Essential Travel Know-How for Tourists in Budapest

With its vibrant cultural heritage and rich and fascinating history, it would be impossible not to consider this city as one of the most-favored travel destinations in Europe. The recognition of the unique value of its traditions has been carefully managed to maintain the magic and charm of this place. Therefore, people who travel for pleasure will surely love Budapest.

To fully make the one’s tour pleasurable, these essential know-how’s must be remembered to escape the hassles and irritating sarcasms:

• Visa Information

Citizens of those countries who were part of the Schengen agreement are allowed to enter Hungary possessing just an identification card. They are allowed to stay for a maximum of 90 days, granting that the purpose of the visit is anything but not related to work and/or business. These countries include: Switzerland, Spain, Slovenia, Slovakia, Portugal, Poland, Malta, Luxemburg, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Italy, Holland, Greece, Germany, France, Finland, Estonia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Croatia, Belgium, and Austria.

Citizens of European countries, except Ukraine, Turkey, Serbia-Montenegro, Russia, and Albania, do not require visas to enter the territory of Hungary. Those countries outside Europe who are similarly not required visas are: Venezuela, Uruguay, USA, Singapore, Salvador, Paraguay, Panama, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Mexico, Malaysia, Macao, Republic of Korea, Japan, Israel, Hong Kong, Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Chile, Canada, Brunei, Brazil, Bolivia, Australia, and Argentina. However, a passport is strictly required.

• Customs Regulations

Passengers who are entering or leaving the European Union and carries 10,000 or more euros or equivalent in different currencies or any readily cashable securities of equivalent total value should declare them to the customs’ authority. However, further verification and declaration rules on cash transactions in certain member states of the European Union are applied.

• Embassies

Most of the foreign states have an embassy or a consulate in Budapest. An “embassy district” in Budapest is located near the Heroes’ Square where 15+ embassies are being housed. Some of them are fortified with security zone built around them. Those countries that don’t have consulates mostly maintain representations in nearby Vienna.

• Getting Around

Getting around in Budapest can be easy; whether in a public transportation, taxi or even in one’s own car.

Public Transportation

Budapest’s public transportation systems include buses, trolley buses, trams, underground trains (Metro), and above-ground suburban trains (HÉV). Passes should be bought before boarding since they cannot be bought from the driver, except of course on night bus networks.

Ticket types for buses, trams, and trolley buses vary, such as: 2-day family ticket (valid for maximum of 2 adults and 2 children below 18), 3-day unlimited travel card, 7-day unlimited travel card, and etc. Tickets for the Metro are exclusive and can be bought solely for its use.

Buses, trams, and trolley buses are available daily from 4:30 A.M. until 11:00 P.M. The Metro services passengers in frequencies from 15 minutes late in the evening to every two minutes during peak hours.

Taxi

Cabs in Budapest are labeled with “Taxi”, and are often accompanied by the company’s name or logo. These cabs have yellow registration plates, which distinguish them from the regular car plates. The taxi meters are equipped with a receipt-printing feature which prints the fare charge and the driver’s identification.

The fare is composed of the basic fee, per kilometer charging, and the waiting fee. Tipping the driver with 10 percent of the full fare is customary if there is satisfaction with the rendered service.

Car

Documents such as driver’s license, vehicle insurance, and “Green Card” for environment compliance must be carried all the time if one wishes to drive around in Budapest.

• Budapest Card

Introduced in 1997, this card offers its holder limitless possibilities, which include: unlimited travel on public transportation; discounted or free entrance fees to museums and several other sights; discounted tours of up to 50 percent; discounted price on tickets for cultural and folklore programs;  restaurant and spa discounts; car rentals and sport facilities discounts; and travel insurance. This card is made available in most places of Budapest including main metro ticket offices, travel agencies, hotels and airports, and tourist information bureaus. The card is valid for 48 or 72 hours for one adult and one child of up to 14 years of age.

Budapest, a Tourist’s Gem

The largest city and Hungarian capital, Budapest serves as the country’s principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial and transportation center. Throughout Central Europe, Budapest is considered an important hub internationally. The city is home to almost two million residents as of the latest 2009 population census, with a 525 square kilometer area within its city limit. Budapest also is known to have hosted the biggest Jewish population in Europe.

In a historical note, Budapest became the capital of Hungary only in 1361. It was King Bela IV of Hungary that ordered the construction of his royal palace on the top of the hill of Buda and reinforcing the stone walls surrounding the city.

The city has a temperate and transitional climate – it is mixed of the mild snowy weather of trans-Danubian, the almost sub-Mediterranean weather of the south, the variable continental climate of the flat open Great Plain to the east.

The City boasts of its growing tourism industry. It attracts 20 million visitors on a yearly basis. It is widely looked upon as one belonging to the most stunning and beautiful cities found in Europe. Home to many declared heritage sites of the world that includes the Danube banks, the Buda Castle, the Andrassy Avenue, Millennium Underground Railway  .– Europe’s second oldest, and the Heroes’ Square. It also offers other highlights, which include its 80 hot springs, its large synagogue – world’s second largest, the parliament building – worlds third largest and previously the largest, and the world’s largest thermal water cave system.

Recently, this year, Budapest ranked as the most livable city among the Central and Eastern European cities in terms of quality of life and ranked the 3^rd out of 65 cities on MasterCard’s Emerging Markets index of 2008.

At first glance, Budapest is an architectural gem. The baroque, neoclassical, eclectic and secessionist building and architecture are enough to satisfy one’s appetite.

The Parliament House visit is a comprehensive tour for Budapest sightseeing for a tourist who wants to learn some historical value before leaving Budapest or as an Introduction before the tour on the city. The Parliament House is the largest building in Hungary and home to the Holy Hungarian Crown. The tour introduces you to its Neo-Gothic architecture, splendid session halls, the impressive central staircase and the wonderful Great Vaulted Hall. Along the tour, a guide is giving some historical backgrounds and commentary. The Parliament Building was once the largest in the world with 691 rooms and staircases that stretches a total of 12 miles.

Budapest is fortunate to have many of the world’s finest Turkish baths. Budapest’s baths boast of its unique and hedonistic bathing experience and original Ottoman architecture. Baths consist of wonderfully colored glass windows and copulas and amazingly shaped octagonal pools. Baths recently offered massage with expert masseurs who happily can rearrange your limbs and muscles in a way that is impossible to think. Budapest also boast of its hot springs and bath, relaxing and splashing on Budapest baths is considered as the most worthwhile activity in the city according to Tourist and locals alike.

Another tourist attraction and offering are the Danube River cruise – considered the highlight of any trip to Hungary. Danube River is considered the longest in the entire European Union and Europe’s second largest after Volga. Danube River’s crosses ten European countries like Germany, Romania, Ukraine, Hungary, Moldova, Bulgaria, Austria, Croatia, Slovakia and Serbia. The Danube Bike trail is a Bicycle trail along the River also attracts tourists.

Furthermore, an indispensable offering of the city is its traditional restaurants in the hills of Buda. The Restaurants offer a three-course meal dinner followed by the typical Hungarian music and folkloric dance show. The Hill also provided a magnificent view of the illuminated city at night.

Nightlife is hot in Budapest, Many bars and restaurants offer excellent but affordable food and wine in abundance. In recent years, Budapest has taken the role of a party town in the region. In warmer months, outdoor entertainment areas are in abundance with party makers both tourist and locals.

Budapest is a place to see, rich in history, scenic beauty and marvelous attractions. It guarantees a vacation that is worthwhile and satisfying.