Page 226 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Budapest

224  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

cent for EU citizens Budapest Time
between the ages of Budapest uses Central
62 and 70, and free European time, in keeping
admission for those with the rest of mainland
aged 70 and over. On Europe, which means it is 2
the public transport hours ahead of Greenwich
system, seniors are Mean Time (GMT) in the
also entitled to summer and 1 hour ahead
reductions on ticket in the winter.
prices of 50 per Examples of the summer
cent, and more time differences between
for monthly and Budapest and other major cities
quarterly passes. are as follows: London: -1 hour;
For EU residents New York: -6 hours; Dallas: -7
A Europride parade on the streets of Budapest over the age of 65, hours; Los Angeles: -9 hours;
travel on the metro, Perth: +6 hours; Sydney: +8
Gay and Lesbian buses and trolley buses is free. hours; Auckland: +10 hours;
Travellers
Tokyo: +7 hours.
While Hungarian society is
largely conservative, Budapest Travelling on a Budget Electrical Appliances
is a cosmopolitan city and its The days when you could live
gay scene is thriving, with like a prince on a pauper’s Hungarian electricity supply
overtly gay clubs now replac ing budget in Hungary are long is 230 V and the plugs needed
the old covert meeting places. gone – today the top hotels and are the standard Continental
This greater prominence is restaurants charge inter national 2 pin type. Adapters can
also reflected in Hungarian law – rates. However, there are still be purchased in most
the age of consent is 14 for plenty of places in the city countries. Since sockets are
homo sexuals and heterosexuals where you can sleep and eat generally earthed, the most
alike. The Budapest gay scene well for a modest cost. commonly used plugs are
is male-dominated, however. For cheap accommodation try the flat type.
The Gay Guide Network has the Top Hostels chain of student
information on hostels, which Public Toilets
gay-friendly has an office by
accommodation, the platforms in There are few public toilets
bars, clubs, Keleti station. in Budapest, and most require
restaurants For cheap places a small fee for their use. It is
and baths. to eat, look for worth carrying some small
Magnum Sauna an önkiszolgáló change for this eventuality.
(for men only) at International Student étterem (a self- Cubicles can be found in
Csepreghy utca 2 is Identity Card service restaurant), some squares and parks and
the largest and one étkezde (lunch time these are usually free. In cafés
of the most popular gay saunas diner), or a főzelék bár (főzelék and restaurants there are toilet
in Budapest. It also has a gym is dish of creamed vegetables). attendants and the price for
and a lounge. More restaurants are now offer- using the facility is usually
It is worth noting that in ing a lunchtime menu – an clearly displayed.
the past, extreme right-wing inex pensive two-course lunch. There are no public toilets
groups, such as Magyar Gárda, There are also many Turkish in metro stations, except for
have attacked Gay Pride kebab restaurants in the city Batthyány tér. Apart from
marches (Europride) – so centre, as well as a number the generally understood
caution is always advised at of cheap Chinese restaurants. picture symbols, the toilets
this annual summer event. Student cards (ISICs) are are signed in Hungarian:
widely accepted in Budapest. Hölgyek (ladies) and Urak
They are useful for obtaining (gentlemen), or Nők (women)
Senior Travellers
discounts at many museums and Férfiak (men).
The older generation in and monuments throughout
Hungary is accorded great the city. If you don’t already
respect. You shouldn’t be have an ISIC card, go to the Vista
surprised if people allow older Travel Office at Andrássy út 1 –
ladies to cut ahead in shop and they should be able to issue you Sign for a ladies’ toilet
post office queues, for instance. with one. If you are travelling as
Senior travellers to Hungary are a family, renting an apartment
also afforded some special can help keep costs down – try
courtesies. Many museums the Internet-based Budapest
offer discounts of up to 50 per Lets (see also pp182–5). Sign for a men’s toilet

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