Budapest

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HUNGARY

Geographical Location

Landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia. The Danube River, running north-south, partitions the country roughly into two distinct regions. The western portion of the county, called Transdanubia (or Dunántúl in Hungarian), has a varied topography of smaller mountains and numerous hills mixed with flat, open ranges. To the east is a flat area known as the Great Plain, which stretches to the east and south of Budapest. At the top of the eastern portion of the county, stretching toward the border with Ukraine, are the mountain ranges of northern Hungary (the highest “mountain” reaches 1014 m…)

Area
Total - 93,030 km2

Population
10.000 000
Hungary has been ethnically diverse since its inception, and while over 90% of the population are ethnically Hungarian, pockets of ethnic and cultural Slovaks, Romanians, Germans and others dot the country. Due to the frequent border shifts in Eastern European history, many ethnic and cultural Hungarians live in bordering countries, as well.

Languages spoken
Hungarian (Magyar) is the official language, a language allegedly remotely related to Finnish and Estonian (we do not understand a word in those languages…) and not at all related to any of its neighbours’.  German and English are widely spoken.

Religion
54.5% Roman Catholic, 21% Reformed (Calvinist) Protestant, 6% Evangelical (Lutheran), 18.5% other

Brief History
The Carpathian Basin, in which Hungary lies, has been populated by successive peoples for thousands of years. One such tribe was the nomadic Magyars, who reached the area as early as the mid-9th century. Known for their equestrian skills, the Magyars raided far and wide, until they were stopped by the Germans in 955. The defeat left the Magyar tribes in disarray, and later forced them into an alliance with the Holy Roman Empire. In the year 1000, the Magyar prince Stephen was crowned ‘Christian King’ Stephen I, with a crown sent from Rome by the pope, and Hungary, the kingdom and the nation, was born. Stephen ruthlessly set about consolidating royal authority by expropriating land, establishing a system of counties, and evangelizing the countryside. By the time of his death in 1038, Hungary was a nascent Christian culture, increasingly westward-looking and multi-ethnic.

In 1526, Hungary’s motley army was crushed by the Ottoman Turks at the Battle of Mohács. The defeat marked the end of a relatively prosperous and independent Hungary, and sent the nation into a tailspin of partition, foreign domination and despair. Turkish occupation did little to improve the country, and increasing resistance to their rule forced the Turks out in 1699.

The expulsion hardly created a free and independent Hungary. Instead, the country became part of the Austrian Habsburg Empire. Thus began a period of enlightened absolutism. Hungary blossomed economically and culturally under the Habsburgs, but nationalist urges were never far from the surface.
In 1849, under the rebel leadership of Lajos Kossuth, Hungary declared the dethronement of the Habsburgs and full independence. The Habsburgs replied by quickly crushing the revolution. Hungary was again merged into the empire as a conquered province, and absolutism was reinstated. However, passive resistance among Hungarians and a couple of disastrous military defeats for the Habsburgs prompted negotiations between the two sides. The outcome was the Compromise of 1867, which created the Dual Monarchy of Austria the empire and Hungary the kingdom.

The Dual Monarchy entered WWI as an ally of Germany and was replaced by a republic immediately after the war. Hungarian Communists then seized power, but were overthrown five months later by troops from Romania. In 1920, the Allies drew up a postwar settlement under the Treaty of Trianon which drastically reduced Hungary’s size. Hungary entered WWII as an ally of Germany.

In 1947, rigged elections brought the Communists to power.

The nation was further rocked by the 1956 uprising, an anti-Soviet revolution. After accelerating the collapse of Communism by dismantling the fence along its border with Austria, the nation became the Republic of Hungary in 1989.

In 1997 in a national referendum 85% voted in favor of Hungary joining the NATO. A year later the European Union began negotiations with Hungary on full membership. In 1999 Hungary joined NATO. Hungary voted in favor of joining the EU, and joined in 2004.
General information

• Hungary boasts one of the world’s most beautiful capital cities: Budapest, the “Pearl of the Danube”, whose wonderful panorama is on UNESCO’s World Heritage list.
• As one of the most dynamically developing examples of previous communist countries of Eastern European region, Hungary proves to be a unique destination for AIJA Congress 2009.
• Hungary is the perfect choice considering that the annual event of AIJA has never before been organized in any Eastern European country, and also considering the great success of the AIJA Executive Committee meeting in May 2000 held in Budapest. AIJA Budapest 2009 offers a valuable possibility for an opening toward new geopolitical entities and enlarging the field of experience for all participants.
• Budapest is a city with quick and easy flight connections from all over the world .Major airlines offer daily, scheduled flights from Europe and transatlantic destinations. Frequent express trains link up with the European rail network in all directions.
• In Hungary 2000-year-old Roman ruins and 400-year-old Turkish monuments can be found side-by-side, not to mention beautiful churches from the Romanesque period in Ják, Lébényszentmiklós, and Pannonhalma, or castles in Eger, Sümeg, and Siklós.
• In Hungary hundreds of therapeutic mineral springs gush up from the depths, helping many thousands to improve and also recover their health.
• Rich Hungarian folk art and the horse shows introduce the lifestyle and traditions of the “puszta” (Great Hungarian Plain) attract tens of thousands of visitors a year. Scenic wonders include the protected Puszta-regions, the Great Plain, the romantic Danube Bend with historic sites, pretty Baroque cities such as Eger, the Lake Balaton as the largest fresh water lake in Central Europe. Along Balaton the volcanic slopes are covered by vineyards providing fine grapes to the famous Hungarian wines.
• Developed infrastructure for conferences and incentives. Deluxe and five star hotels, skilled knowledgeable guides, legendary art of cuisine, widely varied and extraordinary venues.
• Because of Hungary’s continental climate the end of August is still the summer season. The average temperature is 24-30 degrees Centigrade (75 – 92 Fahrenheit), dropping to 17-22 degrees centigrade at night (63 – 72 Fahrenheit). The humidity is rather low, however rainy days may be expected.

BUDAPEST

General information and history

Covering an area of two hundred square miles and divided into 23 administrative districts, Budapest is home today to a population of 1.8 million people.

The capital possesses a rich and fascinating history as well as a vibrant cultural heritage. It was created out of the unification of the separate historic towns of Buda, Pest and Óbuda in 1873. Buda and Óbuda, comprising roughly a third of the total, are situated mainly in the hills to the west river bank of the Danube, with commercial Pest on the plains to the east of the river.

Flowing north to south through the centre of the city is the mighty River Danube. There are three islands – Óbuda Island, Margaret Island and Csepel Island – and nine bridges, two of which carry railway lines. The first permanent bridge over the River Danube – the Chain Bridge was inaugurated in 1849. Today it is still the most recognizable symbol of the city.

Whilst this area had been inhabited from early times, the city’s expansion into a world capital really began with the unification. There was a grate impetus in the life of the city at the end of the nineteenth century as Hungary celebrated the millenary anniversary of the Magyar Conquest. The first continental Underground railway was built, the streets were paved, street lighting was introduced, the waterworks at Káposztásmegyer was constructed (it is still in operation today), and a public sewerage system was developed. The first trams appeared.

Budapest did not suffer particularly in the First World War, the Second World War, however, had a catastrophic effect. Apart from the horrifying cost in terms of human casualties, the architectural splendor of the city was brought to ruin, all bridges were destroyed.

The city’s buildings and transport network suffered afresh also in the 1956 Uprising, but were again repaired, but the scars of the nation’s crushed uprising (which have yet to fade from the nation’s psyche) are still evident from the many bullet hole ridden buildings around the city. Large-scale building of blocks of flats took place in the 1960’s, followed by construction of two new Underground lines.

Since the move to parliamentary democracy in 1990, Budapest has witnessed rapid change. Sizeable investment from the west, coupled with a greater choice of goods and services means that daily life is now little different to any other major city in Europe. Of course, this leap into a “brave new world” has brought problems too. A widening gap between rich and poor, rising house prices, organised crime and graffiti arguably being of most concern.

That said, a renewed sense of vibrancy and pride has taken hold, with many of the fine apartment blocks that turned Budapest into one of Europe’s most beautiful cities (during the early 1900s) now being restored to their former glory.

In addition, most importantly, the city has retained its unique character, while the locals remain just as polite, stubborn and individualistic as ever.

Budapest’s  incredible architecture and rich cultural heritage strengthen Hungary’s reputation as the ‘Paris of Central Europe’. It has a complex identity, somewhere between Western luxury and simple traditions. The city straddles a gentle curve in the Danube. It has broad avenues, leafy parks and elaborate bathhouses. It also has a turn-of-the-century feel to it, for it was then - during the industrial boom and the capital’s heyday - that most of the city was built. The charming hills of Buda with its old and elegant residential districts, the beautiful waterfronts of the majestic Danube together with Pest, the flat side, as well as the dynamic administrative and business centre offered an unsurpassable location. Because of its cosmopolitan flair and its location between East and West, the city has gained importance over the years.

Recognizing the unique value of its traditions Budapest has managed to maintain its magic and charm, and is rightly known as the Pearl of the Danube. It has also been called the City of Spas, as there are a dozen thermal baths complexes served by over a hundred natural thermal springs.

Traveling to and within Budapest
Budapest (Ferihegy) Airport
Budapest (Ferihegy) International Airport is ten miles south-east of the city centre. It has two terminals: Terminal 1 was reopened for low-cost airlines in September 2005, while Terminal 2 is divided into Terminal 2A for the Schengen flights and Terminal 2B hosting all flights to non-Schengen countries. Ferihegy airport is within easy access of downtown Budapest, which takes about 30-40 minutes. There is a special taxi service (Zóna Taxi) at the airport and the price depends on which zone you are headed to. The official rate to downtown Budapest (Zone 2) is EUR 23. Although the official currency is HUF, you can use EUR to pay the driver.

(The price for a Zóna Taxi from downtown to the airport costs less, it is 16 EUR. You have to pre-book the car by calling (+36 1) 365-5555.)

International rail system
More than fifty trains a day provide direct links between Budapest and no fewer than 25 other capital cities. Trains to Vienna run every three hours, and there is also a popular network of Inter City trains linking Budapest with the main Hungarian centres. International trains operate from the three largest stations: Eastern Station, Western Station and Southern Station. All three international railway stations are part of the Budapest Underground system, the Metró. The Southern and Eastern are stops on the Red (Number 2) line and the Western is on the Blue (Number 3) line.

By car
All Hungary’s motorways and most of her main roads radiate out from the capital. The M1, M3, M5 and M7 are toll motorways, and require payment of appropriate toll and for the sticker to be displayed in the windscreen before joining the road. Road signs conform to continental standards. It is compulsory to wear seatbelts in both the front and back seats, and only hands-free mobile telephones may be used whilst vehicle is in motion. There is zero tolerance concerning alcohol. Speed limits are 50 km/hour (31 mph) in built-up areas and 90 km/hour (56 mph) elsewhere, except on dual carriageways.

Traveling on the river Danube
A hydrofoil services operates during the summer months (from April to October) linking the heart of Budapest with Vienna and Bratislava. The international boat dock is situated on the Danube between the Chain Bridge (Lánchíd) and the Freedom Bridge (Szabadság híd).

Getting around Budapest
When departing the hotel it is important to carry an “address card” with you at all times.  You can obtain this form the concierge or at our hospitality desk and we will write your destination on a “going to” card for you to give to the taxi driver.
Useful information

Country dialing code: 36

Time zone : GMT +1 hour.  U.S. Eastern Standard Time +6 hours.

Average temperatures
The average temperature is 24-30 degrees Centigrade (75 – 92 Fahrenheit), dropping to 17-22 degrees centigrade at night (63 – 72 Fahrenheit). The humidity is rather low, however rainy days may be expected.

Currency
The unit of currency is Hungarian Forints (HUF).  In Hungary, the abbreviation of Forint is Ft.
Coins: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 HUF.
Bank notes:  200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 20000 HUF.
Major international credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, larger restaurants and department stores.

Electrical system
Local voltage is 220-230 volts AC. Plugs are the standard continental type, 2 pin round.  Adaptors are available on request at the hotel.

Tipping
Although there are no fixed rules on tipping, it is customary to add an extra 10-15% to restaurant bills (unless a service fee is indicated on the bill) and taxi fares.  Hotel porters, hairdressers and cloakroom attendants also expect to be tipped.  For all other tipping, follow the guidelines used in the U.S.A.

Shopping hours
Opening hours vary according to the type of shop, from  Monday to Friday: 10:00 – 18:00
Saturday:  10:00 – 13:00
Shopping malls usually open at 10:00 and close at 21:00 Monday to Sunday.

Banking hours
Bank business hours in Budapest vary, although major branches of some banks are usually open from 8:00 – 17:00 with limited opening hours - until 15:00 - on Fridays. All banks in Budapest are closed on Saturday and Sundays.

Smoking
Smoking is banned on all public transport, in theatres and cinemas.  However, as Hungarians are among the heaviest smokers in Europe, cigarettes are allowed in nearly all restaurants and bars (although there is normally some form of segregation between smoking and non-smoking areas).

Social conventions
Handshaking is the customary greeting, or among friends or good female-female or male-female acquaintances, two kisses (one on each cheek). At meals, toasts should be returned.  Casual wear is accepted in most places.

Passport and Visa Requirements
Hungary is member of the EU and a Schengen country. Most participants will need only a valid passport, however, a tourist visa will be required for citizens of some countries. Please check the requirements applicable to your country. In this case, visas can be obtained from the Hungarian Consulate or Embassy in your country.
Sightseeing in Budapest
Basilica
Designed by Jozsef Hild in 1845, work only began in earnest in 1851. However, Hild died before the project was complete, leaving the task of overseeing its construction to architect Miklós Ybl. During an inspection, Ybl was amazed to find that huge cracks had appeared in many of the building’s outer walls. Less than a week after cordoning off the site, the church’s vast dome tilted and collapsed. The remainder was also declared structurally unsound and demolished to make way for Ybl’s neo-Renaissance design. The building, which was finally opened by Emperor Francis Joseph in 1906, also suffered terribly from allied bombing raids during World War II.

Chain Bridge
This bridge was the first permanent span across the Danube being built between 1842 and 1849. Designed by English engineer, William Tierney Clark, with construction overseen locally by Scot Adam Clark (the Square at the Buda end of the bridge is named after him), one of its first uses was to allow the Hungarian Army of Independence to retreat from the advancing Austrians in 1849. The Austrians then tried to blow up the bridge with explosives, but luckily, the charges failed to detonate.

Margaret Island
One and a half miles long, Margaret Island is connected to both Buda and Pest by the Margaret and Árpád Bridges is one of the most beautiful open spaces in the city. Visitors wanting to take time out from the noise and bustle of Pest will enjoy the serenity of the island’s park, which was established over one hundred years ago (1869). The island was named after the daughter of King Bela IV (1235-1270) who lived in a Dominican convent here during the 13th century. The ruins of the convent can still be seen today on the island’s east bank.

Fishermen’s Bastion/Matthias Church
The Fishermen’s Bastion (designed by Frigyes Schluek) is made up of seven round towers - each one symbolizing the seven Magyar tribes that effectively gave rise to the nation a thousand years earlier. Almost fairytale like in appearance, its decorative white rampart and flowing staircases stretch alongside the eastern front of the Mátyás Temple. According to tradition, the area directly behind the church housed a local fish market during medieval times - hence the name of the Bastion. During the 18th century, the Guild of Fisherman are also said to have traditionally defended this part of the castle wall.

Central Synagogue
Completed in 1859 from a Lajos Förster design, the Great Synagogue is second only in size to New York’s Temple Emmanuel. Adjoining the main building is the Heroes Temple. Although not open to the public, the Lazlo Vago/Ferenc Farogó design serves as a memorial to Hungarian Jews who gave their lives during World War I.  The courtyard to the rear houses the Synagogue’s garden of remembrance. Here, Imre Varga’s poignant weeping willow stands as a memorial to the Holocaust. As well as the names of Jewish families who were murdered, an inscription simply reads ‘Whose agony is greater than mine’. A moving exhibition on the fate of Budapest’s Jewish population during World War II is also housed in a wing of the Synagogue.

Heroes Square
This imposing square was built for the 1896 millennium celebrations. It is dominated by the Archangel Gabriel who is surrounded by seven statues representing the chiefs of the seven Magyar tribes who settled in this area (supposedly in AD 896). The large open space is dedicated to the Hungarian war memorial and attracts tourists, skateboarders and inline skaters in their dozens. Check out the recently restored art museums on either side of the square.

Museum of Fine Arts
This spectacular and renovated building houses a museum that is massive in scale with a wide range of exhibits. It is noted for its Spanish collection, most of which comes from the famous Count Esterhazy who picked up the pieces at bargain prices. Everything from El Greco to Goya is here. There is also an interesting display of Roman vases and artifacts as well as many other works.

Opera House
Designed by Miklós Ybl to commemorate the Hungarian millennium celebrations, Budapest’s magnificent State Opera House was completed in 1884. Regarded as one of the most important historical buildings in Hungary, its elegantly styled neo-Renaissance proportions fit in perfectly with neighbouring buildings on Andrássy ut Városliget

Food and wine

Hungarians are quite proud of their cuisine (Magyar konyha), and most of the time not without a reason. Food are usually spicy (but not hot by general standards), and it’s tasty rather than healthy — many dishes are prepared with lard or deep-fried. The national spice is paprika, made from ground sweet bell peppers and which actually has some flavor when fresh. The national dish is, of course, goulash, but Hungarians call the thick paprika-laden stew known as goulash elsewhere by the term “pörkölt” and reserve the term “gulyás” for a lighter paprika-flavored soup. Less well known in the rest of the world are “paprikás csirke”, chicken in paprika sauce, and “halászlé”, paprika fish soup often made from carp.

The local story of wine can be traced back to the Romans, who arrived in the first century of our era. Due to its varied topography and climate, almost all imaginable styles of wine are produced in Hungary, from hearty reds through fizz to the stickies. The different styles are nicely balanced between international and local grape varieties. International varieties are headed by the ubiquitous, trendy Cabernet Sauvignon, Franc and Merlot, with Pinot Noir increasingly coming into vogue. On the white side, there is Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris (or as it is called in Hungary, Szürkebarát), the two Muscats (Muskotály), and Tramini (Gewürtztraminer). The regional grape varieties are also widespread: Kékfrankos, the German Blaufränkisch, probably the most widely planted black grape variety and the most important constituent in many blends, Zweigelt, Kékoportó (same as Portugieser, or Blauer Portugieser), and Kadarka among the reds, and Olaszrizling (Welsch or Laski Riesling, nothing to do with the Riesling of the Rhine or Alsace) among the whites. And last, but not least, there are a number of mostly white grape varieties not found anywhere else in the world: Furmint, Hárslevelu, Kéknyelu, Juhfark, Irsai Olivér, Cserszegi Fuszeres, Királyleányka and Leányka, all of them capable of yielding, in the right hands, enticing and seductive wines.

Basic Expressions in Hungarian

Good morning Jó reggelt
Good day Jó napot
Good evening Jó estét
Goodbye Viszontlátásra, or Viszlát
Yes Igen
No Nem
Please Kérem
Thank you/No thank you Köszönöm/Nem Köszönöm
Excuse me Bocsánat!
I am Fred Smith Fred Smith vagyok
Pleased to meet you Örvendek
I understand/don’t understand Értem/Nem értem
I think so Azt hiszem
Cheers Egészségedre (informal), Egészségére (formal)

Shopping

Entrance Bejárat
Exit Kijárat
Push Tolni
Pull Húzni
Open Nyitva
Closed Zárva
Cashier Pénztár
It’s too expensive Ez túl drága
How much is it? Mennyibe kerül?
Where is the cashier/checkout?Hol van a pénztár?
That’s all thank you. Köszönöm, mást nem kérek
Back soon (hopefully!) Rögtön jövök
Closed for lunch Ebédszünet miatt zárva

Shop Names
Patisserie Cukrászda
Cafe/Coffee House Kávéház
Restaurant Étterem/Vendéglő
Department Store Áruház
Souvenir Shop Ajándék Bolt
Chemist Gyógyszertár or Patika
Confectioners/Sweet shop Édességbolt
Wine or drinks shop Italbolt
Butcher Húsbolt, Hentes
Bakery Pékség
Greengrocer Zöldséges
Foodshop/Supermarket Csemegebolt
Pub/Wine bar Söröző/Borozó
Optician Optika
Post Office Posta
Laundry Ruhatisztító
Travel Agency Utazási iroda

Food and Drink
Menu (Food) Étlap
Menu (drinks) Itallap
Breakfast Reggeli
Lunch Ebéd
Dinner Vacsora
I’m hungry/thirsty Éhes/Szomjas vagyok

Getting around
Where is the (nearest)… Hol van a (legközelebbi) …..
Bus stop Buszmegálló
Railway Station Pályudvar

Other useful signs:
Police Rendőrség
Ambulance Mentők
No entry/admittance Tilos a bemenet!
No smoking Dohányozni tilos
Ticket Office Jegypénztár

But if all else fails…

Do you speak English (German / French)?