MONEY
Currency
1 forint = 100 filler. Currency abbreviation: Ft, HUF (ISO code). Banknotes are available in denominations of HUF 20,000, 10,000, 5000, 2000, 1000 and 500. Coins are in circulation in denominations of 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 Ft. Some commemorative coins are also legal tender.
Note: According to experts, the introduction of the euro in Hungary will probably not take place before 2020.
Credit cards
JCB, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, EnRoute and Diners Club are accepted in hotels and restaurants. Cash in local currency can be withdrawn using credit cards at ATMs and over 3200 post offices. Details from the issuer of the credit card in question.
ATMs
EC / Maestro card / Sparcard
With the EC / Maestro card and PIN number, cash in the local currency can be withdrawn from ATMs throughout Europe. In many European countries it is also possible to pay with the ec / Maestro card in shops. Cards with the Cirrus or Maestro symbol are accepted in Europe and worldwide. Further information from banks and credit institutes. The same applies to the German Sparcard, the successor to the postal savings book as a means of procuring currency in other European countries. With a Sparcard and PIN number, cash can be withdrawn from European ATMs with the Plus logo.
Attention: Travelers who pay abroad with their bank customer card and want to withdraw money should find out about the possibilities of using their card from their bank before starting their journey.
Bank opening times
Hungarian National Bank: Mon-Fri 10.30am-2pm.
Commercial banks: Mon-Thu 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Fri 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Banks in Hungary are closed on Saturdays.
Foreign exchange regulations
For travelers inside and outside the EU, there are no restrictions on the import or export of national and foreign currencies, but there is an obligation to declare cash from the equivalent of € 10,000 (including travelers checks, other currencies or checks made out to third parties). The form for the declaration can be found on the Internet: http://en.nav.gov.hu/intormation_on_customs_matters/Cash_Control.
Currency Exchange
Foreign currencies can be exchanged in official exchange offices in hotels, banks, airports, train stations and in some travel agencies and restaurants. In downtown Budapest (5th district) and in the Castle District (1st district), many exchange offices are also open on weekends. Hotel receptions constantly exchange money, while travel agencies change during business hours. Outside of the opening times there are ATMs and change machines available in the capital.
You should keep all exchange receipts and not change money on the black market. Foreign currencies can only be exchanged and exchange receipts must be kept until departure. When changing money outside of an official location, everyone bears responsibility and the possible risk of fraud, so inform them in detail before exchanging money.
LANGUAGE
Overview
According to programingplease, the official language is Hungarian. German and English are e.g. Also spoken in the business world. English and French are also spoken, especially in western Hungary.
Idioms
- Eight = Nyolc
- Eighty = Nyolcvan
- Goodbye = Viszontlátásra
- Exit = Kijárat
- Beer = Sör
- Please = Kérem
- Thank you = Köszönöm
- Tuesday = Kedd
- Doctor = Orvos
- Thursday = Csütörtök
- Three = Három
- Thirty = Harminc
- Entrance = Bejárat
- One hundred = Száz
- One = Egy
- One thousand = Ezer
- Friday = Péntek
- Five = Öt
- Fifty = Ötven
- Danger = Veszély
- Closed = Zárva
- Hello = Szervusz (to one person), Szervusztok (to several people)
- Today = Ma
- Hotel = Szálloda
- I feel sick = Rosszul vagyok
- I do not understand = Nem értem
- Yes = Igen
- My name is?? = Az én nevem
- I’m fine. = Jól vagyok.
- Wednesday = Szerda
- Monday = Hétfö
- Tomorrow = Holnap
- No = Nem
- Nine = Kilenc
- Ninety = Kilencven
- Open = Nyitva
- Restaurant = étterem
- Saturday = Szombat
- Six = hat
- Sixty = Hatvan
- Seven = Hét
- Seventy = Hetven
- Sunday = Vasárnap
- Menu = étlap
- Do you speak German / English? = Beszél német / angolul?
- Toilets = wécé (WC), toalett
- Four = Négy
- Forty = Negyven
- Wine = boron
- How are you? = Hogy van?
- How much is it? = Mennyibe kerül?
- Where is??? = Get van???
- Ten = Tíz
- Twenty = Húsz
- Two = Ketto / Két
CULINARY
Regional specialities
- Halászlé(spicy fish soup made from freshwater fish with noodles and peppers).
- Gulyás(if you order this “goulash” you will get a kind of hearty potato soup. Goulash as it is known in Western Europe is called Pörkölt and Tokány).
- Gundel Palacsinta(pancakes; pancakes with walnuts, raisins, lemon peel, chocolate sauce and rum).
- Paprikás csirke(chicken with paprika).
- Kolbász(sausages with peppers).
- Tyúkhúsleves(chicken soup with vegetables and noodles).
- Jókai bableves(kidney bean soup).
- Hortobágyi húsos palacsinta(pork or chicken in a thin pancake, baked with paprika and sour cream).
- Galuska(egg dumplings).
- Töltött káposzta(cabbage wraps filled with pork).
- Rètes(strudel).
Useful information
There is no law that regulates serving hours. Minors are allowed to stay in pubs and bars, but are not served alcohol. Egészségedre! is called cheers!
Tip
In restaurants, 10-15% of the invoice amount is appropriate, while the invoice amount is simply rounded up for smaller amounts in cafes or bars and for taxi rides.
Regional drinks
Eszpresso bars, cafes and other bars offer alcoholic and non-alcoholic soft drinks. There are numerous Hungarian wineries, all of which produce excellent wines. The selection ranges from full-bodied red wines, made from the local grape variety Kékfrancos (Lemberger), to full-bodied, sweet white wines such as Tokaji (Tokaji, a dessert wine). The Bikavér (Erlauer bull’s blood, red wine) is also excellent. Pálinka (brandy) is available in the flavors Barack (apricot), Szilva (plum), Körte (pear) and Cseresznye(Cherry) offered. The most famous beer in the country is called Sör.
Minimum age for consuming alcoholic beverages
In Hungary you can drink alcohol from the age of 18.