General Information



Arriving in Budapest
Please click here for detailed transport information.

Best Buys
The most popular souvenirs are handmade folk-art products, such as embroidered cloths, pillowcases, dolls dressed in Hungarian folklore costumes, pottery and, especially, porcelain. Hungarian porcelain is well known internationally for its good quality, and can be bought at good prices in Budapest. 
The main shopping street is Vaci utca, in the central area of Pest, where department stores and shopping arcades can be found. In the Great Market Hall (Nagy Vasarcsarnoki), an enormous 19th century indoor market, there are many stalls selling meat, fruits and vegetables, cheese, wines and spirits.

Business Hours
Generally, shops are open Monday to Friday from 10.00 to 18.00, and on Saturdays from 10.00 to 13.00. Some supermarkets also open on Sunday. In the city centre there are several 24-hour shops that sell basic products.

Certificate of Attendance
A Certificate of Attendance will be available for all delegates upon request at the registration desk.

Climate
The weather in Budapest in June / July is hot and sunny with temperatures around 25°C.

Communications, Email and Internet
Reliable internet access is readily available in hotels and internet centres located throughout Budapest.

Credit Cards and ATM’s
All the most popular credit, debit and charge cards (AMEX, Diners Club, Cirrus, EnRoute, Euro/Mastercard, JCB and VISA) can be used in banks and in ATM’s to withdraw money, and also in hotels, restaurants and shops for purchases (signs are displayed at the entrance of the shops/ restaurants showing which cards are acceptable).

Currency
The unit of currency is Hungarian Forint (HUF). In Hungary the abbreviation of Forint is Ft.
Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 HUF. Bank notes: 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000,
20,000 HUF.  For up-to-date currency exchange rates check www.xe.com/ucc/

It is advisable to keep records of currency exchange transactions until leaving the country. Rates offered at ‘bureaux de change’ in the city centre and near the main railway stations are generally better than those available in the banks, at the airport and in hotels.

Customs
Under the effective excise regulations, the following products are to be considered excise goods: mineral oil, alcohol, beer, wine, sparkling wine,intermediate (alcohol) products, tobacco products.
Private individuals aged more than 17 may bring from personal use the following quantities of excise goods into the customs territory of Hungary free of duty:
Tobacco products:
•    200 pieces of cigarettes or
•    100 pieces of cigarillos (of the maximum weight of 3 grams per piece) or
•    50 pieces of cigars or
•    250 grams of cigarette or pipe tobacco or
•    a proportionate mixture of the above products
Alcohol and alcoholic beverages:
•    spirits and distillates containing more than 22% alcohol by volume; non-denaturated alcohol containing 80% or more alcohol by volume: 1 litre, or
•    distillates and alcoholic beverages, wine or other alcohol-based aperitifs,tafia, sake or other similar drinks containing less than 22% alcohol by volume; sparkling wines, liqueur wines: one litre or a proportionate quantity in the case of several items and
•    still wines: two litres.
In addition to the above, the fuel contained by the standard fuel tank of motor vehicles can be brought into the customs territory of Hungary free of duty.
For further information, please check the Hungarian Customs & Finance Guard's website at  http://vam.gov.hu/index.html

Dietary Matters
Most special dietary requirements can be catered to by giving advance notice to your hotel and the 28th IEC Secretariat. 

Electricity
Voltage in Hungary is 230 volts, and plugs are of the two-pin continental type.

General Information 
The capital city of Hungary, Budapest, was created out of the unification of the separate historic towns of Buda, Pest and Óbuda in the year 1873. The area had been inhabited from early times, but  it is not until that date that the city’s expansion into a world capital really began. Budapest is divided by the River Danube, with the city being a natural geographical centre, as well as it is the country’s transport hub. Budapest, known as the ‘Pearl of the Danube’, is also called the City of Spas, as there are a dozen thermal baths complexes served by over a hundred natural thermal springs.
The legacy of different cultures throughout its history has made of Budapest a really unique city. Some examples of this legacy include Celtic and Roman ruins, Turkish baths, Gothic and Baroque buildings, Art Nouveau arquitecture, grandiose statues and monuments from the Communist Era, etc. 

Budapest is renowned as one of the most beautiful World Heritage sites, with Andrassy Avenue, the Castle District and the Danube Embankment all holders of this prestigious award.

Budapest covers an area of 200 m2 and is divided into 23 administrative districts. The population of Budapest is 1.8 million people.

Health Requirements
No immunizations are required.

Language
The official language of Hungary is Hungarian; however, German and English are widely understood. The official language of the Congress is English; please note that translation facilities will not be provided.

Liability and Insurance
The congress organisers will not accept liability for personal injury or loss/damage to property/belongings of participants or accompanying persons, either before, during or following the congress, tours or their stay in Budapest. It is therefore recommended that participants arrange their own personal health, accident and travel insurance.

Telephone
The international code for Hungary is 36 and the area code for Budapest is 1. To call a number within Hungary, first dial 06. Budapest telephone numbers comprise seven digits, all other areas’ have six digits (excluding the area code in both cases).
To call a (Hungarian) mobile telephone, first dial 06, followed by the subscriber’s seven-digit number starting with either 20-, 30- or 70-.
To make an international call from Hungary, first dial 00, then the country code followed by the area code and the subscriber’s telephone number. 

Religion
Hungary is a country with a diverse heritage of religions. The main religions represented in Hungary nowadays are Roman Catholic, which accounts for about half of the total population of Hungary and Protestantism  (approx. 20% of population). There are also small Jewish and Muslim communities.

Smoking
Hungarian by-laws specify that smoking is not permitted in public places. Restaurants also have to separate smoking and non-smoking areas. It is not permitted to smoke at HUNGEXPO Budapest Fair Center.

Tax and service charges
In most cases, Hungary Value Added Tax is payable at a rate of 20%.
There is a reduced 5% rate that relates mainly to products and services such as books and medicines.
Generally, service charges are not included in the bill.

Time
Budapest is in the Central European Time Zone (Greenwich Mean Time + 1 hour / U.S. Eastern Standard Time + 6 hours)

Tipping
Tipping is part of the culture in Hungary and is the norm at most places.
Unless you are particularly discontent with the service it is customary to tip approximately the 10% of the total bill in restaurants. The way to tip in Hungary differs from other  countries: when you get the bill, add on how much you want to tip for the service, and ask the waiter to charge you the total amount.
Also a tip of approx. the 10% of the cost of the journey would be expected when travelling by taxi.

Transport to the congress
Please click here for detailed transport information.

Venue
Address: H-1101 Budapest Albertirsai út 10.
The HUNGEXPO Budapest Fair Center is situated approx 20 min from the city centre and approx 20 minute from the International Airport. For a location map of HUNGEXPO Budapest Fair Center, please click here.

Visas
Everyone entering Hungary must have a valid passport and in some cases also a visa. Citizens of the USA, Japan and most European countries do not require visas to visit Hungary for stays of up to 90 days. Citizens of other countries can obtain a visa at the Hungarian Embassy or Consulate in their country. A valid passport is required. For more information about visas, please check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website: www.mfa.gov.hu.

Registered congress participants who require an official letter of invitation in order to support a visa application should contact the Congress Secretariat.

What to Wear
Light  clothing is recommended for Summer months in Budapest (with temperatures around 25˚C). There can be showers after a hot and humid Summer day, so it is advisable to have an umbrella and a jumper to hand for the summer evenings.