Overview
Hungary is a country in Europe according to politicsezine. Surrounded by Slavic lands, little Hungary (Magyarország) is unique in its language, culture and will to survive. Hungarians are incredibly proud of their nation, but that pride is not solely due to their bravery as a people. Hungary also has a number of historic cities and stunning countryside, not to mention fine wines, relaxing thermal springs and a thriving arts and music scene. The fantastic capital city of Budapest is divided into two parts by the Danube. Buda is older, more mountainous and graceful, while in the commercial center of Pest there are wonderful Art Nouveau buildings. Writers, artists and musicians have long found a creative outlet in Budapest, where Hungary’s best bars and clubs open their doors nightly. The Puszta, a seemingly endless grassy plain under a wide sky, is Hungary’s most famous landscape, but not the only one. Visitors are spoiled for choice between eleven national parks, hundreds of nature reserves, Lake Balaton (Balaton, Europe’s largest freshwater lake), a myriad of meandering rivers and countless vineyards and orchards.
Getting there
Arriving by plane
The following airlines, among others, offer direct flights to Budapest from Germany, Austria and Switzerland: – Lufthansa (LH) from Frankfurt/M. and Munich; – Austrian Airlines (OS) from Vienna; – Swiss (LX) from Zurich; – Eurowings (EW) from Düsseldorf and Hamburg; – easyJet (U2) from Berlin, Geneva and Basel; – Wizz Air (W6) from Berlin. – LOT from Stuttgart. Lufthansa (LH) also offers direct flights from Munich to Debrecen.
Flight times
Frankfurt/M. – Budapest: 1 hour 30 minutes; Vienna – Budapest: 45 minutes; Zurich – Budapest: 1 hour 35 minutes; Geneva – Budapest: 1 hour 45 minutes
Arrival by car
By car: Arriving by car from Germany and Switzerland via Austria and the Slovak Republic. The E60 European route from Vienna is one of the cheapest connections. Motorists traveling in Austria towards Hungary and changing from the Westautobahn A1 to the Ostautobahn A4 can drive around Vienna on the Wiener Außenring-Schnellstraße S1 to the south. With the M7 there is a continuous route from Budapest, via the east bank of Lake Balaton, to the Croatian border in the direction of Zagreb (border crossing at Letenye). The main border crossings are: – from Austria: Nickelsdorf – Hegyeshalom; Heiligenkreuz – Rábafüzes; Klingenbach – Sopron; Deutschkreuz – Kópháza and Rattersdorf – Köszeg. – from Slovak Republic: Rusovce – Rajka; Slovenské Darmoty – Balassagyarmat; Kral – Bánréve; Komárno – Komárom and Sahy – Parassapuszta. Bus: Eurolines and Flixbus connect Germany, Austria and Switzerland with Hungary. The Hungarian bus company Volanbusz offers bus trips to and from Germany and Austria. Tolls: Hungarian motorways are subject to tolls. The vignette, the so-called e-Matrica, is available at border crossings, petrol stations and from MAK, the Hungarian Automobile Club (cash payment in local currency). The vignette can also be purchased online from VirPay before departure. Documents: The national driving license is sufficient.
Arrival by train
There are direct train connections between Budapest and numerous European capitals. The EuroNight Viennese Waltz offers a connection to Budapest from Zurich via Innsbruck, Salzburg, Linz and Vienna. There are various EuroCity connections to Budapest. The night train portal http://trainite.eu/ provides an overview of night train connections. ÖBB Nightjet night trains (www.nightjet.com/) run from Zurich via Feldkirch, Linz, Vienna and from Munich via Salzburg and Vienna to Budapest. More information at Deutsche Bahn (DB), Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) and Swiss Federal Railways (SBB). Seat reservations are recommended for all trains. Information about international train connections in Budapest on tel. +36 (1) 461 55 00 (24 hours). Fare information for international train services in Budapest on tel: +36 (1) 322 90 35 or online at MAV-Start AG., tel. +36 (1) 3 49 49 49.
rail passes
The Interrail One Country Pass and the Interrail Global Pass are also valid in Hungary.
Note on arrival by train
Baggage allowance: 30 kg.
Arrival by ship
Numerous cruise ships dock in Budapest on their Danube cruises.
Cruise ships
Among others, the shipping companies arosa and nicko cruises offer river cruises on the Danube from Passau via Vienna to Budapest.
