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circuits: destination budapest |
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BUDAPESTTransport: By Car:
Speed limits are 120kph (74mph) on motorways, 100kph (62mph) on dual carriageways, 80kph (50mph) on main roads and 50kph (30 mph) in built-up areas. Seatbelts are compulsory in the front seats and outside built-up areas for passengers in the back seats. Budapest is famous for its ill-maintained asphalt roads, deserving the title of a pot-hole capital. Care should be exercised when driving in the city, locals have a bad reputation for ignoring the rules of the road, so try to anticipate where possible. A valid, full UK, US or Canadian licence is needed to drive in Hungary. Old style 'green' UK licences are accepted only if accompanied by an International Driving Permit (IDP). There is virtually a 100% ban on alcohol when you are driving, and this rule is very strictly enforced. Do not think you will get away with even a few glasses of wine at lunch if caught and found to have even 0.008 alcohol in the blood, you will be fined. If the level is higher, you will be arrested.
Parking in Budapest, like most major cities can be a real headache. If you're staying in a hotel with parking facilities, then you're best bet is to use the metro (as there are relatively few multi-storey car parks in city centre, although see below for details). Double parking is rife although traffic wardens and clamping units do operate. If you do find a parking meter, the tariff per hour is 100-300 HUF. Travel Places use a very reliable local operator for hire vehicles, please call John or Stuart on 01903 885111 for further information.
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Traffic drives on the right. Motorways are marked by ‘M’ and international roads by ‘E’. Minor roads are designated by two or more digit numbers. Most motorways are toll-free, with the exception of the M5 from Budapest to Kecskemét, the Gyor-Hegyeshalom stretch of the M1 and the M3 between Budapest and Füzesabony.
Nowadays, all petrol stations (benzinkut) in Hungary stock unleaded fuel. Most are open from 6am to 10pm, although 24hr service is now widely available at Shell, BP, Aral and Ágip stations. Fuel octane ratings are: 98 (extra), 92 (super), 86 (normal), 95 octane lead-free (olomentes benzin) and diesel (diezel). While self-service stations are on the increase, attended service (where tips should be given) is still the norm.
Hungarian main-line railways are operated by MAV. There are three main railway termini in Budapest, Keleti (eastern), Nyugati (western), and Deli (southern), operating both domestic and international rail services. Budapest was one of the main stops of the Orient Express until 2001, when the service was cut back to Paris-Vienna.
The Budapest Subway system is the second oldest subway in Europe (after the London Underground). The original subway line is now the M1 or Yellow line. It was fully restored to its original condition, for a historical ride. Two other lines, the M2 (red) and M3 (blue), were built later and serve other parts of the city, and a fourth line is currently under construction. |