Europe

Terrorism

There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the risk of  indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. For more general information see Terrorism abroad.

 

Crime

 

You should take sensible precautions against the sort of risks (such as petty crime) common in Western Europe.

If you intend to attend any of the summer music festivals which takes place annually in Hungary, including the Sziget Festival which takes place each August in Budapest, you should take care of your personal belongings, and keep your valuables with you.  In previous years there have been numerous cases of passports being lost or stolen at festivals, and a passport is required by anyone leaving Hungary.
 

You can be charged exorbitant prices in certain bars, clubs and restaurants in Budapest.  This happens in a number of establishments near the large hotels in the business district (V district) of central Pest but problems occur elsewhere in the city as well.

 

Common scams include adding a 20,000 HUF (£60) surcharge per drink to the final bill or charging up to 100,000 HUF (£300) for a meal.  Individuals who have been unable to settle their bills have frequently been accompanied by the establishment’s security guards to a cash machine and made to withdraw funds under threats of violence.

 

Some taxi drivers are accomplices in these frauds.  They often recommend certain bars, clubs and restaurants to passengers – they receive a commission to do so, and the money is then recovered by these establishments charging extortionate prices. You should never ask a taxi driver to recommend a bar or club.  If a driver offers to take you to one, or you are approached on the street with an invitation to enter a club, you should treat that advice with extreme caution.  As a general rule it is better to phone for a taxi from one of the reputable local companies (your hotel can advise).  You should also be careful in establishments where menus do not properly display prices.  Even when prices appear to be properly displayed, if you have any doubts about a bar, restaurant or club– do not go in.

 

Bag snatching and pick-pocketing are common in Budapest in particular.  Be particularly careful on busy public transport, in train stations, markets and other places frequented by tourists.

If you travel by overnight train you should, if possible, travel accompanied and you should secure your compartment from the inside.

 

Theft of and from, vehicles is common.  

 

Do not carry large amounts of cash.  Do not use street money changers.

You should take extra care when receiving bank notes as some banknotes that are no longer valid are still in circulation. We have received a very small number of reports of some taxi drivers deliberately passing these notes to tourists - as well as notes from neighbouring countries that are not valid here.  Be aware especially when paying with a 10000 or a 20000 bank note.

Information on valid Hungarian bank notes

For more general information see Victims of crime abroad.

Political Situation

 

Hungary Country Profile

There are occasional political demonstrations against the Government in Budapest and elsewhere in the country.  These tend to take place on or close to important national holidays with a political relevance - such as 15 March (anniversary of 1848 Revolution) and 23 October (anniversary of 1956 Anti-Soviet Uprising). There have been some cases where generally peaceful political demonstrations ended in violence.  As a precaution, you should avoid all political demonstrations.

 

Local travel

Road Travel

 

In 2007 there were 1,232 road deaths in Hungary (source: DfT). This equates to 12.2 road deaths per 100,000 of population and compares to the UK average of 5.0 road deaths per 100,000 of population in 2007.

 

It is illegal to drive having consumed any alcohol.

 

The use of headlights is compulsory on roads outside towns even in daytime.

 

Vehicles using the Hungarian motorways M1, M3, M5 and M7 need to be in possession of a motorway vignette, obtainable at petrol stations and post offices.  Motorway toll can also be paid online http://www.ppo.hu.

 

In winter, equip your car for severe conditions.

 

For more general information see Driving abroad.

 

Air Travel

 

The revised EU-wide security measures that came into effect for all passengers departing from UK airports in November 2006 are also being implemented in Hungary.  For more details about this see Airline security.

 

Public transport in Budapest

Foreign visitors to Budapest are often caught out by the ticket system in Budapest, and fined by ticket inspectors.  You should follow the passenger information notices, which are usually printed in English.  Make sure you validate your ticket before starting your journey (i.e. before you get to the platform if travelling by Metro; and immediately after boarding buses, trams or trolley buses).  You should keep your ticket until the end of your journey and show it to inspectors on request.  Please note that you have to validate another ticket every time you change lines.

You should also note that a special ticket is required for use on the night service network.

For more information on ticket conditions and prices, visit the website of the Budapest Transport Authority.