Useful information

Hungary is a democratic republic, it covers 93,000 square kilometers in area and it has got about 10 million inhabitants ( Budapest 1.7 million). The majority of the Hungarians is Roman Catholic and speaks Hungarian, a language that belongs to the Finno-Ugrian language group. Learn a few words before your trip! We will practice together for sure!

GOOD MORNING! = JO REGGELT!
THANK YOU! = KOSZONOM!
YES,NO = IGEN, NEM
PLEASE! = KEREM!
WINE = BOR
CHEERS! = EGÉSZSÉGEDRE! (Sounds easy, doesn't it?)

Arriving in Budapest

By plane: All passengers planes land at Ferihegy Airport 1 or 2, 24 km east of the city centre.
Airport Minibus inside the arrivals hall: within Budapest to any hotels 2300 HUF (return 3900 HUF).
Airport Taxi service: called Zona Taxi operates with fixed rates. It is reasonable, particularly for two people. From the airport to the central hotels from 4300 HUF.
The public transport: Bus 200 is the cheapest option; it stops at the airport every 15 minutes, from 04:55 to 23:20. It goes to Kobánya-Kispest metro station (No 3 or blue line).You can buy tickets at the bus stop.
By train: Budapest has three major railway stations: KELETI (Eastern), NYUGATI (Western), DÉLI (Southern) and each has connections to the metro system as well as the other public transport. If you come from Vienna or Prague, you will arrive in the Keleti or Nyugati, both are in the centre. Train tables: www.elvira.hu.

Accommodation

I would like to recommend these hotels with good location and nice conditions:
3-star: Pest, Hold, Fiesta, Ibis Centrum, Erzsébet, (very simple but ok: Matyas, Calvin house).
4-star: Astoria (very old but freshly renovated, nice architecture), Carlton, Art'otel, Gellert (thermal hotel!), K and K Opera, Mercure City Centre, Starlight Suiten, Korona, Victoria.
5-star: well, of course, all of them are great, the best location is rather on Pest side: Inter, Merriott, Sofitel, Le Meridien, FourSeasons, Kempinski.

Climate

Budapest has a temperate continental climate. Hottest months: July, August (max. 28- 35°C , or 80- 95 Fahrenheit), coldest ones: December, January (lowest -15°C). For info: www.met.hu

Geography

North to South, the greatest distance is 268 km (171 miles); East to West, it is 528 km (316 miles). The landscape consists mostly of plains in the east, low hills to the west, and small mountains to the North. Kékes Mountain , the country's highest point, is a modest 1014 m. The major rivers are the Danube and the Tisza . Hungary is land-locked but does have the biggest fresh-water lake in Europe, called Balaton.

Local Time

Hungary is in the Central European Time Zone: GMT+1 hour. Summer time (March to the middle of October): GMT+2hours.

Money

The Hungarian currency is the Forint (Ft or HUF). For the exchange rates see e.g. www.xe.com.
Euro, US dollar and credit cards are accepted by most tourist-related businesses such as hotels, restaurants. Paying by credit card is not the routine experience like it is in much of the West, it is better to have some HUF in cash in museums, small shops, markets.

Security

Budapest is a safe city; that is why the visitors number is increasing. There are quite a few policemen in downtown and around the main tourist attractions. But never forget, it is a big city! Take care in crowded places!

Public transport

Budapest has an efficient transport network: buses, trolleybuses, trams and three metro lines (they intersect at Deák Square in the centre of town). I am going to teach you what the simplest ways are to do your own discoveries. Last trams run until 23:45. A ticket for a single one-way journey costs 290 HUF. A day pass (napijegy) costs 1600 HUF.

Taxis

Please, use the larger reputable taxi companies working with lower rates. All cars must have a taximeter installed and they are cheaper if you call them. The operators speak English. Survival kit: take a cab if there is a telephone number on the side of the car.
Fotaxi: tel.222 2222
City Taxi: tel. 211 1111
6x6 Taxi: tel. 266 6666
Buda Taxi: tel. 233 3333.