Hungary's central position and experience in welcoming travellers
makes it the ideal place to enter Eastern Europe. The majority
of travellers arrive in picturesque Budapest, which has a lively
arts, cafe and music scene, and is host to a range of cultural
and sporting festivals. To venture outside the capital is to travel
through plains, resort-lined lakes, Baroque towns, and rustic
villages. Hungary's other attractions include sampling its quality
wines, 'taking the waters' in a relaxing thermal spa, or bird-watching
in some of the best spots in Europe.
Full country
name: Republic of Hungary
Area: 93,000 sq km
Population: 10.1 million
Capital city: Budapest
(pop 2 million)
People:89.9% Hungarian, 4% Gypsy, 2.6%
German, 0.8% Slovak & 0.7%Romanian
Language: Hungarian
Religion: 68% Roman Catholic, 21% Reformed (Calvinist),
6% Evangelical (Lutheran), 5% Other
Government: Parliamentary
democracy
Weather
Though it can be pretty
wet in May and June, spring is just glorious in Hungary.
The Hungarian summer is warm, sunny and unusually long,
but the resorts are very crowded in late July and August. Like
Paris and Rome, Budapest comes to a halt in August (called 'the
cucumber-growing season' here because that's about the only thing
happening).
Autumn is beautiful, particularly
in the hills around Budapest and in the Northern Uplands. November
is one of the rainiest months of the year, however. Winter is
cold, often bleak and museums and other tourist sights are often
closed. Animal lovers will also want to skip this season: half
the women are draped in furry dead things throughout the winter.
Events
Hungary's major celebration is the Budapest
Spring Festival (March), a two-week cultural extravaganza
of local and international performances, conferences and exhibitions.
Other important events include: the Budapest Film Festival
(February), which premieres new Hungarian films; Busójárás
(Mohás; February also), the nation's top Mardi Gras; Sopron
Festival Weeks (Sopron; June/July), showcasing ancient music
and dance performances; the Folk Arts Festival (Nagykálló;
August), one of the biggest and best events of the year; and Jazz
Days (Debrecen; September), which is Hungary's top jazz festival.
Passport & Visa Regulations
Foreign citizens, in possession of a valid passport for the duration
of their stay, may cross into Hungary for a maximum 90 days for
tourist reasons. However, citizens of the Kingdom of Belgium,
the German Federal Republic, the Republic of French, the Grand-Duchy
of Luxembourg, the Republic of Austria, the Kingdom of Spain,
the Republic of Slovenia, the Swiss Confederation, and the Republic
of Italy only require a personal identity card to enter the country.
The loss or destruction of the above-mentioned travel documents
must be reported without delay both to the Hungarian police and
at the competent foreign mission (consulate or embassy).
Foreign citizens whose governments have concluded an agreement
to this effect with Hungary may cross Hungary's borders for tourism
purposes for a maximum duration of 90 days without the need for
an official Hungarian visa or permit. This is valid for all states
in Europe with the exception of Albania and Turkey, and outside
Europe with the USA, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba,
Ecuador, the Republic of South Africa, the Dutch Antilles, Israel,
Japan, the Korean Republic, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama,
the Secheyelle Islands, Singapore, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and
Uruguay. In every other case — and this applies to transit
travel, too — foreign citizens must be in possession of a
Hungarian visa obtained after completing application forms to
this effect. Two passport photos and a passport valid for the
whole duration of their stay in Hungary must be attached to the
visa application forms. Hungarian visas abroad can be requested
from the competent consulates and embassies; in Budapest, entry
visas are issued at Ferihegy Airport as well as at the international
boat station at Belgrade embankment. In addition, they can be
issued at the country's main border stations. Those arriving by
train or private boat may enter the country only if they possess
a visa obtained prior to entering the country; no entry permits
will be issued at these Hungarian border stations. Hungarian entry
visas entitle the holder to one, two, or several border crossings
within the duration of validity, for a maximum of 90 days (extensions
can be requested at the main police station in the district where
the visitor has found provisional accommodation.)
Money
& Costs
Hungary remains a bargain destination for foreign travellers.
If you stay in private rooms, eat at medium-priced restaurants
and travel 2nd-class on trains, you should get away on about US$25
a day without scrimping. Those putting up in hostels, dormitories
or camping grounds and eating at self-service restaurants or food
stalls will cut costs substantially.
You can exchange cash and travellers' cheques up to 30,000 Ft
at banks and travel agents, usually for a commission of 1% to
2%. Post offices almost always change cash, but rarely cheques.
ATMs accepting credit and debit cards can be found throughout
the country, but it's always useful to carry a little foreign
cash, preferably US dollars or Deutschmarks in case your plastic
doesn't work. Credit cards can be used in up-market restaurants,
shops, hotels, car rental firms, travel agencies and petrol stations.
Hungary is a very tip-conscious society and virtually everyone
routinely tips waiters, hairdressers, taxi drivers and even doctors,
dentists and petrol-station attendants about 10%. Not leaving
a tip, or leaving a very small tip, is a strong signal that you
were less than impressed with the service. Never leave money on
the table in a restaurant: tell the waiter how much money you
want to leave as a tip as you are paying the bill. Bargaining
is not the done thing in Hungary, but you can try a little gentle
haggling in flea markets or with individuals selling folk crafts.
Customs
Foreign citizens traveling to the Republic of Hungary for 90 days
for tourism purposes can bring in and take out all personal belongings
the character and quantity of which are justified for their stay.
Free information brochures (in nearly 20 languages) can be picked
up at Hungarian border crossing stations. Aside from detailing
the current tax regulations, they contain much useful information
for anyone staying in Hungary. Thus, for instance, foreign citizens
over the age of 16 may bring in 250 cigarettes or 50 cigars, or
250 grams of pipe tobacco; on each entry they may bring in 1/4
liter of eau de cologne, in addition to two liters of wine or
one liter of spirits. The import, export or use of any drugs in
any quantity is strictly forbidden and will result in prosecution
Gifts below the value of 30,300 HUF (Hungarian Forints) per person
may be brought duty free into the country once a year. Above the
given limits, a 15 percent customs fee has to be paid on commodities
as well as 25 percent general turnover tax (VAT). Hunting rifles
and ammunition may be brought in only with special permits, to
be acquired — prior to the visit — at Hungarian representation
embassies and consulates abroad. Foreign citizens may bring in
a maximum of 350,000 HUF . If foreign citizens wish to bring in
large sums of convertible currencies in the form of cash, it is
advisable to ask for a certificate on the value of this sum at
the border. Gifts bought in Hungary and valued at up to 303,000
HUF per person may be taken out of the country without a permit
as long as they are not museum value items, i.e., art or applied
art rarities, or pharmaceutical or chemical products. Of course,
this does not apply to small quantities of pharmaceutical products
for personal use including insulin for chronic diabetics. The
possession of drugs — regardless of quantity — is strictly
forbidden. Plant sanitation and veterinary services operate at
major border crossing stations. It is recommended that foreign
citizens wishing to bring their pets into Hungary carry with them
the veterinary certificate for the animal. Wreaths and cut flowers
may be freely brought in and taken out of the country, in contrast
to potted and earth-bound plants which may not. The cross-border
transport of human ashes requires a license, as does the transport
of corpses in coffins; the Hungarian consulates issue certificates
for such transport.
VAT refunds on goods bought in Hungary require the original bills
displaying the VAT separately. A VAT refund form has to be requested
from the shop in which the purchases were made, and if the refund
is for an item (combined items) of more than 303,000 HUF, then
the relevant currency exchange receipt must also be enclosed with
the VAT refund claim. No more than 90 days may elapse between
the time of purchase and departure from Hungary. During this time
the goods in question may not be used or consumed in Hungary i.e.,
they have to be shown in their original state at the border.
One more important point: foreign citizens visiting Hungary may
not allow anyone else to use their vehicles. |
