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Location
Budapest county, northern Hungary.

Dialling code
36.

Population
1,699,000 (city).

Time zone
GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz; round two-pin plugs are standard.

Average January temperatures
-1°C (30°F).

Average July temperatures
22.5°C (71°F).

Annual rainfall
635mm (25 inches).

Language
Introduction
Hungarian belongs to the Finno-Ugric language group. Pleasing to the ear, it bears small relationship to any other language, with the notable exception of Vogul (Mansi) and Ostyak (Hanti) spoken in some parts of Siberia. Magyar was taken up in the nineteenth century as a revolutionary and literary language, uniting people as Hungarian instead of Hapsburg. Hungarian is reputedly hard to learn, although Budapest’s yellow pages are full of language schools promising instant results. Non-Hungarian speakers should try English or German. Many tourist-related services have English speakers and guides. Restaurants usually have menus in Hungarian and English although translations can be entertaining. The younger generation tend to speak foreign languages, so when in trouble ask young blood for help. However, it is best to be prepared for moments of complete incomprehension.

Phrases

Yes - Igen
No - Nem
Hello - Szerbusz
Goodbye - Viszontlátásra
Please - Kérem
Thank you - Köszönöm
My name is … - A nevem …
How are you? - Hogy van?
I am very well - Jól vagyok
I feel ill - Rosszul vagyok
How much does it cost? - Mennyibe kerül?
Do you speak - Beszél
English? - angolul?
I don’t understand - Nem értem
Where is …? - Hol van …?
Entrance - Bejárat
Exit - Kijárat
Danger - Veszély
Open - Nyitva
Closed - Zárva
Toilets - WC
Doctor - Orvos
Hotel - Szálloda
Restaurant - Étterem
Beer - Sör
Wine - Bor
Menu - Étlap
Today - Ma
Tomorrow - Holnap
Monday - Hétfö
Tuesday - Kedd
Wednesday - Szerda
Thursday - Csütörtök
Friday - Péntek
Saturday - Szombat
Sunday - Vasárnap
One - Egy
Two - Ketto / Két
Three - Három
Four - Négy
Five - Öt
Six - Hat
Seven - Hét
Eight - Nyolc
Nine - Kilenc
Ten - Tíz
Twenty - Húsz
Thirty - Harminc
Forty - Negyven
Fifty - Ötven
Sixty - Hatvan
Seventy - Hetven
Eighty - Nyolcvan
Ninety - Kilencven
One Hundred - Száz
One Thousand - Ezer




Cost of Living:

100 Hungarian Forint (Ft100) = £0.34; US$0.51; C$0.61; A$0.71; €0.38
Currency conversion rates as of January 2009

Special Events:

New Year’s Day Concert
January
Vigado concert hall

Budapest Spring Festival
Late March
Classical music festival with dance and folk music.
Throughout the city
Website: www.btf.hu

Budapest Film Festival
April
Features independent films from around the world.
Throughout the city
Website: www.titanicfilmfest.hu

BudaFest
Early-mid August
Opera and ballet festival.
Opera House, Basilica, Hilton
Website: www.viparts.hu

Jewish Summer Festival
Late August or early September
Music and culture from the Jewish community.
Throughout the city
Website: www.jewishfestival.hu

Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix
August
Hungary’s premier motor sporting event.
Magyoród, 24km (15 miles) northeast of Budapest
Website: www.hungaroring.hu

Sziget Music Festival
Mid August
One of the largest music festivals in Europe, attracting huge crowds and big-name bands.
Óbuda Island
Website: www.sziget.hu/festival

Budapest Contemporary Music Weeks
Late September-end of October
Opening of concert season on the anniversary of Bartók’s death.
Various venues

Budapest Autumn Festival
October
Contemporary Arts festival.
Various venues
Website: www.bof.hu

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Available Tours to Hungary: iExplore Budapest, Vienna & Prague Experience -  $4995, 9 days