Hungary

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Introduction

When Nobel Prize winner Enrico Fermi was asked if he believed in extraterrestrials, he replied:

"They are among us, but they call themselves Hungarians"

This small country is one of the oldest European countries, situated in the middle of the continent in Central Europe.

Hungarians speak a language and form a culture unlike any other in the region: this distinctiveness has been both a source of pride and an obstacle for more than 1100 years.

This is the country

- which boasts one of the world's most beautiful cities: Budapest, the "Pearl of the Danube"

- where 2000 year old Roman ruins and 400 year old Turkish monuments can be found side by side

- where Central Europe's largest fresh water lake - Balaton - is located, providing natural paradise for its visitors

- where hundreds of therapeutic mineral springs gush up from the depths

And there is something else that keeps bringing visitors back to us - the legendary Hungarian hospitality.

Hungary - Magyarország

Landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia.

Anthem: "God, bless the Hungarians" - "Isten áldd meg a magyart"

Capital: Budapest

Official Language: Hungarian (Magyar)

Government: Parliamentary republic

Accession to the European Union: May 1, 2004

Area: Total - 93,030 km² (35,919 sq mi)

Religion: 54.5% Roman Catholic, 21% Reformed (Calvinist) Protestant, 6% Evangelical (Lutheran), 18.5% other

Time zone

Central European time (GMT+1)

Daylight savings between the end of March and the end of October: Central European time +1 (GMT+2)

Electricity

230V 50HzHz

Electric Plug Details: European plug with two circular metal pins

Money

Currency

Hungarian Forint (HUF)

Coins: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 HUF

Bank notes: 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000 HUF

Banks, Currency Exchange

Banks are usually open between 8.00 - 16.00 on weekdays. Some banks are open on Saturday, but all are closed on Sunday. ATM and currency exchange offices are available throughout the country.

Credit Cards, Debit Cards and Checks

Major credit cards (AmEx, Visa, Mastercard, Diners, Cirrus) can be used in the member shops and businesses. Look for the logo displayed at the entrance.

ATMs operate 24 hours a day. Major credit cards and banking cards are accepted.

There is usually a commission of 1% for cashing travelers cheques at banks. Please note that most stores will not accept travelers checks.

You can use your bank or credit card to get cash at post offices throughout Hungary. More than 3200 post offices nation-wide provide this service.

Telephone, Fax

Hungary country code: 36

Budapest area code: 1 (+7-digit number)

International pre-dial: 00 + country code + local number

Domestic long distance pre-dial: 06 + area code + local number

Cell-phone numbers are 9-digit, after dialing 06, the first two numbers depend on the telephone company: 20, 30 or 70.

Public phones require 10, 20, 50 or 100 Forint coins, or a pre-purchased phone card (sold at newsstands, supermarkets, hotels and post offices).

Fax machines are available for tourists in main post offices and in many city hotels' Business Centers.

International collect calls can be made from a private line or public payphone. A coin or phone card has to be inserted to initiate the call.

International operators:

AT&T 00 8000 1111

MCI 00 8000 1411

SPRINT 00 800 0 1877

Important telephone numbers

Internet

There are Internet cafés all over Budapest and a growing number of hotels and cafés offer WiFi access for laptop users. For a comprehensive listing, with maps, visit.

Tipping

Restaurant prices in Hungary generally do not include a service charge and it is therefore customary to give a tip, generally equivalent to 10-15% of the bill.

Health Issues

Immunisation: not a requirement for entering Hungary. Persons diagnosed with an infectious disease are not permitted to enter the country.

Medication: Tourists are permitted to bring medication for personal use. Products containing narcotic substances can only enter with the special permission of the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Medication prescribed abroad can be purchased in pharmacies at full market price. Only a limited selection of over-the-counter drugs are available in Hungary.

Emergency and ambulance services are free of charge in cases requiring immediate medical attention. All other medical treatment is regulated by international treaties.

Ambulance telephone no.: 104

Health insurance policies taken out abroad cover the cost of the first, and only the first treatment in Hungary. In all other cases, the cost of medical treatment must be settled at the rate set by the medical institution. The institution determines which credit cards are accepted for this purpose.

Pharmacies

Budapest's pharmacies (gyógyszertár in Hungarian) are well stocked and can provide medicaments for most common ailments. Each of the 23 districts has an all-night pharmacy open every day, a sign on the door of any pharmacy will help you locate the closest one.

Public Toilets

Relatively few public toilets exist in Budapest, locals and tourists alike use the restrooms in cafés and restaurants. Quite often a small fee of 100 HUF is paid to an attendant after using the facilities.

Shopping

In general, shops are open Monday through Friday, from 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m., on Saturday from 9.00 a. m. to 1.00 p. m. Stores do not close for lunch.

Food stores and shopping malls are open Monday through Friday from 7.00 a. m. to 7.00 p.m., on Saturdays from 7.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. Large shopping centres, entertainment complexes, and some private stores (many of these are open for 24 hours) are open on Sundays as well.

More information