Basic facts
Time: Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 between the last Sunday in March and the Saturday before the last Sunday in October).
Electricity: 230 volts, 50 Hz A/C. European-style two-pin plugs are as standard.
Language: Hungarian (Magyar) is the native language, but German is widely spoken. English is spoken in tourist areas and most hotels.
Health: No vaccinations are required and the standards of public health are good. Tap water is safe to drink. A reciprocal health agreement with countries of the EU provides nationals with free emergency health care. All towns have pharmacies. Health insurance is recommended.
Tipping: Taxi drivers and waiters expect a tip of between 10 to 15%. Waiters should be handed the cash rather than have it left on the table. Most people in the service industry expect to be tipped about10-15%.
Safety: Visits to Hungary are relatively trouble-free, but like any city in the world, watch out for picket-pockets!
Communications: The international dialling code for Hungary is +36. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). There are often high surcharges on calls
made from hotels; it is cheaper to use public telephone boxes or calling cards. Local directory assistance is available by dialling 198 and international directory assistance 199. Callers may have to hold for a few moments but English-speaking operators are always available. The local mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most international operators. Internet cafes are available in the main towns. 
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