Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Left
Budapest police badge
Centre
Local ambulance
Right
Interior of a pharmacy
Security and Health
!
Emergency
%
Dentists
(
Food and Water
Numbers
To call an ambulance,
dial 104; for police 107;
for the ire service 105.
Speak clearly and the
operator will understand
you as they all speak a
variety of languages.
@
Police
Hungarian dental
treatment is good, and
cheap. If you desperately
need a dentist, call SOS
Dental Services or
Stomatologia. Both places
operate around the clock.
Safety
Tap water is safe to
drink, though given the
high quality of bottled
water, nobody actually
does. Food poisoning is a
more common problem,
and the street
gyros
(pitta
sandwich) stands are best
avoided for this reason.
)
Consulates
^
Pharmacies
The Hungarian word
for pharmacy is
patika
or
gyógyszertár
although
you will see the German
word
apotheke
in use as
well. There are many 24-
hour pharmacies, though
few in the centre. The
closest is Déli Gyógys-
zertár, opposite Déli
Station in Buda, and Teréz
Patika, near Oktogon
Metro Station in Pest.
&
Precautions
If you're careful, your
only brush with the city's
police force is likely to be
when you ask for direc-
tions. Most police oficers
speak English and are
happy to help. The
Hungarian word for police
is
rendőrség
. Note that
while random ID checks
are rare, you are required
to carry some form of
identiication with you at
all times. A photocopy of
your passport will sufice.
Most major countries
have consulates in the
city. In an emergency,
especially if you have any
dealings with the police,
insist on contacting your
consulate, who will offer
legal assistance.
Directory
Emergency Numbers
• Ambulance: 104
• Fire Service: 105
• Police: 107
Hospitals
• Főnix S.O.S. Rt. Med-
ical Service: 200 01 00
Dentists
• SOS Dental Services
(24-hour): VI, Király utca
14; 267 96 02
• Stomatologia (24-
hour): VIII, Szentkirály
utca 40; 317 66 00
Pharmacies
• Déli Gyógyyszertár:
Alkotás utca 1/B; 355 46
91 • Teréz Patika: Teréz
körút 41; 311 44 39
Consulates
• Canada: 392 33 60
• France: 374 11 00
• Germany: 488 35 00
• UK: 266 28 88
• USA: 475 44 00
Budapest remains a
very safe city, and no
particular precautions are
necessary, except for
common sense. Avoid
lashing large sums of
money in public, don't
get into an unmarked
taxi, and do not talk to
strange girls along Váci
utca. Also, make sure
you remember the name
and address of your hotel.
There is almost no vio-
lent crime in Budapest.
£
Hospitals
Budapest's hospitals
are excellent, although
doctors and nurses are
underpaid. Do ensure
that you tip them if you
require their services.
Most foreigners will be
given free medical care
in an emergency, but you
should have good health
insurance nevertheless.
There are now many
private hospitals that
cater mainly to expats.
*
Pickpockets
Petty thieves are a
fact of life in Budapest.
You would do well to
avoid crowded areas.
Backpackers are a fav-
ourite target for pickpock-
ets, and the buses to and
from Keleti Station are
their haunts
(see p106)
.
$
Fire
Don't panic in case
of a fire. Tell the operator
where the ire is. If you
think you smell a ire in
summer, it may just be
smog, which descends
on the city occasionally.
For more information on what to avoid in Budapest
see p106
.
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