General Informations
Visas
Hungary has a very liberal visa policy. Visitors from
EU, Switzerland, US and Canada do not need visas.
Visas can be obtained
at the border-crossing point if you arrive by plane or car.
You should not come by train, however, if you plan to obtain
a visa at the border. General remark: If in doubt, please
inquire about visa requirements at the Hungarian Embassies.
Currency
The Hungarian currency is called Forint (Ft), the current
exchange rates are: 1$~270Ft, 1DM~130Ft, 1BP~410Ft, 1ITL~0.13Ft.
Exchange is possible at the air terminals, major railway stations,
banks, tourist offices and hotels all over the city. Keep your
receipts: you can change back your unused forints
at the border stations when you leave the country.
Do not change money on the street!
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Location and public transport
Budapest
is a bustling city with over two million inhabitants.
Its two halves are Buda and Pest. Buda, on the right bank of the
Danube, has hills and valleys, and has for centuries been the
administrative centre of the country; it was formerly the royal
seat. On the left bank, Pest has grown into a large, busy and
modern city, spreading out on to the plain.
The metro, buses, trams and trolleys in Budapest run without conductors.
Tickets are valid for one ride only on any of these services, and
must be validated by a "punching machine" upon entering the metro
station or inside the other vehicles. Tickets should be bought in
advance at metro stations, tobacco shops or ticket machines.
One ticket costs ~95Ft. All-day and all-week passes for the whole
city are also available.
Note that there are black and red numbered bus services: the red
numbered buses are faster, as they stop less frequently, but their
route often differs somewhat from that of their `black' counterparts.
Maps, telephones, shopping hours
City maps are available at Hotels, Railway Stations, bookstores,
newsstands. If you drive, we suggest you to buy a detailed street map
of Budapest before entering the city (e.g.\ at petrol stations).
Public phones are either payphones or cardphones. Payphones
operate with 10-20-50Ft coins, cardphones work with
phonecards obtainable at Post offices and tobacco shops.
Shopping hours are generally from 10.00 to 18.00 on weekdays, with
shorter hours on Saturdays. Most shops are closed on Sundays.
Most credit cards are accepted at major downtown shops and restaurants.
Weather
Hungary is in the continental temperate zone, the weather in
July is usually warm, pleasant. Daily temperatures range
between 20C and 30C. Do not forget, however, to bring your umbrella.
Meals
Breakfasts will be at your hotel while the lunches will be served
at the conference site. Both are included in the registration fee.
The first (last) meal for the School period is the breakfast on July 2,
Sunday, (breakfast, July 8, Saturday).
The first (last) meal for the Workshop period is the breakfast on July 2,
Sunday, (breakfast, July 9, Sunday).
Suppers: The low end of the cost of a meal + wine or beer in a tidy and
clean restaurant with good cooking is $5-$10. The upper limit is somewhat higher
and our advice is to exercise selfcontrol in investigating it.
Emergency phone numbers
If you get lost or in any sort of trouble, please call the conference
site at the Eötvös University
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372-2546   (Secretaries)            
372-2509   (Fax)
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Emergency calls are free at any place in Hungary:
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104   Ambulance,        
105   Firemen,        
107   Police
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