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Travelogues, travel stories
See the sights of our town, Siófok
This short virtual walk helps you to get acquanted... More »
The right-hand side of the Danube
The landscape to the north of Budapest is shaped b... More »
Sights of Badacsonytomaj
The settlement lying on the Badacsony Peninsula on... More »
6 days in Budapest
We spent 6 days in capital of Hungary, in Budapest... More »
Along the Ipoly
The Ipoly (Ipel) – a river running along the... More »
Travel experiences
Good to know Budapest II.
General opening times, Electricity, Health matters, medical assistance, Security in Budapest, Importanat numbers, Postal servives...
Credit cardsThe most commonly used credit cards – AMEX, Diners Club, Cirrus, EnRoute, Euro/Mastercard, JCB, VISA – can be used to obtain cash from ATMs in banks and on the streets as well as to pay bills in hotels, restaurants and shops. Emblems on the door of the establishment detail which credit cards are accepted. AccommodationThe capital has every category of accommodation from luxury hotel to paying guest rooms. Free copies of Accommodation in Budapest can be picked up from information offices and hotel receptions in town. Other useful information on accommodation can be found on the homepage of Hungaryrooms.com (www.hungaryrooms.com). Postal servicesPost offices are generally open from 8 am–6 pm Mon–Fri, 8 am–noon on Sat. There are two post offices close to the rail stations in Pest with longer opening hours: VI., Teréz körút 51. (open: Mon–Sat: 7 am–9 pm, Sun: 8 am–8 pm), VIII., Baross tér 11/C (open: Mon–Sat: 7 am–9 pm).Postal money services: credit cards (VISA, VISA Electron, EuroCard/Mastercard, Maestro) can be used to make cash withdrawals at all post offices in the capital. Post offices also exchange Eurocheques, American Express traveller’s cheques and postal orders. GENERAL INFORMATION INTERNETInternet cafés are highly fashionable in Budapest. The following list details just some ofthe most popular locations offering Internet access: AMI V., Váci utca 40, 9 am–midnightCEU NetPont V., Október 6. utca 14, 11 am–10 pmInternet Cafe V., Kecskeméti utca 5, Mon–Fri: 10 am–10 pmInternet Studio VI., Dessewffy utca 45, 10 am–midnightLibri Bookpalace VII., Rákóczi út 12, Mon–Fri: 10 am–7.30 pm, Sat: 10 am–3 pmT-point shop (Telephone) V., Petôfi Sándor utca 17–19, Mon–Fri: 9 am–8 pm, Sat: 10 am–3 pmPrivate Link VIII., József körút 52, nonstopBusiness centres in the major hotels and shopping malls also offer Internet access facilities. IMPORTANT NUMBERSAmbulance: 104Police: 107Central help number: 112Fire service: 105General enquiries: 197Inland enquiries: 198International enquiries: 199Auto club help number: 188Speaking clock: 18010Security in BudapestThe general public security situation in the capital can be said to be good on an international average, and still it is better if tourists are prepared for certain situations so that they do not end up feeling cheated. In general the tourist’s wallet is in greatest danger, and so it is advisable when using public transport, at shopping centres, markets or any other busy area where people are jostling around to pay extra attention to wallets, purses and bags. Taxis are best pre-booked by phone; they are cheaper and there is no chance that you will pick up the one or two ‘private taxis’ who charge outrageous fares. (For phone numbers of reputable companies, see the Taxi section p. 11.) Always ask for a menu showing all the prices before choosing which restaurant to eat at. This way you can rule out any unpleasantness caused by overcharging. Never get mixed up in changing money or gambling on the street. Carry documents, money and credit cards in a closed, inner pocket, and don’t carry a lot of cash around town. Never leave valuables in your car. Lost your passport?You should report the loss of your passport to the following authority:Budapest and Pest County Directorate of the Office for Immigration and Citizenship Address: H–1117 Budapest, Budafoki út 60. Tel: 463-9165, 463-9181, Open: 24 hoursIf your passport is stolen, you must report the loss to the local district police headquarters. Emergency services: Tel. 107 or 112. Tourinform telephone enquiries – Tourist Police: 438-8080 Health matters, medical assistanceNon-stop medical assistance: Falck SOS Hungary, telephone: 200-0100Non-stop dental service: SOS Dental Service, telephone: 267-9602Pharmacies in the capital are well stocked, and pharmacists may be able to suggest a medication for certain complaints. A notice on the door of pharmacies indicates the address of the closest 24-hour pharmacy. Pharmacies operating around the clock:Teréz Patika: VI., Teréz körút 41, T: 311-4439,Déli Gyógyszertár: XII., Alkotás utca 1/B, T: 355-4691 ElectricityHungary’s electricity network operates at 230 Volts. Plugs are the regulation continental type. General opening timesShops: food shops are open from 7 am–6 pm, clothes shops between 10 am–6 pm Mon. to Sat. Most shopping centres are also open on Sun. Tesco is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Office hours: generally from 8 am–4 pm Mon. to Fri.Post offices: Mon–Fri: 8 am–6 pm, Sat: 8 am–1 pm Banks: Mon–Thur: 8 am–3 pm, Fri: 8 am–1 pm11Publisher: Tourism Office of Budapest