Country Guides
Hungary
Getting Around
Getting Around
Hungary
Getting Around by Air
There are currently no schedules flights within Hungary.
Getting Around by Water
There are regular services on the Danube from spring to late autumn linking Budapest with Szentendre, Vác, Visegrád and Esztergom. MAHART (tel: (1) 318 1223; website: www.mahartpassnave.hu) and Budapest Transport Limited (BKV) (tel: (1) 461 6688; website: www.bkv.hu) also operate ferries in the capital's centre, the Roman Embankment (Római Part) and at some crossing points. On Lake Balaton, Balaton Shipping Co (tel: (84) 310 050; website: www.balatonihajozas.hu) operates ferries between most of the major towns on the lake from April to October.
Getting Around by Rail
Services are operated by MÁV (tel: (1) 461 5400 or (06) 4049 4949 for enquiries; website: www.mav.hu). All main cities are linked by efficient services and the most popular tourist rail routes are: Budapest-Kecskemet-Szeged and Budapest-Siofok-Lake Balaton. Supplements are payable on express, EuroCity (EC) and InterCity (IC) trains, with reservations compulsory for the latter. The website www.elvira.hu has up-to-date travel, price and timetable information.
Rail Passes
Hungary Pass: available to those who reside outside Europe, the CIS, Turkey, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. The pass offers unlimited first or standard class train travel for five days in a 15-day period, or for 10 days in one month. Available through the European Rail Guide (website: www.europeanrailguide.com) and Rail Europe in the USA (tel: 1 888 382 7245, in the USA; website: www.raileurope.com).
InterRail One-Country Pass: offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month within Hungary. Travel is not allowed in the passenger's country of residence. Travellers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children's tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from InterRail (website: www.interrail.net).
Cheap fares: Concessions are available for groups, children, students, families, pensioners and people with certain disabilities. Children under six and pensioners over 70 travel free. Season tickets are also available. Contact MÁV for details. The Hungary Card (website: www.hungarycard.hu) offers discounts on rail, bus, taxi and MAHART ferry services, as well as accommodation, restaurants, museums and road tolls. The Hungarian National Tourist Office can provide further information (see Contact Addresses).
Getting Around by Road
There are eight arterial roads in the country; all but the M8 start from central Budapest. From Budapest the two main highways are the M1 to Györ and Vienna and the M7 along Lake Balaton. The M3 connects Budapest with eastern Hungary. Generally the quality of roads is good. Tolls are payable on some roads and all motorways. Traffic drives on the right.
Coach: Volanbusz (tel: (1) 382 0888; website: www.volanbusz.hu) services link Budapest with major provincial towns.
Car hire: International and local car hire firms are located in all of Hungary's main towns.
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 must be worn. Children of 16 years and under must sit in the rear and child seats are compulsory. It is obligatory to keep headlights dipped when driving, and the use of handheld mobile phones is prohibited.
Emergency breakdown service: Magyar Autóclub (the Hungarian Automobile Club) (tel: 188; website: www.autoklub.hu) operates a 24-hour service.
Documentation: Pink format EU licences are accepted but an International Driving Permit is required if an EU licence is not held.
Getting Around Towns and Cities
Almost all towns and cities in Hungary have a well-established and efficient public transport system that consists of buses, and occasionally trolley buses. Budapest, Debrecen, Szeged and Miskolc also have trams.
Budapest: Budapest Travel Limited (BKV) operate buses, trolleybuses, trams and underground trains in the capital. Tickets must be purchased in advance and validated for travel. The city also has a night bus service and a suburban railway (HEV). Day passes and season tickets are available.
Debrecen: The Public Transport Company of Debrecen operates trams and trolleybuses in Hungary's second city. Hajdu Volan run Debrecen's bus service.
Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Budapest to other major cities/towns in Hungary.
Road Rail Debrecen 3.00 2.40 Miskolc 2.30 1.55 Szeged 2.30 2.20 Lake Balaton 2.00 2.30
Getting Around by Air
There are currently no schedules flights within Hungary.
Getting Around by Water
There are regular services on the Danube from spring to late autumn linking Budapest with Szentendre, Vác, Visegrád and Esztergom. MAHART (tel: (1) 318 1223; website: www.mahartpassnave.hu) and Budapest Transport Limited (BKV) (tel: (1) 461 6688; website: www.bkv.hu) also operate ferries in the capital's centre, the Roman Embankment (Római Part) and at some crossing points. On Lake Balaton, Balaton Shipping Co (tel: (84) 310 050; website: www.balatonihajozas.hu) operates ferries between most of the major towns on the lake from April to October.
Getting Around by Rail
Services are operated by MÁV (tel: (1) 461 5400 or (06) 4049 4949 for enquiries; website: www.mav.hu). All main cities are linked by efficient services and the most popular tourist rail routes are: Budapest-Kecskemet-Szeged and Budapest-Siofok-Lake Balaton. Supplements are payable on express, EuroCity (EC) and InterCity (IC) trains, with reservations compulsory for the latter. The website www.elvira.hu has up-to-date travel, price and timetable information.
Rail Passes
Hungary Pass: available to those who reside outside Europe, the CIS, Turkey, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. The pass offers unlimited first or standard class train travel for five days in a 15-day period, or for 10 days in one month. Available through the European Rail Guide (website: www.europeanrailguide.com) and Rail Europe in the USA (tel: 1 888 382 7245, in the USA; website: www.raileurope.com).
InterRail One-Country Pass: offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month within Hungary. Travel is not allowed in the passenger's country of residence. Travellers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children's tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from InterRail (website: www.interrail.net).
Cheap fares: Concessions are available for groups, children, students, families, pensioners and people with certain disabilities. Children under six and pensioners over 70 travel free. Season tickets are also available. Contact MÁV for details. The Hungary Card (website: www.hungarycard.hu) offers discounts on rail, bus, taxi and MAHART ferry services, as well as accommodation, restaurants, museums and road tolls. The Hungarian National Tourist Office can provide further information (see Contact Addresses).
InterRail One-Country Pass: offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month within Hungary. Travel is not allowed in the passenger's country of residence. Travellers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children's tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on Eurostar and some ferry routes. Available from InterRail (website: www.interrail.net).
Cheap fares: Concessions are available for groups, children, students, families, pensioners and people with certain disabilities. Children under six and pensioners over 70 travel free. Season tickets are also available. Contact MÁV for details. The Hungary Card (website: www.hungarycard.hu) offers discounts on rail, bus, taxi and MAHART ferry services, as well as accommodation, restaurants, museums and road tolls. The Hungarian National Tourist Office can provide further information (see Contact Addresses).
Getting Around by Road
There are eight arterial roads in the country; all but the M8 start from central Budapest. From Budapest the two main highways are the M1 to Györ and Vienna and the M7 along Lake Balaton. The M3 connects Budapest with eastern Hungary. Generally the quality of roads is good. Tolls are payable on some roads and all motorways. Traffic drives on the right.
Coach: Volanbusz (tel: (1) 382 0888; website: www.volanbusz.hu) services link Budapest with major provincial towns.
Car hire: International and local car hire firms are located in all of Hungary's main towns.
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 must be worn. Children of 16 years and under must sit in the rear and child seats are compulsory. It is obligatory to keep headlights dipped when driving, and the use of handheld mobile phones is prohibited.
Emergency breakdown service: Magyar Autóclub (the Hungarian Automobile Club) (tel: 188; website: www.autoklub.hu) operates a 24-hour service.
Documentation: Pink format EU licences are accepted but an International Driving Permit is required if an EU licence is not held.
Coach: Volanbusz (tel: (1) 382 0888; website: www.volanbusz.hu) services link Budapest with major provincial towns.
Car hire: International and local car hire firms are located in all of Hungary's main towns.
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 must be worn. Children of 16 years and under must sit in the rear and child seats are compulsory. It is obligatory to keep headlights dipped when driving, and the use of handheld mobile phones is prohibited.
Emergency breakdown service: Magyar Autóclub (the Hungarian Automobile Club) (tel: 188; website: www.autoklub.hu) operates a 24-hour service.
Documentation: Pink format EU licences are accepted but an International Driving Permit is required if an EU licence is not held.
Getting Around Towns and Cities
Almost all towns and cities in Hungary have a well-established and efficient public transport system that consists of buses, and occasionally trolley buses. Budapest, Debrecen, Szeged and Miskolc also have trams.
Budapest: Budapest Travel Limited (BKV) operate buses, trolleybuses, trams and underground trains in the capital. Tickets must be purchased in advance and validated for travel. The city also has a night bus service and a suburban railway (HEV). Day passes and season tickets are available.
Debrecen: The Public Transport Company of Debrecen operates trams and trolleybuses in Hungary's second city. Hajdu Volan run Debrecen's bus service.
Budapest: Budapest Travel Limited (BKV) operate buses, trolleybuses, trams and underground trains in the capital. Tickets must be purchased in advance and validated for travel. The city also has a night bus service and a suburban railway (HEV). Day passes and season tickets are available.
Debrecen: The Public Transport Company of Debrecen operates trams and trolleybuses in Hungary's second city. Hajdu Volan run Debrecen's bus service.
Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Budapest to other major cities/towns in Hungary.
| Road | Rail | |
| Debrecen | 3.00 | 2.40 |
| Miskolc | 2.30 | 1.55 |
| Szeged | 2.30 | 2.20 |
| Lake Balaton | 2.00 | 2.30 |
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