if two traffic lanes merge, the one that should give way moves faster. We are friends of Polish people and they are our friends also for historical reason. We were neighbours for more than 1000 years, and we had common kings and "exported" kings and queens to the other country. We helped each other in many wars and revolutions. Etc., etc. Unfortunately, for almost 50 years primarily only Russian was taught in schools as foreign language. (Was not learned, anyway. :-) If you want to ask something in English, try to ask young people, or who looks like a business(wo)man. Also many people speak German, especially in Western Hungary, near to the Austrian border, or at any high-traffic tourist centres (Lake Balaton, the Buda Castle, etc.). Summarized: English is the country's very distant third language after Hungarian and German -- much of Western Hungary is geared to German-speaking tourists. In Eastern Hungary, however, even German can fail. Also "have-to-mention"s are Hungarian scientists who either stayed or worked elsewhere in the world. Did you know that many scientific work-groups use(d) the Hungarian language in the USA because most of them are/were Hungarian? Just some names: Ignác Semmelweis (medical hygiene - puerperal fever), Loránd Eötvös (mass attraction), Kálmán Kandó (developing electric train engine), János Neumann [John von Neumann] (computers), Albert Szentgyörgyi (Nobel prize for discovering vitamin C), György Békésy (audiologist; Nobel prize), Dénes Gábor (holography, television, Gabor-transform; Nobel prize), Leó Szilárd & Jenõ Wigner [Eugene Wigner] (nuclear fusion; Nobel prize), Ede Teller (H-bomb), and even the inventor of microprocessors, András Gróf [Andrew Grove] was Hungarian-born. János Hunyadi has stopped the Turks from conquering Europe at Nándorfejérvár (today it's Beograd, the capital of Serbia) and for this event the pope ordered to ring the church bells every midday. Did you know that at noon bells toll because of Hungarian? Is Rubik's cube familiar? Ernõ Rubik is also Hungarian as well as many-many more. Hungary has produced a large number of great athletes in a wide variety of sports. Traditional Hungarian events include swimming, fencing, pentathlon, kayak-canoe, judo, etc. The number of olympic medals won over 100 years is amongst the highest in the world on the per capita basis. You will no doubt notice that Hungarian girls are very pretty (I would not say anything about Hungarian boys... ;-).
Most restaurants in Budapest will fit your budget (an average main dish runs $2-$5), though at Lake Balaton the prices are higher. A 10% tip is usual. Fast food joints, though hardly Hungarian, are at least always there when you need them. Travellers may also rely on grocery stores and food markets. There are lots of non-stop food stores in the city open all night, but they are more expensive. The amazing establishment of cafés were the pretentious haunts of Budapest's literary, intellectual and cultural elite. A café repose is a must for every visitor; best of all, the absurdly ornate pastries are inexpensive, even in the most genteel establishment. You can eat well for less by choosing the prix-fixe menü offered in many restaurants. If you search for a restaurant you should look for these words: étterem, csárda, (kis)vendéglõ, kifõzde, bisztró. In decreasing level of price. I am sure you have already heard about Hungarian cuisine, for example "goulash", about which I have to mention that "gulyás" is a SOUP, not a stew. [In fact, the word "gulyás" itself is Hungarian. It means cowboy.] Stew is called "pörkölt". Fisherman's soup ("halászlé") is also famous though it is spicy. [Just keep the flame extinguisher handy. :-) ] Hungarian dishes tend to be greasy, with lots of sour cream or grated cheese. Though this kind of food might take years off your life, it sure tastes good and you will no doubt survive if you taste them. Many restaurants now also offer a few vegetarian dishes - usually deep-fried cheese or mushrooms and vegetables served with tartar sauce. However even dishes that look meatless are frequently cooked with lard in some villages; strict vegetarians should double-check when ordering to avoid disappointment. If something looks red or black dotted, prepare yourself to enjoy paprika (red pepper) and black pepper. Don't say you are used to it. Only hot chili gets near to the power of the original Hungarian red erõs (hot) paprika. Hungarian are justly proud of their wines. Most famous are the red Egri Bikavér
("Bull's Blood of Eger") and the white Tokaji wines.
Amongst the alcoholic beverages you should try Tokaji Aszú which has
sweet and dry versions and is very delicate. It is suggested to drink it in a sober state and it is
"uncivilised" to get drunk from Tokaji.
A pension (panzió) is slightly cheaper and more homey than a hotel. Private rooms are usually booked through tourist offices, or you can walk around looking for signs that say Szoba kiadó (room to rent) or Zimmer frei. Continental breakfast is usually available for a small extra charge at most pensions and private houses in the countryside. This gives you a chance to meet your hosts and get their advice on what to see and do in the area. Though hostels are uncommon outside Budapest, some towns open their university dorms to travellers during July and August.
EMERGENCIES - SECURITY
First aid is free for foreign guests as well. You can buy certain drugs in a pharmacy without prescription. The chemist will help you find the Hungarian equivalent of your drugs. All major prescription drugs are available in Hungary. Of course, pick-pockets work at crowded places such as the Castle District, tram lines 4/6, bus lines 7, 7A, 7, 173. Take care of your valuables!
I would be glad to develop this page to accommodate disabled people. I do not know how to do this. Please write to me if you can give me hints. Budapest has a long way to go in this regard. The least problem is with wheel-chairs at hotels; the catalogues of hotels mark this option. High curb-sides often form barriers on the streets, steps are usually without a slope or elevator, etc. However, new sidewalks presently under construction in the capital will accommodate the disabled. The majority of the sights and museums were built with wide stairs in the 19th century. It is advisable to ask for help on the spot because they may help you with inner elevators or staff entrances. You should not travel and move around without escort if you are invalid. The sign for blind people is a white stick in Hungary, instead of the yellow circle with three black dots. There are sound signals for the traffic lights at the biggest traffic junctions. They beep when the light is green.
You should know that we have a strange way to describe time. For example 1/2 10 means half to ten (9:30), while 3/4 8 is quarter to 8 (7:45). Some good news: Smoking is forbidden in public offices, schools, hospitals, restaurants, etc., and on public transport vehicles for a trip shorter than 100 kms. No child below the age of 18 can purchase cigarette. As previously mentioned, we use our names in reverse order. Surnames first, given names second. The same goes for addresses. The right order: name, city, street, number, postal code. We are consistent, so the date/time is used in the same way, from the biggest to the smallest: year, month, day, hour, minute, second - both in writing and in speaking. We use Roman numbers extensively instead of ordinal numbers for districts of cities, months, floor numbers, etc. If you do not know them: I = 1, II = 2, III = 3, IV = 4, V = 5, VI = 6, VII = 7, VIII = 8, IX = 9, X = 10, XI = 11, XX = 20, XXX=30, XL = 40, L = 50, XC = 90, C = 100, etc. We exchange presents on Christmas Eve instead of Boxing Day or New Year's Eve. As some of you had already asked: We wear engagement ring on the left hand and wedding ring on the right hand. The Hungarian language, magyar, is one of the world's most difficult languages. Struggling with pronunciation may often seem embarrassing, but Hungarians will be flattered if you try. Opening hours, holidaysHolidays are: 15 March (National Holiday), 20 August, 23 October (National Holiday). Public holidays are: 1 January (New Year), 1 May (Labour Day), 25-26 December (Christmas), and also Monday of Easter and Whitmonday. It is possible that there are changes in working days around holidays, especially if the holiday is on Thursday. Food stores: Mon-Fri 7am-7pm, Sat 7am-2pm. Su only non-stop shops
and big shopping centres. Genealogical researchThis topic is not strictly Budapest- or Hungary-related but so many of you have asked about it that I found it more comfortable to put things here. Remember that Hungary had lost most of its area during the world wars. It's possible that you'll find your Hungarian relatives in the present-day Rumania, Slovakia, Serbia or Ukraine. If you are searching for relatives with Hungarian origin, you can try two sources:
Please do not write me inquiring about your relatives because I cannot help. One of the reasons is that I do not know other ways besides these sources. The other reason is that I have my own things to do, and do not have too much spare time. Sorry.
Passport, visaCitizens of most countries only need a valid passport to enter Hungary; Austrian, French, German and Sloven citizens only need an ID card. Citizens of European countries (except Albania and Turkey) can enter without a visa, as well as the citizens of the following countries: Argentina, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Nicaragua, Republic of Korea, Republic of South-Africa, Seychelle Islands, Singapore, Uruguay, USA and the states of the former Soviet Union (except Uzbekistan). If you need a visa, you can obtain one from certain Hungarian foreign consulates and embassies abroad. You can also obtain one (for a higher fee) at international border crossings, Ferihegy International Airport and the international port of Budapest. The visa is valid for 90 days. Left-luggageThere is left-luggage service at every railway station where you can leave your belongings for a few hours. There is no such service at the terminals of Ferihegy Airport. ShoppingMost convenient, if you want quick-shopping, is the inner city (Váci utca, Petõfi Sándor u., Kígyó u.). However, it is a bit expensive. If you have plenty of time, it is worth looking around at Kossuth Lajos u., Rákóczi út, Károly and Múzeum körút, and the Grand Ring Boulevard as well. Some ideas for gift or souvenir: folk art items, pottery, embroidery, dolls with national costume, hand-painted Herend china, lace from Halas, Zsolnay china, books, CDs, paprika, goose-liver, Pick or Herz salami, Szamos marzipan, apricot or cherry schnaps (pálinka), wines. You will have wide options to choose if you like antiques. To look around and choose from strange things do not miss a flea market. The bigger of the two is the Ecseri (at the stop of the same name on the M3 underground line), open Mon-Fri 8am-4pm. Markets: It is by all means worth to visit one of the twenty markets of Budapest. The biggest one, "pantry of the city" and popular destination for tourist is Nagyvásárcsarnok, at the Fõvám tér, the Pest side of Szabadság-híd. There are many settlements near Budapest that are worth visiting. Esztergom is situated 70 kms (42 miles) to the North from Budapest. This city, lying on the bank of Danube, is the principal seat of the Hungarian Catholic Church. It was also a royal residence until the 13th century. King Szt. István was crowned here. The Bazilika is the largest church of Hungary, the Catholic Museum has one of the richest art collections of the country. Gödöllõ. The most famous building of this town, situated 30 kms (18 miles) to the East from Budapest, is the Grassalkovics Palace which is the largest palace of Hungary. It was the favourite residence of Queen Erzsébet (Sissy) in the 19th century. While now under renovation, the restored parts are open to visitors. Hollókõ. This small village in North-Hungary (appr. 90 kms to the North from Budapest) is a nature and monumental conservation area, a living museum with its national dresses, traditions, events. Its old centre is included in the World Heritage list of UNESCO. Szentendre, 20 kms (12 miles) to the North from the capital, has a history dating back to the 14th century. Cultural and tourism centre, town of artists and arts, right by the Danube. It has a Mediterranean atmosphere, Serbian-orthodox monuments, 12 museums, an outdoor village museum and you can experience top class culinary delights. Visegrád had its golden age during the reign of king Mátyás, in the 15th century. The excavated parts of his marvellous renaissance palace amazes the visitor even nowadays. From the Fellegvár (Citadel), on the top of the mountain, you can enjoy the nicest view of the Danube-bend. You can reach the Bend of the Danube with scheduled boats leaving from V., Vigadó tér.
We are looking forward to seeing you all in Hungary.This page is maintained by Ákos Dömötör (dome <at> impulzus <dot> com). Last modification: .
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