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Hungary Practical information Hungary

 
 
Area : 35919  sq.mi - Population 10083000 hab.
Hungary

Our expert Hungary

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Practical information Hungary

superficie

Area

35919  sq.mi
vol

Flights

4 hrs. Budapest is 900 mi from London.
decallage horaire

Jet Lag

population

Population

10083000 hab.
aeroports proche

Airports

Ferihegy airport is situated 10 miles southeast of the centre of Budapest. The taxi journey will cost you between 2,500 and 3,000 forints (between Ł7 and Ł9). Minibuses can take you to the hotel for about 1,200 forints (Ł3.50) per person. The bus station and the local red no.93 bus ensures service links to the city centre every 30 minutes, from 5:30 am to 9:00 (600 forints, (Ł1.80) departing from the Place Erzsébet (Erzsébet Square), Kempinski Hotel).
securite

Security

Attacks and Crime: there are more and more fraud cases against tourists, notably concerning the fraudulent use of international bank card numbers. The American embassy has even recommended to its nationals to avoid certain bars and restaurants in the capital (Muskatli Expresso, Fontana Cabaret, Mizram Cafe, Mephisto Cafe, Tropical Bar and Piccolo Drinkbar). Preferably make payments in cash and beware of pickpockets and bag snatchers at tourist sites and on public transport. In the case of an attack, contact the police headquarters in Budapest (BDFK, XIIIe, Teve u.6, from 1 June to 1 September: permanent telephone service in English 24 hours a day, on 443 5259). On certain streets, there are gangs who rob tourists' cars and they do this by attempting to stop the Western cars and making the drivers believe that they have a flat tyre. These gangs are generally equipped with large German cylinders and if this unfortunate affair concerns you, continue on until you reach a built-up area before stopping.
langue

Languages

Hungarian is the official language of Hungary. Foreign languages are used and understood very little by the Hungarians. However, the younger generations speak other languages, such as English and German, in particular.
formalites

Requirements

A valid passport or identity card is enough for European Union citizens. You must register at the local authorities' office if you are staying in the country for more than six months.
religion

Religion

67.5 % Roman Catholics, 20 % Calvinists, 5 % Lutherans, Other: 7.5 %.
monnaie

Currency

Although the country joined the European Union on the 1 May 2004, the conversion to the Euro will not take place until late in 2009. The currency remains the Hungarian Forint (HUF). ?1 = 246 Hungarian Forints, and Ł1 = 355 Hungarian Forints.

The euro cheques and bank cheques to be converted into the home currency are accepted at the majority of exchange points (but also at the post offices for the euro cheques and the American Express traveller's cheques). International credit cards (Visa, Visa Electron, Eurocard, Master Card and Maestro) are widely accepted. The American Express card only allows you to take out money from American Express cash machines (Budapest and the airport). The banks are open from Monday to Thursday, from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm and on Friday, from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. They are closed on the weekends.

transports

Local transportation

Bus: The 108 bus line of the S.A. Volanbusz company links up the major cities in the province and the village-based bus stations. In the west, they leave from the station on Erzsébet Square (Budapest, Ve. Tél. : 317 2318) everyday from 6 :00 am to 9 :00 pm. In the east, they leave from Népstadion station ut (Budapest, XIVe Tél. : 252 4496), everyday from 5:30 am to 9 :00 pm. Towards the Danube bend, they leave from the station on Arpad bridge from Monday to Friday from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm and from Saturday to Sunday from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

Train: Other than the 47 international trains which regularly provide services to 13 European capitals, travellers can visit the country on the "InterCity" and "InterPici" trains which circulate around the different tourist regions, including Balaton lake. There are not only direct links between the major cities and the 19 administrative centres of the county, but also narrow-gauge trains which circulate over 236 miles towards the most beautiful regions in the country (tel. : 461 5400,day and night). There are also the ?nostalgic trains? which circulate between May and August (nostalgia-train@mail.matav.hu). A subscription for the week costs 13,410 ¨Hungarian Forints (Ł41) for 1st class and 8,900 forints (Ł27) for 2nd class. A 10 day subscription costs 19,320 (Ł59) Hungarian Forints for 1st class and 12,800 (Ł39) Hungarian Forints for 2nd class.

Car: The car is an excellent means of transport for visiting the country. It is possible to rent a car from numerous companies (Air Luck. Tel.: 355 9692; Americana Rent a Car. Tel.: 350 2542; Budapest Dollar. Tel.: 317 2134; Budget. Tel.: 214 0420; Denzel-Europcar. Tel.: 313 0207; Eurent. Tel.: 204 2994; Fox. Tel.: 457 1150; Fotaxi. Tel.: 455 7506; Inka. Tel.: 317 2150 ; LRI. Tel.: 296 7170 and Mercur-Hertz. Tel.: 296 6988). 18,640 miles of road give access to all the towns (the motorways are signalled by the letter M and the international roads by the letter E). In Hungary you drive on the right and the British driving license is valuable for one year including the date of entry into the country.

Taxi : Generally, the prices during the day are 200 Hungarian Forints (60p) as it's 125 Hungarian Forints/mile. The prices in the evening are 160 Hungarian Forints for 160 Forints/mile.

sante

Health

No particular vaccine is required, however, it is recommended that you are vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis as some cases have been reported in Central Europe.

Think about getting a European health insurance card. It replaced the E 111 form in 2004. It is a personal card which is valid for one year and works in all European Union countries.

Think about getting a European health insurance card. It replaced the E 111 form in 2004. It is a personal card which is valid for one year and works in all European Union countries.

It is recommended that you subscribe to medical repatriation insurance before departure. Hungary disposes of good medical structures and the use of blood and blood preparation for medical purposes are very strictly controlled.

Useful numbers:
To call an ambulance, dial 104 (107 for the police, 105 for the fire brigade).
Dr. Anna Gédéon (French and English speaking generalist practitioner): 06.209.431.123.
Mav Hospital: 269.55.80.
Szent Janos Hospital: 458.45.00.
Dentist emergency (24/7): 267.9602.

electricite

Electricity

Voltage is 220 V. An adapter is unnecessary.
frequentation

Flood of tourists

Hungary is one of the countries in Central Europe whose visitor numbers are growing. In 2007, it received 141,108 French visitors. In total, the number of European visitors has risen by 3.1% on last year to reach 2,867 million.
taxe

Taxes and tips

It is recommended that you add 10 to 20% to the total of the bill for a tip. Concerning VAT, travellers can ask to be reimbursed for purchases made in Hungary if the total amount exceeds 50,000 Hungarian Forints. This reimbursement request can only be made if the period between the product's purchase and its export does not exceed 90 days; if the product has not been used before; if the exit certificate has been requested (no ulterior solicitation) and if the length of time between the date of the product's purchase and the date of the restitution request does not exceed 183 days.
telephone

Telephone

From England to Hungary, dial: 00 36 + 1 (the 1 corresponds to the code for Budapest, for the other cities dial 06) + the number of your correspondent. From Hungary to France, dial: 00 + 33 + the number of your correspondent without the initial zero.