FESTIVALS, HOLIDAYS AND OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS IN Budapest

There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Budapest each year.
The main ones are listed below.

On New Year's Eve, Budapest offers its residents and tourists many free outdoor concerts (Oktogon, Vorosmarty and Nyugati squares). The celebration of the New Year is followed by a ball that lasts until dawn at the Opera.

Celebration of the 1848 Revolution in memory of this uprising against the Habsburg Empire. The city is covered with flags and schoolchildren decorate parks with paper hussars. Parades, jubilation and fireworks at night.

Traditionally Christian, Hungary celebrates Easter. The programme consists in egg decorations, preparation of traditional dishes, making scented water...

The various associations of the city organise small fairs to promote their activities (majális). The programme includes concerts, barbecues, games, and children's activities.

The country celebrates the anniversary of the Constitution on this day. Budapest celebrates St. Stephen, the patron saint of the city, and a fireworks display takes place on Gellért Hill. Numerous cultural events are on the agenda, walks on the banks of the Danube and on the Erzsébet and Szabadság bridges.

Hungarians commemorate the revolution of 23 October 1956 against the communist regime as well as the proclamation of the Hungarian Republic by Mátyás Szűrös on 23 October 1989.

Hungary celebrates All Saints Day on 1 November and the Day of the Dead on 2 November.

Budapest offers a traditional Christmas market on Vörösmarty Square in front of the St. Stephen's Basilica and Town Hall square. Nice atmosphere, handicrafts, illuminated trams and an ice-skating rink.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER IN Budapest

Month	Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Average Rains (MM)	Best Time to Travel
January	-3 / 26,6	2 / 35.6	36 / 1.4	Not the best period to go
February	-1 / 30.2	5 / 41	43 / 1.7	Not the best period to go
March	3 / 37.4	11 / 51.8	37 / 1.5	Not the best period to go
April	8 / 46.4	18 / 64.4	44 / 1.7	Not the best period to go
May	12 / 53.6	23 / 73.4	71 / 2.8	Good period to go
June	16 / 60.8	27 / 80.6	68 / 2.7	Good period to go
July	17 / 62.6	29 / 84.2	55 / 2.2	Good period to go
August	17 / 62.6	28 / 82.4	46 / 1.8	Good period to go
September	13 / 55.4	24 / 75.2	32 / 1.2	Good period to go
October	8 / 46.4	17 / 62.6	56 / 2.2	Not the best period to go
November	4 / 39.2	9 / 48.2	69 / 2.7	Not the best period to go
December	0 / 32	5 / 41	45 / 1.8	Not the best period to go

Budapest-Franz Liszt International Airport

The Budapest-Franz Liszt International Airport is located about 20 kilometres southeast of downtown Budapest.

Two terminals:

• T2A (Air France)
• T2B

• By car:
  • Access by Highway 4 and the M0 and M5 motorways, count on about 20 minutes to reach the city centre.
    There are five car parks at the airport, including two long-term lots. Count HUF 1,300 per hour and HUF 8,000 for the day. Several car rental companies have counters at the airport in Terminal T2B.
• Bus/Metro
  • Bus 200 E takes you from Terminal 2A and Terminal 2B to the subway station (line M3: Kőbánya-Kispest) for HUF 350.
• Train
  • The train near the airport can be reached via the 200 E bus. You reach the Western Train Station (Nyugati Pályaudvar) in just a few minutes.
• Taxi
  • Főtaxi is the official airport taxi company. The fare to the city centre costs approximately HUF 7,200 and will take roughly 20 to 40 minutes depending on traffic.
• Services:
  • bars and restaurants, shops, free internet access (Wi-Fi), left-luggage desk at the airport.
  • Telephone: +36 (1) 296 7000
  • Website: http://www.bud.hu/english

GETTING AROUND Budapest

The public transport network is dense in Budapest. Metros, trams and buses have the advantage of being rapid and inexpensive.

Car

French driving licenses are valid throughout the territory of Hungary. The road network is of excellent quality throughout the main routes. Car parks are generally very full. The cost of parking varies from HUF 120 to HUF 430, depending on the neighbourhood.

Bus

The bus network is excellent, with variable frequencies depending on the bus line (from 15 to 90 minutes). The main lines also have night buses. You can buy bus tickets at metro stations, newspaper kiosks and tourist offices. Count on spending about HUF 350 one way. Tickets sold in the bus are more expensive (HUF 450).

Tramway

Budapest has 30 tramway lines.
Very practical, the yellow tramways run regularly. The tramway uses the same tickets as the buses (HUF 350).

Trolleybus

There are 15 Trolleybus lines in the city. Lines 78 and 79 are particularly interesting for tourists in the centre of Budapest.

Metro

There are four metro lines that run from 4 a.m. to 11:15 p.m. (HUF 350).

Taxi

The yellow official taxis in the city have a base fare of HUF 700 plus HUF 300 per kilometre. This rate is the same day or night.

Train

The HEV train connects Budapest to the metropolitan areas. There are 4 lines in service from 4 a.m. to midnight with a frequency of every 5 to 10 minutes. The price of one ticket is HUF 350.

Visitor information

Once you arrive in Budapest, don't hesitate to be in touch with tourism professionals for information and help in organising your stay.

Offers practical information and useful recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, public transport, festivals, cultural events, etc.).

• Address: Bartók Béla út 105-113 1518 Budapest, Pf. 141
• Telephone: +36 (1) 266 0479
• Website: http://budapestinfo.hu/en/

The official website of the Hungarian national tourist board provides a wealth of information on Budapest and its surroundings. Listed below is the main address:

• Address: Sütő u. 2. (Deák Square)
  1052 Budapest
• Opening hours: From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Medical information

In order to travel in the best conditions and for your health and safety, we invite you to check all information regarding preventive measures and best practices to be respected, available on the official website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/

Your comfort, well-being and health are at the heart of Air France's concerns, and we want to help you prepare for your trip in the best way possible. Find out more about the measures taken to ensure safe travelling on our website: https://www.airfrance.fr/FR/en/common/page_flottante/information/coronavirus.htm#notre-engagement-sanitaire

See your doctor before you travel. It is also recommended to take out insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation before your trip. Budapest counts several hospitals and medical institutions, as well as quality medical practitioners and health specialists.

No vaccines are required for entry into Hungary.
It is however recommended to obtain vaccination against:

- diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis
- hepatitis A and B

For more information, contact the Air France Vaccination Centre:

• Address: 38, quai de Jemmapes, 75010 Paris
• Website: https://www.vaccinations-airfrance.fr/
• Telephone: +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00
• To make a vaccination appointment:
  • online (click here)
  • call the centre at +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00

There are no food safety risks in Budapest.

Tap water is safe to drink in Budapest.

Administrative formalities

Entry requirements for Hungary

For a stay of less than three months, travellers from the Schengen area, as well as those from the countries of the European Union not included in the area, need only be in possession of a national identity card or a passport valid for the duration of their stay in order to enter Hungary. As a general rule, all other travellers are subject to visa requirements, although citizens of some countries may enter Hungary for a short stay of up to 90 days without a visa.

For further information, visit the website of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

http://konzuliszolgalat.kormany.hu/en

UsefulContacts

To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Budapest, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country.

Essential phrases

Good to know

+36

+ phone number (without 0)

-7 : 00
of time difference with
Beijing

Start of daylight saving time: last Sunday in March
End of daylight saving time: last Sunday in October

Usually open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. Some are also open on Saturday mornings.

Usually open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday.

220 V / 50 Hz

Tipping
It is customary to leave a 10-20% tip in restaurants, taxies and even for the hairdresser.