Expatriates Forums in Hungary

english-hungarian?

jamvant — Fri Oct 23, 2009 7:21 pm

Author: jamvant

Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 7:21 pm

Hey there …I would like to respond to some advertisements that have appeared in Budapest websites of some Budapest locals. my id is jjamvant at yahoodotcom. I would like someone based in Budapest to call them and ask them to give me their email addresses so I can write to them. Can you, or anyone you know do it – if yes, I’ll be glad to pay!! : JJ

Tour Budapest On Line (Video + Stills)

IntrepidBerkeleyExplorer — Thu May 28, 2009 7:49 pm

Author: IntrepidBerkeleyExplorer

Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 7:49 pm

My film “Gondola With the Wind” can be seen on the web if you have a high speed internet connection. The movie begins in Italy with Rome, Pisa, Florence, and Venice. It then features Vienna (Austria), Prague (Czech Republic), Poland (including Warsaw & Auschwitz), Ukraine, and Budapest (Hungary).

While Budapest comes last, it is worth the wait. Fast forwarding will unfortunately not function with the streaming video I use.

This is a free, non-commercial, streaming video on the Windows Media Player. No ads and no strings attached. I still sell nothing.

My video site is:

http://www.geocities.com/intrepidberkeleyexplorer/Video.html

With any modem you can view a new gallery of still pictures from my trips to Italy at:

http://www.geocities.com/intrepidberkeleyexplorer/Page14.html

plus the recently added stills from Vienna and Eastern Europe are at:

http://www.geocities.com/intrepidberkeleyexplorer/Page28.html

There are over 30 of my other amateur travel videos on-line covering all 7 continents, including trips to China, Australia, Russia, Antarctica, American National Parks, an African safari, Egypt, Japan, Peru, Mayan pyramids, Berlin & Paris, Greece and Turkey; see whales, penguins, or polar bears. One of these films is a sequel, “Gondola With the Wind 2”, filmed entirely in Italy.

The planet is yours, including my Home Page giant galaxy of still pictures at:

http://www.geocities.com/intrepidberkeleyexplorer/

The Intrepid Berkeley Explorer

GETTING AROUND IN HUNGARY / HUNGARY TRANSPORTATION GUIDE

Hungary Info — Tue May 22, 2007 6:41 am

Author: Hungary Info

Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 6:41 am

GETTING AROUND IN HUNGARY

BY AIR

There are currently no scheduled internal air services in Hungary. Some are planned for the near future, however. As Budapest lies in the centre of the country and pretty much any point can be reached within three hours by train or bus.

BY RIVER/ LAKE

There are regular services on the Danube and Lake Balaton from spring to late autumn. MAHART and the Budapest Travel Company (BKV) ( www.bkv.hu ) also operate ferries in the city centre, the Roman Embankment (Római Part) and at some crossing points. On Lake Balaton, a ferry operates during the year between Balatonföldvár and Tihany, and between Révfülöp and Balatonboglér. Contact MAHART for further details.

BY RAIL

Services are operated by MÁV. All main cities are linked by efficient services but facilities are often inadequate. Supplements are payable on IC and express trains. Reservations are compulsory for IC trains and recommended for express trains, particularly in summer. Tickets can be bought 60 days in advance on domestic railway lines, as can seat reservations. The most popular tourist rail routes are: Budapest–Kecskemet–Szeged– Budapest and Budapest–Siofok–Lake Balaton.

Intercity (IC) trains are the fastest, and they're up-to-date, well maintained and cleaned. They link the major cities with Budapest. Compared to the majority of Western European ticket prices, Hungary's IC trains are amongst the cheapest with an excellent record of speed and comfort. In almost all cases they also have a restaurant car. At the weekends many students use these IC trains to commute between Budapest and other cities, so an early advance booking is recommended on Friday afternoons for the trains leaving Budapest and on Sunday evenings for trains towards Budapest. Working with a notebook is generally safe, unless it's heavy overcrowded.

During summer period trains linking Balaton to Budapest are sometimes overcrowded. Pricing depends only on the distance and on the car class. Cash desks assume 2nd class by default for non-IC trains (at least in Budapest for English speakers), so if you didn't catch your IC, consider asking 1st class, paying small extra for much more comfort. When in the train, keep in mind that there are smoking and non-smoking cars--check a sign over a door inside a car.

Rail-bus services are available between the main railway stations within Budapest at fixed rates (tel: (1) 353 2722; website: www.mav.hu). There are also narrow-gauge railways in operation in many parts of the country. The website www.elvira.hu has up-to-date travel information and timetables.

Concessions are available for groups (minimum of 10 persons), children, students, families and pensioners. Children under six and pensioners over 70 travel free. Children aged six to 15 pay approximately half of the full fare. Balaton and Tourist Season Tickets (seven to 10 days) are also available. Contact MÁV for details (see Travel – International section for contact details). The Hungarian Flexipass, sold by travel agents worldwide and by Rail Europe, offers unlimited first-class train travel for five days in a 15-day period or for 10 days in a 30-day period. The Hungarian Tourist Card offers discounts on rail, bus, taxi and ship services, as well as accommodation, restaurants and museums. The Hungarian National Tourist Office can provide further information.

BY ROAD

Traffic drives on the right. There are eight arterial roads in the country: all but the M8 start from central Budapest. Tolls are payable on some roads and all motorways. Season tickets can be purchased. From Budapest the two main highways are the M1 to Györ and Vienna and the M7 along Lake Balaton. The M3 connects Budapest with eastern Hungary. Generally the road system is good.

Bus & coach

Budapest is linked with major provincial towns. Tickets are available from Volán long-distance bus terminal, Budapest, and at Volán offices throughout the country. A bus season ticket is also available.

Bus lines often are more complete than train lines, the prices and the speed is quite similar. Buses are normally clean.

Car rental

Available at Ferihegy Airport or at Volán and Budapest tourist offices as well as at major hotels. Speed limits are 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas, 90kph (50mph) on main roads, 110kph (62mph) on highways and 130kph (75mph) on motorways. Seat belts are compulsory. Children of 16 years and under must sit in the rear seats. Petrol stations are frequent and there are no special tourist petrol coupons. There is a total alcohol ban when driving; severe fines are imposed for infringements. It is obligatory to keep headlights dipped at all times when on the open road. Mobile phones are allowed only with headsets. Child seats are compulsory. The Hungarian Automobile Club operates a breakdown service on main roads at weekends and a 24-hour service on motorways. For further details contact the Hungarian Automobile Club, Rómer Flóris utca 4/A, H-1024 Budapest (tel: (1) 345 1800 or 1755 (24-hour emergency helpline); website: www.autoklub.hu).

Documentation: Pink format EU licence accepted but International Driving Permit required if green licence held.

URBAN TRANSPORTATION

There is good public transport in all the main towns. Budapest has bus, trolleybus, tramway, suburban railway (HEV), a three-line metro and boat services. The metro has ticket barriers at all stations. The bus–trolleybus–tramway system has pre-purchase flat fares with ticket puncher on board. Day passes are available for all the transport modes in the city. Trams and buses generally run from about 0430-2300. Some night services also operate. The metro runs from 0430-2310 and stations can be identified by a large ‘M’. There is also a cogwheel railway (Városmajor–Széchenyi Hill), a Childrens’ Railway (Hüvösvölgy–Széchenyi Hill), a chairlift and a funicular. There are tramways in some of the other towns, or else good bus services. Day passes and season tickets are available in Budapest.

If you are taking taxis, inspect the change that taxi drivers give you. Taxi drivers commonly rip off tourists by giving them change in outdated Romanian currency, which looks similar to Hungarian currency, but is worthless and cannot be redeemed.

DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS IN HUNGARY / EMBASSIES IN HUNGARY

Hungary Info — Tue May 22, 2007 4:18 am

Author: Hungary Info

Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 4:18 am

DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS IN HUNGARY

ALBANIA
Embassy of Albania
Gábor Áron Utca 55,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 326-8905/ 6/ 6336
Fax: (+36 1) 326-8904
Email: albemb@hu.inter.net

ARGENTINA
Embassy of Argentina
Vérhalom Utca 12-16,
Edificio “A”, 2º Piso Dpto. 23,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 326-0492/ 3
Fax: (+36 1) 326-0494
Email: embargen@nextra.hu , eungr@mrecic.gov.ar

AUSTRALIA
Embassy of Australia
Kiralyhago ter 8-9, IV. em.
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 457-9777
Fax: (+36 1) 201-9792
Email: ausembbp@mail.datanet.hu
Website: www.ausembbp.hu , www.australia.hu

AUSTRIA
Embassy of Austria
Benczur Utca 16,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 479-7010
Fax: (+36 1) 352-8795
Email: budapest-ob@bmaa.gv.at , austroamb-budapest@pronet.hu
Website: www.austrian-embassy.hu

BELGIUM
Embassy of Belgium
Toldy Ferenc Utca 13,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 201-1571/ 1762/ 3934
Fax: (+36 1) 375-1566
Email: budapest@diplobel.org , postmaster@belgianembassy.axelero.net
Website: www.diplomatie.be

BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA
Embassy of Bosnia & Herzegovina
Pasaréti Utca 48,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 212-0106/ 7
Fax: (+36 1) 212-0109

BRAZIL
Embassy of Brazil
Délibáb Utca 30,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 351-0060/ 1/ 2/ 3/ 4
Fax: (+36 1) 351-0066
Email: embassy@brazil.hu
Website: www.brazil.hu

BULGARIA
Embassy of Bulgaria
Andrassy Utca 115,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 322-0824/ 36/ 342-3738
Fax: (+36 1) 322-5215
Email: bgembhu@attglobal.net , bgembhu@axelero.hu

CANADA
Embassy of Canada
Zugligeti Utca 51-53,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 392-3360
Fax: (+36 1) 392-3390
Email: bpest@dfait-maeci.gc.ca
Website: www.canadaeuropa.gc.ca/hungary

CHINA
Embasy of China
Benczur Utca 15,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 413-2400/ 1
Fax: (+36 1) 413-2451
Email: knk@mail.matav.hu
Website: www.chinaembassy.hu

CROATIA
Embassy of Croatia
Munkacsy Mihaly Utca 15,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 269-5854/ 354-1315
Fax: (+36 1) 354-1319
Email: croemb.bp@mvp.hr , horv.nagykov@mvp.hr , hrvhu1@mail.euroweb.hu

CZECH REPUBLIC
Embassy of the Czech Republic
Rózsa Utca 61,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 351-0539
Fax: (+36 1) 351-9189
Email: budapest@embassy.mzv.cz
Website: www.mzv.cz/budapest

DENMARK
Royal Embassy of Denmark
Határör Utca 37,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 487-9000
Fax: (+36 1) 487-9045
Email: budamb@um.dk
Website: www.danishembassy.hu

EGYPT
Embassy of Egpyt
Bérc Utca 16,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 381-0475/ 6
Fax: (+36 1) 381-0571
Email: ambegbp@pronet.hu

ESTONIA
Embassy of Estonia
Lendvay Utca 12, fszt. 3,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 354-2570
Fax: (+36 1) 354-2571
Email: embassy.budapest@mfa.ee

FINLAND
Embassy of Finland
Kelenhegyi Utca 16/A,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 279-2500
Fax: (+36 1) 385-0843
Email: sanomat.bud@formin.fi
Website: www.finland.hu

FRANCE
Embassy of France
Lenvay Utca 27,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 374-1100
Fax: (+36-1) 374-1140
Website: www.ambafrance.hu

GERMANY
Embassy of Germany
Úri Utca 64-66,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 488-3500/ 67
Fax: (+36 1) 488-3505
Email: info@deutschebotschaft.hu
Website: www.deutschebotschaft-budapest.hu

GREECE
Embassy of Greece
Szegfu Utca 3,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 413-2610
Fax: (+36 1) 342-1934
Email: greekemb@axelero.hu

INDIA
Embassy of India
Buzavirag Utca 14,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 325-7742/ 3
Fax: (+36 1) 325-7745
Email: chancery@indianembassy.hu
Website: www.indianembassy.hu

INDONESIA
Embassy of Indonesia
Varosligeti Fasor 26,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 342-8508/ 85/ 49
Fax: (+36 1) 322-8669
Email: kbribud@indonesia.hu
Website: www.indonesia.hu

IRELAND
Embassy of Ireland
Bank Center Gránit Torony,
VII. em. (Szabadság tér 7),
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 301-4960
Fax: (+36 1) 302-9599
Email: iremb@hu.inter.net

ISRAEL
Embassy of Israel
Fullank Utca 8,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 200-0781/ 2
Fax: (+36 1) 200-0783
Email: info@budapest.mfa.gov.il
Website: www.budapest.mfa.gov.il

ITALY
Embassy of Italy
Stefania Utca 95,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 460-6200/ 1
Fax: (+36 1) 460-6260
Email: direzione@italcultbudapest.hu
Website: www.italcultbudapest.hu

JAPAN
Embassy of Japan
Zalai Utca 7,
Budapest
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 398-3100
Fax: (+36 1) 275-1281
Email: consul@japanembassy.hu , economic@japanembassy.hu , culture@japanembassy.hu
Website: www.hu.emb-japan.go.jp

LATVIA
Embassy of Latvia
Kálmán Imre Utca 1,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 475-1160
Fax: (+36 1) 475-1111
Email: embassy.hungary@mfa.gov.lv

LITHUANIA
Embassy of Lithuania
Dobsinai Utca 4/A,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 224-7910
Fax: (+36 1) 202-3995
Email: litvania@litvania.hu

MALAYSIA
Embassy of Malaysia
Pasaréti Utca 29,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 488-0810
Fax: (+36 1) 488-0824
Email: mwbdpest@axelero.hu

MOROCCO
Embassy of Morocco
Torokvesz Lejto 12,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 275-1467/ 200-7855
Fax: (+36 1) 275-1437
Email: sifamabudap@axelero.hu

NETHERLANDS
Royal Embassy of the Netherlands
Füge Utca 5-7,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 336-6300
Fax: (+36 1) 326-5978
Email: bdp@minbuza.nl
Website: www.netherlandsembassy.hu , www.hollandnagykovetseg.hu

NORWAY
Royal Embassy of Norway
Ostrom Utca 13,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 212-9400/ 4/ 5
Fax: (+36 1) 212-9410
Email: emb.budapest@mfa.no
Website: www.norvegia.hu

PHILIPPINES
Embassy of the Philippines
Gabor Aron Utca 58,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 200-5523/ 4/ 6
Fax: (+36 1) 200-5528
Email: phbuda@mail.datanet.hu

POLAND
Embassy of Poland
Városligeti Fasor 16,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 351-1300/ 1/ 2/ 1723
Fax: (+36 1) 351-1722
Email: secretary@polishemb.hu , central@polishemb.hu
Website: www.lengyelorszag.hu

PORTUGAL
Embassy of Portugal
Alkotás Utca 53,
MOM Park "C" épület, IV Floor,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 201-7617/ 8
Fax: (+36 1) 201-7619
Email: embport@axelero.hu

ROMANIA
Embassy of Romania
Thököly Utca 72,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 384-0271
Fax: (+36 1) 384-5535
Email: postmaster@roembbud.axelero.net
Website: www.mae.ro

RUSSIA
Embassy of Russia
Bajza Utca 35,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 302-5230/ 332-4748/ 269-0823/ 0152
Fax: (+36 1) 353-4164/ 354-1492
Email: rusemb@euroweb.hu , ruskons@euroweb.hu
Website: www.hungary.mid.ru

SERBIA
Embassy of Serbia
Dózsa György Utca 92/B,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 322-9838/ 342-8512
Fax: (+36 1) 322-1438
Email: ambjubp@mail.datanet.hu

SLOVAKIA
Embassy of Slovakia
Stefánia Utca 22-24,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 460-9011
Fax: (+36 1) 460-9020
Email: slovakem@axelero.hu

SLOVENIA
Embassy of Slovenia
Cseppko Utca 68,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 438-5600
Fax: (+36 1) 325-9187

SOUTH AFRICA
Embassy of South Africa
Gárdonyi Géza Utca 17,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 392-0999
Fax: (+36 1) 200-7277
Email: saemb@sa-embassy.hu
Website: www.sa-embassy.hu

SOUTH KOREA
Embassy of South Korea
Andrassy Utca 109,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 351-1179/ 80/ 81
Fax: (+36 1) 351-1182
Email: hungary@mofat.go.kr , koremb@mail.matav.hu
Website: www.mofat.go.kr/hungary

SPAIN
Embassy of Spain
Eötvös Utca 11/B,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 202-4006/ 15/ 48
Fax: (+36 1) 202-4206
Email: espanole@axelero.hu
Website: www.maec.es/embajadas/budapest

SWEDEN
Royal Embassy of Sweden
Kapás Utca 6-12,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 460-6020
Fax: (+36 1) 460-6021
Email: ambassaden.budapest@foreign.ministry.se
Website: www.swedenabroad.com/budapest

SWITZERLAND
Embassy of Switzerland
Stefánia Utca 107,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 460-7040
Fax: (+36 1) 343-9492
Email: vertretung@bud.rep.admin.ch
Website: www.swissembassy.hu , www.eda.admin.ch/budapest_emb

THAILAND
Royal Embassy of Thailand
Verecke Utca 79,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 438-4020/ 1/ 5/ 8/ 9
Fax: (+36 1) 438-4023
Email: thaiemba@mail.datanet.hu
Website: www.thaiembassy.org/Hungary

TURKEY
Embassy of Turkey
Andrássy Utca 123,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 344-5025/ 6/ 7/ 8
Fax: (+36 1) 344-5143
Email: budapest@turkishembassy.hu

UKRAINE
Embassy of Ukraine
Stefania Utca 77,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 422-4120
Fax: (+36 1) 220-9873
Email: emb_hu@mfa.gov.ua , ukran.kovetseg@mail.datanet.hu

UK
British Embassy
Harmincad Utca 6,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 266-2888
Fax: (+36 1) 429-6360
Email: info@britemb.hu
Website: www.britishembassy.hu

USA
Embassy of United States
Szabadság tér 12,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 475-4400
Fax: (+36 1) 475-4764
Website: www.usembassy.hu , www.budapest.usembassy.gov

VENEZUELA
Embassy of Venezuela
Vérhalom Utca 12-16, I/14,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 326-0460/ 1
Fax: (+36 1) 326-0450
Email: embavenezhu@t-online.hu

HUNGARY TOURISM GUIDE / TOURISM IN HUNGARY

Hungary Info — Mon May 21, 2007 9:25 am

Author: Hungary Info

Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 9:25 am

HUNGARY TOURISM GUIDE

GENERAL

Hungary does not regard itself as a Balkan or a Slavic country, and the Magyars who settled there from central Asia have always identified with western values. The country has survived the devastations of the Tartars, Turks, Habsburgs and Russians, retaining its unique language and culture. In Hungary, admitting that you're a tourist is positive and people will often want to meet, talk and help visitors to enjoy their country.

For the purpose of this guide the country has been divided into six regions: Budapest, The Danube, The West & Lake Balaton, The Great Plain Area, Southern Hungary and The Northern Highlands.

BUDAPEST

The capital city was originally two cities on each side of one of the most beautiful stretches of the Danube river – Buda, the older, more graceful part, with cobbled streets and medieval buildings, and Pest, the commercial centre. The ‘Pearl of the Danube’ is a lively city which has long been a haven for writers, artists and musicians.

Buda

In Buda, Gellért Hill gives a wonderful view of the city, river and mountains. On the hill is the Citadella, a fort built after the unsuccessful 1848 uprising, and a number of thermal baths including the great Gellért Baths adjoining the hotel of that name. The Royal Palace, fully reconstructed after being bombed during World War II, houses the National Gallery, with collections of fine Gothic sculpture and modern Hungarian art, and the Historical Museum of Budapest, containing archaeological remains of the old city as well as furnishings, glass and ceramics from the 15th century. Also on this side of the Danube is the rampart of Halászbástya (Fisherman’s Bastion), so called because it was the duty of the city’s fishermen to protect the northern side of the Palace during the Middle Ages, and the great Mátyás templon (church) with its multicoloured tiled roof.

Pest

On the Pest side are the Parliament; the Hungarian National Museum, containing remarkable treasures ranging from the oldest skull found in Europe to Franz Liszt’s gold baton; the Belvárosi Templom, Hungary’s oldest church, dating from the 12th century, the Museum of Fine Arts housing European paintings and the Ethnographic Museum. Margaret Island, connected to both Buda and Pest by bridges, is a park with a sports stadium, swimming pool, spas, a rose garden and fountains. Budapest has about 100 hot springs.

THE DANUBE

The Danube Bend upstream from Budapest has long been a favourite summer retreat from the humid heat of the capital. Three historic towns draw most of the visitors. A few miles further up river, Szentendre is an old market town originally inhabited by Serbian refugees fleeing from the Turks. Churches had to face east regardless of their position on the streets, producing unusual layouts, and the Serbian house styles added greatly to the village’s charm. Due to trade restrictions and floods, the town was abandoned, only to be rediscovered and settled by Hungarian artists in the 1920s. The Margit Kovács Musuem has a remarkable display of the work of Hungary’s greatest ceramicist. The Béla Czóbel Museum shows paintings from the 1890s and the Károly Ferenczy Museum contains historical, archaeological and ethnographic collections as well as paintings. The Serbian Museum for Ecclesiastical History contains many fine examples of ecclesiastical art from the 14th to the 18th centuries. The Ethnographic Museum (skanzen) is a large open-air addition from the 1960s, still being added to, of reconstructed folk villages from all over the country.

Visegrad

A few miles further upriver, Visegrád was once a royal stronghold, but is now a rather sleepy tourist resort with spectacular views over the Danube. The 15th-century summer palace has been excavated and restored, and the Mátyás Museum in the Salamon Tower displays many archaeological discoveries.

Esztergom

Originally a Roman outpost, Esztergom later became the country’s capital from the 11th to the 14th centuries and remains at the heart of the country’s Catholicism. Hungary’s largest Basilica, the Palace ruins, the Museum of the Stronghold of Esztergom and the Christian Museum of Esztergom, containing some of Hungary’s finest art collections, are all important attractions.

THE WEST & LAKE BALATON

Sopron, close to the Austrian frontier, is built on old Roman foundations, and reminders of the region’s history are still very much in evidence in the town’s 240 listed buildings. Among the sights here are the Firewatch Tower, Storno House showing Roman, Celtic and Avar relics as well as mementos of Franz Liszt, the Gothic Goat Church and the gargoyled Church of St Michael.

27km (17 miles) away is the Baroque Esterházy Palace at Fertöd, designed to rival Versailles; Josef Haydn was music master here at the end of the 18th century. Nearby is the spa town of Balf. The walled town of Köszeg and the riverside town of Györ, on the main Budapest–Vienna highway, Szombathely (which claims to be the oldest town in Hungary and has some excellent Romanesque stonework) and Zalaegerszeg are also attractive towns to visit. Located between Budapest and Lake Balaton, Székesfehérvár boasts a Baroque Town Hall, as well as the Zichy Palace and the Garden of Ruins – an open-air museum. Fertõ-Hanság National Park, the main areas of which are Lake Fertõ, the westernmost steppe lake in Eurasia, and the Hanság, an area of wetlands, adjoins the Austrian National Park Neusiedlersee-Seewinkel. Birdwatching, cycling and hiking are popular, and there is a permanent wildlife and ethnographic museum at Öntésmajor.

Lake Balaton

Lake Balaton is a popular holiday region because of its sandy beaches (strands) and shallow waters. The surrounding countryside consists mainly of fertile plains dotted with old villages. Siófok, on the south shore of the lake, has some of the sandiest beaches and best facilities for tourists. Keszthely is a pleasant old town – the Balaton’s best – including the Festetics Palace with its Helicon Library, and the Balaton Museum. Hévíz, Europe’s largest thermal lake, is a short bus ride away. Balatonfüred is a well-known health resort with 11 medicinal springs. Tihany’s Benedictine Abbey was founded in 1055; Belsô-tó Lake and the Aranyház geyser cones are nearby. Veszprém, 10km (6 miles) north of Lake Balaton, is a pretty town with cobbled streets, built on five hills. It is the home of the Var Museum, an Episcopal Palace and the 13th-century Gizella Chapel.

THE GREAT PLAIN AREA

This region covers more than half the country and contains thousands of acres of vineyards, orchards and farmland. Kecskemét, 85km (53 miles) southeast of the capital, is the home town of the composer Zoltán Kodály. Although an industrial town in many respects, there is still an artists’ colony and a centre for folk music there. It also has some fine examples of peasant architecture and of crafts in the Native Artists and Katona Jozsef Museum. Outside the town the Kiskunság National Park preserves parts of the Danube Tisza Floodplain of Central Hungary in seven disconnected areas including swamps, alkali plateaus and lakes. The famous Bugac Puszta stretches out here as well. Szeged is the economic and cultural centre of this region, housing Hungary’s finest Greek Orthodox (Serbian) church. Baja is a small, picturesque town on the banks of both the Danube and Sugovica rivers with many small islands, old churches and an artists’ colony. Further east is the Hortobágy National Park, the ‘Hungarian Puszta’, the alkali plains which begin the Asian steppes.

SOUTHERN HUNGARY

Pécs, one of Transdanubia’s largest towns, was colonised by the Romans, and has the fifth-oldest university in Europe (1367) and the finest Hungarian examples of Ottoman architecture from Turkish occupancy (1543-1686). Important tourist sites include the Cathedral, the Mosque of Gazi Kasim Pasha, and the Archaeological Museum. The Danube-Drava National Park encompases the area between these two rivers and includes Mohács on the Danube, with the battlefield – now a memorial park – where, in 1526, the Turks gained control of the country, and Kalocsa, noted for its folk museums. South of the town is the attractive Forest of Gemenc which can be explored by boat or narrow-gauge train.

THE NORTHERN HIGHLANDS

Miskolc, Hungary’s second-largest city, is situated near the Slovak border. Primarily industrial, the city nevertheless has several points of interest, including medieval architecture and the warren of manmade caves in the Avas Hills near the city centre. Nearby are the beautiful forested Bükk National Park, part of the Northern Hill Range, which is also an area of karst topography including the country’s deepest caves at Lillafüred; many traces of Neanderthal man have been found here. North of Bükk, the Aggtelek National Park is part of the Gömör Torna Karst area of cave systems which extends into the Slovak Republic. Caving, fishing and riding are popular, and there are many cultural monuments, masterpieces of folk architecture, ruins recalling the atmosphere of the Middle Ages, old churches, graveyards and locally surviving farming techniques. Eger, one of the country’s oldest and most colourful cities, has nearly 200 historical monuments including its 14-sided Minaret; just west of the town are the vineyards of the Szépasszony Valley where visitors can sample the famous Bikavér (Bull’s Blood) wine. Due east is Tokaj, the equivalent of Champagne as a wine-producing area. Halfway between Tokaj and the Slovak border is the spectacular Sárospatak Castle, one of Hungary’s greatest historical monuments.

HOTELS DIRECTORY IN HUNGARY / HUNGARY HOTEL GUIDE

Hungary Info — Mon May 21, 2007 9:09 am

Author: Hungary Info

Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 9:09 am

HOTELS DIRECTORY IN HUNGARY

BUDAPEST

Andrássy Hotel
VI. Andrássy útca 111,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 462-2100
Fax: (+36 1) 462-2195
Email: welcome@andrassyhotel.com
Website: www.andrassyhotel.com

Art'Otel
I. Bem rkp. 16-19,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 487-9487
Fax: (+36 1) 487-9488
Email: budapest@artotel.hu
Website: www.artotel.hu

Astoria
V. Kossuth Lajos útca 19-21,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 889-6060
Fax: (+36 1) 889-6091
Email: astoria.reservation@danubiusgroup.com
Website: www.danubiushotels.com/astoria

Best Western Grand Hotel Hungaria
VII. Rákóczi útca 90,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 889-4400
Fax: (+36 1) 889-4411
Email: grandhungaria.reservation@danubiusgroup.com
Website: www.danubiushotels.com/grandhotel-hungaria

Carlton Hotel
I. Apor Péter útca 3,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 224-0998
Fax: (+36 1) 224-0990
Email: carltonhotel@axelero.hu
Website: www.carltonhotel.hu

Corinthia Aquincum Hotel
III. Árpád fejedelem útca 94,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 436-4100
Fax: (+36 1) 436-4100
Email: reser.vation@aqu.hu
Website: www.corinthiahotels.com

Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal
VII. Erzsébet krt. 43-49,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 479-4000
Fax: (+36 1) 479-4333
Email: royalres@corinthia.hu
Website: www.corinthiahotels.com

Danubius Hotel Gellért
XI. Szt. Gellért tér 1,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 889-5500
Fax: (+36 1) 889-5505
Email: gellert.reservation@danubiusgroup.com
Website: www.danubiushotels.com/gellert

Erzsébet
V. Károlyi Mihály útca 11-15,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 889-3700
Fax: (+36 1) 889-3763
Email: erzsebet.reservation@danubiusgroup.com
Website: www.danubiushotels.com/erzsebet

Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace
V. Roosevelt tér 5-6,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 411-9000
Fax: (+36 1) 411-9002
Website: www.fourseasons.com

Grand Hotel Margitsziget
XIII. Margitsziget (Margaret Island),
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 889-4700
Fax: (+36 1) 899-4988
Email: resind@margitsziget.danubiusgroup.com
Website: www.danubiusgroup.com/grandhotel

Hilton Budapest
I. Hess András tér 13,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 889-6600
Fax: (+36 1) 488-6644
Email: hilton.hu@hungary.net
Website: www.budapest.hilton.com

Hilton Budapest WestEnd
VI. Váci útca 1-3 (inside WestEnd City Center),
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 288-5500
Fax: (+36 1) 288-5588
Email: info_budapest-westend@hilton.com
Website: www.hilton.com

Holiday Inn
Budaörs, Agip útca 2,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 23) 504-000
Fax: (+36 23) 504-055
Email: sales@holiday-inn.hu
Website: www.holiday-inn.com/budapest

Hotel Astra
II. Vám útca 6,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 214-1906
Fax: (+36 1) 214-1907
Email: info@hotelastra.hu
Website: www.hotelastra.hu

Intercontinental
V. Apáczai Csere János útca 12-14,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 327-6333
Fax: (+36 1) 327-6357
Email: budapest@interconti.com
Website: www.interconti.com

K&K Hotel Opera
VI. Révay útca 24,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 269-0222
Fax: (+36 1) 269-0230
Email: kk.hotel.opera@kkhotel.hu
Website: www.kkhotels.com

Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest
V. Erzsébet tér 7-8,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 429-3777
Fax: (+36 1) 429-4777
Email: hotel.corvinus@kempinski.com
Website: www.kempinski-budapest.com

Le Meridien Budapest
V. Erzsébet tér 9 - 10,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 429-5500
Fax: (+36 1) 429-5660
Email: reservation@le-meridien.hu
Website: www.budapest.lemeridien.com

Marriott Hotel Budapest
V. Apáczai Csere János útca 4,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 266-7000
Fax: (+36 1) 266-5000
Email: marriott.budapest@axelero.hu
Website: www.marriotthotels.com/budhu

Mercure Korona
V. Kecskeméti útca 14,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 486-8800
Fax: (+36 1) 318-3867
Email: h1765@accorhotels.com
Website: www.mercure-korona.hu

Radisson SAS Béke
VI. Teréz krt. 43,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 889-3900
Fax: (+36 1) 889-3915
Email: sales.budapest@radissonsas.com
Website: www.radissonsas.com

Sofitel Budapest
V. Roosevelt tér 2,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 266-1234
Fax: (+36 1) 266-9101
Email: h3229-re@accor.com
Website: www.sofitel.com

Starlight Suiten
V. Mérleg útca 6,
Budapest
Tel: (+36 1) 484-3700
Fax: (+36 1) 484-3711
Email: starlighthotel@axelero.hu
Website: www.starlighthotels.com

HUNGARY TRAVEL INFORMATION / HUNGARY TRAVEL GUIDE

Hungary Info — Mon May 21, 2007 7:49 am

Author: Hungary Info

Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 7:49 am

HUNGARY TRAVEL INFORMATION

Full Name

Republic of Hungary

Capital City

Budapest

Area

92,966 sq km
35,894 sq miles

Population

10,083,000

Time Zone

GMT/UTC +1

Daylight Saving Start

last Sunday in March

Daylight Saving End

last Sunday in October

Languages

Hungarian (official)

Hungarian (Magyar) is a member of the Ugric group of the Uralic family of languages.

Religion

68% Roman Catholic, 21% Reformed (Calvinist) Protestant, 6% Evangelical (Lutheran), 5% other

Currency

Forint (Ft)

Electricity

230V 50HzHz

Electric Plug Details

European plug with two circular metal pins

Country Dialing Code

36