| Country Name |
Hungary |
| Geographical Area |
93,030 square kilometers (35,920 square miles) |
| Population |
9,981,334 (July 2006 est.) |
| Capital City |
Budapest |
| People |
Hungarians 95%; Roma 2%; Others 3% |
| Language |
Hungarian |
| Religion |
50% Catholics; Calvinists 30%; Lutherans 5% |
| Government |
parliamentary republic; the President of the Republic, elected by the parliament every 5 years, has a largely ceremonial role, but powers also include appointing the prime minister. The prime minister selects cabinet ministers and has the exclusive right to dismiss them. Each cabinet nominee appears before one or more parliamentary committees in consultative open hearings and must be formally approved by the president.
|
| Head of Gov. |
president: László Sólyom; prime minister: Ferenc Gyurcsány |
| Visas |
Tourists holding valid US or Canadian passports are not required to have a visa for stays of less than 90 days. Passports must be valid for at least another six months from the planned date of arrival into Hungary. |
| Health Risks |
No immunizations are required for entry. The following vaccinations are recommended: hepatitis A and B, tetanus and typhoid as well as vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis for those traveling in risk areas who are unable to avoid tick bites. Another disease transmitted by ticks is the lyme disease. In most cases it can be prevented by performing a thorough tick check because the tick must be attached for at least 36 hours to transmit the disease. |
| Clothing Suggestions |
|
| Time Zone |
GMT/UTC +1 - Czech Republic is in the Central European Time Zone. It is 1 Hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, 6 hours ahead of New York and Montreal, 9 hours ahead of Los Angeles. Daylight saving time is in effect from the last Sunday in March till the last Sunday in October. |
| Banking / Exchange |
Banks are open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. All banks are closed on Saturdays. Money can also be exchanged at exchange offices, hotel reception desks and travel offices. Currency exchange machines and ATMs operate after hours in Budapest and other cities. It is recommended that all money exchange receipts be kept.
|
| Currency |
Hungarian Forint (HUF). In Hungary the abbreviation of Forint is Ft.
|
| Electric Current |
The voltage is 220 V/50Hz with European two-prong plug.
Electrical equipment of 110V/60Hz requires the use of an adapter and/or voltage converter. |
| Credit Cards / Traveler Checks |
Major credit cards (AmEx, Visa, Mastercard, Diners, Cirrus) can be used in the member shops and businesses. Look for the logo displayed at the entrance.
ATMs operate 24 hours a day. Major credit cards and banking cards are accepted.
There is usually a commission of 1% for cashing traveler's checks at banks. Please note that most stores will not accept traveler's checks.
You can use your bank or credit card to get cash at post offices throughout Hungary. More than 3200 post offices nation-wide provide this service.
|
| Shopping |
Department stores are open from Monday - Wednesday and Friday 10.00 am - 6.00 pm, Thursday 10.00 am - 8.00 pm, Sat 9.00 am - 1.00 pm. Food shops are open from Monday - Friday 7.00 am - 7.00 pm, Saturday 7.00 am - 2.00 pm. |
| Weights & measures |
The metric system is standard throughout the country. |
| How to shop Tax Fee |
|
| National Airport |
Ferihegy Budapest International Airport (BUD) |
| Major Tourist Attractions |
Budapest, Lake Balaton |
| Tipping Suggestion |
Restaurant prices in Hungary generally do not include a service charge and it is therefore customary to give a tip, generally equivalent to 10-15% of the bill. For all other tipping, follow the guidelines used in the USA. |
Destinations
Italy
