Page 298 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Hungary

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PRACTICAL INFORMATION wheelchair-accessible Hungarian Time
at certain stations. Hungary adheres to Central
Hungary is not a large country, but it is one of the best and most efficient Most hotels can accom- Euro pean Time in keeping with
highly centralized, and almost all roads information services in Europe. Most modate disabled vis- most of mainland Europe – it is
and railways lead to Buda pest. Any Hungarian towns have modern facilities tors, often in specially 2 hours ahead of Green wich
visit beyond the capital is well worth for the traveller, including good banking adapted rooms. As a Mean Time (GMT) in summer
rule of thumb, the bet-
and 1 hour ahead in winter.
organizing in advance. Most visitors also services and emergency medical care, and ter the hotel, the more
find the Hungarian language hard to learn, public telephone and transport systems likely disabled visitors
remember and pronounce, and there are good. Customs and border controls are to find rooms suita- Hungarian Addresses
and Street Names
is little or no English spoken outside now apply mainly to travellers from ble for them.
the cities. Fortunately, Tourinform, the countries outside the EU. For EU and EEA For advice and help, Most famous Hungarians have
squares (tér), streets (utca) and
contact the National
Hungarian National Tourist Office, is citizens the entry procedure is a formality.
Staircase especially adapted for disabled use Federation of Disabled avenues (út) named after them
Persons’ Associations. in every large city and town,
as well as and a few other Opening times for specific note that tobacco goods Their excel lent website which it is easy to confuse.
countries, are free to enter venues are given under their can only be purchased at lists accessible hotels, Many first-time visitors to
Hungary as tourists with out individual entries. Typically, shops signposted “Nemzeti restaurants, museums and Buda pest also confuse Váci utca
requiring a visa. Almost museums open from 10am to Dohánybolt”, with their opaque other public buildings, as (the pede strian street in the city
everybody else needs a visa, 6pm from April until Oct ober, windows. Entrance is restricted well as transport links. centre) with Váci út (the wide
which must be obtained from and a couple of hours less in to people aged over 18. avenue north of the city centre).
a Hungarian Consulate out side winter, from November to Hungarians are usually very Public Toilets Hungarian addresses are
Hungary before travel. Visitors March. Most museums are friendly towards visitors. They written with the postcode first,
should keep their passports (or closed on Mondays. Almost all queue patiently, except when Unfortunately, when it comes followed by the street name
at least a copy) on them at all charge an entrance fee, but getting on and off any form of to the provision of decent pub lic and building number. In
times. A valid passport needs many offer discounts. public transport. The only toilets, Hungary remains in the Budapest the district code is
to be shown when registering Most small shops open from stumbling block is the language dark ages. Public conveniences usually added to the city name,
at a hotel. 9am to 7pm; some stay open barrier – many older Hungarians are rare, and those that one using Roman numerals. Floors are
Visitors returning to EU until 9pm or 10pm, especially speak no Western languages. does come across can be very numbered in accordance with
countries may export unlimit- in modern shopping centres. Casual clothing is acceptable unappealing. Most are free; the UK usage.
ed quantities of alcohol and Shops usually open all day on everywhere, even in the modern, cubicle-style toilets
One of many tourist information offices, tobacco, provided these are for Saturdays, and many open restaurants of Budapest’s most now common in parks and DIRECTORY
run by Tourinform personal use. However, note their doors on Sundays too. expensive hotels. At business public squares are sometimes
that some EU countries have Markets operate seven days a meetings, too, suits and ties coin-operated. Cafés and res- Tourist Information
Tourist Information imposed their own limits on week from early morning to are much less common than taurants usually allow toilet
Hungary operates tourist imports from countries such as around 3pm. Large supermar- elsewhere in Europe. But at access only to customers; at Tourinform
1052 Deák tér (Sütő utca 2),
offices abroad in some 20 Hungary where cigarettes and kets also open seven days a the theatre or classical music service stations and fast-food Budapest. Tel (1) 438 80 80.
countries, all run by Tour- alcohol are cheap. Though week, until at least 8pm. Small concerts you are expected to outlets, there may be a charge ∑ tourinform.hu
inform. Their websites (see these unilateral limits are illegal shops may open on public holi- dress up, black tie if possible. if you do not order anything ∑ gotohungary.com
Directory), also have a wide under EU law, days. Many of the If invited to the home of a from the menu. Most railway
variety of useful information, they are strictly small kiosks sell- Hungarian, ensure you bring stations have toilets, but they Travel Safety Advice
brochures and maps, all of enforced. The UK, ing bus tickets, something: flowers or a bottle can be unhygienic. Australia
which can be downloaded for example, limits food and alcohol of good whisky are favourites. Apart from the generally Department of Foreign
for free in various formats. cigarette imports are open 24 In hospitals, it is common understood picture symbols, Affairs and Trade
Holiday brochures can also from Hungary to hours a day. practice to tip doctors, nurses the toilets are signed in ∑ smartraveller.gov.au
be sent by post, free of just 800. Check Restaurants and domestic staff to make Hungarian: Hölgyek (ladies)
charge. Once in Hungary, before leaving usually open things happen just that little and Urak (gentlemen) or Nők UK
travellers can make use of home. Signs indicating local amenities at 11:30am and bit faster. (women) and Férfiak (men). Foreign and Commonwealth
the services of more than and attractions rarely close in Office ∑ www.gov.uk/foreign-
150 Tourinform offices Travel Safety Advice the afternoon; Disabled Travellers Electrical and Gas travel-advice
nation wide. In most of these Hungarians like to lunch early, US
offices young, friendly and Visitors can get up-to-date and at leisure. Hungary has made giant strides Appliances US Department of State
multi lingual staff will do travel safety information from towards improving life for its The Hungarian electricity ∑ travel.state.gov
everything to make visitors the Foreign and Commonwealth Etiquette dis abled citizens and visitors, supply is 230 V; the plugs are
feel welcome in their country. Office in the UK, the State a major plus point of the the standard continental Europe Information for
Department in the US and the Bans on smoking in public country’s entry into the EU in type, with two round pins. Disabled Visitors
Department of Foreign Affairs places are increasingly 2004. That said, it can be tough Sockets are generally earthed, National Federation of
Passports and Customs
and Trade in Australia. com mon. All bars, cafés for all but the very fittest to get and the plugs are most com- Disabled Persons’
Citizens of the European Union and restaurants are non- on and off some forms of public monly of the flat type. Adaptors Associations (MEOSZ)
(EU), the European Economic Opening Hours smoking, and all museums, transport: trains and trams are are widely available. San Marco utca 76, Budapest.
Area (EEA), countries that are public transport, stations, especially trouble some. On Gas cookers have a bimetallic Tel (1) 388 23 87 or (1) 250 90 13
signatories of the Schengen Museums and galleries are airports and other public the Budapest Metro, the M4 safety device – after lighting, the (international).
agreement, the USA, Canada, open all year round, though buildings are also entirely line is fully accessible by lifts, knob should be held down until ∑ meosz.hu
Australia and New Zealand, there are some exceptions. non-smoking. Smokers should while the older lines are only the burner warms up.
A spectacular view of the Chain Bridge with Budapest’s funicular railway in the foreground
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