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Country Guide > Europe > Hungary | |
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Travel - Internal Air There are currently no scheduled internal air services in Hungary. Some are planned for the near future, however. River/Lake There are regular services on the Danube and Lake Balaton from spring to late autumn. MAHART and the Budapest Travel Company (BKV) (website: www.bkv.hu) also operate ferries in the city centre, the Roman Embankment (Római Part) and at some crossing points. Due to the opening of the bridge between Esztergom and Párkány (Sturovo) in 2001, the former ferry service on the Danube is no longer available. On Lake Balaton, a ferry operates during the summer at 40-minute intervals daily between Tihanyrév and Szántódrév; and between Révfülöp and Balatonboglér 0620-0000; at other times of the year the service runs 0630-1930. Contact MAHART for further details (see Travel – International section for contact details). Rail Services are operated by MÁV. All main cities are linked by efficient services but facilities are often inadequate. Supplements are payable on IC and express trains. Reservations are compulsory for IC trains and recommended for express trains, particularly in summer. Tickets can be bought 60 days in advance on domestic railway lines, as can seat reservations. The most popular tourist rail routes are: Budapest–Kecskemet–Szeged– Budapest and Budapest–Siofok–Lake Balaton. Rail-bus services are available between the main railway stations within Budapest at fixed rates (tel: (1) 353 2722; fax: (1) 353 2187; website: www.mav.hu). There are also narrow-gauge railways in operation in many parts of the country. The website www.elvita.hu houses up-to-date travel information and timetables. Cheap fares Concessions are available for groups (minimum of 10 persons), children, families and pensioners. Children under six travel free. Children aged six to 12 pay approximately a third of the full fare. Balaton and Tourist Season Tickets (seven to 10 days) are also available. Contact MÁV for details (see Travel – International section for contact details). The Hungarian Flexipass, sold by travel agents worldwide and by Rail Europe, offers unlimited first-class train travel for five days in a 15-day period or for 10 days in a 30-day period. The Hungarian Tourist Card offers discounts on rail, bus, taxi and ship services, as well as accommodation, restaurants and museums. The Hungarian National Tourist Office can provide further information (see Contact Addresses section). Road Traffic drives on the right. There are eight arterial roads in the country: all but the M8 start from central Budapest. Tolls are payable on some roads and all motorways. Season tickets can be purchased. From Budapest the two main highways are the M1 from Györ to Vienna and the M7 along Lake Balaton. The M3 connects Budapest with eastern Hungary. Generally the road system is good. Bus: Budapest is linked with major provincial towns. Tickets are available from Volán long-distance bus terminal, Budapest, and at Volán offices throughout the country. A bus season ticket is also available. Car hire: Available at Ferihegy Airport or at Volán and Budapest tourist offices as well as at major hotels. Regulations: Speed limits are 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas, 90kph (50mph) on main roads, 110kph (62mph) on highways and 130kph (75mph) on motorways. Seat belts are compulsory. Petrol stations are frequent and there are no special tourist petrol coupons. There is a total alcohol ban when driving; severe fines are imposed for infringements. It is obligatory to keep headlights dipped at all times when on the open road. Mobile phones are allowed only with headsets. Child seats are compulsory. Breakdowns: The Hungarian Automobile Club operates a breakdown service on main roads at weekends and a 24-hour service on motorways. For further details contact the Hungarian Automobile Club, Rómer Flóris utca 4/A, H-1024 Budapest (tel: (1) 345 1800 or 345 1755 (24-hour emergency helpline); e-mail: info@autoklub.hu; website: www.autoklub.hu). Documentation: Pink format EU licence accepted but International Driving Permit required if green licence held. Urban There is good public transport in all the main towns. Budapest has bus, trolleybus, tramway, suburban railway (HEV), a three-line metro and boat services. The metro has ticket barriers at all stations. The bus–trolleybus–tramway system has pre-purchase flat fares with ticket puncher on board. Day passes are available for all the transport modes in the city. Trams and buses generally run from about 0430-2300. Some night services also operate. The metro runs from 0430-2310 and stations can be identified by a large ‘M’. There is also a cogwheel railway (Városmajor–Széchenyi Hill), a Childrens’ Railway (Hüvösvölgy–Széchenyi Hill), a chairlift and a funicular. There are tramways in some of the other towns, or else good bus services. Day passes and season tickets are available in Budapest. Travel Times The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Budapest to other major cities/towns in Hungary.
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