LOCAL CULTURE
Clinking beer glasses
After defeating the Hungarian revolution in 1849, Austrian generals clinked their beer glasses to celebrate their victory. Hungarians made a pledge not to clink glasses for 150 years when drinking beer. That period is over now, but most of the Hungarians still don’t clink beer glasses.
Weather
In general, winters in Hungary are cold, cloudy and damp or windy and summers are warm - sometimes extremely hot. July and August are the hottest months (average temperature 26 degrees Celsius) and January the coldest (-4 degrees Celsius). The number of hours of sunshine averages between 1900 and 2500 a year - among the highest in Europe. The average annual precipitation is about 650mm.
Tipping
Budapest is a tipping city. It is customary to tip 10 percent all service providers. Not tipping indicates you received poor service.
Diet
Hungarian cuisine is known to be heavy for foreigners, but the new reform cuisine offers mouth-watering low-cholesterol dishes made from the meat of mangalica and grey cattle. Palinka – the delicious Hungarian fruit brandy is usually served after meal and sipped from small glasses, a process said to aid digestion.
Language
You may find some handy expressions as follows: “Jó reggelt!” (Good morning), “Jó napot!” (Good afternoon), “Jó estét!” (Good evening), “Hogy vagy?” (How are you doing?)
DID YOU KNOW ?
Model T Ford
József Galamb, as the employee of the Ford Company, designed the famous Model-T car. He invented the planetary gearbox and the electrical ignition system. At the same time, he designed the mass production of cars. The small Ford Company became a huge factory. In 19 years, they made 15.5 million Model-T cars. One of them is currently exhibited in the Museum of Transportation.
Rubik's Cube
Rubik's Cube is a mechanical puzzle invented in 1974 by the Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Erno Rubik. Originally called the Magic Cube by its inventor, this puzzle was renamed Rubik's Cube by Ideal Toys in 1980 and also won the 1980 German Game of the Year special award for Best Puzzle. It is said to be the world's best-selling toy, with some 300,000,000 Rubik's Cubes and imitations sold worldwide.
Telephone exchange
In 1878, Tivadar Puskas built the first telephone exchange in Boston, and then he built one in Paris and Budapest. On Bell's telephone one person could talk to one other person only. Tivadar Puskas invented the multiple switch box, which made any number of phone users' connection or disconnection possible. To learn about the history of telecommunication, visit the Telephone Museum in the Castle District.
Electronic locomotive
Kalman Kando’s most marvelous invention is the phase-changing electric locomotive, which was named Kandó-locomotive after him. The Kando-locomotives are used in many countries of the world. This revolutionary invention transforms standard public utility (single-phase) current into three-phase alternating current in the locomotive and therefore makes it capable of hauling. A visit to the National Railway Museum is a must if you are in Budapest.
Ballpoint pen
Jozsef Laszlo Biro's most famous invention was the ballpoint pen. By 1938, he had patented it in over 100 countries. Finally in 1948 the Parker Company bought his patent. In the USA it became known as the BIRO PEN. Buying a ballpoint pen in Budapest is a truly Hungarian souvenir to friends and family.
WHAT TO PACK
Adapter and/or transformer
Voltage in Hungary is 220 volts, and plugs are of the two-pin continental type.
Slippers
If you are planning to visit thermal baths or spas in Budapest, do not forget to bring a pair of slippers made from rubber.
Hungarian forint
We recommend that you change at least some money enough to cover airport incidentals and transportation to the Hotel before leaving from home, so as to avoid unpleasant queues in front of the ATMs at the airport. Please note some restaurants and hotels accept Hungarian Forint as well as Euro.
Medicine
Don’t forget to pack your basic medicine or make a list of them in case you need a prescription. The nearest pharmacy is located just behind the Hotel.
Chargers
Have you already checked whether the chargers of your electrical gadgets (mobile phone, laptop, camera, video recorder, iPod, etc.) are already packed in your suitcase?