Hungary

General Information
Business Hours
Business & social hints
Climate
Customs
Health
Immigration & Passport
Useful Contacts

General Information

Capital City:: Budapest
Population:: 10 million
Area:: 35,919 square miles
Language:: Hungarian (Magyar), English, German, French
Electricity:: 220V AC 50Hz
Direct Dial:: 36
Driving:: Driving is on the right. Holders of licences issued by EU member states are accepted, International Driving Permit recommended for non-EU nationals
Currency:: Forint (HUF)

Business Hours

Bank:: 0900-1400 Mon-Fri
Office:: 0800-1630 Mon-Thur, 0800-1400 Fri
Shops:: 0700-1900 Mon-Fri, 0700-1400 Sat, 1000-1800 Mon-Wed & Fri, 1000-2000 Thur, 0900-1300 Sat (Department stores)
Public Holidays:: 2010 1 Jan New Year's Day, 15 Mar Anniversary of 1848 uprising against Austrian rule, 2 Apr Easter Monday, 1 May Labour Day, 24 May Whit Monday, 20 Aug National Day (Feast of St Stephen), 23 Oct Republic Day (Anniversary of 1956), 1 Nov All Saints' Day, 24 Dec Christmas Eve, 25 Dec Christmas Day, 26 Dec Boxing Day.

Business and social hints

General:: Many executives speak one or more foreign language. Smoking is prohibited in public buildings and on most public transport. The minimum drinking age is 18 years
Tipping:: Discretionary, around 10-15% for most services
Clothing:: Lightweights for summer, mediumweights for spring and autumn with heavyweights required for winter. Rainwear is recommended all year round
Emergency Services:: Police: 107. Fire: 105. Ambulance: 104
Hotel Classification:: Hotels in Hungary are classified using the conventional 1-star up to 5-star system.

Summers are usually warm to hot. Spring and early summer are generally the wettest seasons with heavy thundery downpours. Winters are usually cold and fog is frequent in more settled weather. Spring and autumn are fairly short seasons when the weather can be very changeable

Budapest

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum Temperature °C	1	4	10	17	22	26	28	27	23	16	8	4
Minimum Temperature °C	-4	-2	2	7	11	15	16	16	12	7	3	-1
Average Humidity (mornings) %	85	83	79	72	72	72	71	74	79	86	88	87
Average Humidity (afternoons) %	76	68	55	48	49	49	47	47	49	60	76	81
Average Rainfall	37	44	38	45	72	69	56	47	33	57	70	46

Import Allowances:: For persons of 17 years of age or older: 1) Travellers entering from non-EU countries (including Canary Islands, Channel Islands & Gibraltar): a) 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250gr of tobacco b) 1 lit of spirits of more than 22ï¿½ proof or 2 lit of up to 22ï¿½ proof c) 2 lit of still wines d) 50gr of perfume & 0.25 lit of eau de toilette e) Other goods to the value of EUR 175 2) Travellers entering from EU countries (goods obtained duty & tax paid - guidance levels): a) 800 cigarettes, 400 cigarillos, 200 cigars & 1 kg of tobacco b) 10 lit of spirits, 20 lit of fortified wine, 90 lit of wine (of which, a max of 60 lit of sparkling wine) & 110 lit of beer
Contraband:: Raw Meats, Meat Products, Dairy Products, Psychotropic Substances

Participant of the European Health Insurance Card - EHIC scheme (formerly known as the E111) which allows visitors on short-term stays to other member countries to use the public health care sector for free or reduced-cost medical treatment with emergency care. For full details on eligibility and how to apply for a card please click <a href="http://bit.ly/9B8ipv">here</a> Please note: The EHIC is <b>NOT</b> an alternative to travel insurance. It will not cover any private medical healthcare or the cost of things such as mountain rescue in ski resorts, repatriation to the UK, lost or stolen property etc.

Compulsary Vaccinations: None.
Recommended Immunisations: Tetanus <b>Consider:</b> Hepatitis A
Risks: Tick Borne Encephalitis (TBE): Ticks live in forests, woods, grasslands, riverside meadows, marshes, brushwood and shrublands. They usually live in the undergrowth, where they can easily get onto the clothes or skin of passers-by. Travellers intending to visit such areas are recommended to get vaccinated.

Passports must be valid 3 months beyond period of intended stay

The following DO NOT require a visa: 1) Nationals of Hungary 2) For an unrestricted length of stay by: a) Holders of passports issued by Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland Rep, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain Sweden & Switzerland b) Holders of British passports endorsed British Citizen 3) For stays up to 90 days by nationals of Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Hong Kong (S.A.R. passport holders), Honduras, Israel, Japan, Korea (South), Macao (S.A.R. passport holders), Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, St Kitts-Nevis, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City & Venezuela b) Holders of British passports endorsed British National (Overseas) or British Overseas Territories Citizen with the ï¿½right of abodeï¿½ label issued by the UK

Embassy

Embassy of Hungary Consular Section 35b Eaton Place London, SW1X 8BY tel: +44 20 7201-3440 0906 550 8936* (visa enq) fax: +44 20 7823-1348 e-mail:office.lon@kum.hu website: www.mfa.gov.hu/emb/london hours: 0930-1200 (Mon-Fri) * calls cost ï¿½1 per minute