Budapest Handy Tips

I am collecting events of Budapest for this summer for a while, but it still doesn't want to come along. So I figured that I post an article about handy tips in Budapest.
When you come to a new city, you better be aware of some insider tips. Here are some (http://goo.gl/MSCJM)


"Hungary is generally a safe country. People in Hungary are hospitable and are welcoming of visitors. Hungary and Budapest in particular share similar issues with other countries and major cities frequented by visitors. We bring you this brief to provide you with relevant information to help you ensure your safety, and avoid uncomfortable and costly experiences. Our goal is that all visitors in Hungary and Budapest enjoy a completely problem free stay, which upon their return home can share with friends, colleagues and family. We take pride in all treasures Hungary has to offer, and would like to avoid the negativity caused by some opportunists, who target visitors to earn quick and easy money. Many of their actions are questionable and some are illegal. Examples: more expensive taxis, more expensive money exchange, unjust public transportation fi nes, and misleading references out of interest. As in most highly populated areas, you should take sensible precautions against petty crime such as bag snatching and pick-pocketing. Be particularly careful on busy public transport, in train stations, markets and other places frequented by foreign visitors.

TAXI

Hungary shares similar taxi issues as most countries and areas frequented by travelers. Be informed about the local taxi culture in order to avoid unpleasant situations. Railway Stations: BE CAREFUL when you arrive at the East and West railway stations (Keleti Pályaudvar or Nyugati Pályaudvar). „Hiena” Taxis will charge as much as 3 – 5 times more to take you to your location. Call a taxi for your arrival while you’re on the train! Budapest Airport has a contracted taxi company, which offers fixed rates between the airport and the city. During your stay is always safer and cheaper to phone for a taxi from one of the reputable local companies, than to get into one random off the street. Some taxi drivers often recommend certain bars, clubs and restaurants to passengers – they receive a commission to do so, and the money is then recovered by these establishments charging extortionate prices. If a driver offers to take you to one, or you are approached on the street with an invitation to enter a club, you should ignore such advice! Hungary has an excellent visitors’ information network which you can utilize. You can also ask for the recommendation of the concierge at your hotel.
Travel by City Taxi at a discounted pirce with Budapest Card: www.citytaxi.hu


EXCHANGE MONEY

Exchanging cash at the arrival location (airport, railway station) is usually more expensive in most countries. Railway stations are some of the MOST EXPENSIVE places to exchange money in Budapest. Hungary has a competitive money exchange industry. Know the offi cial exchange rate of the Hungarian Forint (HUF). Rates are always displayed in front of the exchange offi ces. NEVER exchange money on the street! - ask our receptionist where to exchange money at the best rate (trusted exchange, where we change our money too)

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION (BKV)

Hungary has an excellent public transportation system. Budapest in particular has one of the fi nest public transportation in Europe. Be informed about the ticket procedures. Foreign visitors to Budapest are often confused by the ticket system, then targeted and fi ned by ticket controllers. The controllers do NOT have the right to detain you. However, in some cases they are accompanied with security offi cials who have the right to ask for identifi cation and to detain you until the police arrives. Once you have left the bus, tram, trolley or the metro area, you are completely removed from the situation. Validate your ticket before starting your journey (i.e. before you get to the platform if travelling by Metro; and immediately after boarding buses, trams or trolley buses). Keep your ticket until the end of your journey and show it to inspectors on request. You have to validate another ticket every time you change lines except on direct metro to metro transfers. You may utilize the “Budapest Card” or purchase a period based ticket which offers unlimited trips during your stay.

BEGGARS

Hungary takes less drastic measures than some of its western European counterparts to deal with beggar mafi as, which operate in the downtown and tourist areas. Beggars many times are imported from eastern countries and dress as very old women or as one with a severe injury or disability. Hungary has an excellent social and medical system, and such situations of neglect would never occur! We ask all visitors to Budapest to cooperate in helping to solve this situation. When deciding to be generous with your money, be careful to whom you donate. If you have spare change or money to donate, donate to your favorite charity who will effectively disburse the money to the needy.

FALSE POLICE OFFICERS

When traveling in several countries, it is practically impossible to validate who is and who is not a police offi cer. Many scams are built on the “police intimidation” factor, where false ID’s and uniforms are used. The most important detail that you should know is that police offi cers are NOT allowed to take over cash as a fi ne in Hungary!

MAKING ”FRIENDS”

Take sensible precaution when making “new friends” especially in SMALL bars. Some visitors are targeted under false pretences. Many times in these establishments, the bartenders are also in on the scam! These scams of friendship are built on a false sense of security, when after a night of drinking, missing wallets, passports and possibly a robbed hotel room remains.

FAKE MONEY

You should take extra care when receiving bank notes as some banknotes that are no longer valid are still in circulation. Some taxi drivers deliberately passing these notes to tourists - as well as notes from neighboring countries that are not valid here. Be aware especially when paying with a 10 000 or a 20 000 bank notes.

RESTAURANTS, BARS AND CLUBS

Hungary offers a wide range of excellent culinary entertainment. Its traditions are far reaching into its history and place in Europe. Unfortunately, the reputation of this industry is also being damaged by few opportunists targeting visitors. Near some large hotels in the business district (V district) of central Pest, you can be charged exorbitant prices in certain bars, clubs and restaurants. Common scams include adding a 20,000 HUF (€80,00) surcharge per drink to the fi nal bill or charging up to 100,000 HUF (€300,00) for a meal. Individuals who have been unable to settle their bills have frequently been accompanied by the establishment’s security guards to a cash machine and made to withdraw funds under threats of violence. You should avoid all establishments where menus do not properly display prices. Even when prices appear to be properly displayed, if you have any doubts about a bar, restaurant or club – do NOT go in. Use the American Embassy’s list of places on which multiple reports of victimization was received by the Embassy: http://hungary.usembassy.gov/tourist_advisory.html#clubs For a list of recommended restaurants, please visit www.safetyinhungary.info/restaurants

USEFUL INFO

Paying with credit cards and tipping Visitors arriving in Hungary are sometimes confused about its tipping culture. We hope you fi nd the information below helpful. Tipping: Some restaurants include the service charge in their bill. This is stated on the bill! If it is not clear to you, it is perfectly acceptable to ask your server if tip is included. However, to ensure maximum service quality, most restaurants do not include gratuity in the bill. The servers’ salary depends on their service quality, thus their tips. Therefore, unless you are unhappy with your server, it is customary to tip 10% of the total bill. Leaving the tip in cash: Unlike in some other countries, in Hungary it is not customary to leave the tip on the table. Instead, when you get the bill, you should add your tip to the bill’s total and tell your server the total amount which you would like to pay in cash.
Leaving the tip on Credit Card: If you’re paying with a credit card, and would like to leave the tip on the card, please tell your server the total amount (including the tip), which should be charged on your credit card. In Hungary, it is NOT customary to write the tip on the credit card receipt post payment. NEVER let your card out of sight! The waiter/manager must bring a portable credit card machine to the table. If they claim the portable machine is broken, accompany them to the machine at the register!"

For further useful tourist info, please visit http://budapestinfo.hu/home_en.html!

Keep going! Summer is coming like crazy fast.

Travelling by Taxi in Budapest

"Taxis in Budapest remain very cheap by European standards, but with such an excellent public transport network available, you don't really have to use them. We've heard from many guests who were grossly overcharged and even threatened by taxi drivers in Budapest, so taking a taxi in this city should be approached with a certain amount of caution. However, the reputable firms we've listed below have caught on to the concept of customer service and take complaints very seriously indeed nowadays.
     Avoid at all costs (operative word) taxis with no name on the door and only a removable taxi light on the roof; these are just guys with cars and the ones most likely to rip you off. Never get into a taxi that does not have a yellow licence plate and an identification badge displayed on the dashboard (as required by law), the logo of one of the reputable taxi firms on the outside of the side doors and a table of fares clearly visible on the right-side back door.
     Not all taxi meters are set at the same rates, and some are much more expensive than others, but there are price ceilings under which taxi companies are free to manoeuvre. From 6m to 10pm the highest flag-fall fee that can be legally charged is 300 HUF, the per-kilometer charge 240 HUF and the waiting fee 60 HUF. From 10pm to 6am the equivalent fees are 420/336/84 HUF.
     Budapest residents - both Hungarian and foreign - rarely flag down taxis in the street. They almost always ring for them, and fares are actually cheaper if you book over the phone (even if the dispatcher doesn't speak a lot of English, they will generally recognize place names, landmarks and addresses - in our hostel we do it for you, if you like). Make sure you know the number of the landline phone you're calling from, as that's how they establish your address. You can, of course, call from a mobile phone as well but must establish your location." - LP

I collected the tariffs so you don't have to.

Buda-Tele5-Rádió Taxi 

(00361 233 3333, 00361 777 7777, 00361 555 5555, www.budataxi.hu)

City Taxi

(00361 211 1111, www.citytaxi.hu)

Fő Taxi

(00361 222 2222, www.fotaxi.hu)

Airport - Budapest

Budapest - Airport

Taxi4 

(00361 444 4444, www.taxi4.hu)

If you call the dispatcher you get the special price you see above.

Airportshuttle

(00361 296 8555, www.airportshuttle.hu)

You can book your airportshuttle service at our hostel reception. If you need special group transfer ask for special offer from the receptionist in advance or shoot me a message.

Get the best price to/from our Hostel

Look up a post about public transportation in Budapest: http://goo.gl/jkH74
Thanks for reading! Have a great day!

Eating in Budapest

Some of my friends and guests asked me what Hungarian food is, what to try out. So let's see!

Based on the Lonely Planet we can get to know so many interesting things about eating in Hungary.
      "Much has been written about Hungarian food over the years - some of it true, an equal part downright false. It certainly is the bright point among cuisines of Eastern Europe, but it is decidedly not one of the world's three essential styles of cooking (after French and Chinese) that many here would have you believe. Hungarian cooking has had many outside influences but has changed relatively little over the centuries. And while the cuisine makes great use of paprika, even the spice's hottest variety (called csípős) is pretty tame stuff, a taco with salsa or chicken vindaloo will taste a lot more 'fiery' to you.
      In spite of all this, Budapest has been currently undergoing something of a restaurant revolution in recent years. Stodgy and heavy main dishes are being 'enlightened', brought up to date and rechristened as kortárs magyar konyha (modern Hungarian cuisine) at many midrange and upmarket restaurants. Just as important, a number of vegetarian (or partially meatless) restaurants have opened up and more 'regular' restaurants have a greater selection of 'real' vegetarian dishes - not just fried cheese and stuffed mushroom caps. And ethnic food - from Middle Eastern and Greek to Indian and Chinese - has become very popular. It all makes a very nice change from the not-too-distant days when munching on a cheeseburger at McDonanld's wan an attractive alternative to tussling with an overcooked Wiener schnitzel (bécsiszelet) in yet another smoky vendéglő (small restaurant).
      You'll find branches of all the international fast-food places in Budapest; Oktogon is full of them. But when looking for something cheap and cheerful, try an old-style önkiszolgáló (self-service restaurant), the mainstay of workers in the old regime and fast disappearing.
Even more interesting places for local color and better value in the long run are the wonderful little restaurants called étkezdék, canteens not unlike British 'cafs' that serve simple but very tasty Hungarian dishes that change daily.
      Traditional coffee houses and newly popular teahouses are primarily known for hot drinks, but they also serve cakes and other sweets, and sometimes light meals as well.

Staples and Specialities
Bread and Noodles

It is said that people here will 'eat bread with bread', and leftover bread (kenyér) has been used to thicken soups and stews since at least the reign of the 15th-century medieval king Matthias, while kifli (crescent-shaped rolls) gained popularity during the Turkish occupation. But, frankly, bread available commercially in Budapest is not as memorable as the flour-based galuska (dumplings) and tarhonya (barley-shaped egg pasta) served with pörkölt, paprikás and tokány.

Hungarian bread - http://goo.gl/A3dva

Kifli - http://goo.gl/Ov5MI

Goulash on the top of nokedli (galuska) - http://goo.gl/BAXNw

Soups

Most Hungarian meals start with leves (soup). This is usually something relatively light like gombaleves (mushroom soup) or húsgombócleves (tiny liver dumplings in broth). More substantial soups are beef gulyásleves and bableves, a thick bean soup usually made with meat, which are sometimes eaten as a main course. Another favorite is halászlé (fisherman's soup), a rich soup of poached carp, fish stock, tomatoes, green peppers and paprika.

Gombaleves - http://goo.gl/Hdefa

Húsgombócleves - http://goo.gl/sGfT7

Gulyásleves - http://goo.gl/3yR2D

Bableves - http://goo.gl/zEbc1

Halászlé - http://goo.gl/j5aYk

Meat and Fish

People here eat an astonishing amount of meat, and 'meat-stuffed meat' is a dish not unknown on Budapest menus. Pork, beef, veal and poultry are the meats most commonly consumed and they can be breaded and fried, baked, turned into some paprika-flavored concoction or simmered in lecsó, a tasty mix of peppers, tomatoes and onions (and one of the few Hungarian sauces here that does not include paprika).
A typical menu will have up to 10 pork and beef dishes, a couple of fish ones and usually only one poultry dish. Goose legs and livers and turkey breasts - though not much else of either bird - make an appearance on most menus. Lamb and mutton are rarely eaten here.
Freshwater fish, such as the indigenous fogas (great pike-perch) and the smaller süllő from Lake Balaton, and ponty (carp) from rivers and lakes, is plentiful but often overcooked.

Lecsó - http://goo.gl/75e3K

Balatoni fogas (great pike-perch) - http://goo.gl/p6wuA

Ponty rántva (carp) - http://goo.gl/DuXxU

Paprika

Many dishes are seasoned with paprika, a spice as Magyar as St Stephen's right hand. Indeed, not only is this 'red gold' used in cooking but it also appears on restaurant tables as a condiment beside the salt and pepper shakers. It's generally quite a mild spice and used predominantly with sour cream or in rántás, a heavy roux of pork fat and flour added to cooked vegetables. Töltött, things stuffed with meat and/or rice, such as cabbage or peppers, are cooked in rántás as well as in tomato sauce or sour cream.
There are four major types of meat dishes containing paprika. The most famous in gulyás (or gulyásleves), a thick beef soup cooked with onions, cubed potatoes and paprika, and usually eaten as a main course. Pörkölt, or 'stew' is closer to what foreigners call 'goulash'; the addition of sour cream, a reduction in paprika and the use of white meat such as chicken makes the dish paprikás. Tokány is similar pörkölt and paprikás except that the meat is cut into strips, black pepper is on equal footing with the paprika, and bacon, sausage or mushrooms are added as flavoring agents.

House of Paprika - http://goo.gl/ftCfW

Sweet Paprika - http://goo.gl/upL99

Hungarian Paprika - http://goo.gl/qr0NE

Vegetables

Fresh salad is often called vitamin saláta here and is generally available when lettuce is in season; almost everything else is savanyúság (literally 'sourness'), which can be anything from mildly sour-sweet cucumbers, pickled peppers and very acidic-tasting sauerkraut. It may seem an acquired taste, but such things actually go very well with heavy meat dishes.
Boiled or steamed zöldség (vegetables), when they are available, the 'English-style' (angolos zöldség). The traditional way of preparing vegetables is in főzelék, where peas, green beans, lentils, marrow or cabbage are fried or boiled and then mixed into a roux with milk. This dish, which is sometimes topped with a few slices of meat, is enjoying a major comeback at 'retro-style' eateries.

Savanyúság - http://goo.gl/pn4R3

Desserts

People here love sweets. Complicated pastries such as Dobos torta, a layered chocolate and cream cake with caramelised brown sugar top, and the wonderful rétes (strudel), filled with poppy seeds, cherry preserves or túró (curd or cottage cheese), and piték (fruit pies) are usually consumed mid-afternoon in one of Budapest's ubiquitous cukrászdák (cake shops or patiserries). Desserty more commonly found on restaurant menus include Somlói galuska, sponge cake with chocolate and whipped cream, and Gundel palacsinta (flaméed pancake with chocolate and nuts.

Dobos torta - http://goo.gl/LiUB2

Almás pite - http://goo.gl/9L8fO

Mákos rétes (Poppy seeds strudel) - http://goo.gl/Yrpht

Somlói galuska - http://goo.gl/xXhBD

Gundel Palacsinta - http://goo.gl/C8ldb

Celebrating with food

Traditional culture, particularly where it involves food, is not exactly thriving in Hungary, though a popular event for Budapesters with ties (however tenuous) to the countryside is the disznótor, the slaughtering of a pig - a butcher does it - followed by an orgy of feasting and drinking. The celebration can even boast its own dish: disznótoros káposzta, which is stuffed cabbage served with freshly made sausages. Wine festivals, now mostly commercial events with rock bands and the like, occur during the harvest in September and October, and are always a good excuse for getting sloshed. The most important one is the Budapest International Wine Festival (winefestival.hu) held in the Castle District in September.

Disznótoros - http://goo.gl/Ah5oN

Etiquette

     By and large people in Budapest tend to meet their friends and entertain outside of their homes at cafes and restaurants. If you are invited to a local person's home, bring a bunch of flowers or a bottle of good local wine.
      Drinking is an important part of social life in the capital of a country that has produced wine and fruit brandies for thousands of years. Consumption is high at an annual 13,6 liter of alcohol per person; only citizens of Luxembourg and Ireland drink more alcohol per capita in Europe. Alcoholism in Hungary is not as visible to the outsider as it is, say, in Poland or Russia, but it's there nonetheless; official figures suggest that a full 10% of the population are fully fledged alcoholics. There is a little pressure for others (particularly women) to drink, however, so if you really don't want that glass of apricot brandy that your hos handed you, refuse politely.
      It is said that Hungarians don't clink glasses when drinking beer because that is how the Habsburgs celebrated the defeat of Lajos Kossuth in the 1848-49 War of Independence, but most Magyar say that's codswallop.

When and where to eat

     Hungarians are not for the most part big eaters of reggeli (breakfast), preferring a cup of tea or coffee with an unadorned bread roll at the kitchen table or on the way to work. As it is a meal at which most Magyar hardly excel, exect worst of hotel breakfast - ersatz coffee, weak tea, unsweetened lemon water for 'juice', tiny triangles of processed 'cheese' and stale bread. You may be pleasantly surprised, though.
     Ebéd (lunch), eaten at around 1pm, was once the main meal of the day and might still consist of two or even three courses. Vacsora (dinner or supper) is less substantial when eaten at home, often just sliced meats, cheese and some pickled vegetables.
     It's important to know the different styles of eateries to be found in Budapest. An Étterem is a restaurant with a wide-ranging menu, sometimes including international dishes. A vendéglő or kisvendéglő is a smaller and is supposed to serve inexpensive regional dishes or 'home cooking', but the name has become 'cute' enough for a lot of places to use it indiscriminately. An étkezde or kifőzde is something like a diner, smaller and cheaper than a vendéglő and often with counter seating. The term csárda originally referred to a country inn with a rustic atmosphere, Gyps music and hearty local dishes. Now any place that hangs up a couple of painted plates and strings a few strands of dry paprika on the wall is a csárda.
     A bisztró is a much cheaper sit-down place that is often önkiszolgáló (self-service). A büfé is cheaper still with very limited menu, where you eat while standing at counters. A presszó is a very simple establishment (sometimes just a kiosk) selling coffee, alcohol and a few basic snacks.
     A hentesáru bolt (butcher shop) in Budapest sometimes has a büfé selling cooked kolbász (sausage), virsli (frankfurters), hurka (blood sausage or liverwurst), roast chicken, bread and pickled vegetables. Point to what you want, the staff will weigh it all and hand you a slip of paper with the price. You usually pay at the pénztár (cashier) and hand the stamped receipt back to the staff for your food. You pay for everthing here, including a slice of rye bread and a dollop of mustard for your sausage.
     A food stall, known as a Laci konyha (literally, 'Laci's kitchen') or pecsenyesütő (roast oven), can often be found near markets or train stations. One of the more popular traditional snacks is lángos, deep-fried dough with various toppings (usually cheese and sour cream)."

Places, prices for eating will come next time. I didn't forget about Taxis. Happy Easter!

Booking method at our hostel

We proudly announce that we launched an automatic booking process, which means that you can conveniently book your rooms now with the secure PayPal online payment. (You do not need a paypal account.)
I will show you the steps how you can book now at our hostel.

1. Step - Arriving on our webpage

2. Step - Deciding about your staying at the Mathias Hostel Budapest

3. Step - Check availability and prices



4. Step - Request a booking


5. Step - Make a 10% deposit or pay the whole amount by card




This is very important to know, that you do not need a PayPal account to proceed your payment.



6. Step - Get the payment confirmation from PayPal


7. Step - Get the booking confirmation from us

8. Step - Done - See you in the summer!

Email us => 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us any time!

We are looking forward to welcome you to Mathias Hostel Budapest!

Next post is going to be about the transportation by taxi in Budapest:)

Gorgeous Budapest

Do you love this city?

2010

2011

2012

Public transportation in Budapest

When you arrive in Budapest, you have to travel from point A to point B. First I write about how you can reach the Ferenciek tere (which is the most visited place by tourists) from different arrival points, such as Keleti Train Station, Déli Train Station, Nyugati Train Station, Népliget International Bus Station, Ferenc Liszt International Airport.


I will show you on a map where these points are located and how you get there:

View Budapest Transportation in a larger map

     From Keleti Train Station to Ferenciek tere:
Take a Metro line 2 at Kelet Train Station and get off at Ferenciek tere. It takes around 15 minutes.
Or you can take Bus 7, 7E, 173, 173E or 5 and get off at Ferenciek tere. This is the same time to arrive there.


     From Nyugati Train Station to Ferenciek tere:
Take Metro line 3 at Nyugati Train Station and get off at Ferenciek tere. Less than ten minutes.


     From Déli Train Station to Ferenciek tere: 
You can take Metro line 3 from Déli Train Station and change the line at Deák Ferenc tér to Metro line 2. Travel until the Ferenciek tere and take off. It takes usually 15 minutes and is important to know that you need just one single ticket.


     From Népliget Bus Station:
Take a Metro line 3 and get off at Ferenciek tere. It takes 10 minutes to go there.


     From Liszt Ferenc International Airport Terminal I (or Ferihegy Terminal I):
Take the bus 200E and change your line to the Metro line 3 at Kőbánya-Kispest and travel to the Ferenciek tere. Usually it takes 35 minutes.


     From Liszt Ferenc International Airport Terminal II (or Ferihegy Terminal II):
It is a little bit more complicated. When you arrive at Terminal II, you have to walk 420 meters to reach the Vecsés-Nyugat bus stop of bus 200E, get on the bus and change lines to the Metro line 3 at Kőbánya-Kispest and travel to the Ferenciek tere. It takes one hour to get there.

The Budapest Public Transportation is operated by the BKV, that is a state-owned public transportation company. When you arrive at any station, you have to be responsible for buying your fare tickets. You cannot buy tickets on the vehicles. At every subway (metro) station you can buy tickets for sure. But
usually after 8PM they are closed, so make sure you have enough tickets for the rest of the day. If they are closed, you can buy single tickets from ticket vending machines. This makes it a bit trickier because sometimes people have bad luck using the vending machines.
You can find more information about public transportation in Budapest here: www.bkv.hu

You can plan your itinerary - english version: http://utazastervezo.bkv.hu/tervezo/index.php?lng=eng

I would recommend this site to plan your route (it is only in hungarian and romanian, but with google translate you can use it): http://utvonalterv.hu/ 

Best route planner in Budapest hands down.

Now let's take a look at the ticket prices: http://bkv.hu/en/single_tickets - that is a really good description, but I think you need to know mostly the following prices:

Tickets
Single ticket	HUF 320
Single ticket bought on board	HUF 400
Transfer ticket	HUF 490
Short section metro ticket	HUF 260
Discount coupon book (10 pcs)	HUF 2,800
24-hour travel card	HUF 1,550
72-hour travel card	HUF 3,850
Seven-day travel card	HUF 4,600
Family ticket (for 48 hours)	HUF 2,200
Discount group ticket for students (for 24 hours)	HUF 600/capita
Budapest card (for 24 hours)	HUF 5,500
Budapest card (for 48 hours)	HUF 6,900
Budapest card (for 72 hours)	HUF 8,300
Budapest junior card	HUf 4,200
Valid on metro, bus, trolleybus, tram, cogwheel tram on the whole length of the line, but on suburban railway (HÉV) only within the administrative boundaries of Budapest.
Passes with photo
Monthly Budapest pass	HUF 9,800
For disabled	HUF 8,500
For students	HUF 3,850
For pensioners	HUF 3,700
14 day Budapest pass	HUF 6,500
Quarterly Budapest pass (for 100 days)	HUF 29,400
For students	HUF 11,550
For pensioners	HUF 11,100
Budapest semester pass	HUF 18,000
Valid only within the administrative boundaries of Budapest on metro, bus, trolleybus, tram, cogwheel tram, suburban railway (HÉV) and on certain suburban lines of MÁV-START and VOLÁN-BUSZ.
Passengers traveling without a valid ticket or pass are liable to a fine.
The amount of the fine is:
Paid on the vehicle	HUF 16,000
Paid within 2 working days in the Surcharge Office	HUF 8,000
Paid afterwards within 30 days on a cheque	HUF 12,000
With late payment charge beyond 30 days	HUF 24,500
Handling charges for showing your pass after control, within 8 days
14-day and monthly passes	HUF 2,000
quarterly, annual and semester passes	HUF 1,000
travel certificates of passengers entitled to travel free of charge	HUF 1,000

http://bkv.hu/en/prices/prices - i know it says that these are the prices of 2011, but not, these are 2012 prices

Some interesting rules that you must be aware of:
1. You cannot use your international student card to get discount.
2. If you are in Budapest for more than one week and you look like a student(!), just buy a monthly student pass for 3,850 HUF and you will be fine. Believe me, I haven’t gotten caught for 5 years! You can save a ton of money.
3. Never forget to have at least one single ticket with you at all time. You don’t want to pay 16,000 HUF because of forgetting to validate your ticket.
4. You cannot get on the night buses without having a valid ticket or pass.
5. If you feel lost in Budapest, feel free to ask any student-looking people, you have a good chance to get help.

Useful timetables: 

http://bkv.hu/metro_/m1_.pdf

http://bkv.hu/metro_/m1_vissza.pdf

 

                                                           http://bkv.hu/metro_/m2.pdf

                                                      http://bkv.hu/metro_/m2vissza.pdf

http://bkv.hu/metro_/m3_.pdf

http://bkv.hu/metro_/m3_vissza.pdf

Night Services:

http://bkv.hu/en/night_services

Take care!

:D

10 places that you must see in Budapest!

The aim of our blog is to provide useful information for our guest about Budapest. There will be posts about what to see, how to see, what to eat, where to have party, how to travel at Budapest and more.

When you arrive to Budapest and even you have just a short time to look around there are some places that you must see!
These are the most frequented places by tourists during the whole year. In the following post we collected our most desired places and give you a short description about them.
Let's see the list:

1. Parliament
   

The Hungarian Parliament Building (Hungarian: Országház, which translates to House of the Country) is the seat of the National Assembly of Hungary, one of Europe's oldest legislative buildings, a notable landmark of Hungary and a popular tourist destination of Budapest. It lies in Lajos Kossuth Square, on the bank of the Danube, in Budapest. It is currently the largest building in Hungary. (source: http://goo.gl/NDUKA)

     

Description: 

The Parliament building, designed by Imre Steindl and completed in 1902, has 690 sumptuously decorated rooms but you'll only get to see three on a guided tour of the North Wing: the main staircase and landing, where the Crown of St. Stephen, the nation's most important icon, is on display, along with the ceremonial sword, orb and the oldest object among the coronation regalia, the 10th-century Persian-made sceptre with a crystal head depicting a lion; the Loge Hall; and the Congress Hall, where the House of Lords of the one-time bicameral assembly sat until 1944. The building is a blend of many architectural styles (neo-Gothic, neo-Romanesque, neobaroque) and overall works very well. Unfortunately, what was spent on the design wasn't matched in the building materials. The ornate structure was surfaced with a porous form of limestone that does not resist pollution very well. Renovations began almost immediately after building crumbles. Members of parliament sit in the National Assembly Hall in the South Wing from February to June, and September to December. You can join a tour in any of eight languages - they depart continually in Hungarian, but the English-language ones are at 10am, noon and 2pm. To avoid disappointment, book ahead in person. (source: Lonely Planet: Budapest City Guide)

Info: 

Országház; +361 441 4904, +361 441 4415; V Kossuth Lajos tér 1-3, Gate X; admission for EU citizens free other adult/student and child 2640/1320 HUF/person; 1st of May to 30th of September, 8am-6pm Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm Sat, 8am-2pm Sun. 

You can go by Metro line 2, M2 Kossuth Lajos tér station

      

2. Chain Bridge

Perhaps this is the most symbolic monument of Budapest at least for our team for sure.
This is a twin-towered structure to the south, is the city's oldest and arguable its most beautiful bridge. It is named in honour of its initiator, István Széchenyi, but was built by a Scots-man named Adam Clark. When it opened in 1849, Chain Bridge was unique for two reasons: it was the first permanent dry link between Buda and Pest; and the aristrocracy - previously exempt from all taxation - had to pay the toll. (source: Lonely Planet, Budapest City Guide)

    

3. Royal Palace


The enormous palace complex has been razed and rebuilt at least a half-dozen times over the past seven centuries. Béla IV established a royal residence here in the mid-13th century and subsequent kings added on to it. The palace levelled in the battle to rout the Turks in 1686; the Habsburgs rebuilt it, but spent very little time here. Today the Royal Palace contains two important museums as well as the National Széchenyi Library, which contains codices and manuscripts, a large collection of foreign newspapers and a copy of everything published in Hungary or the Hungarian language. It was founded by Count Ferenc Széchenyi (1754-1820), father of István Széchenyi, who endowed it with 15,000 books and 2000 manuscripts. There are two royal entrances to the Royal Palace. The first is via the Habsburg Steps, southeast of Szent György tér and through an ornamental gateway dating from 1903. The other way in is via Corvinus Gate, with its big black raven symbolising King Matthias Corvinus, southwest of the square.
The Hungarian National Gallery is on overwhelming collection spread across four floors that traces Hungarian art from the 11th century to the present. The largest collections include medieval and Renaissance stonework, Gothic wooden sculptures and panel paintings, late-Gothic winged altars, and late Rnaissance and baroque art. (LP, Bp, CG) From the Royal Place you can read another spot later on.

Beautiful, isn't it?!

4. Fishermen's Bastion


The bastion is a neo-Gothic masquerade that most visitors (and Hungarians) believe to be much older. But who cares? It looks medieval and offers among the best views in Budapest. Built as a viewing platform in 1905 by Frigyes Schulek, the bastion's name taken from the medieval guild of fishermen responsible for defending this scretch of the wall. The seven gleaming white turrets represent the Magyar tribes that entered the Carpatian Basin in the late 9th century. In front of the bastion is an ornate equestrian monument to St Stephen by sculptor Alajos Stróbl. (LP, Bp, CG)
It is located on the castle hill, you just have to come up and enjoy the view and take some pictures of you and upload on FB:)

        
        (http://goo.gl/Wxcqk)


    
        View from the Bastion  (http://goo.gl/afim0)

5. Liberty Monument

 The lovely lady with the palm frond, proclaiming freedom throughout the city from atop Gellért Hill, is just east of the Citadella. Standing 14m high, she was erected in 1947 in tribute to the Soviet soldiers who died liberating Budapest in 1945. But the victims' names (previously in Cyrillic letters on the plinth) and the staute of the Soviet soldiers were removed in 1992 and sent to what is now called Memento Park. In fact, the monument had been designed by the politically 'flexible' sculptor Zsigmond Kisfaludi Strobl much earlier for the ultraright government of Admiral Miklós Horthy. After the war, when procommunist monuments were in short supply, Kisfaludi Strobl passed it off as a memorial to the Soviets. Today the monument is dedicated to 'Those who gave up their lives for Hungary's independence, freedom and prosperity'. (Lonely Planet, Bp, City Guide)
If you walk west for a few minutes along Citadella stéány north of the fortress, you'll come to a lookout at arguable the best vantage point in Budapest.
You can reach the statue by bus 27 (stop Búsuló Juhász/Citadella) from the Móricz Zsigmond circus. From that stop you have to head up to the hill, but you will see the staute already. From our hostel this Statue and the vantage point at the Citadella is just 10 minutes on walk.

 

Liberty Monument

 

  View from the Citadella

 Citadella sétány

Buda Castle from the Citadella

6. Citadella

May be we should write first about the Citadella, because this area includes the place of the Liberty Monument. Anyway, thus probably you are interested to see the Citadella.
The Citadella atop Gellért Hill is a fortress that never did battle. Built by the Habsburgs after the 1848-49 War of Independence to defend the city from further insurrection, by the time it was ready in 1851 the political climate had changed and the Citadella had become obsolete. Today the Citadella contains some big guns and dusty displays in the central courtyard, the rather hokey 1944 Bunker Waxworks (1944 Bunker Panoptikum, +361 466 5794, admission 1200 HUF, opening hours: 9am-8pm May-Sep, 9am-5pm Sep-May) inside a bunker used during WWII and a rundown hotel-cum-hostel. (Lonely Planet, Bp, CG)
For further information please visit to this site: www.citadella.hu
There is a panorama restaurant that you should also try out!

7. Váci Street


Váci utca (Váci street) is one of the main pedestrian thoroughfares and perhaps the most famous street of central Budapest,Hungary. It features a large number of restaurants and shops catering primarily to the tourist market. The Lonely Planet says "It's tourist central, but the line of cafés and shops are worth seeing — at least once."
Váci utca is one of the main shopping streets in Budapest. Among the retaliers located here are: Zara, H&M, Mango, ESPRIT,Douglas AG, Swarovski, Hugo Boss, Lacoste, Nike. The street opens to Vörösmarty Square. (http://goo.gl/IgATi)

(http://goo.gl/QmXbS)

8. Great Market


The 'Great Market' is Budapest's biggest food market but, because it has been attracting tourists ever since it was renovated for the millecentenary in 1996, it now has dozens of stalls on the 1st floor selling Hungarian folk costumes, dolls, painted eggs, embroidered tablecloths, carve hunting knives and so on. At the same time, gourmets will available on the ground floor at a fraction of what they would cost in the shops on nearby Váci utca  shrink-wrapped and potted foie gras and goose-liver paté (2600/4900 HUF for 100/200g), a good selection of dried mushrooms, garlands of dried paprika (600 HUF to 1000 HUF), souvenir sacks and tins of paprika powder (400 HUF to 1200 HUF), and so many kinds of honey (1500 HUF to 3000 HUF) and types of wine as you'd care to name.

(http://goo.gl/1Z5kJ)

(http://goo.gl/Qy40N)

9. Margaret-island

Like the Buda Hills, Margaret Island (Margit-sziget) is not overly endowed with important sights and landmarks. Instead, the island is a great spot for sports and other activities, and you could spend the entire day here cycling, swimming or just pampering yourself at the Danubius Grand Hotel Margitsziget, one of the most modern spas in Budapest. Margaret Island has two popular swimming pools on its western side. We think that we will make an entire post just about the Margaret Island. (LP, Bp, CG)
You can go there if you take a tram 6 or 4 and get off at Margit-sziget. Its bridge is the Margit Bridge, that is freshly renovated in 2011. This bridge rigth now can fight with the Chain Bridge which could get the most beautiful bridge title.

  

(source: http://goo.gl/aMvIF)

10. Széchenyi Bath

At the northern end of City Park (Városliget), the Széchenyi complex is unusual for its immensity (a dozen thermal baths and five swimming pools), its bright, clean atmosphere and its water temperatures (up to 38°C), which really are what the wall plaques say they are. It is open to both men and women at all times, and you get 400 HUF back on your daytime entry fee if you leave within two hours.
http://www.szechenyibath.com/

   

(http://goo.gl/PyrXt )                                               (http://goo.gl/uy0No)

(http://goo.gl/9ES0o)