Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Time
Hungary is one hour ahead of GMT, six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time and nine
ahead of Pacific Standard Time. A word of caution: Hungarians express time in a way that
might confuse the Anglophone traveller. As in German, 10.30am is expressed as “half elev-
en” (written 1/2 11 or f11), 10.45am is “three-quarter-eleven” (3/4 11 or h11), and 10.15am
is “a quarter of eleven” (1/4 11 or n11).
Tipping
Tipping is standard practice in most restaurants; ten percent or thereabouts is fine, unless the
service was not worth it. Note that ten, twelve or even fifteen percent may have quietly been
added to the bill, though restaurant menus really should state whether a service charge is in-
cluded. Otherwise, include the tip when you are paying the bill - say the amount you want to
pay and they will give you the change - or give the tip to the staff rather than leaving it on
the table. Taxi drivers usually get five to ten percent, more if they have helped you with bags
or been similarly useful. It's also customary to tip bath attendants who unlock your cubicle
(100-200Ft is usual). In all cases, when tipping be warned that if you expect change back,
don't say köszönöm (thank you) when handing over payment, as it will be assumed that you
want the change to be kept.
Tourist information
The official tourist office, Budapestinfo ( budapestinfo.hu ), has several branches in town,
as well as desks at both airport terminals. There are also a couple of independent tourist of-
fices providing similar information, but with more enthusiasm.
INFORMATION OFFICES
Budapestinfo V, Sütő utca 2, by the Deák tér metro (daily 8am-8pm; 1 438 8080, bud-
apestinfo.hu ) ; VI, Liszt Ferenc tér 11, on the corner of Andrássy út (daily: 10am-6pm
1 486 3311); and XIV, Hősök tere, in the City Park Ice Rink building (daily 10am-6pm).
Good for getting maps, brochures and the Budapest Card, but otherwise they have limited
information.
Discover Budapest VI, Lázár utca 16 (Mon-Sat 9am-4pm, June-Aug open Sun too 1
269 3842, discoverbudapest.com ). Handy office just behind the Opera House, with in-
formation on the city and on walking, cycle and Segway tours.
Kazimir VII, Kazinczy utca 34 (Mon-Fri 10am-6pm 1 798 5748, info.kazimir.hu ).
One of the city's friendliest tourist information points in the middle of the Seventh district
that can guide you on tours of the old Jewish quarter - but also has information on the rest
of the city. The staff speak English - the website will follow shortly.
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