|
|
|
bUDAPEST GUIDE |
|
General information about Hungary and Budapest(history, politics, regions, subregions, economy, geography, culture, holiday and more)
General information about Hungary at Wikipedia
Capital of Hungary: BUDAPEST
Population of Budapest: 1.850.000
Official languages: Hungarian (Magyar)
Area: 93030 km2
Population: 10 million
Time zone: CET (UTC+1)
In summer: CEST (UTC+2)
Internet TLD: .hu
Calling code : +36
Electricity: 230 Volt/50Hz
Currency: Forint (HUF)
Coints: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 HUF
Banknotes: 500, 1.000, 2.000, 5.000, 10.000, 20.000 HUF
(The 200 HUF banknote is not valid any more, only the new 200 HUF coin.)
Climate and TemperatureBudapest and Hungary have temperate continental climate, because we have got no sea or ocean. Seasons are generally well defined, with July and August the warmest months 28-35° C, 82-90° F, and December and January the coldest, when temperatures may fall to -10° C, +7° F, so our lakes generally frozen at winter. Average sunshine from April to September is in excess of eight hours a day.
Weather forecastPlease wisit BBC wether forcast at the menu bar on the left.
National holidays1st January New Year
15th March Anniversary of the 1848 Revolution
Easter Monday
1st May Labour Day
Whit Monday
20th August Day of Constitution, Founding of the State
23th October Day of Republic, Anniversary of the 1956 Revolution
25th and 26th December Christmas
Exchange moneyWe are adviced to exchange currency only at accredited places which have publicated exchange rates (banks, change offices, shops, restaurants, hotels, travel agencies, etc.) Illegal and risky to excahnge in the street. Banks, travel agencies, hotels, change offeces are free to set their own rates what they must be clearly displayed. They are tricky sometimes and write the sell rate first, which is higher, so be very cautious.
I do not recommend you to change (buy) HUF in your home country, because you may lose even 5-10%. Rates are much better in the change offices in Hungary.
The rates are the best on the excange offices in the city center.
If you come from abroad we advise to change money after your arrival to Budapest city center, BUT not int he airport !!! We never suggest to change money in the airport because the different can be 10%-15% than in the city center. If you need money for tranfer max. 10.000.- HUF (EUR~40.-) is really enough.
Generally change offices give better rate than the banks, but always check the rates before you change money. If you would like to pay your accommodation in local money (HUF) in every case we use the middle rate of official rate (middle of the rate to sell and buy).
Bank of Hungary daily rate
Spot rates at stock exchange
ATMThe most shops and ATMs accept the VISA, EC/MC, American Express, Cirrus. There are lot of ATM-s in the airport terminals, in the city center and int he banks.
Important phone numbersPolice 107
Fire and Emergency 105
Ambulance 104
Embassies listEmbassies list
Health24 hour medical assistance: Falck SOS Hungary. Tel: +36 1 200-0100
24 hour dental assistance: Tel: +36 1 267-9602
Ambulance phone number: 104
NON-STOP 24 hour pharmacie in the city center: 6th district, Terez krt. 41.
ShoppingSupermarkets, food and shops have really different opening hours in the city center.
The regular opening time: Mon-Fri 7-19 Sat (Sun) 7-14
There are lot of 24 hours (NON-STOP) supermarker int he city.
The shopping centers are open in every day from 8-20.
Shopping centers (plasas in the city center):
Westend City Center at Nyugati ter (M3, tram No.: 4,6)
Mamut Shopping Mall at Moszkva ter (M2, tram No.:4,6)
Arena Shopping Mall near to Baross ter (M2)
Duna Shopping Mall at Gyongyosi utca stop (M3)
Postal ServiceHungarian Post Co. Ltd.
Tourist Cards and tourist information officeTourist office - info point5th district, Budapest Suto utca 2. (Next to the metro stop on deak ter, next to the Mc Donalds)
Phone: 3179800, 4388080
German, English, French, Italian, Russian are spoken.
Open: 8-20 all year
Tourist cardsTourist cards offer huge discounts or even free tickets at: hotels, pensions, restaurants, spas and baths, public transport, Hungarian Railways, Volánbusz buses, boats, motorway stickers, taxi services, car rental, museums and cultural events.
Please check the links below for detailed information about different types of tourist cards.
Hungarian Tourism CardTransferable and valid for 13 months. Price is 7.140 HUF.
Hungarian Tourism Card
Budapest CardThis card is valid for a period of 48 or 72 hours. Prices:
48 hours - 6.300 HUF
72 hours - 7.500 HUF
Unlimited use of public transport in Budapest, free entrance in many museums, discounts in spas and baths of Budapest and more.
Cards are valid for one adult and one child up to 14 years.
Budapest Card
Balaton CardBalaton Card
|
|