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.
General information 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)
Landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia.
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
Visa, Customs For information on Visa, Entry and stay rules please visit the web pages of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Hungary became a member of the Schengen Area on 1 January 2008!
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.
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.
Important telephone numbers Ambulance 104 Police 107 Fire department 105 Directory Assistance198 International Directory199 International Emergency Call112
Post Office Services Post offices are usually open from Monday to Friday, from 8-18h. There are two post offices next to the two central railway stations in Budapest that are open from Monday to Saturday, from 7 to 21h. They are: Nyugati Pályaudvar (VI. Teréz körút 61.) - open on Sunday, too: 10-17 h Keleti Pályaudvar (VIII. Baross tér 11/c.)
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.
Public Holidays
January 1New Year's Day
March 15 National Holiday
Easter Sunday & Monday
May 1 Workers' Day
Pentecost (Whitsun)
August 20 St. Stephen's Day
October 23 Anniversary of the 1956 Revolution
November 1 All Saint's Day
December 25, 26 Christmas
Climate
Continental, with the average temperature (listed in Fahrenheit / Celsius):
This small country is one of the oldest European countries, situated in the middle of the continent in Central Europe.
