Useful information
Facts about Hungary - Magyarország
Landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia.
Anthem: "God, bless the Hungarians" - "Isten áldd meg a magyart"
Capital: Budapest
Official Language: Hungarian (Magyar)
Form of Government: Parliamentary Republic
Accession to the European Union: May 1, 2004
Area: Total - 93,030 km2 (35,919 sq mi)
Population: 9,942,000
Religion: 54.5% Roman Catholic, 21% Reformed (Calvinist) Protestant, 6% Evangelical (Lutheran), 18.5% other
Time zone: Central European Time (GMT+1)
Daylight savings: between end of March and end of October CET+1 (GMT+2)
Electricity: 230V 50Hz
Electric Plug Details: European plug with two circular metal pins
Currency: Hungarian Forint (HUF)
Driving: Drive on the right.
Internet TLD: .hu; .eu
Date code: yyyy.mm.dd.
Telephone country code: +36
Climate
Continental, with the average temperature (listed in Fahrenheit / Celsius):
January: 29F / -1,6 °C
February: 39F / 1,1 °C
March: 41F / 5,6 °C
April: 51,8F / 11 °C
May: 60F / 15,9 °C
June: 66,2F / 19 °C
July: 69,8F / 20,8 °C
August: 68F / 20,2 °C
September: 61,5F / 16,4 °C
October: 51,8F / 11 °C
November: 40,646F / 4,8 °C
December: 32,72F / 0,4 °C
Please note this is an average temperature scale. In August it can be 30-35 Celsius during the day and sometimes below 20 Celsius at night.
Customs Regulations
In addition to personal travel luggage, limited non-commercial quantities of goods may be brought into Hungary duty free:
Alcohol – 1 litre of high proof spirits, 4 litres of wine and 16 litres of beer (applicable to passengers over the age of 17 only) in case of arriving by air
200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250 g of tobacco (applicable to passengers over the age of 17 only) in case of arriving by air
500g Coffee, 100 g tea and other spices – up to 1 kg each (except paprika & its mixtures).
Customs duty does not apply if the total value of the goods, in addition to the personal travel luggage, does not exceed 430 Euros in case of air travel and 300 Euros in case of land and water travel
Electronics: photo camera, non-professional video camera, laptop computer, portable typewriter, portable musical equipment with the necessary accessories - such as disks, records, photographic films up to 10 rolls.
Pets
Accompanying pets must have a health and vaccination certificate or the so called pet passport, dated no more than one week prior to arrival or a unique identification (tattoo or microchip) in the pet's body.
To download the pet passport, please click here.
Currency Regulations
Passengers entering or leaving the European Union, carrying EUR 10,000 or more in cash (even if in different currencies), or any equivalent instruments (such as securities, bonds, shares, traveller's checks etc.) must file a written declaration. You can download the declaration from the following website:
Taxation and Customs Union
Such declaration shall be made at or presented to the customs authority upon entering or leaving the European Union.
If you have questions regarding custom regulations, please contact the Hungarian Customs and Finance Office.
E-mail: vam.info@mail.vpop.hu
Website: Hungarian Customs and Finance Guard
Leaving Hungary
Non-commercial quantities of items purchased or received are not subject to custom duties in Hungary but might be subject to the custom fees and regulations of the destination country.
VAT Refund
Non-resident travellers may apply for a refund of up to 25% of the general sales tax (AFA) on goods purchased in Hungary, with the exception of works of art, collections and antiques, under the following conditions:
The total value of the goods on one original invoice, including AFA, must exceed 50,000 Ft.
Not more than 90 days may elapse between the time of purchase and the time of export.
The goods must be taken out of the country unused, in their original packaging.
Shopping
In general, shops are open Monday through Friday, from 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m., on Saturday from 9.00 a. m. to 1.00 p. m. Stores do not close for lunch.
Food stores and shopping malls are open Monday through Friday from 7.00 a. m. to 7.00 p.m., on Saturdays from 7.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. Large shopping centres, entertainment complexes, and some private stores (many of these are open for 24 hours) are open on Sundays as well.
Tax-Free Shopping
Look for the Tax - Free Shopping emblem when you buy.
The total sum of the bill (VAT included) must be at least 50,000 HUF. Ask the shop assistant for a detailed VAT invoice, VAT-refund form and a "Tax - Free" envelope. Attach the official receipt or the credit card receipt to the documents. Have all documents stamped by Hungarian Customs before leaving Hungary.
No more than 90 days is allowed to pass between the purchase date and the date of the customs stamp.
No more than 183 days is allowed to pass between the date of the customs stamp and the date of reimbursement.
Travelling by airplane: After receiving your boarding pass (but before going on board), see the customs office.
VAT reimbursement is not possible without a Hungarian customs stamp!
For further information: Global Refund
Health Issues
Immunisation: not a requirement for entering Hungary. Persons diagnosed with an infectious disease are not permitted to enter the country.
Medication: Tourists are permitted to bring medication for personal use. Products containing narcotic substances can only enter with the special permission of the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
Medication prescribed abroad can be purchased in pharmacies at full market price. Only a limited selection of over-the-counter drugs are available in Hungary.
Emergency and ambulance services are free of charge in cases requiring immediate medical attention. All other medical treatment is regulated by international treaties.
Ambulance telephone no.: 104
Health insurance policies taken out abroad cover the cost of the first, and only the first treatment in Hungary. In all other cases, the cost of medical treatment must be settled at the rate set by the medical institution. The institution determines which credit cards are accepted for this purpose.
Pharmacies
Budapest's pharmacies (gyógyszertár in Hungarian) are well stocked and can provide medicaments for most common ailments. Each of the 23 districts has an all-night pharmacy open every day, a sign on the door of any pharmacy will help you locate the closest one.
Public Toilets
Relatively few public toilets exist in Szeged, locals and tourists alike use the restrooms in cafés and restaurants. Quite often a small fee of 100 HUF is paid to an attendant after using the facilities.
Public safety
Just as anywhere around the world, tourists travelling in Hungary should follow certain basic rules: carry travel documents and valuables in a secure bag around your neck or belt pouch worn under your clothing and never leave any valuables in a parked car. Do not wear expensive jewellery in public and avoid the poorly lit, deserted parts of the city Budapest! Szeged is a peaceful city with no crimes, it is safe at all districts day and night.
Carry only the minimum necessary amount of today most commercial units accept credit cards. When short of cash, use card operated ATM machines. (If you lose your credit card, immediately notify the issuing bank!)
Exchange your currency only at official exchange bureaus, travel agencies, official exchange offices or ATM machines - never change with street hawkers!
When travelling in a taxi, use officially registered taxi companies and, before starting out, make sure that the taxi is equipped with the driver's photo ID, and that the rate chart is displayed and the meter is on. At the end of the trip you must receive a receipt; if the driver fails to provide it, always call one!
Only uniformed police and immigration officers with proper identification are entitled to check your identity or to ask for your ID.
In places of entertainment always ask for a menu with a price list before making an order! In Hungary, a service charge is not customarily part of the bill. It can only be added to the bill if it is explicitly stated on the menu. The business is required to issue a receipt for all costs and services printed by a cash register; the waiter's hand-written bill is not accepted as proof of purchase. Especially male visitors should beware of women with often excellent language skills, who have themselves invited to entertainment spots and run up bills at visitor's expense.
Money
Currency: Hungarian Forint (HUF), internal sign: Ft
Coins: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 HUF
Bank notes: 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000 HUF
Click for up-to-date currency exchange rates.
Banks, Currency Exchange
Banks are usually open between 8.00 - 16.00 on weekdays. Some banks are open on Saturday, but all are closed on Sunday. ATM and currency exchange offices are available throughout the country.
Credit Cards, Debit Cards and Checks
Major credit cards (AmEx, Visa, Mastercard, Diners, Cirrus) can be used in the member shops and businesses. Look for the logo displayed at the entrance.
ATMs operate 24 hours a day. Major credit cards and banking cards are accepted.
There is usually a commission of 1% for cashing travelers cheques at banks. Please note that most stores will not accept travelers checks.
You can use your bank or credit card to get cash at post offices throughout Hungary. More than 3200 post offices nation-wide provide this service.
Tipping
Restaurant prices in Hungary generally do not include a service charge and it is therefore customary to give a tip, generally equivalent to 10-15% of the bill.
Telephone, Fax
Hungary country code: 36
Budapest area code: 1 (+7-digit number); Szeged area code: 62
International pre-dial: 00 + country code + local number
Domestic long distance pre-dial: 06 + area code + local number
Cell-phone numbers are 9-digit, after dialing 06, the first two numbers depend on the telephone company: 20, 30 or 70.
Public phones require 10, 20, 50 or 100 Forint coins, or a pre-purchased phone card (sold at newsstands, supermarkets, hotels and post offices).
Fax machines are available for tourists in main post offices and in many city hotels' Business Centers.
International collect calls can be made from a private line or public payphone. A coin or phone card has to be inserted to initiate the call.
International operators:
AT&T 00 8000 1111
MCI 00 8000 1411
SPRINT 00 800 0 1877
Important telephone numbers
Ambulance: 104
Police: 107
Fire department: 105
Directory Assistance: 198
International Directory: 199
International Emergency Call: 112
Tourinform nonstop help and information: +36 1 438 80 80
Post Office Services
Post offices are usually open from Monday to Friday, from 8-18h.
There are one main post office in the city center of Szeged and several in every ditsrict.
Internet
There are Internet cafés all over Budapest and Szeged and a growing number of hotels and cafés offer WiFi access for laptop users.
There are free wi-fis in most of the hotels, bars and trains.