USEFUL INFORMATION FOR A TRAVEL TO HUNGARY HUNGARY

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. EU visitors have no restrictions on the length of their stay. Passport is required for entering Hungary for citizens from Denmark, United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Latvia, Norway and Sweden. Citizens of the U.S, Canada and Australia do not need a visa to enter Hungary. All travelers must have passports valid at least 90 days after their intended departure from Hungary.  Citizens of the following European countries are required to have visa to enter Hungary: Albania, Belorussia, Macedonia, Moldavia, Russia, Serbia, Montenegro, Turkey, Ukraine.

Health: 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.

Pharmacies: All towns have pharmacies, but anyone requiring specific medication should bring a supply with them as most medicines are of Eastern European origin.

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

Telephones: Country Dialing Code 0036.

The public phones work with 10, 20, 50 and 100 HUF coins or with phone-cards available at hotels, post offices, petrol stations, newsagents, kiosks and street vendors.

Mobile Telephones: There are three mobile phone providers in Hungary: T-Mobile, Pannon and Vodafone.

Internet: There are a lot of internet-cafes from which you may talk cheap or send e-mails.

Money and Banks: The official means of payment in Hungary is the Forint (Ft, HUF). Coins: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 HUF. Bank notes: 200, 500, 1.000, 2.000, 5.000, 10.000, 20.000 HUF.

ATM machines and currency exchange machines are available throughout the country. The credit cards used most often - AMEX, Diners Club, EnRoute, Euro/Mastercard, JCB, VISA - can be used to withdraw cash from banks and ATM machines and to pay bills in hotels, restaurants and shops.

Post Office ATM ("Postamat") Service Over 3200 post offices across Hungary provide cash withdrawal services for those with bank or credit cards.  

Traveller's cheques can usually be purchased in major banks.

Banking Hours: In Hungary banks are usually open between 8.00 - 16.00 on weekdays. Some banks are open on Saturday, but all are closed on Sunday.

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.

Holidays: January 1: New Year, Mach 15: National holiday. Religious holidays: Easter Monday, Pentecost Monday, May 1: Labour Day, August 20: Constitution Day, St. Stephen's day, October 23: Proclamation of the Republic, November 1: All saints day, December 25-26: Christmas.  

Post Offices: Post offices are usually open from Monday to Friday, from 8-18h. There are two post offices next to the two central railway stations in Budapest that are open from Monday to Saturday, from 7 to 21h. 

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.