Regional Information
Budapest
At a Glance
Currency: Forint (Ft)
Population: 2 million
Language: Hungarian, English widely spoken.
Local Time: Irish time +1 hour.
Voltage: 230V - continental adaptors purchased in Ireland can be used.
Airport: Budapest Ferihegy airport is located 24km southeast of Budapest, approx. 30 minutes from the city centre.
Flight Duration: 3 hours approx.
Climate: Budapest has a temperate, transitional climate. The weather is generally very pleasant. January is the coldest month; June, July and August are the hottest.
Overview
Budapest is in north central Hungary, some 250km southeast of Vienna. The focal point is the Danube River, which bisects the city into two distinct parts: Buda is mostly residential and built on the hills and high river terraces of the western side. Pest is the commercial part of the city. It lies on the eastern, flat bank of the Danube. Budapest is divided into 23 districts (the Roman numerals in addresses refer to the district).
Highlights
Castle Hill - Castle Hill is the premier destination for visitors and contains many of Budapest's most important monuments and museums. There are great views of Pest across the snaking Danube. The walled area consists of the Old Town and the Royal Palace.
City Park - Located in Budapest's north-eastern reaches, it makes a welcome break from the built-up inner-city area. The entrance to City Park is Heroes' Square, which has the nation's most solemn monument - an empty coffin representing one of the unknown insurgents from the 1956 Uprising. To the north is the Museum of Fine Arts, which houses the city's outstanding foreign works, while to the south is the ornate Palace of Art.
Magyar Allami Operahaz (Opera House) - Take some time to marvel at the opulence of the 1884 neo-Renaissance Magyar Allami Operahaz (the Hungarian State Opera House) - arguably one of Europe's most beautiful interiors.
Royal Palace - The Royal Palace has been burned, bombed, razed, rebuilt and redesigned at least six times over the past seven centuries. It's now an 18th & early 20th century amalgam reconstructed after the last war. Take a walk through Ferdinand Gate, under Mace Tower, to the Turkish cemetery or relax in the palace gardens behind the Budapest History museum.
Getting Around
Most of Budapest's backstreets and historic quarters are eminently suited to walking - and this is the best way to appreciate their character. The city has an excellent public transport system, which ensures that few parts of the city are more than thirty minutes' journey from the centre; many places can be reached in half that time. It doesn't take long to pick up the basics and it's also much better value than taxis.
Health/Security
The tap water is safe to drink in Budapest although bottled water is readily available and may be preferable. Budapest is essentially a safe city but has a reputation for young pickpockets. Generally, tourists should take the precautions they would in any major city. Avoid carrying large sums of cash or leaving belongings unattended
Passport/Visa
Hungary is a member of the EU, therefore no visa is required for Irish citizens.
Useful Contacts
Irish Embassy:
Szabadsag ter 7-9, Budapest
Tel: + 36 1 302 9600 or + 36 1 302 9601
Fax: + 36 1 302 9599
Email: iremb@elender.hu
Local Emergency Services:
112
Calling Budapest from Ireland: 00 + 36 + 1 + the number
Calling Ireland from Budapest: 00 + 353 + area code + the number
Banks: (lost or stolen ATM, credit card)
Bank of Ireland: +353 56 775 7007
Allied Irish Bank: +353 1 668 5500
Permanent TSB: +353 1 212 4101
Ulster Bank: +353 1 702 5756
Local Tourist Office:
Tourism Office of Budapest, Budapest, V. Marcius 15. ter 7.
Tel.: (+36) 1 266-0479,
Fax: (+36) 1 266-7477