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& Visa Regulations Foreign citizens, in possession of a valid passport for the duration of their stay, may cross into Hungary for a maximum 90 days for tourist reasons. However, citizens of the Kingdom of Belgium, the German Federal Republic, the Republic of French, the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, the Republic of Austria, the Kingdom of Spain, the Republic of Slovenia, the Swiss Confederation, and the Republic of Italy only require a personal identity card to enter the country. The loss or destruction of the above-mentioned travel documents must be reported without delay both to the Hungarian police and at the competent foreign mission (consulate or embassy). Foreign citizens whose governments have concluded an agreement to this effect with Hungary may cross Hungary's borders for tourism purposes for a maximum duration of 90 days without the need for an official Hungarian visa or permit. This is valid for all states in Europe with the exception of Albania and Turkey, and outside Europe with the USA, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, the Republic of South Africa, the Dutch Antilles, Israel, Japan, the Korean Republic, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, the Secheyelle Islands, Singapore, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uruguay. In every other case — and this applies to transit travel, too — foreign citizens must be in possession of a Hungarian visa obtained after completing application forms to this effect. Two passport photos and a passport valid for the whole duration of their stay in Hungary must be attached to the visa application forms. Hungarian visas abroad can be requested from the competent consulates and embassies; in Budapest, entry visas are issued at Ferihegy Airport as well as at the international boat station at Belgrade embankment. In addition, they can be issued at the country's main border stations. Those arriving by train or private boat may enter the country only if they possess a visa obtained prior to entering the country; no entry permits will be issued at these Hungarian border stations. Hungarian entry visas entitle the holder to one, two, or several border crossings within the duration of validity, for a maximum of 90 days (extensions can be requested at the main police station in the district where the visitor has found provisional accommodation.) Customs Foreign citizens traveling to the Republic of Hungary for 90 days for tourism purposes can bring in and take out all personal belongings the character and quantity of which are justified for their stay. Free information brochures (in nearly 20 languages) can be picked up at Hungarian border crossing stations. Aside from detailing the current tax regulations, they contain much useful information for anyone staying in Hungary. Thus, for instance, foreign citizens over the age of 16 may bring in 250 cigarettes or 50 cigars, or 250 grams of pipe tobacco; on each entry they may bring in 1/4 liter of eau de cologne, in addition to two liters of wine or one liter of spirits. The import, export or use of any drugs in any quantity is strictly forbidden and will result in prosecution Gifts below the value of 30,300 HUF (Hungarian Forints) per person may be brought duty free into the country once a year. Above the given limits, a 15 percent customs fee has to be paid on commodities as well as 25 percent general turnover tax (VAT). Hunting rifles and ammunition may be brought in only with special permits, to be acquired — prior to the visit — at Hungarian representation embassies and consulates abroad. Foreign citizens may bring in a maximum of 350,000 HUF . If foreign citizens wish to bring in large sums of convertible currencies in the form of cash, it is advisable to ask for a certificate on the value of this sum at the border. Gifts bought in Hungary and valued at up to 303,000 HUF per person may be taken out of the country without a permit as long as they are not museum value items, i.e., art or applied art rarities, or pharmaceutical or chemical products. Of course, this does not apply to small quantities of pharmaceutical products for personal use including insulin for chronic diabetics. The possession of drugs — regardless of quantity — is strictly forbidden. Plant sanitation and veterinary services operate at major border crossing stations. It is recommended that foreign citizens wishing to bring their pets into Hungary carry with them the veterinary certificate for the animal. Wreaths and cut flowers may be freely brought in and taken out of the country, in contrast to potted and earth-bound plants which may not. The cross-border transport of human ashes requires a license, as does the transport of corpses in coffins; the Hungarian consulates issue certificates for such transport. VAT refunds on goods bought in Hungary require the original bills displaying the VAT separately. A VAT refund form has to be requested from the shop in which the purchases were made, and if the refund is for an item (combined items) of more than 303,000 HUF, then the relevant currency exchange receipt must also be enclosed with the VAT refund claim. No more than 90 days may elapse between the time of purchase and departure from Hungary. During this time the goods in question may not be used or consumed in Hungary i.e., they have to be shown in their original state at the border. One more important point: foreign citizens visiting Hungary may not allow anyone else to use their vehicles. Transportation By Railway General information concerning passenger service, as well as the forwarding of luggage and express goods, plus information on tickets, seat reservations and preferences, advance ticket booking, passenger insurance, stopovers, temporary baggage checks, and ticket refunds, not to mention bicycle rental, is to be found in the timetable of the Hungarian Railways MÁV, published every year, generally at the end of May Information on both domestic and international train travel can be obtained in Budapest at 461-5400 or 461-5500. Phone inquiries for the largest railway stations in Budapest are as follows: Déli pályaudvar (Southern Railway Station): XII. Krisztina krt. H–1122, phone: 375-6293, fax: 457-9500 Keleti pályaudvar (Eastern Railway Station): VIII. Kerepesi út, H–1087, phone: 313-6835 Nyugati pályaudvar (Western Railway Station): VI. Teréz krt. H–1067, phone: 349-0115 Information on trips offered by GYSEV (Gy?r–Sopron–Ebenfurt Railways), and on the State Forest Narrow Gauge Railway, including the Széchenyi Hill Children's Railway in Buda, is also given at the above telephone numbers. InterCity trains run not only international routes, but within Hungary, too. Reservations are obligatory. Hungarian Railways Nostalgia Ltd. operates so-called 'old-timer' lines; steam locomotives and diesel trains produced before First World War, as well as before and soon after the Second World War. They can be rented from the Hungarian State Railways, which celebrated its 130th anniversary in 1998. The phone number in Budapest: 269-5242, fax: 302-3580. By Road Road traffic in Hungary abides by the 'drive on the right, overtake on the left' rule that is common throughout continental Europe. In residential areas, the speed limit is 50 km per hour; on main roads it is 80 km per hour, while on highways and expressways the maximum speed is 120 km per hour. Road traffic rules and signs correspond to European norms. Fuel stations are to be found in abundance in the capital, outlying municipalities, and along main roads. Service facilities for minor repairs are also available in several places, along with car washes. Emergency phones are available along expressways as well as at fuel stations; it is possible to request towing services via these phones. The Hungarian Automobile Club’s emergency phone number is 088, available round the clock anywhere in Hungary both on line-based and mobile phones. Information on road conditions is available on the Budapest number 210-0573 A regular bus service links the Hungarian capital with major foreign cities and holiday resorts. Information on timetables and on other questions is provided on 317-2966 or 329-1450 or 252-4496. By Air Scheduled flights of domestic and foreign airlines arrive at Terminal 2 of Budapest Ferihegy international airport. Flight information is available on 296-8000 or 296-9696 in Budapest. Waterways Regular international traffic plies the Danube, and there are also boat services on the Tisza river and Lake Balaton. These operate partly under foreign flags, and partly by the Hungarian-owned MAHART Corp., both as scheduled and special charter services. MAHART Corp. PassNave Passenger Shipping Company has a fleet of 30 vessels which carry 1.5 million passengers every year. Passengers traveling on the hydrofoils running between Budapest and Vienna (with a stop-off at Bratislava) can make advance bookings for hotel rooms, taxis and programs in Budapest. Phone: 318-1704, fax: 318-7740. Inland shipping traffic runs primarily between Budapest and the towns of Esztergom, Visegrád and Szentendre to the north. Since 1993, a total of four shipping services ply the Tisza river between Szeged and Tokaj (Sárospatak). Among the country's lakes, it is Lake Balaton which is the venue of the liveliest summer water traffic, including the catamarans that link Tihany with Szántód, serving as a bridge, as it were, between the northern and southern shores of the lake. Ferries carry passenger cars, buses and trucks. The use of motorboats on the Balaton requires special permission. (Information on the Balaton boat services is available on 84/310-050.) Public Transportation Both in the capital and in the major provincial cities, Hungary boasts well-organized local public transport systems. In addition to urban bus service, there is tram service in Debrecen, Miskolc, and Szeged. The Budapest transport system links the whole capital like a cobweb network. In road transport, as in other Hungarian cities, the most important means of public transport is the bus. However, at the same time, the capital's environment-friendly tram and trolley network supplements this system; all three are operated by BKV, the Budapest Transport Corporation, as are two metro lines and the underground railway — the first line in Continental Europe, operational since 1896, and fully renovated in 1996. Europe's second oldest cogwheel railway is in Budapest. Using the funicular one can get — in just one minute — from the Buda side of the Danube embankment to the Castle Palace. A cable car takes passengers to János Hill, meanwhile, the highest point of the capital. BKV boats transport passengers from spring to autumn along the Danube. Bicycles may also be carried on all suburban trains (HÉV). Tickets for the above-mentioned transport services are available at BKV ticket offices (where Budapest maps are also on sale), as well as in tobacco shops. Within the borders of the capital, a 95 HUF ticket — the uniform fare — is required for the trams, buses, trolley buses, the metro, the suburban trains (HÉV), and the cogwheel railway. It is possible to enter public transport vehicles through any of the doors at any time of the day, except non-articulated buses which, after 8 p.m., may only be entered or exited through the front doors, upon presentation of a validated ticket or valid pass. Dogs can be taken on public transport only when muzzled, and require a separate fare. Children under the age of six may travel free of charge. If you expert to take more than one trip on public transport in a day, it may be worth buying a day ticket for 740 HUF or a book of tickets, or a one or two-week season ticket which requires affixed identity photos. A 7-day pass costs 1,850 HUF, a three-day tourist pass 1,500 HUF. The telephone number of the Budapest Transport Corporation (BKV) passenger information office is: 342-2335. For lost and found inquiries call 367-5299. (Charges correct at January 2000.) Budapest has several taxi fleets. All are obliged to operate a taxi meter and give receipts if so requested by the passenger. Taxi fares have had maximum limits imposed from September 1998. Between May 1 and September 30, so-called 'water' taxis, for a maximum five passengers, are in service on the Danube. The Tourism Office of Budapest (V. Március 15. tér 7, H–1056, phone: 266-0479, fax: 266-7477) has introduced the Budapest Card, which offers the holder close to 100 different discounts: - unlimited travel on public transport - free admission to 55 museums and several sights - sightseeing for half price - reduced price tickets for cultural and folklore programs - discount in shops, restaurants and thermal baths - 100+ page guide with the card’s services The card is valid for an adult plus a child under 14. Price: 2,800 HUF for 2 days, 3,400 HUF for 3 days. The Budapest Card is on sale at main underground ticket offices, tourist information offices, travel agencies and hotels. |
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