Area: 93.030 km2

Population: 10.196.000

Capital: Budapest

Time: GMT+1 hour

Summer season: From the last weekend in March to the last weekend in October

Official language: Hungarian

Type of Government: Republic

Climate:

Hungary has a temperate climate, similar to the rest of the continental zone. January is the coldest month / -1 Celsius average/ and August the warmest /21 Celsius average/

Air travel:

MALÉV Hungarian Airlines, the national carrier, has direct flights from Budapest to 32 countries. Hungary's international airport is Ferihegy and has two terminals:

Terminal 2B for foreign airlines and Terminal 2A for arrivals and departures of MALÉV's planes.

Rail Travel:

Budapest has direct rail connections with 25 European cities and has 3 train stations:

1. Budapest Déli /Southern/ Station

2. Budapest Keleti /Eastern Station

3. Budapest Nyugati /Western/ Station

Bus Travel:

The Volánbusz Transportation Co. Operates scheduled buses to 22 countries.

International buses depart from/arrive to Népliget Bus Station.

Boat Travel:

A hydrofoil service via Bratislava operates between Budapest and Vienna.

Currency:

The official currency is the forint. Hungary isn't expected to adopt the euro until at least 2008.

Business Hours For Shops:

Grocery stores and shopping centers are open Monday to Friday from 07.00-19.00 and on Saturdays from 07.00-14.00.

The largest department stores, shopping and entertainment centers are also open on Sunday. Private shops /many are open 24 hours/ as well as shops on prominent shopping streets are also open Sunday.

Eating out - food, drink:

All types of hungarian cuisine across the country are waiting to be discovered, from the cafe to the luxury restaurant, and from the fast food outlet to the csárda. /country inn/

Characteristic features of Hungarian cuisine are:Hungarian gulyás soup,paprikás csirke /chicken paprika/ with dumplings, and töltött káposzta /stuffed cabbage/. Soup specialities include halászlé /fish soup/ and tyúkhúsleves /chicken broth with noodles/

Traditional pastries include túrós csusza/curded egg noodles /rétes/ strudel filled with sour cherries /and Somlói galuska/ sponge cake with chocolate sauce. Among typical Hungarian drinks,the most well known are the wines,such as:Tokaji Aszu,wich is rated according to the number of puttony /basket used for picking grapes/. The higher number of puttony of sweet grapes added the wine, the more valuable it is. The Tokaji Szamorodni is also very popular. Hungarian red wines originate from the regions of Eger, Lake Balaton highlands and Pécs,and their representatives are: Egri Bikavér /Eger Bull's Blood/, Badacsonyi Szürkebarát and Villányi Burgundi and Oportó.

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. Not leaving a tip, or leaving a very small tip, is a strong signal that you were less than impressed with the service.Hairdressers and taxi drivers expect 10%-15% tips, while porters should get a few hundred forints.

Electrical current:

The current used in Hungary is 220V. Plugs have two round pins.

Emergency Numbers:

Ambulance: 104

Police: 107

Fire station: 105

Public Holidays:

January 1: New Year's Day

March 15: National Day

Religious holidays according to yearly dates: Easter Monday, Whit Monday

May 1: Labour Day

August 20: St Stephen's and Constitution Day

October 23: Republic Day

November 1: All-Saints' Day

December 25-26: Christmas Holidays

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