Hungary

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Means of transport recommended in town

Recommendation

Budapest is served by an efficient public transportation system, based on three subway lines, supplemented by a comprehensive bus, tram, and trolley system. Taxis are also readily available. Phoning for a taxi from one of Budapest’s major companies, rather than hailing off the street, helps ensure the appropriate fare.

Maps of urban networks

Budapest subway
Budapest Transport Company

Transportation from Airport to City Centre:

Airport	Distance	Taxi	Bus	Train	Car rental
Budapest - Ferihegy (BUD)	16 km / 10 miles	HUF 5200 / 25 min	HUF 2300		Available

Means of transport recommended in the rest of the country

Recommendation

Railway lines crisscross the country to connect most cities. The "Inter-City" line provides first-class, express service to several cities. A hydrofoil ferries passengers to Vienna and Bratislava. Hungary’s highways, which are generally good, are undergoing a major improvement to meet EU standards. Express toll highways connect Budapest west to Vienna, south to the Serbian border, and east (almost) to the Ukrainian border.

Rail companies

Hungarian Rail Company
Hungarian Rail Company's time

Airlines

You can consult the list of airlines banned within the EU. Look also the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Traveling by yourself

Recommendation

Motorway network in good condition, but it is a toll motorway. Blood alcool level 0g/l. Be careful when crossing same level railway crosses as the signalisation is not perfect. Headlights are compulsory outside of towns, even during the day. No problem with refueliling. Road signalisation is in Hungarian according to EU standards.

Road maps

Maps offered by T-online
offers map of Budapest, and some other settlements
can find streets in Hungary's major cities

Find an itinerary

Route finder
For international routes

Different forms of tourism

Historical

Amongst others, roman ruins, medieval castles and baroque palaces can all be found in Hungary:
- the Benedictine Abbey at Pannonhalma,
- Buda Castle,
- Pest,
- Eger,
- Szentendre,
- Esztergom
- Sopron.

Cultural

There is a great cultural life in Budapest and in Hungary in general. Pécs, the city in the south of Hungary had won the right to become Europe's cultural capital in 2010. The capital is filled with art galleries, museum, offering a great variety of choice for those who like plastic art.
More Information on www.artsfestivals.hu, www.festivalcity.hu, www.szegediszabadteri.hu.

Nature

- Caves at the Aggtelek National Park
- Cycling, hiking in the Ferto-Hanság National Park
- Kiskunság National Park
- Hortobágy National Park

Religious

Budapest : Matthias Church, Basilica.
Esztergom : Basilica
Ják: Abbey church

Thermal

Visit Király Medicinal Baths, which date from the Middle Ages.

Beach

The Balaton is Central Europe's largest sweet water lake. Siófok, on the south shore of the lake, has some of the sandiest beaches and best facilities for tourists.
Or you can also enjoy a sunny afternoon by the Velence lake which is only 30 minutes away from Budapest.

Winter sports

Hungary is a pretty flat country. Generally those who wish to ski go to Austria, Slovenia, Italy or Slovakia if you are looking for cheaper ski holidays.

Outdoor activities

Hike in Hungary's hills: the Börzsöny, Pilis and Mátra, Kékestetö.
Fish in the River Tisza.
Go horse riding on the Great Plain.
Drink wine from the vineyards of the Szépasszony Valley.

Shopping

Hungary is a good place to buy caviar, foie gras and Hungarian wines and spirits. Most stores are open from Monday to Saturday.

Tourism organizations

Hungarian Tourism Board
Website on Hungary

Health and safety

Health precautions

No special risk.

International hospitals

Informations available on the website of the US embassy in Hungary.

For further information on sanitary conditions

Hungarian Ministry for Health
World Health Organization
Center for disease control and prevention

For further information on safety conditions

Gouvernemental portal for Hungary
Foreign affairs and international trade Canada

Time difference and climate

Time and time difference

It is %T:%M %A in Budapest (GMT+1 in winter, GMT+2 in the summer, central Europeean standard time)

Summer time period

Standard Time: until last Sunday of March: the clocks spring forward one hour
Summer (Daylight Saving) Time: until the last Sunday of October: the clocks spring backwards one hour.