Practical info Budapest, Hungary
Time
GMT +1 (GMT +2 between the last Sunday in March and the Saturday before the last Sunday in October).
Electricity
Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. European-style two-pin plugs are standard.
Currency
Although Hungary is part of the EU it does not use the Euro; the official currency is the Hungarian Forint (HUF). It is divided into 100 filler. Most international credit cards are accepted, and these can be used to withdraw cash from banks and ATMs, and to pay bills in hotels, restaurants and most shops. Banks usually open between 8am and 3pm on weekdays and some are open on Saturdays. ATMs and currency exchange machines are available in towns and cities throughout the country. It is advisable to retain exchange receipts for proof of legal currency exchange.
Communication
The international access code for Hungary is +36. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). The area code for Budapest is 1. There are often high surcharges on calls made from hotels. Local directory assistance is available by dialling 198, and international directory assistance is 199; callers may have to hold for a few moments, but English-speaking operators are available. Buying a local SIM card is a reasonable option for easy communication while travelling. Free wifi is available in cafes, hotels, and restaurants in larger towns and cities.
Emergency number
112 (General in Europe), 104 (ambulance and medical emergencies), 105 (fire-brigade and rescue services), 107 (police)
Travel documents and health
Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport
Getting to the city
The metro station is reachable via bus number 200E running from Terminal 2. Travel time is approximately 30 minutes to the city centre via the metro. Tickets for public transportation are available at the airport from customer service points, from the post office, the newsagents (Relay) and from ticket machines at the bus stop. There is also an airport minibus service that takes passengers to any destination in the city. Tickets can be purchased in the Arrivals Hall at the Airport Minibus counter. Alternatively, a taxi can be reserved at the arrivals terminal information desk. A ride to the city centre will take approximately 20 minutes depending on traffic conditions.
Car rental
Car rental companies include Avis, Budget, Hertz, Sixt and Europcar.
Airport taxi's
Taxis can be reserved in the arrivals hall. Fares are metered but can't exceed prices set according to city zones. A high speed road connects the airport to the city in 20 minutes. Try not to use unsolicited taxis, as they may charge exorbitant fees. All official taxis are well marked and should display the rate for fares.
Transfer between terminals
Terminal 2A (Schengen destinations) and 2B (non-Schengen destinations) are close enough to be accessible by foot; there is a covered walkway between these two terminals. All flights are serviced by Terminals 2A and 2B. Terminal 1 is no longer serving any flights.
Facilities
Facilities include ATMs, bureaux de change, first aid, duty-free shops, childcare, post office, chapel, restaurants, tourist information and hotel reservations. There are facilities for disabled passengers and wheelchairs are available from the airport help desks; travellers with special needs are advised to contact their airline or travel agent in advance.
Parking
There are dedicated parking structures for each terminal, offering express, short-term and long-term parking options. Express parking allows five free minutes if you just need to pick up or drop off a passenger. From there short-term prices escalate to HUF 900 for 30 minutes and HUF 1,300 for an hour.
Internet
Free wifi is available in all terminals and in the SkyCourt area.