Global Volunteer Conference 2011gary/budapest/

Transcription

1 Global Volunteer Conference 2011gary/budapest/ September Budapest, Hungary

2 Table of contents FOR URGENT CALLS UPON ARRIVAL PLEASE CALL Margit Tauzer, Admin Manager Phone: Our Welcome Pack has two sections: 1. Useful general information 2. Budapest in a nutshell If you want to print the useful information section only, print pages 3-6

3 Airport transfer Airport transfer is pre-booked based on your arrival details The taxi company (Fotaxi) will meet and greet you with a personalised sign upon arrival. Please note that you might be sharing airport transfer with other participants who are arriving at the same time. The taxi company is provided with the address of the hotel, payment can settled in EUR or in HUF (Hungarian Forint). Should you miss your airport transfer for any reasons, just make your way outside the arrival terminal to the taxi booth. Upon providing the address to the assistant in the booth, you will receive a receipt with the price (in EUR and in HUF). Pay this amount upon arrival to the taxi driver. Your hotel and vicinity Hotel Address: Hotel Flamenco, 3-7 Tas Vezér street, 1113 Budapest The hotel is located on the Buda side of Budapest. With a park a restaurant and a shopping centre nearby. You can find more details on what is in the vicinity on the map of the page. danubius_hotel_flamenco Air-conditioning Wi-Fi Safe in all rooms Business centre Fitness room Swimming pool Sauna and solarium Beauty parlour

4 TELEPHONE Country code for Hungary: + 36 City code for Budapest: 1 Hotel phone number: General information ELECTRICITY The power supply is 220 volts AC. Sockets typically accept two-pin round plugs. MAKE SURE TO BRING CONVERTER WITH YOU! Time Budapest is on Central European Time (CET) GMT +1 hour Summer time (March to mid October) GMT +2 hours. Currency Average exchange rate in February USD = 200 HUF, 1 Euro = 270 HUF The Hungarian currency unit is the Forint (HUF). Banknotes are issued in denominations of 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, and forints. Coins in circulation are 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 forints. In most places only Forints are in circulation, although some bigger shops, restaurants and taxi accept Euro. Exchange money only at licensed places or in banks. Do not take the risk of changing money in the street or at the airport. Most banks have 24-hour banknote exchange ATMs. Credit card and cash card ATMs are operational round the clock.

5 Health Central Emergency Number: 112 Fönix SOS Medical Service (Cost: EUR 150 for onsite assistance) 1st Med Medical Centre with 24hrs hotline , Non-stop dental service SOS Dental Service, (24 hours) Ambulance: 104 Taxi and public transport When travelling within the city make sure that you call for a taxi instead of just stopping one on the street. We recommend using taxi to get to the city centre from hotel, but you can find information on the public transport option at the back of the welcome pack. TIPPING In most restaurants tips are included in the form of service fee. Where service fee is not included the tip is usually 10% depending on the quality of service. For the purposes of tipping, you can also round up taxi fares. WARNING!!! There are independent no-name taxi companies parking at railway stations and popular tourist spots. They only have a taxi sign on the top of the car and no other sign on the side (such as name of telephone number). We highly recommend not using these to avoid excessive billing. We recommend the following taxi companies: City Taxi Fotaxi X6 Taxi Budapest has an excellent public transport system of trams, metro, buses and trolleybuses. Here is the link to the English version of the Budapest Transport company: Tickets for public transport can be bought at the ticket office at metro stations, or at the hotel. Make sure that you purchase and validate your ticket because the ticket inspectors can fine you. To see the price of tickets and passes, click on this link:

6 USEFUL WEBSITES Additional information Working hours Food stores: open from 7 a.m. 6-7 p.m. A few small food stores operate non-stop. Department stores: 10 a.m. 6 p.m. Mon. to Friday. Saturday from 10:00 till 13:00. Shopping malls: 10:00 20:00 during the week (except public holidays) City market at the end of Váci utca open till 16:00. Only big shopping centers are open on Sunday. Banks: Monday Thursday 8 am 3 pm, Friday 8 am 1 pm Post office: generally open from 8 am 6 pm Mon Fri, 8 am noon on Saturday. Your first words in Hungarian Jó napot kivánok good day Köszönöm szépen thank you Köszi thanks Jo étvágyat Bon appetit Bocsánat I am sorry Szia hello and good bye Nem beszélek magyarul I do not speak Hungarian Bejárat entrance Kijárat exit Martin vagyok My name is Martin Anne vagyok My name is Anne nulla zero egy one kettö two hàrom three négy four öt five hat six hét seven nyolc eight kilenc nine tiz ten

7 Budapest facts and figures Budapest, the capital of the Republic of Hungary, lies in the centre of the Carpathian Basin in Europe, on both sides of the river Danube. Budapest is the world s only metropolis, where there are more than 130 thermal springs and wells.

8 Budapest Europe/Hungary Area: 525 square kilometers (25 km from N to S, 29 km from E to W) Population: 1, 815, 000 Population density: 3,456 persons/sq km Administrative structure: 23 districts Buda: one-third of the area of the city on the hilly, right bank of the Danube Pest: two-thirds of the area of the city on the flat, left bank of the Danube Islands (from north to south): Óbuda Island, Margaret Island, Csepel Island Bridges: nine bridges, of which two are rail bridges Hungary/Budapest PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 15 March Revolution of August Hungarian National Day, The Festival of King St. Stephen 23 October Commemorating day of the Revolution of May Labour Day Christian holidays 1 January, 1 November - All Saints Day, Easter, White Monday, Christmas and Boxing Days (25 26 December).

9 Spa, thermal bath, swimming pool Széchenyi Gyógyfürdo és Uszoda Hosök Tere metro (M1) station Állatkerti körút 11, Phone: For more thermal bath and spa options please visit: Sights of Budapest Must-see tourist attractions in Budapest Parliament Az ország háza 1055 Budapest, Kossuth Lajos tér 1 angol.htm After long discussion the construction of Parliament began in 1885 according to plans by Imre Steindl. Completed in 1904 it is one of Europe s most splendid Parliament buildings, reflecting its designer s taste and the nation s demands for representation. At the same time it is one of the landmarks of the capital. The neo-gothic palace is 268 m long and its dome is 96 m high. The outer walls are decorated with statues of Hungarian monarchs and military commanders.

10 Buda Castle A World Heritage Site Budapest Castle District Budapest Budavár 1014 Budapest Buda_Castle Budapest s Castle District abandons in great historic attractions, interesting museums, charming, crooked streets following the shape of the hill, little cafés and restaurants. Besides the monuments you get a breathtaking panorama from of the Danube with the Chain Bridge and the opposite Pest side. This was the residence of Hungarian kings. First inhabitants moved up here in the 13th century after the devastating Mongol attacks. Budapest Castle District s Golden Age started when the Royal Court moved here. During the 15th century, under the rule of King Matthias, Buda became one of Europe s most influential cities. The Turks invaded Budapest Castle District in 1541 and ruled it until 1686 when the Austrian Habsburgs and their allied armies took back the hill. The siege left Castle District in ruins. After the Turks the Habsburgs moved here, reconstructions began immediately, following the old street layout. The Castle became a government district. The current elegant Baroque appearance was formed by the mid 18th century. The battles in ruined the place again. Reconstructions after the war rebuilt Budapest Castle District: the buildings by the Habsburgs were reconstructed, the street pattern of the medieval city has been kept and much of the architectural features have been restored. People still live here. Cars are banned from Budapest Castle District: only people who live or work in the area, guests of the Hilton Hotel, taxis and the Várbusz have permission to drive up here. Matthias Church Mátyás-templom 1014 Budapest, Szentháromság tér 2 index1.html This was the coronation church of Hungarian kings since King Matthias. The records of 1247 first mention this church as the main church of Buda Castle. The originally French building in early Gothic style has been consistently enlarged and rebuilt over the centuries. In 1526, when the Turks conquered Buda, the church was transformed into a mosque. After the re-conquest of the city (1686) the church belonged to the Franciscans and later to the Jesuits. Between the years 1874 and 1896, Frigyes Schulek completely reconstructed the Church of Our Lady in the neo-gothic style.

11 Fishermen s Bastion Halászbástya 1014 Budapest, Szentháromság tér 5 Fisherman s_bastion As part of the expansive plans for the reconstruction of Castle Hill in the late 19th century was that segment of the city-wall that stands behind Matthias Church. Between 1901 and 1905 the existing parts of the fortress were connected by neo-romanesque corridors, terraces and towers following designs by Frigyes Schulek. The Fishermen s Bastion has become one of the capital s landmarks, offering a panoramic view of Pest. The Heroes Square Hosök tere 1146 Budapest herossquare.html Part of an extensive World Heritage site (with Andrássy Avenue) The spectacular ensemble of statues erected to commemorate the thousandth anniversary of the Magyar Conquest is situated at the end of Budapest s most beautiful avenue (Andrássy Street). Many of the statues representing Hungarian Monarchs and Princes of Transylvania were made by György Zala. At the center of the Monument there is a column surrounded by seven figures - leaders of the seven Hungarian tribes. The Opera House Magyar Állami Operaház 1061 Budapest, Andrássy út 22 The construction of the Opera, completed in 1884, was executed according to plans by Miklós Ybl. An ornate interior and exterior in the neo-renaissance style serves the needs of the metropolis. Fine art works from leading Hungarian artists decorate the building.

12 St. Stephen s Basilica Szent István Bazilika 1051 Budapest Szent István tér 1 St. Stephen s Basilica is dedicated to Hungary s first king, St. Stephen. It took more than 5 decades and 3 architects to build Budapest s Basilica. The largest church in Budapest, about 8500 people can get in. Apart from its vastness St Stephen s Basilica offers other attractions it houses Hungary s most sacred treasure, St Stephen s mummified right hand, the Szent Jobb (Holy Right Hand). The Synagogue in Dohány Street Dohány utcai zsinagóga 1077 Budapest, Dohány utca 8 hu/synagogue/ The Synagogue of Pest is one of the most beautiful and the largest in Europe. The three flat-celling halls of the Synagogue are of equal height. This stunning temple was constructed between according to Ludwig Förster s plans. The second largest synagogue (the largest stands in New York) in the world can take in 3,000 people. Its Byzantine-Moorish style will fascinate you and remind you of monuments in the Middle-East. Two onionshaped domes sit on the twin towers at 43 m height. The towers symbolize the two columns of Solomon s Temple. The Zoo Fovárosi Állat- és Növénykert 1142 Budapest, Állatkerti körút 5 The Zoo, established and opened in 1866, was enlarged in 1912, when many new animal-houses were built, which today are still the Zoo s most significant pieces of architecture. The main entrance and the elephanthouse, richly decorated with ceramics.

13 The Chain Bridge Lánchíd Connecting Buda with Pest from Adam Clark square to Széchenyi István (former Roosevelt) square. In 1832, count István Széchenyi, the greatest Hungarian began to organize the construction of the bridge. While travelling in England, Széchenyi became personally acquainted with William Thierney Clark, who was commissioned to draft the plans for the bridge, and his namesake Adam Clark was asked to direct the construction, which was finished in Citadel Citadella 1118 Budapest index_eng.htm It is a white-stoned fortress from the 19th century on the top of Gellért Hill, crowned by the 14 m tall Liberation Monument, a striking statue of a woman holding a palm leaf of victory. The fortress was built in 1851 by the Austrians as a symbol of their power over the Hungarians after the Revolution and War of Independence. The Monument was raised by the Russians in You can enjoy a wonderful panorama of the whole city from here. Margit Island Margitsziget Budapest Margaret_Island This two-and-a-half kilometer long island, one of the popular resting places in Budapest, got its name after Princess Margit who lived here in a convent in the 13th century. The island was inhabited from the 12th century. Dominicans and Franciscans established monasteries here. From the late 18th century it became a summer resort for aristocrats and later for the upper middle-class. Medicinal thermal baths and fine restaurants attract thousands of tour-ists each year.

14 Food&Drink our specialities The ingredients we cook with, are simple. The fertile Hungarian plain and the favourable climate provide excellent conditions for growing tasty vegetables, fruits, and to raise domestic animals whose meat is savoury. Several special ingredients are account for the distinctive flavour of Hungarian meals: Hungarian paprika, lard, onion and garlic, sour cream, cottage cheese, walnut and poppy seed in sweet courses.

15 Hungarian cousine Typical Hungarian dishes goulash soup (gulyásleves), fish soup (halászlé), Újházy chicken soup (Újházy tyúkleves) stuffed cabbage (töltöttkáposzta) chicken paprikás with gnocchi (csirkepaprikás galuskával) stuffed green pepper (töltöttpaprika), cottage cheese pastry (túrós csusza) sweet milk-bread with poppy seed (mákos guba) The desserts to be tasted are Gundel pancakes filled with walnut creme, chocolate sauce and some alcohol on the top (Gundel palacsinta), - on fire!, strudel (rétes), that is filled with cherry, cottage cheese, poppy seed, or anything, mostly sweet, Somlói galuska that is sponge cake with raisins and some rum, chocolate, vanilla cream and whipped cream on top. Wine The most famous of the Hungarian wines are Tokaji Aszú which has been known as the king of wines, the wine of kings. The higher number of puttony of the late-harvested honey sweet grapes you see on its label, the better the quality (and the sweeter) the wine. In 1996, the 1972 six-puttony Aszú won the honorable prize of the best dessert wine in the world! Eating out Budapest has the advantage that you can have good meals at affordable prices. Because Budapest s restaurant scene is changing very rapidly and there is a wide variety of restaurants, please visit this website: