Traveling in Hungary
Hungary – traveling in the country
Airplane: so-called air taxis are operated by the two companies Farnair Hungary and Jetstream. They start near the Ferihegy Terminal or onairport Tököl on the island of Csepel.
Ship: from April to the end of October operates the Budapest-basedShipping company Mahart PassNave Excursion boatson the Danube from Budapest to Szentendre, Vác, Visegrád, and Esztergom, also operate between Budapest and Visegárd, Nagymaors and Esztergom between late May and early September. The company also offers other trips, including to one of the oldest Hungarian cities – Kalocsa.
Other ferry service providers are the Budapest Transport Company (BKV), which operates on the Danube in Budapest, and the Balaton shipping company Balatoni Hajózási Rt.
Rail: the Hungarian state railway, Magyar Államvasutak (MÁV) works reliably and operates a route network of around 8,000 kilometers in length. Most of the railway lines cross in Budapest. However, many branch lines also connect the provincial cities with one another.
There are three major train stations in Budapest. The Keleti station bundles the connections to the northern low mountain range and the northeast, trains depart from the Nyugati station in the direction of the Great Plain and the Danube Bend, and the Deli station is the central point of contact for connections to Transnubia and Lake Balaton.
Tickets are available at all train stations and in the central MÁV ticket office. A seat reservation is required for express trains. A seat surcharge is levied on InterCity and EuroCity trains. The tariffs vary depending on the distance. First class travel costs 50 percent more than second class travel.
Car: unleaded petrol (Ólommentes petrol) is available everywhere. Most petrol stations also have diesel (Gázolaj).
Rental car
If you want to rent a car in Hungary, you have to be at least 21 years old and have had your driving license for a year. Drivers under the age of 25 sometimes have to pay a surcharge. All major car rental companies have offices in Budapest. There are numerous local providers in the countryside.
Accidents should always be reported to the police immediately.
Bus: the Hungarian Volánbusz network offers a good and sometimes necessary alternative to the train. In southern Transdanubia and in large parts of the lowlands, for example, buses are essential for public transport. Buses run regularly from most cities and towns to all corners of the country, for example to Pécs, Sopron, Eger and Szeged.
Buses with national routes arrive and depart from the Budapest long-distance bus station (Távolságiautóbusz Pályaudvar); but not at local stations (Pályaudvar or Helyiautóbusz). However, outside of Budapest, both types of bus stations are close together or on the same site. On the timetables, arrival times are listed under the term Érkezés and departure times under Indulás.
Tickets can usually be bought directly from the driver. For intercity buses, there can be queues at weekends. It is therefore advisable to be there in good time.
The most important long-distance bus stations are Népliget – especially for connections in the north and center of the country – Stadionok – for cities and municipalities east of Budapest -, for the south-west of the country the Etele tér bus station, the Árpád bus station for the Danube Bend and part of the northern part Low mountain range as well as the Szénatér bus station for the Pilis Mountains, the area northwest of the capital and trips to Esztergom.
Local transport: Hungary’s local public transport is equipped with an efficient bus network. There is also a tram network in some cities such as Budapest Szeged, Miskolc and Debrecen. Budepest also has underground and suburban trains.
Tickets are mostly available at kiosks and have to be validated when entering the vehicle. Fines will be levied for driving without a valid ticket.
Bicycle: Hungary offers endless possibilities for cycling enthusiasts. In the north there are challenging slopes, gentler terrain in Transnubia and flat, wide areas in the lowlands. However, if you want to cycle, you should bring your own bike, as rental stations are rare. They are most likely to be found on campsites and in hotels.
When planning a route, travelers should take into account that bicycles are prohibited on motorways and federal highways. Bicycles must be equipped with lights and reflectors. Many trains offer the option of taking bicycles with you. This is not possible on buses.
Best travel time for Hungary
Although April and May can get quite wet, spring is a great time to travel to Hungary. That weather is usually mild and the tourist crowds are not yet in the country. Visit printerhall for Hungary History Peoples Democracy and Communist Rule 1945 1989.
The Hungarian summer is warm, sunny and takes a long time. Various regions of great tourist interest can be very crowded between the end of July and August. If you avoid Lake Balaton (Balaton) and the popular Mátraberge, travel at this time is still worthwhile. Life in Budapest and other major Hungarian cities practically comes to a standstill in August as residents are now on their summer vacation.
The fall in Hungary is beautiful, especially in the hills around Budapest and in the northern part of the country. In Transdanubia and in the lowlands, autumn is the time of the grape harvest. November is the rainiest month of the year in Hungary.
Museums and other sights in Hungary are closed in winter or have very limited opening times.
