When Nobel Prize winner Enrico Fermi was asked if he believed in extra-terrestrials (ET), he replied:
"They are among us, but they call themselves Hungarians"
 

Hungary is the country:

• which boasts of one of the world's most beautiful cities: Budapest, the "Pearl of the Danube".
• where people speak a language, and form a culture unlike any other in the region: this distinctiveness has been both a source of pride and an obstacle for more than 1100 years.
• where 2000 year old Roman ruins and 400 year old Turkish monuments can be found side by side.
• where hundreds of therapeutic mineral springs gush up from the depths.

And there is something else that keeps bringing visitors back to us - the legendary Hungarian hospitality.

Perhaps one of the world’s most beautiful cities, Budapest enjoys not only a spectacularly advantageous natural location, but also an atmosphere combining the exotic with the sophisticated and the cosmopolitan with the uniquely Hungarian. Budapest will surprise you at every corner. This is due to the fact that this city of 1.8 million people stands for a lot more than purely being the capital of Hungary. It is a grand icon of the past and a modern metropolis, a treasure-trove filled with over 2000 years of history mixed with an array of cultures and riveting events

Facts

Population: 10 million people

Language spoken: Hungarian

Member of the European Union since 2004

Time zone: Local time - GMT + 1 hour. Summer time from early March to late October (GMT + 2 hours).

Currency:

• Hungarian Forint – HUF
• Coins: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 Forints
• Banknotes: 500, 1 000, 2 000, 5 000, 10 000, 20 000 Forints
• There is no obligatory daily minimum amount of conversion. When changing money, remember that most shops accept credit cards and some of them even Euros. Money can be exchanged in exchange offices and banks, local ATMs give out HUF. Banks and travel agencies offer the best rates.
• The exchange offices are generally open 09:00-21:00 h
• All major credit cards are accepted in Hungary, some smaller shops might only accept cash though. 

Climate: Continental, hot in Summer, cold in winter when temperature falls below freezing point. From Spring to Fall, approx. 10 hours of sunshine may be expected daily. Differences in the temperature of the four seasons are quite large. December, January and February are the coldest, July and August the hottest months.

Airport & Visa info:

• Airport: Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport
• Terminal 2A for flights to and from the Schengen Zone countries
• Terminal 2B for all other international flights (incl. UK and US) and low cost airlines
• Visa: Not required for EU, US and Canadian citizens
• A Schengen Visa enables you to travel to Hungary.
• Please ask for information regarding other countries. Visas can be obtained at the foreign missions of Hungary.

Electrical plugs: Electrical current is 220 volts, 50 Hz. European-style two-pin plugs are standard.  


Health & Safety:
No vaccinations are required for travel to Hungary. Tap water is safe to drink A reciprocal health agreement with countries of the EU provides nationals with free emergency health care on presentation of a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
Insurance:  Health and luggage insurance is recommended. Normal precautions against petty crime should be taken.

To remember: 

Shop Opening hours:
Monday-Friday:    10:00 – 18:00 / 20:00 h
Saturday:    10:00 – 14:00 / 20:00 h
Sunday:         Closed