Good to know
Passports and visas
A visa is no longer required for visitors from the EU when travelling to Hungary. There are no longer any ID/passport controls at the EU borders. Citizens of Croatia can enter the country by showing the identity card. Citizens of the US, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Venezuela and New Zealand, are free to enter without a visa. The usual length of stay is 90 days without any additional permit.
On the following webpage you can find the central database of the ambassies and foreign representative offices operating in Hungary: http://www.embassies.hu/
Local time
Time zone: GMT + 1 hour Central European time
Summer daylight savings: GMT + 2 hours
(from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October)
For the current local time in Hungary please visit the following site:
http://times.clari.net.au/location.php/Europe/Budapest?cc=HU
Weather
Average Summer Temperature: 27 to 32 °C (81 to 90 °F)
Average Winter Temperature: 0 to -15 °C (32 to 5 °F)
The current weather information about Hungary you can find here:
http://weather.yahoo.com/hungary/budapest/budapest-804365/
http://www.weatherinhungary.com/
Electricity
Electrical current in Hungary is 220 volts/European plugs.
Currency
The Hungarian currency is the forint (HUF or Ft).
Coins: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 HUF
Banknotes: 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10 000, 20 000 HUF
Exchange
Hungarian banks, saving banks and exchange offices are involved in exchange. There is no mandatory minimum amount for currency exchange, rates can vary widely. The best rates are at banks and travel agencies. Additionally, 24-hour exchange machines offer convenience as well as good bank rates.
Here you can find the exchange rates: http://www.xe.com/.
Banks
Banks are usually open between 8:00-16:00 on weekdays. Some banks are open on Saturday, but all are closed on Sunday.
ATMs
ATMs accepting most credit and cash cards are everywhere in Hungary, even in small villages.
Credit cards
Credit cards, especially Visa, MasterCard and American Express, are widely accepted in Hungary, and you'll be able to use them at many tourist-related businesses such as hotels, restaurants, stores in the shopping districts, car-rental firms, travel agencies and petrol stations. They are not usually accepted at museums, supermarkets, or train and bus stations.
Travellers' cheques can be cashed in banks but are not accepted in shops.
Telephone
Dialing code for Hungary: +36
Dialing code for Budapest: +36 1
Domestic long distance calls: 06 + area code + local phone number
Calls from Hungary abroad: dial 00, then the country code, city code (without the „0”) and the local number.
Police: 107
Ambulance: 104
Central Emergency: 112
Fire department: 105
Phone Directory Hungary: 198
Phone Information International: 199
Public Phones function with coins or with phone cards which can be bought in hotels, service stations, post offices and news-stands.
Shopping
Most shops are open from 8.30 till 17.30 on weekdays, from 8.30 till 12.30 on Saturdays, they are usually closed on Sundays
Shopping centers in Budapest West End: entrance from "Nyugati" metro station, Metro 3 (blue line). The biggest and newest. There are 400 shops and many restaurants in one building.
Mammut I-II.: Lövőház street 2-6., near "Moszkva tér" metro station, Metro 2 (red line).
Duna Plaza: entrance directly from "Gyöngyösi út" metro station, Metro 3 (blue line).
Museums
Almost every museums are closed on Mondays.
The homepage of Hungarian museums: http://www.museum.hu/index_en.php
Public transport
Buses, troley-buses, trams and the underground function in general between 4:30 and 23:00. Tickets can be bought at the bus terminals, metro stations and in news-stands.
Public transport schedules and passes:
http://www.bkv.hu/english/home/index.html
Foods
Authentic Hungarian dishes are definitely not for people on diet. You may find Hungarian dishes a bit too heavy and fatty, however their rich flavour, aroma and texture compensate you for the slightly excessive calory intake. But don’t think that everything is soaking in pork fat and paprika. These ingredients are essential for authentic Hungarian dishes, but properly portioning them and using modern cooking methods we can make healthier dishes. Traditional Hungarian dishes are primarily based on meats, seasonal vegetables, fruits, fresh bread, cheeses and honey. Recipes are based on centuries-old traditions around spicing and preparation methods.
Drinks
Hungarian wines dates back to at least Roman times. The best-known wines are the white dessert wine called Tokaj (North-Eastern region of Hungary) (Tokaji) and the red vines from Villány (Southern part of Hungary). Famous is also the vine called Bull's Blood (Egri Bikavér), a dark, full-bodied red wine. Though not as famous as the country's wines, Hungarian beer has a long history as well. Hungary's most notable liquors are Unicum, a herbal bitters, and Palinka, a range of fruit brandies.
Budapest map
Online Budapest map is to be found here:
Budapest Google map
Budapest streetfinder