About Hungary

HUNGARY – KEY FACTS 

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

Capital: Budapest

Official Language: Hungarian (Magyar)

Form of Government: Parliamentary Republic

Accession to the European Union: May 1, 2004

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

Population: 9,942,000

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

Time zone: Central European Time (GMT+1)

Electricity: 230V 50Hz

Electric Plug Details: European plug with two circular metal pins

Currency: Hungarian Forint (HUF), internal sign: Ft

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

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

Drive on the right.

Internet TLD: .hu; .eu

Date code: yyyy.mm.dd.

Telephone country code: +36

Climate

Continental, with the average temperature (in Fahrenheit / Celsius):

July: 69,8F / 20,8 °C

Tap water is drinkable

Names: Surname + First name (e.g. Nagy Anna)

Hungary in a nutshell: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hmz8Ni9zO4M

Important telephone numbers

Ambulance: 104

Police: 107

Fire department: 105

Directory Assistance: 198

International Directory: 199

International Emergency Call: 112

Tourinform nonstop help and information: +36 1 438 80 80

USEFUL EXPRESSIONS

Starpoint = Csillagpont

Blessings and peace = Áldás, békesség (the greeting used in the Reformed Church in Hungary)

For more language help, visit

http://visit-hungary.com/plan-your-trip/language-help/travel-dictionary

SOME DOS AND DONTS IN CASE YOU WANT TO EXPLORE BUDAPEST ON YOUR OWN

Always purchase a ticket for public transportation prior to boarding, DO NOT get on without it!

Beware of pickpockets!

Do not exchange money on the street!

Never hail a cab on the street! Call one of the following numbers to order one!

    City Taxi 2-111-111 www.citytaxi.hu

    Főtaxi 2-222-222 www.fotaxi.hu

Tourist cards offering reasonable discounts:

Hungarian Tourism Card

Hungary Card featuring 10-100% discounts on railway and coach services, motorway passes, museums, hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, and other service providers.

Budapest Card

When arriving in Hungary, it is worth investing in Budapest Card which offers unlimited travel on all forms of public transport, free or reduced admission to museums and other sights and discounts on organized tours, car rental, at thermal baths and at selected shops and restaurants. It is sold at Tourinform offices, travel agencies, hotels and main metro stations.

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.

Sources:

http://visit-hungary.com/

http://gotohungary.com/en_GB/