transdanubia hungary tourism

Transdanubia

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Attractions

Tours & activities, climate & best time to visit, getting around, festivals & celebrations, general information, visa & travel requirements.

Find hotels in Transdanubia:

Climate in hungary:, number of rainy days:, best time to visit transdanubia:.

Spring (April to June):

• Spring is considered one of the best times to visit Hungary. The weather is mild, and nature begins to bloom.
• It's an ideal time for exploring Budapest, enjoying outdoor activities, and witnessing beautiful landscapes.

Summer (June to August):

• Summer is a popular time for tourism in Hungary. The weather is warm, and the country comes alive with festivals and events.
• Experience the famous Budapest Summer Festival, enjoy outdoor dining, and relax in the thermal baths.

Autumn (September to November):

• Autumn is another pleasant time to visit Hungary. The weather remains comfortable, and the fall foliage is beautiful.
• It's an ideal time for wine tasting in the Tokaj region and exploring the countryside.

Winter (December to February):

• Winter in Hungary can be cold, but it's a unique time to experience the country's festive spirit, especially during the Christmas season.
• Enjoy the Budapest Christmas Markets, soak in thermal baths, and explore Hungary's historic towns in the snow.

Coming soon!

Hungary currency:, prices in hungary *:.

• U.S. dollar (USD)
• Hungarian forint (HUF)
• U.A.E. dirham (AED)
• Albanian lek (ALL)
• Argentine peso (ARS)
• Australian dollar (AUD)
• Aruban florin (AWG)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark (BAM)
• Barbadian dollar (BBD)
• Bangladeshi taka (BDT)
• Bulgarian lev (BGN)
• Bahrain dinar (BHD)
• Burundian franc (BIF)
• Brunei dollar (BND)
• Bolivian boliviano (BOB)
• Brazilian real (BRL)
• Bahamian dollar (BSD)
• Botswana pula (BWP)
• Belize dollar (BZD)
• Canadian dollar (CAD)
• Congolese franc (CDF)
• Swiss franc (CHF)
• Chilean peso (CLP)
• Chinese yuan (CNY)
• Colombian peso (COP)
• Costa Rican colón (CRC)
• Cuban peso (CUP)
• Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)
• Czech koruna (CZK)
• Djiboutian franc (DJF)
• Danish krone (DKK)
• Dominican peso (DOP)
• Algerian dinar (DZD)
• Egyptian pound (EGP)
• Ethiopian birr (ETB)
• Fijian dollar (FJD)
• Pound sterling (GBP)
• Ghanaian cedi (GHS)
• Gambian dalasi (GMD)
• Guinean franc (GNF)
• Guatemalan quetzal (GTQ)
• Guyanese dollar (GYD)
• Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)
• Honduran lempira (HNL)
• Haitian gourde (HTG)
• Indonesian rupiah (IDR)
• Israeli new sheqel (ILS)
• Indian rupee (INR)
• Iraqi dinar (IQD)
• Icelandic króna (ISK)
• Jamaican dollar (JMD)
• Jordanian dinar (JOD)
• Japanese yen (JPY)
• Kenyan shilling (KES)
• Cambodian riel (KHR)
• Comorian franc (KMF)
• Korean won (KRW)
• Kuwaiti dinar (KWD)
• Cayman Islands dollar (KYD)
• Kazakhstani tenge (KZT)
• Lao kip (LAK)
• Lebanese pound (LBP)
• Sri Lankan rupee (LKR)
• Liberian dollar (LRD)
• Lesotho loti (LSL)
• Libyan dinar (LYD)
• Moroccan dirham (MAD)
• Moldovan leu (MDL)
• Malagasy ariary (MGA)
• Macedonian denar (MKD)
• Burmese kyat (MMK)
• Macanese pataca (MOP)
• Mauritian rupee (MUR)
• Maldivian rufiyaa (MVR)
• Malawian kwacha (MWK)
• Mexican peso (MXN)
• Malaysian ringgit (MYR)
• Namibian Dollar (NAD)
• Nigerian naira (NGN)
• Nicaraguan córdoba (NIO)
• Norwegian krone (NOK)
• Nepalese Rupee (NPR)
• New Zealand dollar (NZD)
• Omani rial (OMR)
• Panamanian balboa (PAB)
• Peruvian sol (PEN)
• Papua New Guinean kina (PGK)
• Philippine peso (PHP)
• Pakistani rupee (PKR)
• Polish zloty (PLN)
• Paraguayan guaraní (PYG)
• Qatar riyal (QAR)
• Romanian new leu (RON)
• Serbian dinar (RSD)
• Russian Ruble (RUB)
• Rwandan franc (RWF)
• Saudi Arabian riyal (SAR)
• Seychellois rupee (SCR)
• Sudanese pound (SDG)
• Swedish krona (SEK)
• Singapore dollar (SGD)
• Saint Helena pound (SHP)
• Somali shilling (SOS)
• Swazi lilangeni (SZL)
• Thai baht (THB)
• Tajikistani somoni (TJS)
• Turkmenistani manat (TMT)
• Tunisian dinar (TND)
• Turkish lira (TRY)
• Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD)
• New Taiwan Dollar (TWD)
• Tanzanian shilling (TZS)
• Ukraine Hryvnia (UAH)
• Ugandan shilling (UGX)
• Uruguayan peso (UYU)
• Uzbekistani sum (UZS)
• Vietnamese đồng (VND)
• CFP franc (XPF)
• Yemeni rial (YER)
• South African rand (ZAR)
• Zambian kwacha (ZMW)

Hungary general information:

Electricity:.

• Type C (European 2-pin)
• Type F (German 2-pin, side clip earth)

Power sockets

Check Visa requirements for Hungary on Sherpa

Always check with the destination country's embassy for the most up-to-date information on Visa requirements!

Explore Transdanubia

Must-see attractions in Lake Balaton & Southern Transdanubia

Festetics Palace

The glimmering white, 100-room Festetics Palace was begun in 1745, and the two wings were extended out from the original building 150 years later. Some 18…

Benedictine Abbey Church

Built in 1754 on the site of King Andrew I’s church, this twin-spired, ochre-coloured church is Tihany's dominant feature. Don't miss the fantastic altars…

Zsolnay Cultural Quarter

The sprawling Zsolnay Cultural Quarter, built on the grounds of the original Zsolnay porcelain factory, is divided into four sections (craftspeople,…

Mosque Church

The largest building extant from the time of the Turkish occupation, the former Pasha Gazi Kassim Mosque (now the Inner Town Parish Church) dominates the…

Herend Porcelain Factory

Lake Balaton & Southern Transdanubia

This factory has been producing Hungary’s finest hand-painted china for over 180 years. You can witness how clay becomes delicate porcelain in 40-minute…

Széchenyi tér

Surrounded by largely baroque buildings, Pécs' sloped main square is the city's hub, great for people-watching. With the Mosque Church at the north end,…

Csontváry Museum

This museum shows the major works of master 19th-century symbolist painter Tivadar Kosztka Csontváry. Elements of postimpressionism and expressionism can…

Victor Vasarely Museum

This museum exhibits the work of the father of op art, Victor Vasarely. Symmetrical, largely abstract pieces are exhibited with clever illuminations that…

Modern Hungarian Gallery

This gallery exhibits the art of Hungary from 1850 till today across several floors; works run the gamut from impressionist paintings to visually striking…

Mohács Historical Memorial Site

The defeat of the ragtag Hungarian army by the Turks at Mohács on 29 August 1526 was a watershed in the nation’s history, its effects felt up to this day…

Basilica of St Peter

The foundations of the neo-Romanesque four-towered basilica dedicated to St Peter date from the 11th century and the side chapels are from the 1300s, but…

Model Railway Museum

On the top floor of a former military building, this grin-inducing museum exhibits one of the world's largest mountain railway layouts. Trains whiz round…

Erotic Panoptikum

Full disclosure: this is an X-rated wax museum. Kind of tacky – yes. Fascinating – absolutely. The tiny subterranean space brings to 'life' lust and sex…

Zsolnay Porcelain Museum

The porcelain factory established in Pécs in 1853 was at the forefront of European art and design for more than half a century. Many of its majolica tiles…

All Saints’ Church

The suburb of Budaiváros, to the northeast of Pécs' town centre, is where most Hungarians settled after the Turks banned them from living within the city…

Tagore Sétány

The entire town seems to stroll the leafy lake-hugging promenade all day. It hides a number of statues, including a bust of Nobel Prize–winning poet…

Georgikon Farm Museum

Housed in several early-19th-century buildings of what was the Georgikon’s experimental farm, this is the perfect museum for lovers of early industrial…

Balaton Museum

The Balaton Museum was purpose-built in 1928 and its permanent exhibits focus on the life and history of Lake Balaton. The Balaton aquarium showcases the…

Depending on what generation you're from, the exhibits at this wonderful place will either make you smile in remembrance or gawp in fascination. Ye olde…

Pécs' beautifully preserved 1869 Conservative synagogue is south of Széchenyi tér and faces renovated Kossuth tér. It was built in the Romantic style in…

Before WWII Keszthely’s Jewish community numbered 1000; at the end of the war it had dropped to 170. Today less than 40 Jews live in the town and attend…

Dorottya Kanizsai Museum

This lovely museum has a large collection of costumes worn by the Sokác, Slovenes, Serbs, Croats, Bosnians and Swabians who repopulated this devastated…

Benedictine Abbey Museum

This museum, next door to the Abbey Church in the former Benedictine monastery, is entered from the church crypt. It features exhibits on Lake Balaton,…

Doll Museum

This surprisingly absorbing museum showcases two floors' worth of dolls dressed in folk costumes from all parts of Hungary. On the ground floor, there's…

Snail Parliament

What do you get when you take one woman's obsession, 14 years of loving labour, and 4.5 million snail shells? A 7m by 2.5m scale model of Budapest's…

If you can’t make the Busójárás festival, just before Lent, Busóház is the place to come: it tells the story of the festival from its origins as a South…

Lavender House

On the shores of a reedy little lake, this excellent visitor centre introduces you to the history and people of the Tihany peninsula – from its raging…

Coach Museum

Behind Festetics Palace in a separate building is the Coach Museum, which is filled with coaches and sleighs fit for royalty. You may not know the…

Early Christian Tomb Chapel

The early Christian tomb chapel, under renovation at research time, dates from about AD 350 and has frescoes of Adam and Eve and Daniel in the lion’s den…

Hassan Jakovali Mosque

Wedged between two modern buildings, this 16th-century mosque comes complete with a minaret and is still used for services. Inside there's a wonderful…

The 200m-tall TV tower sits atop the 535m summit of Misini hill. On a clear day, from the viewing platform you can see Pécs and its historic buildings,…

This leafy square is home to the State Hospital of Cardiology. In the centre you’ll encounter the Kossuth Pump House (1853), a natural spring that…

Former Franciscan church

This church was originally built in the Gothic style in the late 14th century for Franciscan monks, but many alterations were made in subsequent centuries…

Museum of Historical Wax Figures

This is a surprisingly fun way to acquaint yourself with the who's who of Hungary's rulers, poets, clerics and military commanders. The eclectic…

Visszhang-hegy

You'll find Visszhang-hegy at the end of Pisky sétány. At one time, up to 15 syllables of anything shouted in the direction of the Abbey Church would…

Nostalgia Museum

This treasure trove of ordinary objects ranging from 1800s antiques to 'retro' items is fun to poke around in, and before you know it, an hour has flown…

Jókai Memorial Museum

The Jókai Memorial Museum is housed in the summer villa of the prolific writer Mór Jókai, just north of Vitorlás tér. Jókai churned out many of his 200…

Fő tér, Kezthely's colourful main square, received a facelift in 2012 – the result is a traffic-free, pedestrian-friendly expanse of white cobblestone…

Marzipan Museum

Partly a museum, but also a good excuse to stop by for coffee and cake if you're visiting the castle next door. It's well worth paying the small admission…

Ferencesek utcája

One of Pécs’ most enjoyable pedestrian streets, Ferencesek utcája, runs east from Kórház tér to Széchenyi tér and boasts the magnificent baroque…

More destinations you need to see

• 3 Other destinations
• 4.1 Politics
• 4.2 Climate
• 4.3 Holidays
• 4.4 Visitor information
• 6.1 By plane
• 6.2 By train
• 6.5 By ship
• 6.6 From Slovakia
• 7.1 By plane
• 7.2.1 By train
• 7.2.2 By bus
• 7.2.3 By boat
• 7.3.1 Highways
• 7.4 By car pool
• 7.5 By taxi
• 10.1.1 Money exchange
• 10.2 Tipping
• 10.3.1 Hungarian foods
• 10.3.2 Hungarian beverages
• 10.3.3 Others
• 11.1 Cuisine
• 11.2 Vegetarian food
• 12.2 Liquor
• 12.4 Coffee
• 13.1 Hostels
• 13.2 Farmhouses
• 13.3 Camping
• 16.1 Driving conditions
• 17 Stay healthy
• 18.1 General etiquette
• 18.2.1 National issues
• 18.3 Uncommon customs

Hungary ( Hungarian : Magyarország ) is a small landlocked country in the south-eastern region of Central Europe . It features a gorgeous capital city, Budapest , and the largest lake in Central Europe, Balaton . Hungary offers many diverse destinations: relatively low mountains in the north-west, the Great Plain in the east, lakes and rivers of all sorts, and many beautiful small villages and hidden gems of cities. Top this off with Hungary's great accessibility in the middle of Europe, a vivid culture and economy, and you get a destination absolutely worth visiting if you're in the region.

Regions [ edit ]

Cities [ edit ]

• 47.498333 19.040833 1 Budapest — with green filled parks, interesting museums, and a pulsating nightlife, Budapest is one of Europe's most delightful and enjoyable cities
• 47.53 21.639167 2 Debrecen — the second largest city in the country
• 47.684167 17.634444 3 Győr — there are many cafés, restaurants, boutiques, and night clubs in its lovely baroque city center
• 46.9074 19.6917 4 Kecskemét — a town famous for its vibrant music scene, plum brandy, and Art Nouveau architecture
• 48.1 20.783333 5 Miskolc — with the unique cave bath in Miskolc-Tapolca , the third largest city in the country, located near the Bükk hills
• 47.95 21.716667 6 Nyíregyháza — a medium-sized city with a busy water resort, museum village, and annual autumn festival
• 46.070833 18.233056 7 Pécs — a pleasant cultural centre and university town
• 46.25 20.166667 8 Szeged — the sunniest city in Hungary
• 47.2 18.416667 9 Székesfehérvár — former royal seat, famous for its baroque architecture and museums

Other destinations [ edit ]

• 46.85 17.72 1 Lake Balaton — the major lake of Hungary and the biggest lake in Central Europe
• 47.59458 21.15678 2 Hortobágy National Park — Hungary's largest protected area and the largest semi-natural grassland in Europe

Understand [ edit ]

Hungary is one of the 15 most popular tourist destinations in the world, with a capital regarded as one of the most beautiful in the world . Despite its relatively small size, Hungary is home to numerous World Heritage Sites, UNESCO Biosphere reserves, the second largest thermal lake in the world (Lake Hévíz), the largest lake in Central Europe ( Lake Balaton ), and the largest natural grassland in Europe ( Hortobágy ). In terms of buildings, Hungary is home to the largest synagogue in Europe (the Great Synagogue of Budapest), the largest medicinal bath in Europe (Széchenyi Medicinal Bath), the third largest church in Europe (Esztergom Basilica), the second largest territorial abbey in the world (Pannonhalma Archabbey), the second largest Baroque castle in the world (Gödöllő), and the largest Early Christian Necropolis outside Italy (Pécs).

You can expect to find safe food and water, good safety and a generally stable political climate.

Hungary has been ethnically diverse since its inception, and while today over 90% of the population are ethnically Hungarian, pockets of ethnic and cultural Slovaks, Romanians, Germans, Romani/Sinti people (Gypsies), and others dot the country. Due to the border changes of Hungary after World War I, over 2 million ethnic and cultural Hungarians live in bordering countries, as well. The Hungarians, otherwise known as Magyars, are the descendants of several tribes from Central Asia, who were believed to be fierce, nomadic horsemen and came to Central Europe in the 9th century.

Politics [ edit ]

Hungary is governed by a right-wing conservative party that is accused of authoritarian behaviour, and the country's status was declared to be no longer a full democracy but an electoral autocracy by resolution of the EU parliament in Sep 2022. This is unlikely to affect travellers who refrain from political activity and do not run afoul of the law. There are also reports of general anti-foreigner sentiment and racism against people who look ethnically non-European, however, Hungary seems to lie within the average of the former Eastern Bloc in that regard.

Climate [ edit ]

Temperatures in Hungary vary from -20°C to 39°C through the year. Distribution and frequency of rainfall are unpredictable due to the continental climate of the country. Heavy storms are frequent after hot summer days, and so do more days long still rainfalls in the autumn. The western part of the country usually receives more rain than the eastern part, and severe droughts may occur in summertime. Weather conditions in the Great Plain can be especially harsh, with hot summers, cold winters, and scant rainfall.

Holidays [ edit ]

• 1 January - New Year's Day
• 15 March - National Day (commemorating the 1848 Hungarian revolution and independence war against the Austrian Empire)
• moveable - Good Friday
• moveable - Easter
• 1 May - International Worker's Day
• moveable - Pentecost
• 20 August - State Foundation Day (also known as St. Stephen's Day)
• 23 October - National Day (also known as Republic Day)
• 1 November - All Saints Day
• 25-26 December - Christmas

Visitor information [ edit ]

• Visit Hungary

Talk [ edit ]

Hungarians are rightly proud of their unique, complex, sophisticated, richly expressive language, Hungarian ( Magyar pronounced "mohdyohr"). It is a Uralic language most closely related to Mansi and Khanty of western Siberia. It is further sub-classified into the Finno-Ugric languages which include Finnish and Estonian ; it is not at all related to any of its neighbours: the Slavic, Germanic, and Romance languages belonging to the Indo-European language family.

Although Hungarian is related to Finnish and Estonian, it is not mutually intelligible with either of them. While there are some similarities in the vocabulary, the complicated grammar and pronunciation make it one of the most challenging languages for English speakers to learn. However, modern Hungarian is written in the Latin alphabet, which eliminates the need for English speakers to learn a new script.

English is a mandatory subject in schools in Hungary. However, most Hungarians are not fluent in the language, and their level of proficiency is lower than that of many other European countries. Younger generations and people living in Budapest may be able to hold a decent conversation in English but don't expect the same from people in rural areas. It's best not to expect people to speak English at all in rural parts of the country.

German is spoken almost as widely as English and is almost universally spoken near the Austrian border, especially in Sopron , which is officially bilingual and has significant contacts with Vienna due to its accessibility by Vienna suburban trains.

Russian , which was compulsory in the Communist era, is spoken by a minority of Hungarians. Speaking Russian to Hungarians is a sensitive issue due to the history of unwanted Soviet domination, so be sure to begin the conversation in Hungarian and ask if the person speaks Russian before proceeding, and only use Russian as a last resort.

Get in [ edit ]

Hungary is a member of the Schengen Agreement . See Travelling around the Schengen Area for more information on how the scheme works, which countries are members and what the requirements are for your nationality. In summary:

• There are normally no immigration controls between countries that have signed and implemented the treaty.
• There are usually identity checks before boarding international flights or boats entering the Schengen Area. Sometimes there are temporary border controls at land borders.
• A visa granted for any Schengen member is valid in all other countries that have signed and implemented the treaty.

Recognised refugees and stateless persons in possession of a valid travel document issued by the government of any one of the above countries/territories are exempt from obtaining a visa for Hungary (but no other Schengen country, except Germany and, for refugees, Slovakia ) for a maximum stay of 90 days in a 180-day period.

Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda are permitted to work in Hungary without the need to obtain a visa for the period of their 90-day visa-free stay. However, this ability to work visa-free does not necessarily extend to other Schengen countries.

Citizens of Croatia can also enter the country by showing their identity card, but may not stay longer than 90 days in a 180-day period or work in Hungary without a work permit.

By plane [ edit ]

Hungary's international airports are Liszt Ferenc Airport ( BUD  IATA ) in Budapest , Airport Debrecen [dead link] ( DEB  IATA ) in Debrecen and Hévíz–Balaton Airport ( SOB  IATA ) in Sármellék. The Hungarian national carrier, Malév (Hungarian Airlines) was closed down in early 2012. There are also several low cost carriers operating to Budapest: for example Ryanair , Wizzair , Easyjet and Eurowings .

By train [ edit ]

Budapest is an important railway hub for the whole Hungary and large part of eastern Europe, with frequent trains from Austria , Germany , Czechia and Slovakia . There are at least one train daily from Bosnia and Herzegovina , Croatia , Italy , Romania , Russia , Slovenia , Serbia , Switzerland and Ukraine , as well as through cars from Poland and seasonal through sleepers from Bulgaria and Montenegro .

For detailed info see Budapest#By_train .

You can search for international train connections at official schedule site of MÁV, national train company, or at German Railways website covering almost whole Europe.

By car [ edit ]

To enter the country, ensure that your International Motor Insurance Card is valid for Hungary (H) along with the Vehicle Registration and a Power of Attorney from the owner if the car is not yours. The border guards are very strict about allowing cars through without these documents (see excepts below).

The Hungarian border control is very strict and thorough. They will not hesitate to conduct a full vehicle search if necessary. Entry from Schengen countries (Austria, Slovenia, Slovakia, Croatia) is out of such border control since the abolition of physical borders. All those remain show light control and due to a bilateral agreement Serbian citizens are also no more undergo a strict border control. However you have to take into consideration that from Schengen area you might undergo a so-called inside-customs control wherever moving/driving in the country. Non-Schengen passengers must take into account facing a strict control upon customs prescriptions from Ukraine and Serbia. Coming from Serbia you are allowed to bring 2 packets of cigarettes into Hungary. If you bring more they will take it and fine for €102. Weapons for hunting are allowed to bring in from any EU member state if you have a European Licence. However with possessing that you may not buy or sell your or a new weapon here. The same is the situation with illicit drugs as well. Infringement of these rules may definitely lead to your immediate arrest!

Entry from non-Schengen countries can take quite a long time, in particular in the summer months on the weekends when EU-Nationals are returning north along the E75 corridor from Belgrade, Serbia. The wait lines to get through the border have been as long as 7 km with a wait time of up to 6 hours. Alternative border points in Hungary or Croatia can be used to by-pass. If you are driving in from an EU country e.g. Austria, you are required to pull over to check with authorities at the border, otherwise, the borders are open and usually the immigration control kiosk are empty.

When driving into Hungary, ensure that the border crossing on the route you choose allows the passage of foreigners. Also some smaller crossings close in the afternoon for the night. It is also required to buy a vignette for driving on highways. Prices on the Net .

By bus [ edit ]

Several international bus lines go in or through Hungary. You can find timetables and book tickets on the homepage of Volánbusz , which is the national bus company and also the local Eurolines representation. Alternatively, Orangeways bus company [dead link] offer services on routes between Budapest and Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. Timetables and online booking are available on their website. On the southern border with Serbia you shouldn't be surprised when there in the bus a collection is being held for a donation to the border-guards, to let the bus pass faster.

By ship [ edit ]

It is possible to enter Hungary by international shipping lines on Danube (Duna) or Tisza rivers. There is a scheduled hydrofoil service on the Danube to and from Vienna and Bratislava between May and September operated by Mahart.

From Slovakia [ edit ]

• You can use the bus no. 91 of the urban traffic company of Bratislava (DPB) going to Čunovo in order to cross between Rajka (Hungary) and Bratislava (Slovakia). In Bratislava, the bus has Nový most as its terminus, and near the Hungarian border you get on/off at the stop Čunovské jazerá (you need to signal to the driver if you plan to get off at this stop). From Čunovské jazerá it's a four-kilometer-long straight walk through a flat terrain to the town of Rajka, two kilometers on each side of the border. You may detour to visit a monument at the Austrian-Hungarian-Slovakian three country border.

Get around [ edit ]

Hungary has no regular domestic flights. As Budapest lies in the centre of the country and pretty much any point can be reached within three hours by train or bus, there isn't much need for scheduled domestic flights.

However there are many opportunities for people with a valid pilot's license to rent a plane and explore by air.

• A Pilot's Academy of Malev Flying Club [dead link] T:+36 20 565-6467, Dunakeszi . Lightweight gliders and other stuff.

By public transport [ edit ]

There are multiple trip planning websites for Hungarian public transport, for example: utas.hu , menetrendek.hu [dead link] or uj.utvonalterv.hu (this seems to be available only in Hungarian but the first two are available in English). They provide real-time position information about your buses, as well as the planned schedule of the trains and allow you to plan your journey between any two points in the country.

Some important words in Hungarian that may be helpful are:

• “honnan” - from
• “hová” - to
• “Autóbusz állomás” - bus station
• “naponta” - daily
• “munkanapokon” - on workdays

The Hungarian National Railway is MÁV and GYSEV (some lines in the west of the country). MÁV has online schedule and pricing site [dead link] . You can purchase domestic and some international train tickets on the web in English. Read and follow the instruction here .

The train network is star-shaped (hub-and-spoke), fanning out from the centre at Budapest . This is caused by history because half of the once complete train system went to the neighbor countries after World War I. If neither the starting or ending point is Budapest, expect to travel for a long time often with change in Budapest.

Intercity (IC) trains are the fastest, and they're up-to-date, well maintained and clean. They link the major cities with Budapest. Expect to pay about 550 Ft (= €2) extra fee independently from the distance for the mandatory seat reservation (not in international ICs, ECs). In some cases the extra charge can be lower. Compared to the majority of Western European ticket prices, Hungary's IC trains are among the cheapest, with an excellent record of speed and comfort. At the weekends many students use these IC trains to commute between Budapest and other cities, so an early advance booking is recommended on Friday afternoons for the trains leaving Budapest and on Sunday evenings for trains towards Budapest. Working with a notebook is generally safe, unless it's heavy overcrowded.

Other train lines usually are not that fast, and not always cleaned up to the high standards (even in the 1st class), and often vandalised (mostly in Budapest region); however quality standards are improving. During summer trains linking Balaton to Budapest are sometimes overcrowded with the IC usually being sold out. The next choice is the gyorsvonat, or the old fast train. Pricing depends only on the distance and on the car class. Cash desks assume 2nd class by default for non-IC trains (at least in Budapest for English speakers), so if you didn't catch your IC, consider asking 1st class, paying small extra for much more comfort. Smoking is prohibited on all trains, as well as on the station platforms.

Since March 2024, people aged 65 and older and people under 14 generally travel free of charge. People under 26 receive a 50% discount. There is also a nationwide 24-hour-pass. It's called Hungary24 and costs 4999 HUF (approx. 13.10 euros).

It is possible to buy Inter Rail pass for Hungary. Check whether buying tickets for each journey is cheaper.

Check the MAV site for a station list [dead link] where you can buy a train ticket with a debit or credit card. A gépi menetjegykiadás is a staffed cashier desk; jegykiadó automata is a vending machine.

You can buy tickets with euro . It is possible to purchase an international ticket and supplement at every Hungarian railway station which has an international cash desk. Cash desks do not accept euro bank notes of values above €50, and you will get the change in forints.

A station list with ticket vending machine [dead link] usually to destinations which are not enlisted by the vending machines, tickets will be issued without extra charge by the conductor on board. These ar working with a short midnight break.

International bike transport [dead link] on the train also possible on selected trains cost €4-10 (vary), first price to Vienna , the highest to Hamburg (via Berlin ).

List of e-ticket acceptance point [dead link] s like a vending machine. Buy the ticket on the Net [dead link] and find at the station the pre-purchased ticket issuing machine to validate and print your ticket.

There are luggage rooms or lockers [dead link] (Hu: csomagmegörző) in train stations. Lockers cost (since 2010): small 400 Ft, or bigger 600 Ft per 24hours. More than one day cost 600 Ft per each started day. An incomplete list of stations with Luggage rooms or/and lockers: Budapest-Déli, Kelenföld (Budapest), Budapest-Keleti, Budapest-Nyugati, Debrecen, Győr, Miskolc-Tiszai, Nyíregyháza, Siófok, Sopron , Szolnok , Szombathely .

Hungary’s national bus network is operated by 28 state run companies, united in Volán Association . Connections are frequent, and prices are identical to those on non-Intercity trains. Bus lines often are more complete than train lines, but the speed is quite similar. Long-distance buses are clean and safe, but often subject to delays. Buy your ticket at the station ticket desk before boarding; if you do not take your bus at a main station, purchase a ticket from the driver. Make sure that you validate tickets even when buying from the bus driver. The small orange boxes are used for validating tickets and are seen at several points throughout the bus. Ticket inspectors operate on the airport bus and if you have not validated your ticket, you are liable for a 7000 Ft on the spot fine. It is a good idea to reserve your tickets for national holidays, Friday and Sunday evenings beforehand. Online booking is available in English . You can plan your trip with any of the trip planning services mentioned at the beginning of the chapter.

Citizens from EU countries over 65 years can travel free of charge. Children aged 6-14 get 50 % Discount.

By boat [ edit ]

There are several scheduled riverboat and hydrofoil lines operated by MAHART PassNave Ltd. from the capital city Budapest to towns in the Danubebend, like Szentendre , Visegrád and Esztergom , and also a good hydrofoil boat connection operated by the same company between Vienna and Budapest from May to September.

In the capital city there are several sightseeing and night cruises operated by MAHART PassNave Ltd. and other shipping companies, like Legenda Ltd.

There are some ferries on Danube and Tisza but their working hours are undependable. You can trust the ferry on Lake Balaton, though, for a modest price.

Aggressive and unpredictable driving and speeds significantly higher than in northern Europe are a constant source of traffic incidents. Traffic lights are not always obeyed.

Most roads in Hungary are two-lane, apart from modern motorways. Roads and motorways leading to Budapest are mostly in good shape; however, cracks, potholes and bumpy roads are common on minor roads and in major cities, though they are constantly being repaired. It is usually not difficult to travel by using a map and following road signs.

Expressways are not free, but there are no other toll roads or tunnels. A vignette system is used, similar to that in neighboring Austria and Slovakia, but as of 2013 the vignette is stored electronically and checked for using gantries that read license plate numbers. You can purchase them in intervals of 10 days (called "Weekly vignette"), 1 month, or 1 year. The vignette is very important and it is a good idea to buy it even if you don't plan to use the highway. Control is automatic with video cameras and you will get a high ticket (20,000 Ft) automatically without any warning.

If you travel by normal roads the speed limit is 90 km/h between cities and 50 km/h inside, which slows you to the average around 60 km/h. Roads often have high traffic (especially main roads like #8 to the west, #6 to the south and #4 to the east). On highways the speed limit is 130 km/h, travel is the same as in Germany, and on the inside lane it is very common to have someone speed by you.

Expect the Police to use speed traps of all kinds: fixed ones on all motorways which are signed, and mobile ones from bridges, cars standing on the shoulder or behind bushes and trees. Beware that some policemen hide around speed limit signs, especially when the sign visibly useless or if it's extremely slow for the given road type. Police corruption is widespread especially around Budapest (generally 10,000 Ft solves usual problems if you don't get arrested for it).

When you cross the country from the west to the east (or vice versa), take into account that there are only a few bridges crossing the Danube outside Budapest . There are some ferries available though.

Outside urban areas, it is a legal requirement to drive with headlights on, even during the day—a requirement that is becoming more common across the EU.

Hungary has a policy of zero tolerance for driving under the influence of alcohol. If you are caught driving even after only having a couple of units of alcohol you are most likely to be arrested.

Highways [ edit ]

There is a fast growing highway network in Hungary (1,480 km in total). Each highway starts in Budapest.

• M0 - Motorway ring around Budapest. The north-east and south sections are ready.
• M1 - connection to Győr , Austria and Slovakia (west)
• M2 - connection to Vác , planned to reach the border to Slovakia by 2015 (north)
• M3/M30/M35 - connection to Miskolc , Debrecen and Nyíregyháza (east)
• M5 - connection to Serbia , via Kecskemét and Szeged (south-east)
• M6/M60 - Connection to Dunaújváros and Pécs (south)
• M7/M70 - connection to Lake Balaton , Croatia and Slovenia (south-west)
• M4 - will provide connection to Romania via Szolnok by the year 2015 (east)
• M44 - will provide connection between the M5 at Kecskemét and the Romanian border via Békéscsaba (east)
• M8/M9 - will cross the country east-west by 2015

A single vignette is required to use all highways, except for M0 and short sections around major cities, which are free. Vignettes can be purchased online with bankcard on the official web (and several private online companies), at filling stations and at ÁAK (State Motorway Management Co.) offices. A 10-day vignette for a passenger car costs 2975 Ft during summertime, the 4-day ticket for car has been cancelled. Vignettes are controlled automatically through a camera system.

By car pool [ edit ]

The Hungarian oszkar.com social car pool network/website will allow you to find cheap transport around the country and from (and to) many European cities (especially Vienna, but many German cities are also well "serviced").

In case you're not familiar with the idea: people who travel by car and willing to take passengers post their itinerary. You can hitch a ride by booking it on the website and then contacting the driver, whose contact information the website furnishes you with. People wishing to travel by car pool can also post and hope to be found by a prospective driver. Passengers are expected to contribute to the cost of the trip, but "fares" are typically much lower than bus/coach or rail fares (e.g. as of 2013, a trip from Vienna to Budapest may cost 2,500–6,500 Ft). A significant downside is that the site is in Hungarian (although you might be able to navigate it with a service Google Translate) and that booking (but not searching) requires registration, which is free. Drivers as well as passengers can rate each other after trips, much like at auction sites.

Drivers are typically young adults (young enough to be familiar with the Internet and old enough to own their own cars); this also means they're slightly more likely to speak a foreign language than the average Hungarian, but you still shouldn't depend on it.

Some commercial "shuttle operators" use oszkar.com to offer rides too; their postings are visually distinguishable from "amateur" ones.

Oszkar.com is a buyer's market: there are generally many more passenger seats available than passengers.

By taxi [ edit ]

Inspect the change that taxi drivers give you. Cabbies commonly rip off tourists by giving them change in outdated Romanian currency, which looks similar to Hungarian currency, but is worthless and cannot be redeemed.

Ride-hailing is available in Hungary and the following are the most anticipated providers:

• Bolt . Works in Budapest, Debrecen and Pécs. ( updated Jul 2020 )

See [ edit ]

Hungary has several World Heritage sites . These are:

• Budapest , including the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrássy Avenue
• Old Village of Hollókő and its Surroundings
• Caves of Aggtelek National Park — beautiful caves with dripstones and stalagmites
• Millenary Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma and its Natural Environment
• Hortobágy National Park - the Puszta
• Early Christian Necropolis of Pécs (Sopianae)
• Fertő Lake Cultural Landscape common place with Austria more see there.
• Tokaj and Villány Wine Regions and Historic Cultural Landscapes

Other major tourist destination is Lake Balaton , with winehills, thermal spa in Hévíz , Hajdúszoboszló and Harkány around. Sopron is one of the most popular place for a sightseeing in the region.

There are also some amazing things to see.

• Tiszavirágzás . In mid-June the Tisza produces swarms of mayflies which are likened to flowers. Once decimated by pollution, the population is rebounding. (They're famous for living only for 1–2 days.)
• Busójárás . In February the people chase away bad ghosts by loud clamping on streets of Mohács .

Do [ edit ]

• Birdwatching: Hungary has wooded hills, vast fish-pond systems and grasslands, the puszta . Particularly good areas are the Kiskunsag and Hortobagy National Parks and the Aggtelek, Bukk and Zemplen Hills.
• Horse riding: Vast areas of open countryside coupled with the long traditions of horsemanship make Hungary an ideal country for riding. Wide open plains in the south and forested hills in the north offer varied riding terrain.
• Baths: Thermal waters abound in Hungary, with over 1000 thermal springs many of which have been turned into baths and spas. The most famous are the Szechenyi baths in Budapest , but there are hundreds more. The cave baths at Miskolc-Tapolca and the spa at Egerszalók are good examples. See also Budapest#Baths , Nyíregyháza#Do , and a selected list of authorized medicinal waters.
• Football: 12 teams play soccer in the country's top tier, Nemzeti Bajnokság I or NB1; four of them are based in Budapest. The national team play home games at Puskás Aréna in Budapest, completed in 2019.
• Cycling: the premier race is the Tour de Hongrie held over four days in May.

Buy [ edit ]

Money [ edit ].

The Hungarian currency is the forint , denoted by the symbol " Ft " (ISO code: HUF ). Notes come in denominations of 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000 forint; coins are available in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 two-coloured, similar to €2) and 200 (two-coloured, similar to €1) forint.

Euros are now accepted at most hotels and some of the restaurants and shops. Make sure you check the exchange rate, sometimes even well known places (like McDonald's) will exchange at unrealistic rates. Forints are to disappear in the coming years in favour of the euro, but no date has been fixed.

You can use major credit cards (EuroCard, Visa) in major shops and larger restaurants, but never expect that without checking first. Small places cannot afford to handle cards. ATMs are available even in small cities, the coverage is good. In Budapest, almost all businesses and services relevant to tourists support card payments.

While completing any monetary transactions, it is best to pay in forint when you can. Some restaurants and hotels charge a steep rate for exchanging euros and often due to the fluctuation in forint, cost and services stated may vary drastically.

Money exchange [ edit ]

Shopping in Hungary is extremely cheap for people from the euro zone and the US. An exception to this rule is that luxury goods are often at higher prices than would be encountered in Western Europe or the US.

Exchange rates for euros and US dollars are roughly the same within central (at least in Budapest and Eger ). Rates will likely be much worse in airports and large train stations, so only change what you need to reach the city centre. A good habit is to compare the buy and sell rates: if they are drastically different, you're best going somewhere else. Official exchange offices always give a receipt and normally have a large glass between client and a cashier making all steps transparent for clients.

Euros are very widely accepted, in hotels, in some splurge restaurants or bars, in some shop (like all SPAR super/hypermarkets, usually at the cashdesk area is a board with the actual rate), or international cash desk of course the rates five even ten percent worse than in the banks and be prepare the change they will get back in forint. Try using small notes (max. 50), at international cash desk even can pay also with coins and the rate is ok. Traded currencies at the two biggest Hungarian bank K&H Bank : AUD, CAD, CHF, CZK, DKK, EUR, GBP, JPY, NOK, PLN, SEK, USD; OTP Bank : same as K&H plus BGN, RUB and accepted Euro or Amex travellers cheques (comission). Smaller banks like Raiffeisen Bank [dead link] (for CZK), Oberbank [dead link] (for CHF) or Sberbank [dead link] (for RUB) giving better rates, but not change so many currencies (need to check as it is variable). For your remained forints buying euros, US dollars and Swiss francs always available, but others only when in stock. More unusual currencies, such as Israeli shekels, Hong Kong dollars, or Ukrainian hryvnia, can only be exchanged at money changers.

If you arrive in Hungary at weekends, holidays or evening banks are closed only ATMs or money changer shops or some hotels (mostly the biggers). ATMs and banks can be found in hypermarkets.

There are many ATMs in Budapest which will accept European and North American debit or credit cards. Be aware that "Euronet" ATMs have high charges in addition to any charges your own bank may apply, whereas ATMs operated by banks (e.g. OTP Bank, Raiffeisenbank) don't add extra charges.

Visitors report that unofficial money changers operating nearby an official money changing booth offer unfavourable rates, and recommend using the official exchange offices. Such exchangers are illegal and there is the possibility that you will receive other than Hungarian currency or nothing at all.

Tipping [ edit ]

Tips ( borravaló ) are given in Hungary for some services: in restaurants, in bars, to taxi drivers, to hairdressers, and often to people that fix things around the house, like plumbers and electricians.

Although not legally required, social norms encourage that tips are given. 10% is usually enough. Check your receipt before you pay, because some bars and restaurants charge a 10% service fee (szervizdíj), in this case tipping is not expected.

Shopping [ edit ]

Apart from classic tourist souvenirs such as postcards and trinkets, here are some things unique to Hungary or just hard to find elsewhere.

Hungarian foods [ edit ]

• Duck and goose liver
• Salamis - products of Hertz , Picks are the best, try Winter salami (Hu: Téliszalámi)
• Sweets Chocolates with fruit Brandy, Szamos Marzipan dessert, Praline with Truffle, szaloncukor, literally: "parlour candy", is a popular sweet at Christmas.
• Cold-smoked sausages - Mangalica and grey beef specials
• Herbal Teas
• Truffle Products - Honeys, Jams
• Spices : Paprika and Hungarian Saffron
• Gundel set of cheese : aged in Gundel wines or with walnut pieces or seasonings. Most easily found in 350 g sets of three kinds in duty-free of Ferihegy Airport in Budapest (at least in Terminal 2), but is likely available in Gundel 1894 Food & Wine Cellar (see Pest#Eat ). Keep in mind that shelf life for this cheese is only 2 months.

Hungarian beverages [ edit ]

• Wines : the vineries of Badacsony, Tokaj, Villány have the best products, but when purchasing wine beyond the right kind and vintage is also important the wine rack. The wrought iron with wine leaves is very showy, but if you are traveling by plane difficult to transport, so maybe a wood is more practical and you can buy a wide range of it. Other good names are: Somlói Juhfark, Egri Bikavér (see Liquor), Kadarka, red wine from Villány area etc.
• Pálinka : very famous and strong brandy made from fruits.
• Unicum : a herbal digestif liqueur.

Others [ edit ]

• Black pottery - part of the Transdanubian folk art
• Porcelain - look for high quality handmade Herend and Zsolnay products, usually sell them in set, simple candle holders are much cheaper and also popular
• Herend majolica at more affordable prices than the classic Herend.
• Hungarian Cuisine book (English, German, French, Spanish, Italian)
• 'matyó' patterned wooden spoons, ceramic of Sárospatak spoon holder
• Embroideries such as patterned of Kalocsa or Matyó.
• Blueprinted textiles mostly linen or cotton materials
• Diamonds in handmade white gold, platinum inlaid jewellery, try your luck at Szentendre the Europe’s largest diamond & jewellery centre
• Handicrafts and decorative arts works decorated with traditional, Hungarian folk motifs (letter-paper envelope sets, greeting cards, handkerchiefs, napkins, tablecloths, pillows, towels)
• The Rubik's cube originated in Hungary and was invented in 1974 by Erno Rubik and is one example of its longstanding gaming tradition.

Eat [ edit ]

Main courses in menu are normally 3000–5000 Ft in touristy places in Budapest, 2000–3000 Ft outside it, or in towns like Eger and Szentendre . A two-course lunch with a soft drink in Budapest typically costs 3000–10000 Ft per person, and half or third of that outside Budapest . A Chinese fast food menu is around 1500 Ft. (updated Jan 2023)

In restaurants, a service charge is frequently included into bill, 10% or even 12%, but this has to be clearly pointed out on the menu. If it's not mentioned, the place has no right to include a service charge in the bill.

Even if there's no service charge, unless the service was preposterous most Hungarians tend to leave a tip of 10% minimum. Unlike in most western countries, tip is usually not left on the table but rather the amount is specified to the waiting staff when you pay.

There were some places, mainly in the centre of Pest, that try to rip off drunk tourists at night by charging ridiculously high prices for drinks. Most of these places are closed now, but it's still a good idea to always check the prices before ordering.

Common in major cities and next to the highways are branches of major international chains such as KFC , McDonald's , Burger King [dead link] , Subway [dead link] , Pizza Hut and TGI Friday's last two just in Budapest.

Cuisine [ edit ]

Hungarians are quite proud of their cuisine ( Magyar konyha ), and most of the time not without reason. Food is usually spicy, but not hot by general standards, and it's tasty rather than healthy: many dishes are prepared with lard or deep-fried. The national spice is paprika , made from ground sweet bell peppers.

Meat is popular, especially pork (sertés), beef (marha) and venison (őz). Less common are lamb and mutton. Chicken (csirke) and turkey (pulyka) are common, and you will also find game birds excellent in smarter restaurants and country areas: pheasant (fácán), partridge (fogoly) and duck (kacsa). Goose is also quite popular in Hungary. While tourists gorge on goose liver ( libamáj ), still cheap by Western standards, probably the most common dish is sült libacomb , roast goose leg . The best fish in Hungary are river fish: carp (ponty), zander (fogas/süllő) and catfish (harcsa), though many restaurants will serve fish from far away. Another typical Hungarian fish meal is roasted hake (sült hekk). Less well known in the rest of the world are csirke paprikás , chicken stew in paprika sauce, and halászlé , paprika fish soup often made from carp.

Stuffed ( töltött ) vegetables of all kinds are also popular, and Hungarian pancakes ( palacsinta ), both savoury and sweet, are a treat. Common snacks include kolbász , a Hungarianised version of the Polish kielbasa sausage, and lángos , deep-fried dough with a variety of toppings (mostly sour cream, cheese, or garlic).

A typical Hungarian meal will involve soup, often like a consommé (erőleves), meat with potatoes (burgonya) and a side salad, and a dessert such as pancakes (palacsinta). A meal is almost always, even at breakfast, accompanied by Hungarian pickles called savanyúság , literally "sourness". These are often dubbed saláta on menus, so order a vitamin saláta if you want fresh vegetables. Starch is most often served as potatoes, rice or dumplings ( galuska or nokedli ). The primary Hungarian contribution in this field is an unusual type of small couscous-like pasta called tarhonya .

It is worth visiting a "cukrászda" if you are in Hungary. These are very popular with delicious cakes and coffee. Try the traditional krémes (with vanilla cream), eszterházy (lots of nuts) or somlói galuska.

Another favourite is lángos , which is deep-fried bread served served with various fillings. The most common is plain, with salt, garlic (fokhagyma) and soured cream (tejföl). If you do come across a lángos stand, there are usually a large number of options from pizza lángos, or eggs with mayonnaise or Nutella and bananas.

Vegetarian food [ edit ]

Vegetarians and Vegans will have about as much ease eating out as in any other western country. Budapest is not a problem, as there is a wide variety of restaurants to choose from, but in an ordinary Hungarian restaurant the non-meat mains on the menu are pretty much limited to rántott sajt (fried cheese) and gombafejek rántva (fried mushrooms).

Italian food is popular, so as long as you don't mind a pasta heavy diet as a vegetarian you will find a wider choice.

For self-catering, the selection of fruits and vegetables from supermarkets or local shops and market is quite good, especially in summer.

There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan restaurants, and a lot of health food stores that offer all sorts of vegetarian/vegan products, including cosmetics.

Drink [ edit ]

Wine [ edit ].

• Egri Bikavér (Bull's Blood of Eger) (1000 Ft for a good one) is a strong red Hungarian wine which supposedly saved a clever Hungarian girl from her fate with a Turkish sultan. During the time of the Turkish occupation, it is said a young girl was summoned to become a member of the local sultan's harem. Not wanting this fate for his daughter, her father gave her a bottle of Egri Bikavér to take to the sultan. He told her to tell the ruler it was bull's blood, and would make him invincible. The sultan, being Muslim, was unaccustomed to alcohol, and proceeded to pass out, leaving the daughter unharmed. There is another story connected to why Bull's Blood is called so, and it also comes from the Turkish era. According to that one, the defenders of the different castles used to drink this red wine. When they saw the color on the mouths of the Hungarians, they thought that it must have been from a bull, thus the name.
• Tokaj is known for its sweet dessert wines ( Tokaji aszú ), (2000–6000 Ft) which acquire their distinctive taste from grapes infected by the "noble rot" Botrytis cinerea . The favorite tipple of aristocracy, past fans of Tokaji include Louis XIV (who called Tokaj as " The king of the wines, the wine of the kings "), Beethoven, Napoleon III and Peter the Great — which is still reflected in the steep pricing of the best varieties. Almost uniquely among white wines, Tokaj keeps well for a long time.

If new to Hungarian wine, be aware that both champagne ("pezsgő") and wine, red or white, are quite likely to be sweet ("Édes" or "félédes"). If dry wine is your preference, look for the word "Száraz" on the label. When buying bottled wine, don't bother with types cheaper than 600–700 Ft, as these are usually very low quality (maybe not even produced from grapes). In wine cellars high quality may be available at surprisingly low prices.

Liquor [ edit ]

In Hungarian, pálinka denotes strong brandy-like liquor distilled from fruit. Pálinka is a very social drink: just as the English drink tea, the Hungarians, especially in rural areas, will offer pálinka to guests upon arrival. The best-known varieties are barackpálinka , made from apricots, körtepálinka from pears, and szilvapálinka made from plums. Factory-made pálinka is widely available, but keep an eye out for homemade házipálinka . Pálinkas usually contain around or above 50% of alcohol, often more for the homemade ones. Pálinka bottles marked mézes will be heavily sweetened with honey. (3000 Ft for something good)

Unicum is a strong digestif made from a secret mix of over 40 herbs. It comes in striking black bottles emblazoned with a red and white cross, and has a very strong and unusual taste. Unicum Next has a lighter, citrusy flavor, and is rather more palatable. Definitely worth trying, the spherical bottle (affectionately called "the Holy Hand Grenade") itself may also be used for decoration, and keeps very well for a long time. It is available in every bar in Hungary but it is rare to see someone drinking it.

Beer [ edit ]

Hungarian beer is quite average compared to other Central European countries like Germany and the Czech Republic as it has long been a wine culture. The most common beers are Dreher, Szalon, Borsodi, Soproni and Arany Ászok, available in the styles világos (lager) and barna (brown). All of Hungarian breweries are owned and managed by international brands such as: Dreher Sörgyár (Budapest); Heineken Hungaria (Sopron and Martfű); Heineken; Borsodi Sörgyár (Bőcs); Pécsi Sörfőzde (Pécs); Ottakinger. They cost 200–300 Ft at a store and 400–600 Ft at a bar. Some expensive club can charge up to 900 in Budapest.

Imported beers like Pilsner Urquell, Staropramen and Budweiser-Budvar (the original Czech variety) are widely available in bars and markets for not much more than the ubiquitous Hungarian brands.

When offering a toast with beer, be warned that most Hungarians will politely refuse. This is due to an old tradition due to remembering soldiers executed by the Habsburgs of Austria in the 1848 revolution, whereby it was decreed no Hungarian would toast with beer for 150 years. It's been so long, however, that most Hungarians no longer know the origins of this tradition or that they've been free to make toasts over beer for the past ten years.

Coffee [ edit ]

Cafe culture is widespread in Hungary, although it may never recover the romance of its turn-of-the-century intellectual heyday. Unless asked, it's a good idea to specify what kind of coffee you prefer. The word kávé means the strong, espresso-like coffee, although American-style coffee, known as hosszú kávé in Hungarian, usually translated as "long coffee", is also available at most places.

Tea [ edit ]

Tea houses are becoming popular in cities, especially among the young. There is a growing number of tea houses, mainly in Budapest and some bigger cities where people can buy several types of loose tea. The best teas are herbal and fruit varieties. In restaurants and cafes, lemon juice is frequently served in a small bottle. However, in traditional restaurants or cafes good teas are hard to find as coffee are preferred.

Sleep [ edit ]

Hostels [ edit ].

Very good rated hostels cost about €9–22 per night. The lower prices you usually get during week-days and in low season. (updated July 2022)

Farmhouses [ edit ]

Village Tourism is popular and very well developed in Hungary, and can be a remarkable experience. Start your research with 1Hungary [1] , National Federation of Rural and Agrotourism [2] [dead link] and Centre of Rural Tourism [3] . Near Budapest it is also possible to find rural houses to rent, for instance the Wild Grape Guesthouse [4] [dead link] , what makes a good combination to explore the capital and a National Park while staying at the same accommodation.

Camping [ edit ]

There are campgrounds available. See the city guides, including the Budapest guide.

Learn [ edit ]

Hungary is a country known for its rich academic tradition and cultural diversity, where education is highly valued. It boasts 13 Nobel laureates, numerous inventors, artists, and scientists, and is home to some of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Europe. Despite facing many historical challenges and transformations, Hungarians strongly believe in the power of knowledge to preserve their identity and sovereignty. This unwavering commitment to education and innovation has made Hungary a member of the European Union and a leader in several fields of science and technology.

Hungarian universities are open to all foreign students. Many European exchange students come through the EU's Erasmus program. There are quite a lot students from Asia and the Middle East as well, particularly because despite the high standard of education, fees are still considerably lower than in the more developed Western European countries. Those interested should visit Study in Hungary [5] or University of Debrecen [6] websites. Map of Hungarian universities and colleges [dead link] .

Work [ edit ]

It could be very difficult for an individual to seek legal employment in Hungary because of the complexity, cost and time involved. Most foreign workers in Hungary have received their visas and other necessary documents through the company they are employed by. It is hoped, however, that since the joining of Hungary to the EU a reduction will follow in the amount of red tape involved.

Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda are permitted to work in Hungary without the need to obtain a visa for the period of their 90 day visa-free stay. However, this ability to work visa-free does not necessarily extend to other Schengen countries.

Many students, usually on a gap year, work as second language teachers at one of Budapest's many language schools. A qualification is required (ESL/TEFL/TESOL) and experience is preferred.

One option is to teach through the Central European Teaching Program. For a placement fee they will take care of paperwork and set you up in a school in Hungary teaching English on a local salary. Contracts are for one semester or a whole school year. Qualified ESL/EFL teachers can find employment in Hungary at private language schools which offer better rates of pay and without having to pay a placement fee.

See also Work section in Budapest article .

Stay safe [ edit ]

Hungary in general is a very safe country. However, petty crime in particular remains a concern, just like in any other country.

Watch your bags and pockets on public transport. There is a danger of pickpockets . Passports, cash and credit cards are common targets of thieves. Keep items that you do not store in your hotel safe or residence in a safe place, but be aware that pockets, purses and backpacks are especially vulnerable, even if closed. There are also reported cases of people who got their baggage stolen while sleeping on the train.

Generally, Hungary is rather quiet during the night compared to other European countries, and crime to tourists is limited to pickpocketing, and cheating on prices and bills and taxi fares .

Everyone is required to carry their passport and ID card. Not doing so lead to trouble with the police. The police generally accept a colour copy of your passport.

The police force is professional and well trained, but most hardly speak any English.

See the Budapest travel guide for more specific and valuable information about common street scams and tourist traps in Hungary.

Despite the government's controversial rhetoric regarding immigration, most Hungarians are not racist or xenophobic, and Budapest does have a small yet vibrant immigrant community. With that said, you might to to avoid living in rural areas if you are not white.

Driving conditions [ edit ]

The majority of Hungarians drive dangerously and had 739 deaths on the roads in 2010. This is largely due to careless driving habits. Many drivers do not observe the speed limits and you should be extra careful on two-way roads where local drivers pass each other frequently and allow for less space than you may be used to.

Car seats are required for infants. Children under age 12 may not sit in the front seat. Seat belts are mandatory for everyone in the car. You may not turn right on a red light. The police issues tickets for traffic violations and issue on the spot fines. In practice the laws are widely ignored.

Also, Hungarian laws have zero tolerance to drink and drive, and the penalty is a severe fine. It means no alcoholic beverage is allowed to be consumed if driving, no blood alcohol of any level is acceptable. Failure to pay fines may result in your passport getting confiscated, or even a jail term until or unless you pay the fine.

More importantly, the police stops vehicles regularly for document checks. You shouldn't worry when you are stopped because by law, everyone needs to have their identification papers checked.

Hungary has some of the harshest penalties for those involved in a car accident. Involvement in a car accident results in a fine, and maybe a prison sentence from 1 year to 5 years (depending on the aggravating circumstances).

Stay healthy [ edit ]

Food and water is generally safe, even in remote villages. It is safe to drink tap water anywhere, even in remote areas, however, due to the cleaning process the taste of the water can be really unpleasant. Best idea is to try before changing to the bottled water. Bottled waters has a large selection, both the fizzy (blue bottle cap) and still (red/pink bottle cap) water and it is cheap (starts from less than 100 Ft for 1.5 litre). The only notable exception of the drinking water are trains where the tap water is not drinkable and other places where tap water is labeled as such.

It is widely available and good practice to have with you a bottle during hot summer.

Private health care providers are high quality, but limited in scope once outside Budapest. Dentistry is cheaper here than in Western Europe (8000–10,000 Ft for an appointment and x-ray), and physiotherapy also (3000 Ft for a half-hour treatment), but check the price with the provider before you confirm the appointment. Outside Budapest you will likely have to speak basic Hungarian to communicate your needs as few doctors will have any English or German skills.

Public health care is free for qualifying (insured) people, and is of adequate quality in urban areas.

The country has joined the EU, so basic coverage is present for EU citizens, but check before entering the country how far are you insured and what you have to pay for. Do not expect at this time that the local doctor will know the EU rules, prepare to provide info.

The European Health Insurance Card is required from EU citizens applying for free treatment under this regulation.

Pharmacies are everywhere, you may expect high prices, but good pharmaceutical coverage. Sadly the situation clearly has worsened a lot since early 2010, as many pharmacies can not maintain an adequate reserve of medicines. Another problem might be communicating with the pharmacist as most of them speak only Hungarian. Quite unexpectedly some rusty Latin might come handy. Due to reduced trade between Hungary and andania (as of Dec 2006), some of familiar medications are unavailable—so be prepared to find a substitute in advance.

Respect [ edit ]

General etiquette [ edit ].

Hungarians are generally straightforward communicators. They are quite comfortable with expressing their innermost thoughts and feelings openly, and you can expect them to tell you exactly what they think. Although their directness may come across as blunt, assertive, or even rude to some, it's important to understand that they are not trying to offend or hurt anyone's feelings. They simply believe in being truthful and straightforward in their interactions with others.

Hungarians believe in strong familial values and often live with extended family members who provide both financial and emotional support. Therefore, it is important to show respect for the elderly . Don't use first names unless you've been told to, and compose yourself in a mature fashion around someone older than you. On public transportation, it is obligatory to offer your seat to older people.

Talking loudly is generally considered rude. You will notice how most Hungarians tend to keep their voices down in public places.

When entering a home, shoes should generally be taken off.

Sensitive issues [ edit ]

• The 1956 Revolution continues to be a sensitive subject with many of the Hungarians, and anti-Russian sentiment is high due to the violent suppression of the uprising by the Soviet army. Even if you are the most ardent Russophile in the world, you should avoid saying anything positive about Russia as it could evoke strong feelings among locals.
• You are well advised not to discuss the Treaty of Trianon (1920) at all — the Hungarians can take it surprisingly sensitively.
• Open display of the Communist red star and hammer and sickle symbol, the Nazi swastika and SS symbols, and the Hungarian fascist Arrow Cross, is prohibited by law. Make sure your clothing does not have these symbols on it, even if it's just a joke. You can be fined for it.
• Members of the Gypsy community may find the traditional Hungarian label 'Cigány' (pron. 'tzigan') offensive, preferring to be labeled as Roma.
• As a rural tradition, Hungarians affectionately refer to themselves as "dancing with tears in our eyes" ("sírva vígad a magyar"), as in a bittersweet resignation to the perceived bad luck in their long history. Avoid mocking Hungarian history and Hungarian patriotism.

National issues [ edit ]

Given Hungary's history of enduring turbulent events, the Hungarians exhibit sensitivity towards various historical occurrences. You should avoid discussing or bringing up the following topics as they can quickly unsettle people:

• Hungarian Revolution of 1956 — the Soviets arrested and killed thousands of Hungarians for revolting against the Hungarian People's Republic, leading to the exodus of nearly a quarter of a million Hungarians.
• Anything regarding the Hungarian People's Republic — thousands of Hungarians were arrested, imprisoned, tortured, exiled, and mistreated by the pro-Soviet communist government.
• Hungary's relationship with Russia — although relations have improved since the early 1990s, there is some antipathy and distrust towards Russia in some circles.

Uncommon customs [ edit ]

• It's an old tradition that Hungarians do not clink beer glasses or beer bottles. This is due to the legend that Austrians celebrated the execution of the 13 Hungarian Martyrs in 1849 by clinking their beer glasses, so Hungarians vowed not to clink with beer for 150 years. Obviously this time period has expired, but old habits die hard although less so by younger generations.

Connect [ edit ]

• Broadband Internet access is now widespread in Hungary. It's quite usual to find free Internet access (wifi) in Shopping centers; in Budapest, most cafes and pubs. You'll have wifi access even in small towns. Look for the "wifi" signs, you may have to ask for the access password, however, if you consume, it will be freely given.

Go next [ edit ]

The land border can be crossed to Austria , Slovenia , Croatia , Serbia , Romania , Ukraine and Slovakia .

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Hungary Tours & Trips

On the banks of the Danube River lies the alluring city of Budapest. But try also a walking tour or a romantic cruise adventure, luxuriate in one of the many thermal bath-houses, or experience the vastness of the grassy plains in Hungary’s north on horseback.

18 Hungary tour packages with 52 reviews

• Christmas & New Year

Tailor-Made Holiday of Hungary History & Wine with Daily Departure

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Customized Hungary Vacation with Daily Departure, Private Guide and Driver

Budapest, Hungary

I am very happy with my experience of Tour Radar. The trip to Budapest was great and Tour Radar was extremely helpful with any questions I had regarding the trip and the area. They provided a clear itinerary before the trip as well as offered suggestions of other things in the city that might be of interest. I would definitely book with Tour Radar again!

Trip to Budapest in 5 Days

Cycle the Danube

Tour guides/leaders were incredible...very knowledgeable of the area and history and culture and food! The final stay in Budapest at the Star City Hotel was disappointing...staff were stressed, aloof, and not customer service oriented ( in a positive way) Be nice to choose a true 4 star hotel for the last night of the trip

Prague & Budapest

Very good overall experience. Some glitches in pick up timing but they were all resolved. Very happy with experience.

Architecture Hungary

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Vienna and Budapest ( 4 days )

Hotel in Vienna Prinz Eugene was so so and Breakfast buffet did not have much choice for vegetarias, but Budapest hotel Novim Cenrum is good. Overall city Tour of Vienna and Budapest with local guides are goid. especially local guide Mario in Budapest was very informative.

Austria and Hungary in a week - Vienna and Budapest

DANUBE TRAIL

Cycling the Danube from Vienna to Budapest

some part directions were too confusing

From the Tisza to the Danube, through the Real Hungary (port-to-port cruise)

From the Danube to the Tisza, through the Real Hungary (port-to-port cruise)

Tailor-Made Best Budapest Tour with Daily Departure

Tailor-Made Hungary Private Trip with Daily Departure

What people love about hungary tours.

Sasa Tour Guide and Andro the driver were great. They took care of the group with their jovial attitude and ensured that individual's needs were met. They provided easy to follow directions and kept the group together. There were occasions when things would have gone wrong but Sasa and Andro ensured that they are there on every step along the way to make it trouble-free and enjoyable experience. I highly recommend intrepid tours and would consider future tours through Intrepid.

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Existing and Future Tourism Potential and the Geographical Basis of Thematic Routes in South Transdanubia, Hungary

2008, Proceedings of Besançon …

Related Papers

János Csapó

In the present study, the authors intend to reveal and present the innovative (eco) rural tourism product brands of the South Transdanubian Region, Hungary from the point of view of product development and new trends in ecotourism. Since tourism seeks for newer and newer alternatives for mass tourism, we believe that one of the tools for local development and local involvement can be the application of the innovative forms of ecotourism as mostly bottom-up initiatives. Besides tourism development, the presented initiatives rely on forming a sustainable society and a healthy lifestyle as well where the major focus is on strengthening the co-operations between the different actors, the community development of the local population, strengthening of the non-motorised transport forms and heritage tourism. The study provides a thorough insight to the general tourism characteristics of the region and then, through detailed examples and practices, it shows the innovative product developmen...

In the present study, the authors reveal and present an innovative (eco) rural tourism product brand of the South Transdanubian Region, Hungary from the point of view of product development and branding. Since tourism seeks for newer and newer alternatives for mass tourism, we believe that one of the tools for local development and local involvement can be the application of the innovative forms of ecotourism as mostly bottom-up initiatives. The study, based on our earlier research and publication results, provides an insight to the general tourism characteristics of the region and then, introduces the greenway movement together with a practice, the Baranya Greenway with a special attention to its branding procedure.

As a special segment of the research of the interrelated system of tourism and regional development, the present study is aimed to deal with and focus on the methods of the regional delimitation of spaces and areas of tourism based on its supply and demand aspects, providing recent data on this rather neglected fi eld. Following the general introduction of the study area (South Transdanubia, Hungary), the research background with a literature review of the international practice on the given topic is presented. The main portion of the paper is the introduction of a new method elaborated by our research group concerning the demarcation possibilities of core/periphery areas of tourism, among others using GIS methods. This method provides a fairly accurate approach for centre–periphery research concerning the study of tourism.

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Tolna is one of the most varied and controversial counties in Hungary. Evaluations of the country are highly contrastive. The duality of poverty and economic power, backwardness and a rich cultural heritage, easily accessible, pleasant settlements as well as increasing migration, availability of resources and favourable local conditions versus a lack of their utilisation are all characteristic features of Tolna. Assessing all the above dual conditions, the aim of our study is to form a realistic picture of the state of regional and settlement development in Tolna County. Based on processing considerable existing data and our own empirical research supported by statistical G.I.S. and other methods, the assessment is to promote Tolna’s awareness of its potentials, also to demonstrate the county’s features with scientific standards. The study was funded by the Regional Development Council of Southern Transdanubia. Special thanks for their support to József Tóth, Rector of the University of Pécs, and Tamás Koltai, Chairman of the General Assembly of County Tolna. We are also grateful to everyone from whom we received helpduring the course of the research. There are a great many names to be listed here, so rather than missing somebody out – Thanks everybody!

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The Süleyman’s Türbe in Szigetvár (Hungary) is a historical monument with exceptional features; the aim of the study is to present the planned cultural-tourism centre investment goals, risks and externalities. Cultural and tourism specificities significantly influence the implementation of such unique, three nations concerning projects. One of the crucial conditions of the implementation is the integration into the existing cultural heritage plans and the proper management of the related uncertainties. The authors decided to handle the Türbe as an investment project; therefore, a tourism exploratory analysis, a risk analysis, and externalities identification are discussed in this paper. The project development was carried by nominal groups between June and December of 2019 using professional experts workshops, group decision and information gathering approaches. The paper is using a case-study-based investigation. The most significant risks and their mitigation strategies are the em...

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