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STUDY IN Hungary -
Living in Hungary |
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Social Scene |
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Social Conventions
Most Hungarians
enjoy modern music and dance, although older people
still preserve their traditions and culture, particularly
in small villages. Handshaking is customary. Both
Christian name and surname should be used. Normal
courtesies should be observed. At a meal, toasts
are usually made and should be returned. A useful
word is egészségünkre (pronounced
ay-gash-ay-gun-gre), meaning ‘your health’.
Few people speak English outside hotels, big restaurants
and tourist offices. A knowledge of German is
very useful. Gifts are acceptable for hosts as
a token of thanks, particularly when invited for
a meal. Casual wear is acceptable in most places,
with the exception of expensive restaurants and
bars. Formal attire should be worn for important
social functions, but it is not common practice
to specify dress on invitations. Smoking is prohibited
on public transport in towns and public buildings.
Travellers may smoke on long-distance trains.
Photography: Military installations
should not be photographed; other restrictions
are usually signposted.
Tipping: 10 to 15 per cent is
expected for nearly all services in restaurants,
bars, clubs, taxis and so on.
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Local Customs & Culture |
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Food & Drink
A good range of restaurants is available. Table
service is common, although there are many inexpensive
self-service restaurants. A typical menu offers
two or three courses at inexpensive rates. Fine
dairy and pastry shops (cukrászda) offer
light meals. Specialities include halászlé
(fish soups) with pasta and Goulash gulyás
soup. Western goulash is called pörkölt
or tokány. Stuffed vegetables, sweet cakes,
gundel palacsinta (pancake) and pastries are also
popular.
Eszpresszó coffee bars and Drink bars
offer refreshments. Gerbeaud’s is probably
Budapest’s most famous coffee-house. Tokaji
(strong dessert wine) or Bull’s Blood (strong
red wine) are recommended. Pálinka or barack
(apricot brandy) is a typical liqueur. Imported
beers and soft drinks are also available. There
are no licensing hours, but the legal age for
drinking in a bar is 18 years. Minors are allowed
to go into bars but will not be served alcohol.
Nightlife
Budapest has many nightclubs, bars and discos.
There are two casinos in Budapest: one next to
the Sofitel Hotel (formerly Hyatt Regency), and
one near Buda castle. Cinemas in major towns show
many English-language films. During the summer
months the popular Lake Balaton resort has a lively
nightlife. Western Hungary in particular has a
lot of very good wine cellars. Visitors would
do well to search out traditional folk music and
dancing, as the gypsy music which is so common
in restaurants is not considered the ‘true’
folk tradition of the country. The magnificent
Budapest Opera House stages regular performances,
and seats are (by Western standards) exceedingly
cheap.
Shopping
Special purchases include embroideries, Herend
and Zsolnay porcelain and national dolls.
Shopping
hours
Department stores are open from
Mon-Wed and Fri 1000-1800, Thurs 1000-2000, Sat
0900-1300. Food shops are open from Mon-Fri 0700-1900,
Sat 0700-1400.
Special Events
For a detailed
list of festivals and special events celebrated
online website: www.fesztivalvaros.hu/english.
The following is a selection of special events
occurring in Hungary:
- Jan - Mini Festival
- Mar - Anniversary of the Budapest
Spring Festival
- May - Budapest Early Music Festival
- Jun - Ferencváros Summer Festival
- Jun - Budapest Fair
- Oct - Music of Our Age
- Oct - Autumn Festivals
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Transportation |
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AIR: Malév Hungarian Airlines operates
flights to more than 40 cities.
RAIL: Services are operated
by MÁV. All main cities are linked by efficient
services but facilities are often inadequate.
Supplements are payable on IC and express trains.
Reservations are compulsory for IC trains and
recommended for express trains, particularly in
summer. Tickets can be bought 60 days in advance
on domestic railway lines, as can seat reservations.
The most popular tourist rail routes are: Budapest–Kecskemet–Szeged–
Budapest and Budapest–Siofok–Lake
Balaton. Rail-bus services are available between
the main railway stations within Budapest at fixed
rates (tel: (1) 353 2722; fax: (1) 353 2187; website:
www.mav.hu). There
are also narrow-gauge railways in operation in
many parts of the country.
ROAD: Traffic drives on the
right. There are eight arterial roads in the country:
all but the M8 start from central Budapest. Tolls
are payable on some roads and all motorways. Season
tickets can be purchased. From Budapest the two
main highways are the M1 from Györ to Vienna
and the M7 along Lake Balaton. The M3 connects
Budapest with eastern Hungary. Generally the road
system is good.
Bus: Budapest is linked with major provincial
towns. Tickets are available from Volán
long-distance bus terminal, Budapest, and at Volán
offices throughout the country. A bus season ticket
is also available.
Car hire: Available at Ferihegy Airport or at
Volán and Budapest tourist offices as well
as at major hotels. Regulations: Speed limits
are 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas, 90kph (50mph)
on main roads, 110kph (62mph) on highways and
130kph (75mph) on motorways. Seat belts are compulsory.
Petrol stations are frequent and there are no
special tourist petrol coupons. There is a total
alcohol ban when driving; severe fines are imposed
for infringements. It is obligatory to keep headlights
dipped at all times when on the open road. Mobile
phones are allowed only with headsets. Child seats
are compulsory.
Breakdowns: The Hungarian Automobile Club operates
a breakdown service on main roads at weekends
and a 24-hour service on motorways. For further
details contact the Hungarian Automobile Club,
Rómer Flóris utca 4/A, H-1024 Budapest
(tel: (1) 345 1800 or 345 1755 (24-hour emergency
helpline); e-mail: info@autoklub.hu; website:
www.autoklub.hu).
Documentation: Pink format EU licence accepted
but International Driving Permit required if green
licence held.
URBAN: There is good public
transport in all the main towns. Budapest has
bus, trolleybus, tramway, suburban railway (HEV),
a three-line metro and boat services. The metro
has ticket barriers at all stations. The bus–trolleybus–tramway
system has pre-purchase flat fares with ticket
puncher on board. Day passes are available for
all the transport modes in the city. Trams and
buses generally run from about 0430-2300. Some
night services also operate. The metro runs from
0430-2310 and stations can be identified by a
large ‘M’. There is also a cogwheel
railway (Városmajor–Széchenyi
Hill), a Childrens’ Railway (Hüvösvölgy–Széchenyi
Hill), a chairlift and a funicular. There are
tramways in some of the other towns, or else good
bus services. Day passes and season tickets are
available in Budapest. |
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Accommodation |
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Note: The Hungarian Tourist Card provides discounts
on accommodation including hotels, guest houses
and youth hostels (the Hungarian National Tourist
Office can provide further information or visit
the website www.budapestinfo.hu).
HOTELS: In all classes of hotel,
visitors from the West can expect to be made very
welcome and service will usually be friendly and
smooth. In addition to hotels, there are Tourist
Hostels, which provide simple accommodation usually
in rooms with four or more beds. For information
contact the Hungarian Hotel Association, Secretariat,
Novotel Budapest Convention Centre, Jagello-u
1-3, 1123 Budapest (tel: (1) 466 9462; tel/fax:
(1) 322 3854; e-mail: hah@axelero.hu; website:
www.hah.hu). The
HNTO also issues a brochure with listings of hotels,
guest houses and tourist hotels.
Grading: Hungarian hotels are classified by use
of a star rating system: 5- and 4-star hotels
are luxury class and are generally extremely comfortable;
3-star hotels are comfortable but less luxurious
and offer good value for money; and 2- and 1-star
hotels are generally adequate and clean.
GUEST HOUSES:
Available almost everywhere. Paying-guest accommodation
is an inexpensive and excellent way of getting
to know the people. Renting often includes a bathroom
but not breakfast. Such accommodation should be
reserved well in advance. Further information
can be obtained from the Hungarian National Tourist
Office
SELF-CATERING:
Bungalows with two rooms, fully equipped, can
be rented at a large number of resorts. Full details
and rates can be obtained from the Hungarian National
Tourist Office.
CAMPING/CARAVANNING: Camping
is forbidden except in specially designated areas.
Booking is through the Hungarian Camping and Caravanning
Club, Mária u., 34. II floor, 4apt, H-1085
Budapest (tel: (1) 267 5255/6; fax: (1) 267 5254).
Further information can also be obtained in a
special catalogue published by the Hungarian National
Tourist Office (see Contact Addresses section)
and there is an online booking facility (website:
www.travelport.hu). Most of the sites cater only
for campers bringing in their own equipment. Caravans
are permitted in all sites that have power points;
a parking charge is made. There is no charge for
children under the age of six and young people
between six and 16 years of age pay half price.
Grading: There are four categories of site, designated
I, II, III and IV, according to the amenities
provided, and most are open from May to September.
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Health Care |
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There is a reciprocal health agreement with
the UK. On presentation of a UK passport, treatment
is free at hospitals, ‘poly-clinics’
and doctor’s surgeries
Charges will be made for dental and ophthalmic
treatment and for prescribed medicines. Chemists
are generally open from 0800-1800. There are chemists
with a 24-hour emergency service open in every
district
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Emergency Contacts |
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For Emergencies |
Ambulance |
Police |
Fire |
104 |
112 |
112 |
112 |
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