Hungary: Overview
The Republic of Hungary is located in Central Europe and is a member of the European Union. This beautiful country is locally called "Land of the Magyares" and is surrounded by Austria, Ukraine, Rumania, Slovakia, Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia.
Climate
Because of its geographical location –central Europe- Hungary has a wide variety of climatic influences, but its own is generally continental and temperate. While the coolest month is January -temperatures descend to -1ºC-, August is the hottest -about 22ºC. The high season is in summer, due to the sunny and warm days, especially at the end of July and beginning of August. However, the best time to visit Hungary is during spring (May and June), since the beautiful landscapes are in all their splendor. Another fine time is autumn, especially if you are planning to visit the mountains around Budapest or the highlands in the north. Finally, although winter has a special charm in this country, it is also very cold and some tourist spots and other places and museums are closed.
Some advice
Citizens from USA, Canada, New Zealand, some Asian countries and practically all Europeans, don't need a visa to enter the country for 90 days or less. If you are planning to stay longer you will need a special permission. Tourists from other countries will need a visa as well as a passport, valid for at least 6 months. The Hungarian currency is the Forint (HUF) that can be changed in banks and official exchange houses. However, it is not advisable to change money in the street, especially from Arabs or gypsies or at airports, since rates are not convenient. The best thing to do is to use credit cards which are accepted in most places (except in hotels or small shops). Hungary is not a particularly insecure country and Budapest is considered one of the safest cities in Europe. Of course, all around the world tourists should take more precautions than locals to avoid being scammed. You should be careful of pickpockets especially on public transport and tourist areas; you should also avoid street sellers, giving personal information, documents or wallets to strangers in the street. Prices in restaurants and bars must be specified by law, therefore it is advisable to make sure you know exactly how much is what you order. It is known that many places have charged tourists with exorbitant bills and violently threatened them when they refused to pay. Also it is not advisable to take taxis in the street or which are offered by strangers, since many times these kind people receive commissions for luring victims. The best thing to do is to call a taxi from a known company recommended by the hotel you are staying in –you may even get a discount on your taxi fare by doing this. You should also ask the driver how much will your trip cost before getting in the car, make sure that the taxi has a meter and ask for a ticket. If you are buying something by credit card make sure that the card is passed only once because it is very common that a second "passing" is made to fake your card and steal your money. Men should be very careful with the ladies they may meet. Frequently, a beautiful friendly lady approaches a male tourist and suggests that they go for a drink to a bar or restaurant from which she receives commissions. The trusting foreign lover will end up alone with a too expensive bill to pay. Don’t make fools of yourselves boys! On the other hand, never leave valuable articles in your car, nor park in isolated areas. Choose a guarded parking lot: it is better to pay a little money than to walk all the way back to your hotel. Tipping in Hungary is a very extended custom, Hungarians not only tip waiters in restaurants, bars and other usual places, but also doctors, dentists, taxi drivers and some petrol stations employees. Tips should be given immediately after paying your bill. If you are upset by the way you have been treated, or the food you have eaten leave near to nothing or nothing at all and be sure they will get the message.
Where to go
The most visited destinations in Hungary are Budapest, Eger and Pècs, however, there are many other places that are also worthwhile visiting.
Buda and Pest were two cities linked by the Danube River. They formed Budapest, Hungary’s current capital -also known as "Central Europe’s Paris” or the "Queen of the Danube" for its architecture and cultural heritage. Of those two cities, the most important was Buda, therefore there are the biggest historical buildings and most important monuments. Pest began to develop at the ends of the 19th century as a business and leisure district. Budapest is a city you must visit during a trip to Hungary, especially as a complement to a visit to Prague and Vienna. Here you can enjoy thermal baths, visit the Baroque Buda royal castle, the Parliament, Margaret Island, the Ethnographic Museum, the National Hungarian Museum and Saint Esteban Basilica, among many other things.
The Baroque city of Eger has a relaxed and Mediterranean atmosphere that makes it an unforgettable destination and makes the long trip from Budapest worth its while. Here you can visit Eger Castle, from where the city view is amazing, the Lyceum, and the Minority Church, one of the most beautiful Baroque buildings in the world. You can also see the Mint, the Wax Museum and the Prison Museum. This city is also famous for its red wines, especially the famous Egri Bikavér (Eger Bull’s Blood).
From the times when Pècs was an important Christian center, it inherited a great necropolis, formed by 16 monuments –a UNESCO Heritage Site. Also, the city has some of the most important Turkish monuments in the country. Here you can visit Saint Peter’s Basilica, Zsolnay Porcelain Factory Museum which was an avant garde art and culture center for more than half a century after its foundation (1853), and the Csontváry Museum, founded in honor of this symbolist painter.
Other great destinations are Sopron city home of many important monuments; Vezprém, the first bishopric in the country; Lake Balaton, also called "Sea of Hungary" and Balatonfüred, an important medicinal, tourist and recreational place.
