iii iii. living in hungary

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III. Living in Hungary

Living conditions in Hungary are close to Western standards. Students coming here to study, both those who are frightened and those who come seeking something ‘exotic,’ are bound to be disappointed. One must simply prepare for a new environment, the main parameters of which coincide with the rest of Europe.

The variety and quality of goods and services found in Hungary are generally up to European standards; prices are somewhat lower than those in the West and likewise somewhat higher than those in the East.

The most important rule of every day life: ask confidently! Hungarians are eager to help foreigners. The majority of young people speak foreign languages at least at a basic level. By becoming informed, life can become much easier, and considering that comforts are increasingly reaching western standards, living in Hungary will prove to be a pleasant adventure!

Visas

If you come to Hungary to study or to do an internship you need a TM-6 student visa, which you can obtain at the Hungarian Consulate in your home country.

www.kum.hu/kulugy

It is essential to have visas checked and stamped when

crossing the borders as the police can only issue

temporary residence permits based on that information.

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Customs

Hungary’s customs and legal practices do not differ much from those of other European countries. There are strict bans on guns and drugs. Some foodstuffs are also prohibited. For specifics, you should inquire at your local Hungarian embassy.

www.hungarytourism.hu

Arrival

By AirBudapest’s international airport is called Ferihegy. It has two

terminals, Ferihegy 2A and 2B. There are no scheduled flights within the country.

When going to or from the airport it is wise to take the Airport Minibus, which costs only HUF 1,800, and will pick you up and drop you off wherever you wish within the city limits.

Airport Minibus Service:(1) 296-8555

By TrainThe usual discounts (BIJ, ISTC, INTER-RAIL) are accepted on

international lines in Hungary. You will probably arrive in Budapest at either Keleti or

Nyugati Pályaudvar (East or West Railway Stations). If you do decide to take a taxi, be sure to discuss the fee in advance! It is always better to choose one of the larger cab companies.

Fôtaxi_(1) 222-2222City Taxi_(1) 211-11116x6 Taxi_(1) 266-6666Buda Taxi_(1) 233-3333

By CarPapers_Car registration and insurance papers are compulsory.Rules of the Road_Driving is on the right-hand side and

seatbelt use is compulsory. The speed limit within residential areas (marked by town signs) is 50km/h, 90km/h for secondary and tertiary roads, 110km/h for highways, and 130km/h on motorways. Speed limits are strictly enforced: if you exceed them, you will probably be required to pay a fine. Since 2001,

P R E P A R I N G F O R H U N G A R Y

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paying fines on the spot has been abolished. You will now receive a ticket that has to be paid later.

www.hungarytourism.hu

Climate

Hungary has a temperate climate, similar to the rest of the continental zone. January is usually the coldest (-10° Celsius -+4° Celsius), and July the hottest (27° Celsius - 32° Celsius) months of the year. Don’t expect extreme temperatures, but be sure to bring a full array of clothing for all seasons.

www.cnn.com/WEATHER/newcities/europe.html

Language

The Hungarian language is said to be unlearnable. Do not worry! Hungarians feel the same way about other languages.

The foreign language-departments of various universities offer Hungarian language courses. These are probably the cheapest option. Private teachers advertise on bulletin boards as well as in foreign language papers, such as the Budapest Sun.

There are also dozens of language schools: www.nyelvkalauz.hu, www.nyelviskola.hu

You can also find Hungarian dictionaries on the Internet:English: www.sztaki.hu/services/engdictGerman: www.sztaki.hu/services/gerdict

Information for foreigners about training in foreign lan-guages is available at the homepage of the Ministry of Educa-tion (www.om.hu/nemzetkozi), from the Tempus Public Foun-dation (www.tpf.iif.hu) or directly from the selected higher education institution. For those who would like to study in Hungarian, the Balassi Bálint Institute – a background institution of the Ministry of Education – also provides infor-mation. One of the main goals of the Institute is to prepare foreign students (both those with scholarships and those pay-

P R E P A R I N G F O R H U N G A R Y

B A S I C S

HELP_Some help with Hungarian pronunciation:

consonantss = sh

sz = c in citycs = ch in church

c = ts in tsar / czargy = d in dutyny = n in newty = t in tube

zs = j in jam without ‘d’vowels

a = as in guardá = as in buye = as in tell

Balassi Bálint Institute(Balassi Bálint Intézet)

1016 Budapest, Somlói út 51. (1) 385-2646, (1) [email protected],

[email protected]

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ing tuition) before studying in Hungary, to have the necessary language competence and professional knowledge. In addition to this, further educational opportunities are available at the Institute including, year round language courses, language and culture training for Hungarians living abroad, and Hungarian state language examinations.

Names • Dates

Names in Hungary are written in the opposite order as elsewhere. The family name comes first, followed by the first name. This applies to this booklet as well. Generally, in foreign language publications Hungarian names are reversed and written in the standard order.

Dates in Hungarian are given in the following order: year – month (often Roman numbers) – day.

Currency

Hungary’s official currency is the Forint, or Hungarian forint (HUF).Coins used are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100. Banknotes used are

found in the following amounts: 200, 500, 1,000 2,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000.

www.mnb.hu

Changing Money

You can change money either in banks or in private change bureaux. The rates differ quite a bit. Most banks do not charge a commission for changing traveller’s checks. You can also find several Bankomat machines throughout the country. Their service fees can be up to 3%, however.

Credit cards, especially the better-known ones, such as American Express, MasterCard, EuroCard, Visa, etc., are

B A S I C S

HELP_Words and abbreviation for Hungarian addresses:utca (abbr. u.) street út roadtér squarekörút (abbr. krt.) boulevardsugárút (abbr. sgt.) avenuesétány (abbr. sét.) promenadeköz passagekerület (abbr. ker. or k.) district(The 2nd and 3rd numerals of Budapest postal codes mark the district.)

1 Euro is equal to approximately HUF 243.

é = as in mayi = as in tillí = dealo = rolló = holeö = bird or learn (short)ô = the same but longu = bullú = proveü = in Cote d‘Azurû = the same but long

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accepted in an increasing numbers of places. Look for their stickers in shop windows.

As the Hungarian forint is now fully convertible, foreign citizens can open both forint and hard currency bank accounts in Hungary. ATM machines can be found throughout the country, in the busier parts of cities.

www.iridium.hu

Time

Hungary lies in the Central-European time zone (CET). Daylight saving time lasts from the end of March to the end of October. The full 24-hour clock is generally used (though rarely orally) – so 9 p.m. is usually written as 21:00 o’clock in Hungary.

Hungarians usually tell the time based on the quarter hour before the hour - unlike the English system. Therefore, the whole number always indicates the coming hour.

Thus, G9 (negyed kilenc) (literally ‘one-quarter nine’) means a quarter past eight.

Embassies and Consulates

B A S I C S

P U B L I C P L A C E S

HELP_In cinema listings, and elsewhere you will simply find the first letters of the relative

quarter:n8 - negyed (quarter 8) = 7:15

f8 - fél (half 8) = 7:30h8 - háromnegyed

(three quarters 8) = 7:45

HELP_You will often bump into people on the street, asking

if you want to change money. Their rates might be a bit better,

but it is best to beware: many of them use counterfeit bills

or other tricks, and since these activities are against the law

nobody will reimburse you if you get ripped off.

UNITED KINGDOM1051 Budapest, Harmincad u. 6.

(1) 266-2888www.britnagykovetseg.hu

ALBANIA1026 Budapest, Gábor Áron u. 55.

(1) 326-8905

AUSTRIA1068 Budapest, Benczúr u. 16.

(1) 351-6700www.austrian-embassy.hu

BELGIUM1015 Budapest, Toldy F. u. 13.

(1) 201-1571

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA1026 Budapest, Pasaréti út 48.

(1) 212-0106

BULGARIA1062 Budapest, Andrássy út 115.

(1) 322-0824

CROATIA1065 Budapest, Munkácsy Mihály utca 15

(1) 269-56577624 Pécs, Ifjúság útja 11.

(72) 210-840

CYPRUS1051 Budapest, Dorottya u. 3.

(1) 266-6045

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CZECH REPUBLIC1064 Budapest, Rózsa u. 61.

(1) 351-0539

DENMARK1122 Budapest, Határôr út 37.

(1) 336-6300www.danishembassy.hu

ESTONIA1062 Budapest, Lendvay u. 12.

(1) 312-4725

FINLAND1118 Budapest, Kelenhegyi út 16/a.

(1) 279-2500 www.finemb.hu

FRANCE1062 Budapest, Lendvay utca 27.

( 1) 374-1100www.ambafrance.hu

GREECE1063 Budapest, Szegfû u. 3.

(1) 413-2600

Germany1014 Budapest, Úri utca 64-66.

(1) 488-3500www.deutschebotschaft-budapest.hu/

7621 Pécs, Megye u. 21.(72) 212-700

IRELAND1054 Budapest, Szabadság tér 7-9.

(1) 302-9600www.irlgov.ie

ITALY1143 Budapest, Stefánia u. 95.

(1) 343-6065www.ambitalia.hu

MOLDOVA1111 Budapest, Budafoki u. 9-11.

(1) 209-1191

THE NETHERLANDS1022 Budapest, Füge u. 5-7.

(1) 326-5301www.hollandnagykovetseg.hu

NORWAY1015 Budapest, Ostrom u. 13.

(1) 212-9400www.norvegia.hu

POLAND1068 Budapest, Városligeti fasor 16.

(1) 342-5566

PORTUGAL1024 Budapest, Rómer Flóris u. 58.

(1) 316-2649

ROMANIA1146 Budapest, Thököly út 72.

(1) 352-02716720 Szeged, Kelemen László u. 5.

(62) 424-431

RUSSIA1062 Budapest, Andrássy út 104.

(1) 331-8985

SLOVAKIA1147 Budapest, Gervay u.44.

(1) 273-3500

SLOVENIA1025 Budapest, Csatárka köz 9.

(1) 438-5600

SPAIN1067 Budapest, Eötvös u. 11/b.

(1) 342-9992

SWEDEN1146 Budapest, Ajtósi Dürer sor 27/a.

(1) 460-6020

SWITZERLAND1143 Budapest, Stefánia út 107.

(06 1) 460-7040www.eda.admin.ch/budapest_emb/e/home.html


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TURKEY1062 Budapest, Andrássy út 123.

(1) 344-5002www.turkishembassy.hu

UKRAINE1125 Budapest, Nógrádi u. 8.

(1) 355-9609

YUGOSLAVIA1068 Budapest, Dózsa Gy. út 92/b.

(1) 322-1439

Police

Emergency number, Police (Rendôrség): 107

Police wear grey and blue uniforms, and police cars are blue and white.

Policemen have the right to ask for some sort of ID. If they are not in uniform, you should ask for theirs as well.

www.b-m.hu/police/tips/index.html

Public Security

Pickpockets are most active on public transport, so make sure that your wallet and passport are safely concealed, and your bags are closed.

Hungary’s car-theft statistics are quite depressing. Do not leave valuables in your car, even if they are not visible. Motorcycles and bicycles are also considered fair game by thieves, so be careful!

The number of burglaries is high, especially in Budapest. When selecting an apartment to rent safety conditions should be carefully considered.

Police Matters - Residence Permits

For a temporary residence permit (valid for stays of no longer than one year) you need to register at the police office of your place of residence within 30 days of your arrival. You will need the following items to complete this process: a student visa, two photos of yourself, a certificate about your accommodation, some cash (HUF 3,000) and a bit of patience. You should turn to your local police department if you lose your passport or have it stolen. Be prepared for language difficulties!


HELP_A special Metro-police unit has been established in

Budapest, so if in need on the Metro, turn to them. As in all

other large European cities, some neighbourhoods are best left unvisited at night. Stick to

well lit and busy streets. Ask locals for information about

where not to go.

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Police Matters - Safety on the Road

Parking regulations are quite strict. Even if you locked your car and it is missing when you return, do not panic too soon. It may have been towed away by the authorities – you left it at the wrong place! Inquire at (1) 383-0700 in Budapest to learn if your car has been towed – elsewhere ask your local police station. Your car will be returned for HUF 7-8,000.

Police road-checks are common both inside and outside of Budapest. Generally, they are simple spot checks of your driver’s license and the papers of the car you are driving.

Hungarian Legislation

on Illicit Drugs

As Hungarian laws may differ from those of your country, it may be useful to be aware of the following.

Obtaining, keeping, producing, growing, importing and exporting illicit drugs in Hungary such as marihuana, hashish, LSD, speed, ecstasy, cocaine, heroin and poppy seed tea (as well as certain pharmaceutical products if not prescribed by a physician) is illegal. Distribution and disseminating activities are punished even more severely, including activities like offering, passing-on, circulating and commercial activity.

It is important to know that if you seek help, physicians are not obliged to call the police. Your situation is protected by their oath. You must call an ambulance if there is an immediate danger to you or your companion’s life, as your lives are much more important than your fear of the police.

If you need counselling on drug related issues and places of assistance, or if you need this information simply for your studies, contact the following organisations:

Drug Stop Telephone Hotline (80) 505-678

Blue Point Consulting Centre on Drugs and Drug Ambulance_1094 Budapest, Balázs Béla u. 21.

(1) 215-7833


HELP_Even handing someone a joint – be it free of charge

– fits the definition of offering and passing drugs.

Services are available around the clock in Hungarian. The hotline can inform you about the hours when foreign speaking operators are available (English, German, French).

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Nyírô Gyula Hospital, Drug Ambulance_1135 Budapest, Jász u. 84.

(1) 465-2015Drug Ambulance, Pécs_7621 Pécs, Dr. Majorossy Imre u. 10.

(72) 315-083 or (80) 332-600Drug Ambulance, Debrecen_4024 Debrecen, Varga u. 1.

(52) 454-937, (80) 505-088Drug Ambulance, Miskolc_3529 Miskolc, Csabai kapu 9-11.

(46) 431-310Dr. Farkasinszky Terézia Youth Drug Centre,Szeged_6726 Szeged, Fésü u. 4.

(62) 436-353Drug Ambulance, Gyôr_9203 Gyôr, Szigethy A. u. 109.

(96) 411-807Drug Ambulance, Veszprém_8200 Veszprém, Pápai u. 37/B

(88) 421-857

Medical Care

Emergency number, ambulance (Mentôk):104

If you become ill, it is good to know that first aid and emergency aid are free for foreigners, but you will be billed for any further treatment. State clinics do not charge much, but private consultations can be expensive.

How about insurance policies? If you are a state scholarship recipient or you study here within the framework of an international agreement, you will generally receive free medical insurance. Just grab your Residence Permit, a School Attendance Certificate (in Hungarian) and contact your local Medical Insurance Office (Egészségbiztosítási Pénztár).

If you arrive to Hungary as an independent, self-supporting student you can join the Voluntary Social Security Group (Önkéntes Biztosítási Csoport) for as little as HUF 15,000 per month.

Budapest_1071 Budapest, Lôportár u. 3/b(1) 350-2481

Miskolc_3530 Miskolc, Mindszent tér 3.(46) 350-211

Debrecen_4026 Debrecen, Darabos u. 9-11.(52) 446-999

Szeged_6726 Szeged, Bal fasor 17-21.(62) 487-187


HELP_If you are taken into custody – by mistake of course –, or are the victim of a crime, you

have the right to ask for a lawyer. The police are also obliged to

provide you with an interpreter, and must contact your consulate

within 24 hours.

The insurance policies of different higher

education institutions vary, so check at the office of

student self-government.

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Pécs_7623 Pécs, Nagy Lajos király útja 3.(72) 210-122

Veszprém_8200 Veszprém, Óvári F. u. 5-7.(88) 406-788

Gyôr_9023 Gyôr, Szabolcska M. u. 1/A(96) 327-722

Hygiene conditions are generally good in Hungary. In the winter, around January, flu epidemics are common. Consult with your embassy – they should be able to provide you with the addresses of reliable doctors (and dentists), but you can also check the foreign language papers (e.g., the German Pester Lloyd, or the English Budapest Sun).

Budapest also boasts a number of 24-hour pharmacies. The address of the nearest non-stop pharmacy will be posted on the door of your local pharmacy. If you go to one of these pharmacies, you will find a window and a bell. Ring it! Non-stop pharmacies charge a special fee, around HUF 150 more than you would pay during the day.

AIDS_AIDS patients are treated in Budapest, at the Szent László Hospital.1097 Budapest, Gyáli út 5-7.

(1) 455-8154HIV tests can be taken in any city. In Budapest: Medical Clinic_VIII., József u. 46.

(1) 303-4490.Your questions concerning AIDS and HIV infection will be answered at the following telephone number:AIDS Service_1085 Budapest, Mária u. 41.

(1) 338-2419

Cuisine

Hungary is in the heart of Europe, and Europe means variety. So in Hungary today a colourful gastronomic world is beginning to bloom. You can find any cuisine you like, from Oriental (Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Korean) through classical European (Greek, Italian, French) all the way to African and Mongolian.

A few surprises might still await you: Salad (saláta) is not the same thing as elsewhere in Europe. In Hungary it usually refers to a side dish, most often some pickled vegetable. Western salads – commonly referred to as Vitamin Saláta, or


HELP_We suggest that you consult your own insurance agent at home.

E V E R Y D A Y - L I F E

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Görög (Greek) Saláta – are also available: just make sure not to confuse the two.

Nevertheless, as far as international cuisine is concerned you can basically get whatever you want, from fast food, pizzas, and kebabs to special delicacies.

Considering vegetarian restaurants, we call your attention to Ghandi Vegetarian Restaurant (Budapest, V. Vigyázó Ferenc u. 4) and Govinda Vegetarian Restaurant (Budapest, V. ker. Belgrád rkp. 18.).

Kosher cuisine is also available in Budapest: Hanna (Budapest, VII. Dob u. 35. (1) 142-1072) and King’s Hotel Mehadrin (Budapest, Nagydiófa u. 25-27.) Kosher ingredients for cooking can be bought at Rotschild stores (Budapest, VII. Dob u 12. and XIII. Szent István körút, on the corner of Hollán Ernô street).

Essential food products for diabetics can be found at most larger food stores.

Hungarian Cuisine

Classical Hungarian cuisine is extremely diverse therefore everybody should be able to find something suitable. The most famous Hungarian dish is ‘gulyás’, a rich soup with lots of red and hot paprika. It is often a favourite of those who love meat, pork or beef as the main ingredient.

Those who cannot resist sweets should try ‘mákos guba’, a special bread with poppy seeds; ‘túrós palacsinta’, pancakes filled with curd cheese; and ‘Túró Rudi’, another favourite made of curd cheese and chocolate. We also recommend you choose a good guide (either a book or a person) and go on discovery trips.

A few things to watch for:Paprikás dishes do not merely contain the spice paprika :

sour cream is an important element of their composition.Paprika is not necessarily hot. Csemege paprika or édes

(sweet) paprika is only mildly spicy.

You will find Hungarian recipes at the following site:www.urbancsalad.com/ahazkorul/webcook.htm


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Basics

Breakfast (usually between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m.)_is generally equivalent to the international continental breakfast (coffee, tea, toast, rolls, butter, jam, eggs, etc.) In rural areas cold meat cuts and vegetables are often also eaten.

Lunch (usually from 12 a.m. to 2 p.m.)_is the most substantial meal of the day, basically consisting of a standard 3-course meal (soup, meat dish, dessert).

Dinner (after 6 p.m.)_Most Hungarians eating at home prefer cold meals, consisting of various cold cuts, cheeses, and seasonal vegetables (tomatoes, green peppers, various radishes, etc.)

Drinks

As with cuisine, all sorts of international drinks can be found in most pubs, restaurants, discos, etc.

BeerHungary is known as a wine country, but a wide variety of

beers are also available. Austrian, German, and Dutch beers dominate the market, but several other excellent beers (Belgian, Czech, Danish, British, etc.) can also be found. There are also many different kinds of Hungarian beers, Dreher being the most prestigious.

WineHungary is well known for both the quality and the variety of

its wines. There are a number of wines of international renown, such as the fiery red Egri Bikavér (Eger Bull’s Blood) or the famous dessert wines of the Tokaj region (in two basic flavours: Aszú and Szamorodni), but most bottled wines from all regions and ‘colours’ are of reasonable quality.

However, while it is perfectly safe to drink either draught or bottled beer, in the case of wine it is better to be cautious. Unless you are in one of the better wine-bars or cellars it is best to order bottled wine. This may be a bit more expensive, but you


HELP_When Invited:In Hungary the rule is simple: the more you eat, the politer you are considered. So, if you are invited to someone’s home for a meal, fast before you go!

wine sodamost common:kisfröccs 10cl 10cl(small spritzer)nagyfröccs 20cl 10cl(large spritzer)hosszúlépés 10cl 20cl (long step)specialities:házmester 30cl 20cl(concierge) viceházmester 20cl 30cl(assistant-concierge)

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will notice the difference in the morning. Wine cellars related to a specific wine region (Tokaj, Egri, Móri, etc.) are usually dependable. In these bars, wines are supplied directly by the vineyards. They usually close at 10 p.m.

Hungarians are quite fond of spritzers, known locally as fröccs. The varieties of these are an integral part of Hungarian wine culture.

SpiritsOne Hungarian speciality is a digestive bearing the name

Unicum. Produced since 1790, it contains 23 herbs blended according to a secret recipe guarded by the Zwack family. If you like bitter liquor be sure to try it. According to local lore it is even good for your health!

There is also a wide range of strong spirits, called pálinka, close to a schnapps in taste. The best known is barackpálinka, apricot schnapps. Alma (apple) and cseresznye (cherry) pálinka are also popular. Must-try palate-pleasers include Vilmos Körte (pear) pálinka, and Kóser szilva (kosher plum) pálinka. The usual shot size is 5cl, known as a feles (half).

Closing hoursWith the exception of some wine cellars (which close early,

at 10:00 p.m.), there are no standard closing hours for pubs and restaurants. Most pubs are open till 12:00 - 1:00 a.m., many till 2:00 - 4:00 a.m.

Cafés and Confectioners

Around the turn of the century, cafés were at the very centre of Budapest’s social and intellectual life. While this tradition lost a lot of its ‘esprit’ during the socialist decades, more and more cafés are being opened which are worth visiting. In these, in line with the traditions, you can have tea or coffee, read the papers as well as eat, but most important of all, you can have a nice chat and live your social life. Spending a few nights at the new cafés on Liszt Ferenc square, just off Andrássy street, in downtown Budapest, is a must. One of the centres of 20th century literary life used to be the Centrál Café, which was reopened recently in the centre of the city.


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Centrál_V. Károlyi Mihály u. 9. (1) 266-2110Gerbeaud_V. Vörösmarty tér 7. (1) 429-9000Lukács_VI. Andrássy út 70. (1) 302-8747Mûvész_VI. Andrássy út 29. (1) 352-1337

Outside the capital:Debrecen: Pálma Presszó_Simonyi u. 44.

(52) 347-111Aranybika Szálló_Piac u. 11-15.

(52) 416-777Pécs: Mecsek Cukrászda_Széchenyi tér 16.

(72) 315-444Szeged: Kis Virág Cukrászda_Kelemen u. 8.

(62) 541-630

Tipping

In Hungarian restaurants a service charge is rarely included in prices. If it is, you should be able to tell from your receipt. In addition to restaurants, tipping is common for hairdressers and barbers, newspaper salesmen, gas station workers, taxi drivers etc. if you are satisfied with the service.

If you want to give a tip, the usual procedure is to ask the price, and then request the appropriate change. For example, if you pay a bill of HUF 720 with a 1,000 forint bill, ask for HUF 200 back (or ‘from 800’). The usual rate is 10%.

Accommodation

Students travelling in Hungary – and that means you – can stay in dorms. The quality of these dorms, however, varies considerably from one to another.

If upon arrival you do not have a place to stay, the tourist information offices at the railway stations can help you to find accommodation at various prices.


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You can also rent a flat. For information check the Hungarian, as well as the foreign language newspapers (e.g., Expressz, Pesti Est, Budapest Sun). Rental agencies also exist, but it is perhaps quicker to check the campus billboards at the universities, or consult the offices of the university’s student-government. Prices vary based on location. A one-room flat can be rented for HUF 40-50,000 plus overhead in Budapest. Other cities are cheaper (HUF 25-30,000).

In case you have guests who need cheaper accommodations, ask for information at the Central Tourinform Office (1052 Bp., Sütô u. 2.

(1) 438 8080).We also recommend to checking the Internet.

www.hungary1.com/lodgingwww.budapestinfo.huwww.hb.hu www.beatrixhotel.huwww.travelport.huwww.youthhostels.hu

Laundry

You will not have any difficulties finding laundries (Patyolat) or dry-cleaners (Tisztító).

If you wish to do your own, you might be in trouble. We know of only one laundromat:

Budapest, V. Városház u. 3-5., open: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.(1) 317-2092

Shopping

In Hungary most stores are open from 10:00 a.m. to 5-6:00 p.m. Grocery stores usually open earlier (8-9:00 a.m.), and occasionally close later (7:00 p.m.). On Thursdays many stores stay open till 7:00 p.m. Most stores close at 12:00 a.m. on Saturdays and do not open on Sundays. Shopping malls opened in recent years (Cora, Metro, Pólus) and the Plazas offering multiple services are exceptions to these rules. The WestEnd City Centre built next to Nyugati pályaudvar (Western railway station) is the largest of these shopping centres.

In Budapest, at least, you will find plenty of 24-hour food stores.


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Markets generally provide special insight into a county’s life. This is also true in Hungary. If you have time and you need fresh fruits, vegetables, take a look at one of the market places or flea markets in Budapest.

Fény Street Market �_II., on the corner of Fény u.–Retek u. (Under the Mamut Shopping Centre)

Vásárcsarnok _IX., At the Pest side of the Szabadság BridgeFehérvár Street Market_XI., on the corner of Fehérvári u.–

Október 23. u.Flea market: Ecseri Market for Antiquities (Határút stop

of the blue metro line, then bus number 154) or on weekends: Petôfi Csarnok in Városliget (City Park).

Car Rentals

You can find offices of the major rental companies (Hertz, Avis, etc.) at the airport and in railway stations. They also have offices in the city. Check also in the phonebook under Autókölcsönzés. You need to be at least 21 years old, and hold a driver’s licence of more than a year’s validity generally to rent a car.

Hitching

Hitching is prohibited on motorways, though elsewhere it is legal. There is a service called Kenguru that assists drivers and

hitchhikers planning to travel abroad to connect with each other.(1) 266-5837www.kenguru.hu


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T R A V E L L I N G

Travelling within the City

Public TransportBuses provide the main source of public transport in most

cities. In Budapest, Szeged, Miskolc and Debrecen you will also find trams. Budapest has an extensive public transportation network: in addition to the buses and trams, there are also trolley buses (also found in Debrecen and Szeged), a Metro (subway/underground) network and the HÉV suburban rail network. Budapest has three Metro lines (Yellow, Red and Blue also referred to as lines 1, 2 and 3 respectively). The yellow line is the oldest subway in Continental Europe. The HÉV lines connect the capital with neighbouring settlements and cities (e.g. Szentendre, Gödöllô).

With few exceptions, public transport tickets must be purchased in advance, and must be validated in ticket punchers. These vary in style and are located on the vehicles, with the exception of the Metro lines where tickets have to be validated at the entrance to the stations.

A number of passes and discount tickets also exist, which can be bought at the ticket-offices located at all Metro stations. Valid Hungarian student ID entitles you to buy reduced priced season tickets. Ticket machines can be found at busy stops and stations. It is difficult to get tickets after 8 p.m., so it is best to be prepared. After 8 p.m. many buses only open their front doors, and you are expected to show your ticket or pass to the driver. You should always keep your validated ticket on you: ticket inspectors are frequent.

Night transport runs from about 11 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. Most main lines have night buses, but they only run every 1 - ½ hour. There are very few of these outside of the capital.

When (by accident, or out of forgetfulness) you happen to be riding the transport without a ticket or pass, and you meet a ticket inspector, what should you do? If you do own a pass do not pay the fine on the spot, but offer instead to go to the local office of the transportation company (BKV in Budapest: VII. Akácfa u. 23.) within 3 days of your offence, and show them your pass. This way you will only have to pay HUF 400. If you fail to do this in time, you will have to pay a fine of HUF 3,000.

If you do not have a pass, you can either pay a fine of HUF 1,500 on the spot or HUF 3,000 by a check given to you by the controllers.

You should not forget to validate a new ticket when changing lines

on the subway, or you will be fined. For a limited distance you

may purchase transfer tickets.

HELP_You have the choice of single-ride tickets, day tickets, or weekly and monthly passes.

If you plan to hang out in Budapest for a while, the so-

called ‘Budapest Card’ makes sense: in addition to travel on all vehicles, it gives discounts

for certain other services such as museum entrance fees. Look

for it at the ticket-offices.

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Travelling within the Country

By TrainBudapest has several railway stations. If you are travelling

to major cities, your train will depart from one of three main stations: Déli Pályaudvar (South Railway Station) to Pécs, Keleti Pályaudvar (East Raiway Station) to Miskolc, or Nyugati Pályaudvar (West Railway Station) to Szeged and Debrecen. The best options are the InterCity trains that are just a bit more expensive (you have to buy a seat reservation that costs HUF 400), but they are faster and much more comfortable.

If you have a Hungarian Student ID, you are entitled to a special discount on train tickets.

Tickets can be bought in advance at railway stations, tourist offices, and in Budapest, at the MÁV (Hungarian Railways) office (Budapest, VI. Andrássy út 35. Monday-Friday 9 a.m. – 5-6 p.m.:

(1) 352-2800).For information concerning national lines call (1) 461-5400,

for international lines call (1) 461-5500. Expect language difficulties. In rural areas call the information centres at the railway stations.

www.elvira.hu

By BusThere are five long distance bus stations in Budapest:Népstadion_XIV. Hungária körút 48-52.

(1) 485-2100 (Metro: Red Line, Népstadion Station)Buses depart from here to the eastern part of the country.Árpád-híd_XIII. Árbóc u. 1-3. (Metro: Blue Line, Árpád híd

Station)(1) 329-1450

You can travel to Vác, Esztergom or Visegrád from this station.Népliget_IX. (At the Népliget stop of the Blue Metro line)

(1) 485-2162The international station moved here in April this year. Long-

distance coaches to Transdanubia also leave from this station.Etele tér_XI. Etele tér (Bus: Red No. 7)

(1) 382-4900Destination: the areas around route 6.

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Széna tér_I. Széna tér (Metro: Red Line, Moszkva tér Station; Tram No. 6, Széna tér Station)

(1) 201-3688Zsámbék and its surroundings.

It is better to buy tickets before boarding, though they can be purchased on board as well.

By CarThere are three basic road types in Hungary: motorways

(M ), national highways (marked by a single digit number), and secondary/tertiary roads (marked by two or three digits). Hungary’s motorway network is not very extensive. It includes four lines, the M1, M7, M3, and M5. All motorways start from the capital. You have to pay a toll on the second section of the M1 (running from Gyôr to the Austrian border), as well as on the M3, and M5. Highway passes (stickers) can be purchased at gas stations. A 9-day pass costs HUF 1,400, a one- month pass is HUF 2,500. These can be used for both the M1 and M3 Highways.

Motorcycles_Helmets are compulsory, as is the use of head-lights at all times.

Yellow Angels_If you are a member of any affiliate of the Hungarian Automobile Club (such as the Automobile Association in the UK) and your car breaks down, the ‘Yellow Angels’ will carry out basic repairs on the spot, free of charge. They have a 24-hour service and a toll-free phone number: 188.

www.autoklub.hu

By BoatBoat trips are available on several of the national rivers

(e.g., the Danube, the Tisza , the Bodrog ) as well as on Lake Balaton . Scenic trips through the Danube-bend (to and from Visegrád and Esztergom) are very popular. There are also special hydrofoils to Vienna. For more information contact the Hungarian Shipping Ltd:

(1) 318-1880www.mahart.hu

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Postal Services

You would never guess: the ‘Posta’ signs on green boards stand for post offices all over the country. Smaller ones are open on weekdays from 8 to 4 or 6 in the afternoon, and in some cases they are open on Saturdays. There are exceptions, however. In Budapest the post office next to the Western Railway Station (Nyugati Pályaudvar) is open from 7 to 9 Monday through Saturday, and on Sunday from 8 to 8 in the evening. A postcard can be mailed for HUF 28-100, and - a normal size letter for HUF 36-150. If you have stamps, you can drop off your mail at red mail boxes in the street.

Additional services of post offices include: fax service, phone-card and mobile phonecard sales, newspapers, payment of bills, subscription to foreign newspapers, EMS (express postal service).

www.posta.hu

Telephones

Pay phones - although rare - operate with 100, 50, 20, and 10 forint coins (a minimum of HUF 20 is required to make a call). You are better off with a card-operated phone. Cards are sold at post offices and news stands.

Phone-numbers within Budapest have seven digits, six in other cities. If you want to make a long-distance call within the country, first dial 06 - wait – and then dial the area code followed by the specific phone number.

For international calls dial 00 and wait for the tone. Then dial the country code, area code, and finally the phone number.

The various codes are listed at the beginning of every phone book, and many phone booths also have these codes posted.

Numbers beginning 06-80 are known as ‘green’ numbers and can be called free of charge. Phone numbers beginning with 06-20 (Pannon GSM), 06-30 (Westel 900), 06-60 (Westel 06-60) or 06-70 (Vodafone) are for mobile telephones.

www.matav.hu/tudakozo/index.html

C O M M U N I C A T I O N

HELP_From abroad dial the country code 36 before the area code! If you make a long-distance call within Hungary dial 06 before the area code!

HELP_Area codes of some major cities:

Budapest: 1Szeged: 62Pécs: 72Miskolc: 46Debrecen: 52Veszprém: 88Gyôr: 96

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Internet

Internet-Cafés in BudapestIn recent years a number of Internet cafes have opened in Budapest. Walking in town you will almost certainly run into one, but if not, a list is provided below. If you are fond of a more comfortable Internet solution, there is, of course, the possibility to get a subscription. Generally the prices of packages offered by different companies are similar, but it is worth looking around for special advertised deals.

If you are interested in having a free Hungarian e-mail address, you can create one for yourself or with the help of a Hungarian friend. Experience the Internet adventure!

Goethe Institut <eckermann>_VI. Andrássy út 24. E-mail and internet use is free, but you have to book 4-5 days

ahead, because they have few terminals.(1) 353-2233www.goethe.de/ms/bud

Budapest Net Café_V. Kecskeméti u. 5.Net use and an e-mail address for rent, about 30 terminals.

(1) 328-0292

Vista Internet Café_VI. Paulay Ede u. 7.Net use (11 HUF/min.) and e-mail address for rent.

(1) 268-0888www.vista.hu/hu/utazas/icafe.php

Libri Book Palace_VII. Rákóczi út 12.Net use: 150 HUF/30 minutes.

(1) 267-4844

Net Village_V. Váci u. 19-21.Internet use: 800 HUF/hour, 400 HUF/30 minutes, 150 HUF/

10 minutes. Students receive a 25% discount.www.netvillage.hu


Various universities provide access to the Net. The most impor-tant servers in Hungary are:

www.elender.huwww.datanet.huwww.euroweb.huwww.axelero.hu.www.telnet.hu

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Mathias Rex Internet Café_VIII. Baross u. 4.Full Internet service: e-mail, chatting, fax, copying. Internet

use is 11 HUF/minute.www.i-cafe.hu

You can also access the Internet in the numerous MATÁV Point offices. These are mainly found in large shopping centres or malls.


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