Best Of Hungary Tours Travel and Event Management Company

Official name: Republic of Hungary Area: 93 030 km2 Population: 10 031 000 persons Capital city: Budapest (population: 1 702 000) Official language: Hungarian

+1 hour + 36 forint (HUF) 220 volts

Presentation of Hungary

Diverse countryside - in the heart of Europe

Specialty

Tihany's Echo

Lake Balaton is Central Europe's warmest and largest lake. Its marvellous peninsula, devides the lake into two. It is a pearl of not only the region or the country but also of Europe. It is a jewel in the middle of the Hungarian sea. The surface of the vulcanic peninsula is covered by limestone geysers. A number of rare animals and plants can be found here, thanks to the unique climate. This resulted in the declaration of National park in 1952 – the first of its kind in Hungary. Tihany has a great number of attractions not only in nature but also in history and atmosphere. One of Tihany’s most famous phenomena was the Echo. It existed since the 18th century, when the Tihany Abbey was built. Standing on the Echo hill, the shouted words were reverberated from the Abbey’s wall which is to be found 300 meters far. The voice covered the almost 700 meters distance there and back in 2 seconds. In optimal case 7 echos could be heard. Unfortunately we can not enjoy this special phenomena anymore, because of the changed environment.

Pleasant climate

Specialty:

Hungary is located at almost equal distance of the Equator and the North pole, in the middle of temperate zone.

Unique language

Hungarians, who call themselves Magyars, speak a language and form a culture unlike any other in the region. The Hungarian language is spoken only by Hungarians, and the Hungarian folk songs are special. Magyar is a Uralic language and ranked 62 according to number of native speakers (14 million). The most popular foreign language is English among young people. Elder people speak German that reflects the Austro-Hungarian connections back to centuries.

Specialty:

Parts of the World Heritage

The natural, cultural and historical riches to be experienced in Hungary are reflected in its high concentration of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Hungary's United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage sites:

Famous Hungarian Specialties

Public holidays

Famous Hungarians

This country is the birthplace of world-famous inventors, scientists, explorers, composers and sports stars. Well-known 20th and 21st century Hungarians:

OSZKÁR ASBÓTH
March 31, 1891, Pankota - February 27, 1960, Budapest
Engineer, designer of the helicopter

ANDRÁS BALCZÓ
August 16, 1938, Kondoros
Olympic and World Champion Pentathlete

BÉLA BARTÓK
March 25, 1881, Nagyszentmiklós – September 26, 1945, New York
Composer and pianist

LÁSZLÓ JÓZSEF BIRÓ
September 29, 1899, Budapest - October 25, 1985, Buenos Aires
Journalist, inventor of the ballpoint pen

JÁNOS CSONKA
January 22, 1852, Szeged - October 27, 1939, Budapest
Engineer, inventor. Initiator of Hungarian engine and vehicle production

GEORGES CZIFFRA
November 11, 1921, Budapest - January 15, 1994, Senlis, France
Pianist

TAMÁS DARNYI
June 3, 1967, Budapest -
Four-time Olympic champion swimmer

KRISZTINA EGERSZEGI
August 16, 1974, Budapest -
Five-time Olympic champion swimmer

PAUL ERDŐS
March 26, 1913, Budapest – September 20, 1996, Warsaw
Mathematician

BERTALAN FARKAS
August 2, 1949, Gyulaháza –
First Hungarian to travel in space

JÓZSEF GALAMB
February 3, 1881, Makó - December 4, 1955, Detroit
Engineer, Designer of the Ford Model-T

ALFRÉD HAJÓS
February 1, 1878, Budapest - November 12, 1955, Budapest
Swimmer and architect, Hungary’s first Olympic champion

MIKLÓS JANCSÓ
September 27, 1921, Vác –
Film director

TÓDOR KÁRMÁN
May 11, 1881, Budapest – May 7, 1963, Aachen
Physicist

ZOLTÁN KODÁLY
December 16, 1882, Kecskemét – March 6, 1967, Budapest
Composer

JOHN VON NEUMANN
December 28, 1903, Budapest – February 8, 1957, Washington
Mathematician, “Father” of the computer

LÁSZLÓ PAPP
March 25, 1926, Budapest – October 16, 2003, Budapest
Three-time Olympic champion boxer

FERENC PUSKÁS
April 2, 1927, Budapest – November 16, 2006, Budapest
Soccer player, captain of the “Golden Team”

ERNŐ RUBIK
July 13, 1944, Budapest –
Engineer, inventor, creator of the “Rubik Cube”

HANS SELYE
January 26, 1907, Vienna – October 16, 1982, Montreal
Physician, designer of stress theory

SIR GEORG SOLTI
October 21, 1912, Budapest - September 5, 1997, Antibes
Conductor

ALBERT SZENT-GYÖRGYI
September 16, 1893, Budapest – October 22, 1986, Woods Hole, MA
Nobel Prize Winning biochemist

LEO SZILARD
February 11, 1898, Budapest – May 30, 1964, La Jolla, CA
Physicist, biophysicist, nuclear scientist

EDWARD TELLER
January 15, 1908, Budapest – September 9, 2003, Stanford, CA
Physicist

TAMÁS VÁSÁRY
August 11, 1938, Debrecen -
Pianist, conductor

HUNGARY'S NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS

Philipp E. A. von Lenard (1862–1947)	1905	Physics
Robert Bárány (1876–1936)	1914	Medicine
Richard A. Zsigmondy (1865–1929)	1925	Chemistry
Albert von Szent-Györgyi (1893–1986)	1937	Medicine
George de Hevesy (1885–1966)	1943	Chemistry
Georg von Békésy (1899–1972)	1961	Medicine
Eugene P. Wigner (1902–1995)	1963	Physics
Dennis Gabor (1900–1979)	1971	Physics
John C. Polanyi (1930–)	1986	Chemistry
George A. Olah (1927–)	1994	Chemistry
John C. Harsanyi (1920–2000)	1994	Economics
Imre Kertész (1929–)	2002	Literature
Avram Hershko (1937-)	2004	Chemistry

ABOUT BUDAPEST

Territory:	525 km2, two-thirds on the eastern, flat bank of the Danube in Pest, one-third on the western, hilly bank of the Danube in Buda.
Highest point:	János Hill (527 m)
Population:	1 702 000 persons, that is 17% of the total population.
Administration:	divided into 23 districts (the Roman numerals in addresses refer to the district).

Presentation of Budapest

Unique location

One of the world's most pleasantly sited cities, Budapest is divided into two distinct parts by the River Danube, into hilly Buda and flat Pest. Its panorama along the banks of the river is one of UNESCO's world heritage sites.

Chain bridge, Parliament

Buda, lying on the right bank, is famous for its past, while Pest on the other side has a more modern character, culture, life and energy pulsate in every corner of its streets. Buda and Pest are connected with spectacular bridges, there are nine bridges, two of which carry railway lines. At night, the lights on the monuments and bridges gleam in the dark like jewels.

Budapest, the capital city with its unique situation, incomparable architectural and cultural values is undoubtedly the most fascinating part of any tours to Hungary.

Specialty:

Water Tower in Margaret Island

Because of its central location in the heart of the country, Budapest has got such a Hungarian specialty, that the country’s main roads all starts from here and their distances are counted from the stone of 0 kilometer in the Adam Clark square.

The city has three islands - Óbuda Island, Margaret Island and Csepel Island. Margaret Island is a lovely little island, which is ideal for doing different kind of sports. It is often called the "green loung of the city" and it is certainly true. Margaret island, which lies on the Danube between Margaret Bridge and Árpád Bridge, is one of Budapest's most attractive parks and a popular recreation spot, full of life and activity in the summer, and calm and peaceful in the winter.

The territory of parks runs to 4% of the city’s total area.

The city was born

Budapest possesses a rich and fascinating history and a vibrant cultural heritage. Its area had been inhabited from the early times and it has got a special character due to the different architectural styles; the signs of the Turkish rule or the Habsburg ages as well. Neoclassical buildings from the 19th century and antique-filled flea markets can be found in the downtown, with winding, narrow, cobblestone streets in the neighborhoods reminding us of the medieval times. The different cultural impacts meet here the distinctive Hungarian flavor, ancient history and recent past come together in the balance to make up the city.

Nowadays Budapest is a large Middle European City. The romanticism which still pervades it, the endless search for its own identity, its proud sense of isolation and, at the same time, its commitment to the ideal of becoming an integral part of western culture make it a city which can undoubtedly teach us a great deal.

Specialty:

Several hundred museums and galleries can be found in the city, which in addition to artefacts of Hungarian history, art, and natural science, also exhibit numerous works of universal European and world culture.

40 theatres, 7 concert halls, and 2 opera houses are provided for those who love the performing arts. The choice multiplies in the summer thanks to the numerous open-air concerts and performances.

Budapest gives home to more than a thousand restaurants, cafés, and venues, where the delicacies of Hungarian and international cuisine are accompanied by the finest Hungarian wines.

Don’t miss in Budapest

Buda Castle

Museums
The visitors can chose from various museums, that suit their taste; some significant ones: National Museum: relics of the Hungarian history Museum of Fine Arts: rich collection of international paintings and sculptures National Gallery: collection of Hungarian paintings and sculptures Museum of Applied Arts: exhibition of the Hungarian applied art’s development Museum of Ethnography: collection of Hungarian ethnography

Buda Castle
The Castle of Buda is the pride of Budapest, symbol of history and condition of Hungarian identity. It is part of World Heritage. The castle District offers the most romantic walks in Budapest: Holy Trinity Square, Matthias Church, Fishermen's Bastion.

Margaret Island
Most valuable and interesting park of Budapest with the Margaret monastery, Japanese garden, the zoo and lots of sports and leisure time facilities.

Vajdahunyad castle

City Park
Mayor sights: Heroes’ square, Vajdahunyad castle, Boating lake, ZOO, Luna/Theme park, Museum of Agriculture.

The Downtown of Pest
The main sights: Parliament, St. Stephen’s Basilica, Pesti Vigadó, Academy of Sciences, Inner City Parish Church (oldest building on Pest side), Opera House, Danube Promenade (corso). This is a busy district (mainly the fifth district) with dense traffic, hundreds of shops, restaurants and entertainment facilities (theatres, cinemas).

Boat excursions on the Danube
The boats start according to schedule from Vigadó Square. It is also possible to rent boats for any kind of programmes, excursions within or outside the city.

Thermal baths of Budapest
A trip to Budapest can not be complete without visiting one of the famous 11 thermal baths (Gellért, Széchenyi, Rudas or any other of them).

More information about Budapest on BudapestAgent.com

GOOD TO KNOW

Passports and visas

A visa is no longer required for visitors from the EU when travelling to Hungary. There are no longer any ID/passport controls at the EU borders. Citizens of Croatia can enter the country by showing the identity card. Citizens of the US, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Venezuela and New Zealand, are free to enter without a visa. The usual length of stay is 90 days without any additional permit.

On the following webpage you can find the central database of the ambassies and foreign representative offices operating in Hungary: http://www.wwww.embassy.goabroad.com/embassies-of/hungary/

Local time

Time zone: GMT + 1 hour Central European time

Summer daylight savings: GMT + 2 hours
(from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October)

For the current local time in Hungary please visit the following site:
http://times.clari.net.au/location.php/Europe/Budapest?cc=HU

Weather

Average Summer Temperature: 27 to 32 °C (81 to 90 °F)
Average Winter Temperature: 0 to -15 °C (32 to 5 °F)

The current weather information about Hungary you can find here:
http://weather.yahoo.com/hungary/budapest/budapest-804365/
http://www.weather.yahoo.com/hungary/budapest/budapest-804365//

Electricity

Electrical current in Hungary is 220 volts/European plugs.

Currency

The Hungarian currency is the forint (HUF or Ft).
Coins: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 HUF
Banknotes: 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10 000, 20 000 HUF

Exchange

Hungarian banks, saving banks and exchange offices are involved in exchange. There is no mandatory minimum amount for currency exchange, rates can vary widely. The best rates are at banks and travel agencies. Additionally, 24-hour exchange machines offer convenience as well as good bank rates.

Here you can find the exchange rates: http://www.xe.com/.

Banks

Banks are usually open between 8:00-16:00 on weekdays. Some banks are open on Saturday, but all are closed on Sunday.

ATMs

ATMs accepting most credit and cash cards are everywhere in Hungary, even in small villages.

Credit cards

Credit cards, especially Visa, MasterCard and American Express, are widely accepted in Hungary, and you'll be able to use them at many tourist-related businesses such as hotels, restaurants, stores in the shopping districts, car-rental firms, travel agencies and petrol stations. They are not usually accepted at museums, supermarkets, or train and bus stations.

Travellers' cheques can be cashed in banks but are not accepted in shops.

Telephone

Dialing code for Hungary: +36
Dialing code for Budapest: +36 1
Domestic long distance calls: 06 + area code + local phone number
Calls from Hungary abroad: dial 00, then the country code, city code (without the „0”) and the local number.
Police: 107
Ambulance: 104
Central Emergency: 112
Fire department: 105
Phone Directory Hungary: 198
Phone Information International: 199

Public Phones function with coins or with phone cards which can be bought in hotels, service stations, post offices and news-stands.

Shopping

Most shops are open from 8.30 till 17.30 on weekdays, from 8.30 till 12.30 on Saturdays, they are usually closed on Sundays

Shopping centers in Budapest West End: entrance from "Nyugati" metro station, Metro 3 (blue line). The biggest and newest. There are 400 shops and many restaurants in one building.
Mammut I-II.: Lövőház street 2-6., near "Moszkva tér" metro station, Metro 2 (red line).
Duna Plaza: entrance directly from "Gyöngyösi út" metro station, Metro 3 (blue line).

Museums

Almost every museums are closed on Mondays.
The homepage of Hungarian museums: http://www.museum.hu/index_en.php

Public transport

Buses, troley-buses, trams and the underground function in general between 4:30 and 23:00. Tickets can be bought at the bus terminals, metro stations and in news-stands.

Public transport schedules and passes:
http://http://www.bkk.hu/en/main-page/news/

Foods

Authentic Hungarian dishes are definitely not for people on diet. You may find Hungarian dishes a bit too heavy and fatty, however their rich flavour, aroma and texture compensate you for the slightly excessive calory intake.

But don’t think that everything is soaking in pork fat and paprika. These ingredients are essential for authentic Hungarian dishes, but properly portioning them and using modern cooking methods we can make healthier dishes. Traditional Hungarian dishes are primarily based on meats, seasonal vegetables, fruits, fresh bread, cheeses and honey. Recipes are based on centuries-old traditions around spicing and preparation methods.

Drinks

Hungarian wines dates back to at least Roman times. The best-known wines are the white dessert wine called Tokaj (North-Eastern region of Hungary) (Tokaji) and the red vines from Villány (Southern part of Hungary). Famous is also the vine called Bull's Blood (Egri Bikavér), a dark, full-bodied red wine. Though not as famous as the country's wines, Hungarian beer has a long history as well. Hungary's most notable liquors are Unicum, a herbal bitters, and Palinka, a range of fruit brandies.

LINK CENTER

	Ministry of Foregn Affairs of Hungary Link		Embassies in Hungary Link
	Hungarian Customs and Finance Guard Link		Universal Currency Converter Link
	Tourism Link		Weather in Hungary Link
	Current Time in Hungary Link		Maps Link Link
	Budapest Airport Link		Railway Travel Link
	Overland coach service Link		Local public transport in Budapest Link
	Museums and programs Link		Events in Budapest Link
	Budapest Times Link		Hungary Properties Link
	Balaton Uplands National Park Link