Useful addresses in Budapest & Hungary

TOURISM: 

Free informations, leaflets and maps available at the following BUDAPEST TOURISM OFFICE desks: 

-Tourinform Head Office, and Police-Info Office: 
Downtown, V. Vörösmarty square  
PHONE: 438-8080               FACSIMILE: 356-1964  
Open: 0.00-24.00 
E-MAIL: hungary@tourinform.hu 

-Tourinform: 
Downtown, V. Sütõ u. 2. (Deák square) 
PHONE: 438-8080               FACSIMILE: 356-1964 
Open: 8.00-20.00 
E-MAIL: hungary@tourinform.hu 
 

HOTELS: 

Deluxe & SPA hotels in Budapest: http://www.travelfirst.com/pays/hunhot_e.html 
Budget hotels and pensionsin Budapest:  http://www.travelfirst.com/pays/hunhotecp_e.html 
  

RESTAURANTS: 

A critical selection of the best restaurants in Budapest: http://www.travelfirst.com/pays/hunres_e.html 
  

EMBASSIES: 

-USA: Szabadsag tér 12, Budapest V - PHONE: (36-1) 267.4400  

-UK: Harmincad u.6, Budapest V - PHONE: (36-1) 266.2888 

-GERMANY: Stefania ut 101-103, Budapest XIV - PHONE: (36-1) 251.8999 

-CANADA: Budakesti ùt 32, 1121 Budapest - PHONE: (36-1) 275.1200 

-AUSTRALIA: Kiralyhago tér 8-9, Budapest XII - PHONE: (36-1) 201.8899  
 

EMERGENCY: 

AMBULANCE : 04 
FIREMEN: 05 
POLICE : 07 
  

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:  

Public transportation in Budapest is excellent by international standards. Budapest can boast such unusual forms of transport as the Funicular, the Children's Railway, the Chairlift, and the interesting Cogwheel railway, put into service in 1874 making it Europe's third cogwheel railway. Its upper terminus is at a height of 427 meters on Széchenyi Hill, where the Széchenyi Lookout Tower is to be found. 

Suburban trains called HÉV also form part of the public transport system. You can use them to visit such towns outside Budapest as Szentendre (from Batthyány tér) or Gödöllõ (from Örs vezér tere). 

More information on the BKV - Budapest Urban Transportation official homepage: http://www.bkv.hu 
 

TAXI: 

Budapest taxis have yellow numberplates and yellow taxi signs on them. You can also call a taxi by phone: the car will usually get there in 5-10 minutes. Switchboard operators generally speak English. Check the fare beforehand and see to it that the driver turns on the clock when starting off. Transit from Ferihegy Airport to the city is always very expensive, so we recommend the Airport Shuttle (Minibus) to reach town. The best idea is to call a taxi by phone, as major cab operators charge lower fees up-front than taxi cars hailed off the street. 

BEWARE:Taxis are not stricly regulated by law ! These two companies are honest and efficient: 

Fötaxi : 222 - 2222 
Citytaxi: 211-1111 
  

RENT-A-CAR: 

Driving is a challenge in Budapest. Public transportation is covering the all capital city night and day. But those who would like to travel upcountry can use the services of many companies whith a homepage for information and on-line booking:  

-BUDGET: http://www.budget.hu 
-AVIS: http://www.avis.com 
-HERTZ: http://www.hertz.hu 
-SIXT: http://www.sixt.hu 
-AMERICANA: http://www.americana.matav.hu 
-EURENT: http://www.eurent.hu 
 

PUBLIC HOLIDAY: 

-January 1: New Year's Day 

-March 15: Central commemoration events in memory of the 1848 

-Easter Monday 

-May 1: Labour Day 

-Whit Monday (Pentecost) 

-August 20: Foundation of the Hungarian State, Day of the Constitution 

-October 23: Anniversary of the 1956 Revolution against the Communist regime 
  
-December 25-26: Christmas 

Working days may be changed into holidays, and vice versa, to produce long weekends.