Page 313 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Hungary

TR A VEL INFORM A TION  311

been known to prey on
bewildered visitors.
In Budapest, all licensed taxis
are yellow, and all should have a
licence number issued by the city
council clearly displayed. They
should also post their tariffs, which
are standardized, on the wind-
screen or side of the passenger
door. These taxis must meet
set standards of comfort and
roadworthiness. The Green Taxi
service in the capital has a fleet
of electric cars.
Outside the capital, most taxis
Tram in Debrecen, with the Great Reformed Church in the background are operated by authorized taxi
companies, and will display the
Public Transport in trams 1 and 2 run from the train company name and telephone
Other Cities station to the city centre, and on number prominently. These are
While Budapest has the only to Diósgyőr Castle (see p231). In the taxis that should always be
metro network in Hungary, Pécs there is a sightseeing tourist used. Take extra care when get-
several large towns, including train which departs from ting into a taxi outside a railway
Debrecen, Miskolc and Szeged, opposite the Csontváry Museum station; it is always advisable to
have tram systems. Every (see p190), while agree a price for the
town (and even some smaller Szeged’s tram No. 1 journey in advance
villages) has bus services. As runs from the station with the driver. If this
a rule, all tickets need to be into the town centre. proves impossible, it
purchased before boarding the In Hungary may be better to look
means of trans port, and then passengers are for another taxi, even
franked or validated once on allowed to carry one if that means waiting.
board. Tickets can usually be piece of luggage and Taxis can be booked
bought from news paper a children’s buggy on Sign denoting a taxi rank over the phone,
kiosks, and sometimes from buses and trams, but which is slightly
ticket machines. the bag must not be too large. cheaper, or hailed in the street.
It is important to validate Ticket inspectors may demand The best place to find a cab is
tickets, as there are many ticket an additional payment if a bag in the taxi ranks near major bus
inspectors, both in uniform is too large, or if more than one stations, squares, markets or
and plain clothes, who are bag is carried. railway stations. Most hotels
empowered to stop travellers and restaurants will be happy to
and demand to see their tickets Taxis phone for a taxi for their guests.
even after they have got off In fact, this may be cheaper than
their trains or buses. As elsewhere in the world, visitors hailing one.
In many towns trams can should be wary when getting
double as cut-price city tours. In into a taxi anywhere in Hungary, DIRECTORY
Debrecen, for instance, the only but especially at popular tourist
tram line runs from the railway places. While most taxis are safe, Taxis
station to the city’s large thermal cheap and a good way of getting 6x6 Taxi (1) 666 66 66.
bath complex, passing through around cities, many turn out
the centre and past most impor- to be far more expensive than Budapest Taxi
tant sights on the way. In Miskolc expected, and they have (1) 777 77 77.
City Taxi (1) 211 11 11.
Fötaxi (1) 222 22 22.
Green Taxi (1) 400 00 00.
Taxi 2000 (1) 200 00 00.
Taxi4 (1) 444 44 44.
Tele5 (1) 555 55 55.
Local Transport
BKK
∑ bkk.hu
Licensed yellow taxis on the streets of Budapest

310-311_EW_Hungary.indd 311 18/09/17 3:38 pm