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ESSENTIALS
My Favorite Budapest...
TRAIN STATionS
The four main train stations (“pályaudvar”)
are Nyugati (Map D-E3); Keleti (Map G4); Déli
(Map A4), and Kelenföldi (Off Map). All are
accessible by metro. Contact MÁV Hungarian
Railways Information for foreign and domestic
timetables. T: (+36 1) 444 4499 or (+36 40) 49
4949, www.mav-start.hu
TAXIS
Budapest taxis are famous for taking people
for a ride in more ways than one. Always insist
on using one of the companies listed below.
If you must hail a taxi, identify a reputable
taxi company by the car’s lights, signage, and
drivers’ identification, and ask for a price estimate
before entering the cab. All legitimate
Budapest taxi rates are are now standardized
for every taxi company.
6x6: (+36 1) 666 6666, www.6x6taxi.hu (lights
on taxi roofs are shaped like gambling dice);
Budapest Taxi: (+36 1) 777 7777, www.budapesttaxi.hu;
City Taxi: (+36 1) 211 1111, www.citytaxi.hu;
Fő Taxi: (+36 1) 222 2222, www.fotaxi.hu;
Max Taxi: (+36 1) 222 2233, www.maxtaxi.hu;
Taxi 4: (+36 1) 444 4444, www.taxi4.hu;
Tele 5 Taxi: (+36 1) 555 5555, www.taxi5.hu
RENTAL CARS
Europcar: With a simple booking system and a
great selection of vehicles, Europcar is the perfect
choice for your Budapest Airport Terminal
2b car rental. We have hourly, daily, short term,
weekly, monthly and long term deals available
in this location. T: (+36 1) 421 8370 www.
europcar.com/location/hungary/budapest/
budapest-airport-terminal-2B
Fox Autorent: A dependable and reliable car
rental company that usually offers specials.
Service includes unlimited mileage, AC, insurance,
and airport and home delivery. T: (+36 1)
382 9000, www.fox-autorent.com
Hertz Rent-A-Car: International Reservation
Center Open Mon-Fri 8am-5pm. Vecsés, Hertz
u. 2. T: (+36 1) 296 0999 or 296 0991; Budapest
Airport Terminal 2B Open daily 8am to 10pm.
T: (+36 1) 296 7171; www.hertz.hu
Sixt Hungary: Operating out of a facility in
the central buildin of Budapest Airport, the
SkyCourt, this car rental agency offers tailormade
deals for its customers. Open Mon-Fri
7am-7pm and Sat-Sun 8am-6pm. T: (+36 1) 451
4227, www.sixt.hu
bicycle rentalS
Ask your hotel concierge for information
about bike rental service to deliver bicycles
directly to your hotel.
Public bikes:
There are green Bubi bikes at 112 stations
city-wide. They are pretty heavy but the first
30 minutes of each use are free of charge.
Passes valid from 24 hours. Registration is
required, see molbubi.bkk.hu
Private bike rentals:
Bike-and-Relax: tours and rental, Andrássy
Street 7, www.bike-and-relax.com Map D4
BikeBase: Podmaniczky utca 19. (near Nyugati
station), www.bikebase.hu Map D3
HiBike: Apáczai Csere János u. 3, www.
hi-bike.hu Map D5
BOAT SERVICES
Several small public transport boats are going
up and down the river during day light hours,
docking at stations in Pest and Buda alternately
(see Map). The time schedule (www.bkk.hu/
en/timetables and click the boat services icon)
is subject to change depending on weather
and water level conditions.
AIRPorT TransporTATion
The Budapest Airport has two international
terminals, Terminal 2A and 2B. See www.bud.
hu/english for complete airport information.
Airport Minibus Service miniBUD: A shared
ride service that picks passengers up at any
address in Budapest. For travel to hotels or
within the city center, a ride costs HUF 3,900
per person one way, and HUF 6,900 for a return
trip. Arrange your ride in advance. T: (+36
1) 55 00000, www.minibud.hu/en
Airport Taxi Service: Multiple taxi companies
drive Budapest Airport passengers to and from
all city destinations. They offer fixed maximum
prices depending on the distance traveled
from the airport, with HUF 4,500 being an average
price for an airport to city center transfer.
Public Transportation: There is a direct bus
(no.100E) every half hour between the airport
and Deák square. Another bus (200E) takes
you to the ‘blue line’ metro (Kőbánya-Kispest)
that goes into the city.
WHAT MAKES HUNGARY’S TOP
HOSPITALITY PROFESSIONALS DELIGHTED
TO LIVE IN BUDAPEST? CONCIERGE
GYÖRGY ÁFRA OF THE LÁNCHÍD 11
DESIGN HOTEL SHARES A FEW OF
THE FEATURES HE CHERISHES MOST
FROM THROUGHOUT THE HUNGARIAN
METROPOLIS.
… MARKET In the festive season the
different Christmas markets in Budapest
are a must. The air is filled with the smell
of Hungarian delicacies like chimney cake
and mulled wine, the stalls are packed with
different handcrafted ornaments, design
objects and accessories. My two favorite
markets are the Vörösmarty square market
and the one in front of the Basilica. They
are in walking distance from each other
and offer excellent food as well. It is a nice
festive program to get a mulled wine or hot
chocolate and join the Christmas bustle.
…MUSEUM I always recommend the
Aquincum Museum, which shows the
remains of the Roman settlement Aquincum.
They have very interesting temporary and
permanent exhibitions, and the museum can
be easily reached by HÉV, a suburban railway
line. It is on the way to the picturesque city
of Szentendre, visiting both of these sights
makes a very nice day trip.
… CAFÉ I highly recommend coffee lovers
to visit the Frei Café. It is a local café chain,
founded by a Hungarian TV host. They offer
a huge variety of different types of coffees,
and guest can also choose by regions – the
big maps on the walls help to pick the beans.
They have cafés all over the city, including
one in Váci street. I also love their hot
chocolate, which is the perfect drink to warm
up after a cold day spent exploring the city.
György Áfra is a member of
the prestigious Clefs d’Or
organization of professional
concierges, who strive to
accommodate every guest’s
request, as their motto states, “In Service
Through Friendship”.
www.wheretraveler.com 37