GENERAL INFORMATION
Geographical LocationHungary lies in the Carpathian Basin of Central Europe. The greatest distance from North to South is 268 km, and from east to west, 528 km. Area: 93,030 km2 Population: 10,197,119 persons Population density:108 persons/km2. Sixty-three percent of the population live in towns. Capital: Budapest (territory: 525 km2; population: 1,775,203 persons) Time zone: Central European (GMT+1) Summer season: From the last weekend in March to the last weekend in October + 1 hour Official language: Hungarian Type of Government: republic Public administration: 19 Counties and Budapest Geographical regionsFifty percent of Hungary's territory consists of flatlands: the ALFÖLD (The Great Plain) comprises the entire eastern half of Hungary, while the KISALFÖLD (The Little Plain), extends along the northwestern border. The country's two most prominent rivers - the Danube, of which the Hungarian section is 417 km long, and the Tisza at 598 km - traverse Hungary from north to south. The Central Danube-Tisza region is also flatland, while the Transdanubian countryside lying west of the Danube has hilly terrain. Lake Balaton, Central Europe's warmest lake, is situated in the centre of this region. The highlands stretch diagonally across Hungary: west of the Danube lies the Central Transdanubian mountain range with its hills reaching 400-700 metres (e.g. The Keszthely, Bakony, Vértes, Gerecse, Pilis, and Visegrád mountain ranges). East of the Danube lies the Central Northern mountain range with hills of 500-1000 metres (e.g. the Börzsöny, Cserhát, Mátra, Bükk, Cserehát, Zemplén mountain ranges). The highest point in Hungary is 1014 metres, which can be found at Kékes in the Mátra mountain range. The Hungarian "puszta" (meaning "wasteland" or "barren land") is a popular tourist destination. Its one-time characteristic animals and ethnographic traditions can be seen at the horse-riding shows in the Hortobágy National Park (e.g. Bugac, Apajpuszta, Lajosmizse). Tourist regionsHungary can be divided into 5 tourist regions:
Hungary has a temperate climate, similar to the rest of the continental zone. January is the coldest month (-1 C average) and August the warmest (21,3 C average).
TRANSPORTATIONDriving
Required Documents- Driving license: When operating a motor vehicle, citizens of the European Union and countries that had signed the Vienna Convention on Public Roads can use their national driver's licenses, all others are required to have an international license. Foreign driving licenses are valid for one year after entry. - Liability insurance (Insurance can be taken out at the appointed insurance companies) and Green card: Liability insurance is mandatory in Hungary. For vehicles from countries that are members of license plate agreements, the plate and country sticker is acceptable as proof of valid insurance. Members include the following countries: Austria, Albania, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Feröer-Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Macedonia, Monaco, The Netherlands, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Chanel-Islands, Ile of Man, Gibraltar), Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia and Montenegro, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovenia, Slovakia, San Marino and Vatican. Citizens of all other countries must present a green card. Without the green card, the owner is required to taken out insurance at the border before entering the country. - Car registration document - Country sticker After the expiry of a residence permit, all vehicles must be taken out of the country!
MotorwaysM1: Budapest - Hegyeshalom M6: Érd - Dunaújváros
Emergency ServiceEmergency telephone boxes are placed every 2 kilometers on the M1, M5 and M7 motorways and on motor-road '5' where non-stop assistance is available. The phone number of the Emergency Service is 188 throughout the country.
ParkingPay Car Parks in Budapest Drivers have got to pay for parking in the inner districts of Budapest. Tickets can be bought for a maximum of 2 hours in the slot-machines (ticket machines) on the streets. Cars aren't guarded in these parking places. Parking fees:120-400 HUF/hour. Given that the machines take coins, it is worth keeping 50 and 100 HUF coins for this purpose. Cars will be clamped if no parking fee has been paid or the period paid for has expired. During sightseeing excursions, passenger cars and buses are allowed to park free of charge in the major tourist centres (e.g., the Citadel, Heroes Square, Városliget (City Park). There are parking lots for buses at Belgrád rakpart (lower rakpart, wharf), in Duna Street near Erzsébet Square. Car RentalThe well-known multinational car-rental companies have agencies and offices in Budapest. The following home-pages provide information on price, availability and rental conditions: ABLE Auto Rent Automobile-Rent Avalon Rent Avis Budget Capitol City Europcar Fox Autorent Hertz ISA Rent a Car Limousine Service Hungary National Regina Rent-a-car Sixt Yes Autorent
Taxi/CabIt is worth calling a taxi by phone because most of the taxi companies charge lower rates in this case than in the case of hailing a taxi in the street. The taxi called by phone, depending on the part of the day and traffic will arrive within 5-15 minutes. Upon arriving at an airport or railway station, it is advisable to call a taxi by phone; this way, you can make a complaint to the company if there's a problem with the service. It's a good idea to avoid drivers who volunteer their services but don't have a registered taxi sticker on their car. This can prevent unpleasant surprises when it comes time to pay.
Air TransportHungary's international airport is Budapest Ferihegy Airport. Flights from and to European Union arrive at and depart from Ferihegy 2A. Flights of other destinations arrive at and depart from Ferihegy 2B. General Aviation Terminal Ferihegy 1 and Ferihegy 2B is open also non-stop for private, business and VIP flights as well as low-cost flights. Airport Information:
+36 1 296-9696 The Minibus transports passengers between the two Ferihegy terminals or between any address in Budapest and Ferihegy. Within the Budapest city limits, the one-way fare is 2300 HUF/person, 3900 HUF/person round-trip. Low fare airlinesLow fare airlines landing in and taking off from Budapest Terminal 1: Easyjet Germanwings Norwegian Air Shuttle Sterling Wizzair Jet2 Air Berlin Air Lingus Blue 1 Air Baltic Smart Wings Meridiana Coach ServiceInternational & domestic services Volánbusz operates 500 domestic distance coaches to 100 cities of the country daily, creating a direct link between 17 counties and the most important regions and resorts of the country and Budapest. During the day there are coaches in every hour or more often in the direction of Eger, Salgótarján, Gyöngyös, Jászberény, Kecskemét, Székesfehérvár, Veszprém, Tatabánya and Győr, many lines go to the Mátra, the great plain, lake Balaton or other destinations. Railway Transportation
Railway informationMÁVDIREKT (inland): 06 40 49 49 49 (abroad): +36 1 371 94 49 e-mail: informacio@mav.hu internet: www.elvira.hu
Urban Public TransportBudapestPublic transport in the city of Budapest is provided by Budapest Transport Limited (known to all Hungarians simply as BKV). It operates a network of 224 bus-, 35 tram- and 14 trolleybus routes, as well as three Underground lines. There are also five suburban railway lines (HÉV) serving the outskirts of the city. Most services operate from around 5 o'clock in the morning until about 11 o'clock at night.
You must be in the possession of a ticket or pass before you board any public transport in Budapest: there are no conductors, and the drivers do not sell tickets. For visitors the most convenient way of traveling is to buy a pass. Offering unlimited travel, these are available for one, three and seven days (they are also available for longer periods) and can be purchased at Underground stations. Tickets for single journeys can also be bought from ticket offices (and automated ticket machines at many bus and tram stops), but these have to be validated at the commencement of each journey. This is done at the red boxes situated at chest height at the top of the escalators on the Underground (or in the case of the Yellow Line, at the bottom of the stairs), and by the doors on the inside of buses, trams and trolleybuses.
Please note if you are using tickets (rather than a pass) and are changing lines at Deák tér Underground station, you will have to validate a new ticket as you change platforms.
Below is a summary of the tickets and passes most likely to be of use to visitors:
Single tickets are available at:
Inspectors Ticket inspectors operate throughout the public transport network and strictly enforce the current ticketing regulations. While inspectors on the Underground wear a blue uniform, those on buses and trams may be plain-clothed: all, however, carry official identification. Passengers caught flouting the regulations are fined (6,000 Ft.), although foreign tourists will be offered the opportunity to purchase a three-day pass instead (4,000 Ft.).
Outside Budapest
In most cities outside Budapest, full fares on public transport cost anywhere between HUF 150 and 180. For a surcharge, tickets can be purchased from the driver. Miskolc, Debrecen and Szeged have bus, tram and trolley lines, while all other cities offer only local bus services.
PRACTICAL INFORMATIONCurrency Exchange, Banks
Electric current
Emergency Calls, Complaints
Holidays
Information on Visa and Frontier Crossing
ShoppingIn general, shops are open Monday through Friday, from 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m., on Saturday from 9.00 a. m. to 1.00 p. m. Stores do not close for lunch.
No more than 90 days is allowed to pass between the purchase date and the date of the customs stamp. Time Zone
Tourist Cards
The card entitles its holder to discounts when used together with a voucher booklet. Along with the card, you will receive an information brochure listing businesses and venues honouring the card. The entire package (card + information brochure) costs HUF 5,520. It can be obtained at all TOURINFORM offices, petrol stations with convenience stores and at larger railway stations.
The card comes with a 100-page brochure, listing available services. The Budapest Card costs HUF 5,200 for two days and HUF 6,500 for three days. The card can be used by one adult and a child under the age of 14. It is available at all TOURINFORM offices, and a number of travel agencies, hotels, at the airport and larger BKV ticket offices. TelephoneCountry Code for Hungary: 36
Telephone numbers in Budapest consist of 7 numbers; phone numbers elsewhere in Hungary consist of 8 numbers, one-digit area code first. Additional services: Hungary Direct, Country Direct, Green number and Blue number. Public safetyJust as anywhere around the world, tourists travelling in Hungary should follow certain basic rules: carry travel documents and valuables in a secure bag around your neck or belt pouch worn under your clothing and never leave any valuables in a parked car. Do not wear expensive jewellery in public and avoid the poorly lit, deserted parts of the city!
How to reach the HotelBudapest is about 160, Vienna about 85, and Bratislava about 25 kilometers from the hotel. The motorway is close which provides an easy and fast approach not only inside but outside the country boards as well. (the exit of the M1 at Mosonmagyaróvár is only 10 kms far) Address: Szigetköz Conference and Wellness Hotel: H-9225 Dunakiliti, Csölösztői u. 1.
If you’d like to stay a bit longer, and spend some times in Budapest, here are some usuful links, to find the best accomondation.
Budapest HotelsBudapest offers a lots of variety of Hotels from business to wellness. For more information and reservation, please visit one of the homepages bellow. The recomanded districts are (central districts): V, VI, VII, and the Margit Island www.budapesthotels.comwww.budapesthotelreservation.hu www.centralbudapesthotels.com www.danubiushotels.com www.budapesthotelshungary.com www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g274887-Budapest-Hotels.html
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