Budapest, Hungary — City Information
City Facts
- Location
- Budapest county, northern Hungary.
- 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.
- Language
- 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 - IgenNo - Nem Hello - SzerbuszGoodbye - ViszontlátásraPlease - Kérem Thank you - KöszönömMy name is … - A nevem … How are you? - Hogy van?I am very well - Jól vagyokI feel ill - Rosszul vagyokHow much does it cost? - Mennyibe kerül? Do you speak - Beszél English? - angolul?I don’t understand - Nem értemWhere is …? - Hol van …?Entrance - BejáratExit - KijáratDanger - VeszélyOpen - NyitvaClosed - Zárva Toilets - WCDoctor - OrvosHotel - SzállodaRestaurant - ÉtteremBeer - SörWine - BorMenu - ÉtlapToday - MaTomorrow - HolnapMonday - HétföTuesday - KeddWednesday - SzerdaThursday - CsütörtökFriday - PéntekSaturday - SzombatSunday - VasárnapOne - EgyTwo - Ketto / KétThree - HáromFour - NégyFive - ÖtSix - HatSeven - HétEight - NyolcNine - KilencTen - Tíz Twenty - HúszThirty - HarmincForty - Negyven Fifty - ÖtvenSixty - HatvanSeventy - HetvenEighty - NyolcvanNinety - KilencvenOne Hundred - Száz One Thousand - Ezer
Cost of Living
| 1.00 GBP = 310.68 HUF |
| 1.00 USD = 193.2 HUF |
| 1.00 EUR = 272.98 HUF |
| Currency conversion rates as of 19 July 2011 |
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 Summer Music Festival
July-August
Opera and ballet festival.
Opera House, Basilica, Hilton
Website: www.viparts.hu
Jewish Summer Festival
Late August-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
August
One of the largest music festivals in Europe, attracting huge crowds and big-name bands.
Óbuda Island
Website: www.sziget.hu/festival_english
Budapest Contemporary Music Weeks
Late September-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
