Before You Book

PREPARING TO GO TO HUNGARY 

 

CAPITAL

Budapest

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

Hungarian and numerous dialects

RELIGION

The country has a sizeable population of Roman Catholics and Protestants. Other minority religions include Orthodox Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.

ELECTRICITY

220 volts - Sockets are of the European, two-pronged round pin variety

PASSPORTS AND VISAS

A valid passport is required by all nationals. All Passengers are responsible for securing proper documentation prior to joining the tour. Please ensure that passport/s are valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the intended date of return and contain between 2-6 blank “Visa” pages. You should have at least two free pages in your passport. Please access the Travel & Visa Requirements Section on the top of this page for the latest visa entry requirements for the country/ies you are visiting. Passports are required; in addition, travelers are also advised to check with local consulates for full details regarding visa requirements. Please note securing a valid visa for entry is the sole responsibility of the traveler.

LOCAL CURRENCY

The monetary unit in Hungary is the Forint (HUF).

Hungarian Currency information:

Hungarian Forint (HUF; symbol Ft). Notes are in denominations of Ft20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, and 500. Coins are in denominations of Ft200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Many commemorative coins in circulation are legal tender.

XE.com is a useful site for currency conversion.

MONEY EXCHANGE, ATMS & CREDIT CARDS

The best place to change money in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Austria is at a bank – it is strongly suggested that you compare current rates and fees before exchanging money.  If you decide to use a private exchange office, check their rates and fees carefully as they can be misleading. 

Banks and ATMs are widespread in the major cities and tourist centers.  Most major credit cards are accepted in shops, restaurants, and hotels, but it is best to check, particularly in more remote areas.

Hungarian Banking hours: 

Mon-Thurs 0800-1700, Fri 0800-1600.

CLOTHING

As a general guideline, clothing should be lightweight, loose fitting, hard-wearing and easily washed. In Europe's hot summer months, cotton clothing is much more comfortable than man-made materials like nylon.  The Czech Republic, Hungary and Austria have relaxed attitudes about dress and for the most part shorts and short sleeved tops are perfectly acceptable. However, if you intend to visit churches and monasteries it is important to dress more conservatively (i.e. cover shoulders and knees).   Make sure you allow for climate changes and remember that even in the summer, night-time and early morning temperatures can be cold. You will generally find it is better to have several thin layers rather than one thick layer as it gives you more flexibility and warmth.  A waterproof garment is also strongly suggested, even during the summer months and particularly in areas of higher altitude.

COMMUNICATION & EMAIL

Email

There are many internet cafes in the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Austria, particularly in larger towns and cities.  Wi-fi is increasingly available in more densely populated areas, often for a fee, but you might not find internet access in hotels in more rural areas

Telephone
It is easy to make international calls in the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Austria.  The most economical method to make telephone calls is with a telephone card - these cards can be purchased from a variety of outlets, including newsstands, post offices, and sometimes from supermarkets. 

Emergency Numbers

Emergency Medical Service      155

Police                                     158

Municipal Police                       156

Fire and Rescue Service            150

Mail
Post offices are widely available in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Austria and the mail is generally very efficient.  Stamps can be bought from post offices or newsstands.

WEATHER & CLIMATE

Hungary has a temperate climate with three climatic zones so there is a variation across the country: Mediterranean in the south, Continental in the east and Atlantic in the west. In general, winters in Hungary are cold, damp, or windy, and summers are warm and frequently hot. July and August are the hottest months (average temperature 26°C) and January the coldest (-4°C). The number of hours of sunshine averages between 1900 and 2500 a year - among the highest in Europe. The average annual precipitation is about 650mm.

MEAL COSTS

Breakfast is provided each day on most. Approximate costs for meals and snacks not included are shown below, but please note that the exact cost varies widely depending on whether you are in the capital cities or smaller regional towns.

• Simple snack - $US 4-6
• Light meal – $US 6-9
• Fancy restaurant - $US 20-28

FOOD AND DRINK

Like Czech cuisine, Hungarian cuisine is rich in meat; Hungarians are especially passionate about their meat stews, casseroles, steaks and roasted pork. Goulash is one of the country’s most famous culinary exports – a stew with gravy or a soup using meat with bones, paprika, caraway, vegetables (typically carrots and parsley root) and potatoes or various tiny dumplings simmered with meat.  While meat stews undoubtedly take centre stage, Hungarians eat a variety of soups and stews which regularly delight visitors, including cold fruit soups, like cold sour cherry soup.  Hungarian cuisine also uses a large variety of cheeses, including túró (a type of quark), cream cheeses, ewe-cheese (juhturó), Emmentaler, Edam and the Hungarian cheeses Trappista, Pálpusztai, Pálpusztai and Pannonia cheese.  Make sure you save room for the filling Hungarian desserts, including palacsinta (pancakes served flambéed in dark chocolate sauce filled with ground walnuts) and Dobos Cake (layered sponge cake, with chocolate buttercream filling and topped with a thin slice of caramel).

Hungarian wine dates back to at least the Roman times and has been appreciated by visitors and locals for centuries; the best-known wines are the white dessert wine called Tokaji (after the North-Eastern region of Hungary, Tokaj) and the red wines from Villány (the southern part of Hungary).  Though not as famous as the country's wines, Hungarian beer has a long history as well.  Today Hungarian breweries produce mainly light lagers - the best-known domestic brands are Dreher, Borsodi and Soproni.  Hungary boasts several home-grown liquors, including Pálinka, a range of fruit brandies (plum and pear are popular) – the perfect way to end a meal!

SUGGESTED TIPPING SCALE:

Tipping is a way of showing your appreciation and will be welcomed by the recipient, although if you decide not to tip in a particular circumstance, this doesn’t mean you’ll receive a lower level of service. Ultimately, tipping is discretionary and should be done at a level that feels comfortable.

Here are some guidelines that you may find helpful:

HEALTH & MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES

Your passport needs to be valid for at least six (6) months after your journey ends and should have a minimum of three (3) blank visa pages for entry and exit stamps. Holders of U.S. and Canadian passports are not required to obtain a tourist visa for entry into Austria, Czech Republic, and Hungary for stays of up to 90 days. Hungarian law requires that you carry photo identification, such as your passport, at all times.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance. Your home country health plan may only provide limited coverage while traveling outside of the country. Indus Travels can offer you a complete travel insurance package. Some credit cards do offer travel insurance; however, they do not always provide adequate coverage. Review and understand the terms of your credit card insurance policy. Extra travel insurance can be purchased. Most insurance companies do have exclusions in their coverage. Pre-existing medical conditions are not insurable.