Budapest is the capital of Hungary and situated in Central Europe, embracing the two sides of the river Danube. With nearly 1,8 million citizens it’s by far the largest city in the country. You almost can explore two cities in one, since Budapest is made up of Buda and Pest, with the Danube flowing between them, along a stretch of 28 kilometers. Buda is built on a hill, on the Western bank of the river and forms the historical part of the city. Pest stands on a plain and it’s more business-like with its shops and boulevards. You can walk between the two connected, but still very different parts of the city on its magnificent bridges.

Language:

Hungarian is the official language of Hungary and Budapest. English is widely spoken in Budapest.

Visa:

Hungary is a Member of the Schengen Area, a group of 26 European countries that allow free movement of people between each of them. Therefore, citizens from any of these countries do not need a visa to visit Hungary. European Union, European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland, and Lichtenstein in addition to the EU states), and Switzerland citizens are qualified for a visa-free entry to Hungary. Given that they do not take up employment and their stay is limited to a maximum of 90 days per 180 days. All international nationals must possess valid identification and travel documents before entering Hungary. For detailed information and to verify if a visa is needed for your country check the following pages:

https://konzinfo.mfa.gov.hu/en
https://www.flypgs.com/en/visa-information/hungary#HungaryVisa
https://www.ivisa.com/hungary/schengen-visa
https://www.vfsglobal.com/en/individuals/index.html

Currency:

Even if Hungary is part of the European Union, it is not part of the euro zone. The local currency is the Hungarian Forint, but you will often find prices written in euro. The Forint (HUF). 1 € = 393 HUF (the rate is variable). There are notes of 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, and 20000 forints, and coins of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 forints.

Time Zone:

The official time in Budapest is the UTC/GMT +1 hour. In summer is UTC/GMT +2 hours.

Climate:

Protected from the Siberian cold by the Carpathian mountains, Budapest has a temperate continental climate. Winters are long and cold (– 1 °C / 30.2 °F on average).
Summers are humid and warm. Budapest is one of the sunniest cities in Europe.

Electric Current:

European plugs are used with 2 pins with 220 volts AC at 50 cycles.
Hungary uses the Europlug (CEE7/16). This is the plug used in most other European countries. Visitors from outside Europe will also need the appropriate adapters to use their electrical appliances in Budapest.

Useful Telephone Numbers:

Country code: 36
Emergency call: 112
Ambulance service phone: 104
Police phone: 107
Fire emergency phone: 105

Getting Around Budapest:

The public transport network is dense in Budapest. Metros, trams and buses have the advantage of being rapid and inexpensive. Public transport is supervised by Budapesti Közlekedési Központ (Centre for Budapest Transport). Transportation tickets should be purchased before boarding the bus, tram or entering the subway and need to be validated upon entry. Tickets are often checked while riding the vehicles or at the subway exits by controllers wearing arm-band and a photo-ID. You should always keep your ticket at all times till you exit the station or leave the vehicle. Check prices and timetables at https://bkk.hu/en/

Car – The road network is of excellent quality throughout the main routes. Car parks are generally very full.

Bus – The bus network has variable frequencies depending on the bus line (from 15 to 90 minutes).

Tramway – there are over 40 tramway lines. Very practical, the yellow tramways run regularly. The tramway uses the same tickets as the buses.

Trolleybus – there are 15 Trolleybus lines in the city. Lines 78 and 79 are particularly interesting for tourists in the centre of Budapest.

Metro – four metro lines that run from 4:30 a.m. to 11 pm with a frequency of every 2 to 15 minutes.

Taxi – the official taxis are yellow with the words “qualified Budapest taxi/minősített budapesti taxi” on the
left-side front door, the number plates are yellow, and the dashboard and the two rear doors display a table of fixed official taxi fares. Not all taxis accept payment of the fare by credit card, so check with the driver before you get in.

Train – The HEV train connects Budapest to the metropolitan areas.

Tipping:

Tipping is an important part of the Hungarian culture, and it is required by waiters, taxi drivers, hair dressers, and even gas station attendants.

Smoking:

Smoking is strictly forbidden in all public facilities. A distance of 5 meters from the entrance must also be maintained. It is not permitted in public transport stops or in pedestrian underpasses. At the train stations only at the places marked for this purpose.

Security:

Hungary is generally a safe country to visit. However, as with any travel destination, it’s essential to stay aware of your surroundings, especially in crowded areas, and keep an eye on your belongings to prevent theft. Be wary of anyone trying to distract you, as this can be a common tactic used by pickpockets. Popular tourist attractions like Fisherman’s Bastion, and Great Market Hall can be attractive to pickpockets due to the large crowds. Be cautious on trams, buses, and the metro, especially during rush hours when it’s crowded. Pay extra attention when getting on and off vehicles.

Some useful links:

https://www.budapestbylocals.com/basic-budapest-facts/
https://www.budapest.org/en/travel-tips/