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Hungary (Magyar Köztársaság) is a Parliamentary republic, member state of the European Union since May 1, 2004. Hungary is bordered by Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia. Its capital is Budapest. More than one half of Hungary's landscape consists of flat plains of the Carpathian Basin: the most important plain regions include the Little Hungarian Plain (Kisalfold) in the west, and the Great Hungarian Plain (Alfold) in the southeast. Transdanubia is a primarily hilly region with a terrain varied by low mountains, it contains Lake Balaton, the largest lake in Central Europe (592 sqkm). The highest mountains of the country, the Kékes at 1,014 metres, are located in the Carpathians, these lie in the northern parts, in a wide band along the Slovakian border. The country's two most prominent rivers, the Danube, of which the Hungarian section is 417 km long, and the Tisza at 598 km, traverse Hungary from north to south.  

Climate: Hungary has a temperate continental climate, with cold, cloudy, humid winters and warm to hot summers. January is the coldest month (-1 C average) and August the warmest (21,3 C average). The average yearly rainfall is approximately 600 millimetres. Hungary is best visited over the summer period, when the weather is warmer. The weather in spring and autumn can be very pleasant.

 

Tourist attractions: Hungary represents a point of crossing between the various European cultures, thanks to its position in the center of Europe. Main attraction is without a doubt the colorful Budapest, with its monuments and palaces, the coffees, the lively artistic and musical panorama, its numerous cultural and recreational manifestations. But also Lake Balaton, with its numerous tourist localities, the beautiful baroque cities (Pécs and Eger) and peasant countries of the Hungarian plain are places deserving of a travel. The other attractions of Hungary are its good wines, the relaxant thermal stations and the birdwatching in some of the best places of Europe. 

Unesco has inscribed 8 Hungarian sites in the World Heritage List: Budapest, including the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrássy Avenue (1987), Early Christian Necropolis of Pécs (Sopianae) (2000), Fertö / Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape (2001), Hortobágy National Park - the Puszta (1999), Millenary Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma and its Natural Environment (1996), Old Village of Hollókö and its Surroundings (1987), Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape (2002), Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst (1995). Between the properties submitted on the Tentative List are: the medieval fortress of Esztergom (1993), The Tihany Peninsula (1993) Hydrothermal Caves and Thermal Karst Systems of the Rózsadomb Area (1993), Mediaeval Royal Seat and Parkland at Visegrád (2000), System of Fortifications at the Confluence of the Rivers Danube and Váh in Komárno - Komárom (2007), The Network of Rural Heritage Buildings in Hungary (2000), State Stud-Farm Estate of Mezöhegyes (2000), The Wooden Churches of the Northern Part of the Carpathian Basin (2000), The Ipolytartnóc Fossils (2000).

Travel Documents: Between the EU countries, Norway and Iceland the citizens of the member states, Norway and Iceland are not required to have a passport. During their travel within the European Union they have the choice to prove their identity with ID card or passport. National identity card is needed for entry into Hungary for citizens of Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finnland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Slovakia and Slovenia. Passport is required for entering Hungary for citizens from Denmark, United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Latvia, Norway and Sweden.

Health: All towns have pharmacies, but anyone requiring specific medication should bring a supply with them as most medicines are of Eastern European origin. 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). For the other countries Health insurance is recommended.

Shopping hours: 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.

Electricity: Electrical current is 230 volts, 50 Hz. European-style two-pin plugs are standard.

Cuisine: Hungarian food is often spicy. It frequently uses paprika, black pepper and onions. Potatoes are also commonly used in many dishes. Hungarians are passionate about their soups, desserts and stuffed pancakes. Typical Hungarian dishes: Goulash and gulyásleves (In Hungary goulash is a soup, not a stew!), Halászlé (Hungarian fish soup with paprika), Palacsinta (stuffed pancake), Vaníliás kifli (vanilla croissant), Cigánypecsenye (Gypsy Roast), Lángos (flat fried bread), Kolbász (sausage seasoned with paprika), Galuska (Hungarian noodles), Pogácsa (Round puffed pastry), Rétes (Strudel). HUNGARIAN CUISINE RECIPES.

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Airports and Flights: Hungary's international airport is Budapest Ferihegy Airport. MALÉV Hungarian Airlines flights arrive at and depart from Ferihegy 2A. Flights of other airline companies arrive at and depart from Ferihegy 2B. Low cost airlines landing in and taking off from Budapest Terminal Terminal 1: Easyjet, Germanwings, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Sky Europe, Sterling, Wizzair, Jet2. Low fare airlines landing in and taking off from Budapest General Aviation Terminal 2: Air Berlin (2B), Air Lingus (2A), Blue 1 (2B), Air Baltic (2B), Smart Wings (2B), Meridiana (2B).

Area: 93,030 sqkm

Population: 10,120,000. 95% Hungarians. Several ethnic minorities exist: Roma (2.1%), Germans (1.2%), Slovaks (0.4%), Croats (0.2%), Romanians (0.1%), Ukrainians (0.1%), and Serbs (0.1%). 

State Capital: Budapest

Language: Hungarian. German is widely spoken. English is spoken in tourist areas and most hotels.

Religion: Catholic (55%) and Protestant (20%).

Currency: Forint (HUF)

Time: Central European time (GMT+1) Seasonal adjustment (to daylight savings time): between the end of March and the end of October: Central European time +1 (GMT+2)

 

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