What’s that Trash?
In Budapest, districts provide an opportunity for everyone to get rid of all their unwanted furniture, electrical devices, magazines, books, records and whatever else they don’t need any more. People can leave these items two previously announced times a year, out on the street. Dates vary district to district. After a few days of exposition, the district will clean up the trash from the street. Read more »
Shopping at the Great Market Hall
The Great Market Hall (Vásárcsarnok) is one of the best places to buy souvenirs and other typical Hungarian gift type things for family and friends. At the top floor of this interesting building (which, by the way, was designed by Eiffel, the same guy who designed the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris!) is where you find Read more »
Driving in Budapest
Driving in downtown Budapest is a challenge: traffic jams are frequent, and roads are often closed near construction sites. You can drive from Buda to Pest only across the bridges, often at a snail’s speed. Elisabeth (Erzsébet) bridge is usually the fastest. Public transport will take you anywhere. There are P + R sites near large underground stations.
If you feel the urge to drive, make sure you carry your driver’s license, a copy of your passport, residence permit, proof of last payment of your 3rd party liability insurance, and car registration document with the valid green card at all times. These documents should be with you when you drive. Police do spot checks for documents, I just got stopped today.
Police also enforce speed limits. Maximum speed limits in Hungary:
Built-up areas: 50 km/h (31mph)
Minor roads: 90 km/h (56 mph)
Major roads: 110 km/h (69 mph)
Motorways: 130 km/h (81 mph)
Travel Regulations
- We drive on the right.
- The use of seat belts is obligatory.
- Motorcyclists must wear helmets, a law strictly enforced.
- All vehicles should to keep their headlights on throughout the day outside built-up areas. Motorcycles should have headlights on at all times.
- There is a 100% ban on alcohol when you are driving, and this rule is very strictly enforced. The legal limit of alcohol in your blood is 0.0 milligrams!
- Children under 150 cm must us car seats / boosters. Motorcyclists must wear crash helmets.
Unless another instruction sign is displayed, yielding the right of way to cars approaching from the right is the general rule. Turning right on a red light is prohibited. The police write up tickets for traffic violations thus documenting the infraction and any applicable fine(s). The police will give the offender a postal check (money order) on which the amount of the fine to be paid is written, and this postal check may be presented and paid for at any Hungarian post office.
Emergency road service: dial 188
Hungarian Automobile Association: +36 1 345-1800 Budapest II., Rómer Flóris u. 4/a
Foreign citizens who caused an accident can get information on settling insurance claims from the Hungarian Insurance Co.: Budapest XI., Hamzsabégi út 60., Tel: +36 1 209-0730. Office hours: Mon-Thu 07.30-16.00, Fri 07.30-15.30. You must call a police when the accident involves any personal injury. You can leave Hungary in a vehicle with damaged body only if you produce a certificate made out either at entry into Hungary or on the spot of the accident.
If you have been in a car accident in Hungary and need legal help: Lawyer Attila Hodula has been warmly recommended to me. He is a specialist in vehicle accidents and speaks English.
Attila Hodula, Ph. D.
Office Address: Andrássy út 49, Budapest, 1061
Office name: Hodula & Svéda Ügyvédi Iroda
Office Phone: +36 1 322-9610
Email: mail.hodulaui@axelero.hu
driving in Hungary, driving regulations, parking, traffic signs, car accident, lawyer, legal assistance
Bus Schedules outside Budapest
The Hungarian Bus Transportation Company for intercity buses is called Volan.
To access the intercity bus schedule, click on this link: http://www.menetrendek.hu/cgi-bin/menetrend/html.cg » Read more »
Hungarian and International Train Schedules
MAV, the Hungarian Railway Company has a website where you can find out about all train traveling within Hungary. The Hungarian Railway website is www.elvira.hu. Click on ‘English’ and there you go.
Read more »
Public Transportation in Budapest
Budapest has an excellent, thorough and efficient system of public transportation, which includes buses, trams, three subway lines called Metro, and electric trains called HÉV, which travel to suburbs such as Szentendre. Read more »
Drinking & Driving: ‘Zero-tolerance’ Law
Drivers under the influence of alcohol can have license seized on the spot! As of January 20th, 2008, drivers in Hungary who have consumed even the tiniest amount of alcohol can have their driver’s license seized on the spot. Read more »
Phone-calls
How to make phone calls in Hungary
The country code for Hungary is 36
Making international calls from Hungary:
exit code: 00 + country code + area code + local number
Read more »
Names & Addresses
When introduced, address your counterparts by their professional or academic title plus family name. Colleagues, friends and relatives address each other by first names.
Read more »
Being a Guest
If you are a guest in someone’s home, it is a good idea to bring something for the wife (she is the hostess and the queen of the house). Read more »
