Travel tips to European Countries: Hungary

About the county

Also known as the Republic of Hungary or Hungarian Republic, Hungary is a landlocked country located in Central Europe and bordering Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia.

Budapest is the largest city and also the Capital of Hungary. One of the key reasons why Hungary is popular is its hospitality to tourists. Also one can find an ideal mix of history and modern day in Hungary. While Hungarians proudly stick to their old Magyar Tradition they also keep them abreast with current fashions across the world. Most visitors flock to see Budapest, a truly world class city situated on River Danube which enchants everyone with love and music. The city is a blend of culture and outstanding beauty making it the right place for tourists. The city has been a paradise for writers, musicians and artists who were greatly influenced by this graceful city. If you travel west in Hungary Lake Balaton is popular with tourists. Local cuisines include halászlé (fish soup) with pasta and goulash (gulyás) soup.

Best Time To Visit

May to September (summer)

Population & Languages

The population of Hungary is Roughly 10 million and the official language being spoken is Hungarian.

Electricity

The voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. The types of plugs used are Round pin attachment plug and "Schuko" plug and receptacle with side grounding contacts.

Geographic Location

Hungary is a landlocked country located in Central Europe and bordering Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia. River Danube and River Tisza divide the country into three large regions. The country is strategically located astride main land routes between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between Ukraine and Mediterranean basin

Climate

The climate of Hungary can be termed as Temperate with hot summers and cold winters. The average annual temperature of Hungary is around 9.6 °C. The maximum temperature in summer can be 43 °C and as low as -30 °C. The summer average is 26 to 36 °C and winter average is 0 to -16 °C.

Local Customs

Like any other country Hungary has its own customs too. It is customary to handshake. It is customary to make the toast and return. It is customary for guests to offer gifts to the host of a meal. Smoking is prohibited in most public areas.  But travelers can smoke in long distance trains. Casual dress is acceptable in most places and formal for special occasions. Tipping up to 10 to 15 percent is customary for all services including restaurants, bars, clubs, taxis etc.

Attractions

• Budapest
• Soothing away those aches and pains in one of Budapest’s thermal baths
• Castle Royal Palace
• Fisherman’s Bastion
• Matthias Church
• Gellért Hill
• Chain Bridge
• The Great Synagogue and Jewish Museum
• Parliament Buildings
• Statue Park
• Eger
• Eger Castle
• Szépasszony Valley (Valley of the Pretty Woman)
• Lake Balaton (inland sea)
• Hévíz
• Keszthely
• The Danube Bend (cyicling along)
• Esztergom
• Szentendre
• Visegrad
• Hortobagy National Park – birdwatching
• Aggtelek Karst, a Unesco World Heritage site

Try local delicacies:

Eat toltott kaposzta, cabbage leaves rolled and stuffed with meat and rice: madartej is a delicious custard-like dessert.

Drink Tokaji Aszu-‘ the wine of kings and the king of wines”; palinka, a kick-like-a-mule brandy made from stone fruits such as pear, apricot or plum

Further Pleasures:

To read: Fateless, by Imre Kertesz, an autobiographical novel about the author’s experience in concentration camps in WWII: Eclipse of the Crescent Moon, by Geza Gardonyi, a tale set in the 16th century during the Turkish siege

To listen: Marta Sebestyein, whose haunting voice appears on The English Patient soundtrack, Hungarian folk ensembles such as Cifra

To watch: Istvan a Kiraly (Stephen the King), written by Levente Szorenyi and Janos Brody, a stirring rock opera about the life of the first king of Hungary, 6:3 is Peter Timar’s account of the impact of the foot ball match of the century’ between England and Hungary in 1953 had on people’s lives.

Travel

By Air – The national airline of Hungary is Malv which operates flights from more than forty cities across the world. Other international airlines operating from Hungary include Aeroflot, Air France, British Airways, easyJet, KLM, Lufthansa, Sky Europe, Swiss, United Airlines and Wizz Air. Ferihegy Budapest International Airport (BUD) is the biggest airport which is like ten miles southeast of Budapest.

By River - There is a daily hydrofoil service run by MAHART connecting Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest in the months of April to October.

By Rail – The country is part of the extensive network of trains connecting the European cities. Hungaryis connected to 16 European cities and there are 47 international trains daily to Budapest by direct rail link.

Duty Free Items

1.    800 cigarettes or 400 cigarillos or 200 cigars or1kg smoking tobacco for EU countries.

2.    200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250g of smoking tobacco for Non-EU countries.

3.    10 liter of spirits with more than 22% and ethyl alcohol, or 20 liter of beverages less than 22% alcohol content, or 90 liter of wine or 60 liter of sparkling wine, or 110 liter of beer for EU countries.

4.    1 liter of spirits and 2 liter of wine for Non-EU countries.

5.    50g perfume or 250 ml eau de toilette

6.    Gifts , Food, fruits, medications and flowers for personal use of value up to €175

Prohibited Items

Un-canned goods, meat or dairy products, Narcotics, firearms, ammunition, weapons, eggs, plants, endangered species, fireworks and alcoholic beverages that contain more than sixty per cent alcohol.