I- Information Regarding Budapest

Travel

Travelling from Dubai
​Airline companies that leave from Dubai heading directly to Budapest:
Emirates Airline
WizzAir

While there are many other Airlines that have a one stop before reaching Budapest such as
Qatar Airline
​Austrian Airline
Turkish Airline

Arrival in Budapest
Passengers are recommended to use Főtaxi, the official taxi partner of Budapest Airport to reach their destinations in Budapest, without need for reservation. Upon arrival simply approach the taxi counters located right outside the terminal buildings at the airport.
You can also rent a car online. Major international Car Rental Companies operate at the Airport

Temporary accommodation, we can recommend:  
Star City Hotel
Budapest 1078, István utca 14.
Tel: +36 1 479 0420
Fax: +36 1 342 4661
E-mail: info@starhotel.hu
Web: www.starhotel.hu/studyhungary
​or
Barocco Hostel
Budapest 1093, Lónyai utca 9.
Tel: +36 952 0089
E-mail: baroccohostel@gmail.com
Web: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Barocco-Hostel/194828807248806

Other Useful Information-Budapest

The Currency used is Hungarian Forint. In Jan. 2016, 1 EUR = 313 HUF and 1 USD=287 HUF
​The relatively low living costs in Budapest mean that students’ money goes much further than in countries like the US or UK, enabling students to concentrate on their studies in comfort, usually without the need to find part-time employment to finance their studies.
Eating out is relatively cheap and is affordable to students on a regular basis, well-stocked supermarkets are reasonably priced, while the comprehensive public transport system connects all corners of the city for very low prices.
Cultural activities are abundant and available for all at remarkable prices. A night at Budapest’s awesome Opera House need not be reserved for a special occasion.
Cinema tickets remain much cheaper than in the US and UK, with many films screened in English.
Many supermarkets and small neighborhood convenience stores are found in Budapest and you will come to rely on both. Food stores usually open early and the larger supermarkets stay open into the evening, those at malls usually until 9:00 p.m. Some neighborhood grocery shops are open 24 hours—look for the Non-stop sign.
Open air farmers’ markets are best to visit on Saturday mornings, although many are also open during the week. The large market hall at Fővám tér near the Szabadság hid (Freedom Bridge) is a city landmark, contains all kinds of vegetables, fruit, meats, and, fish, and is a good place to show visitors.
In all types of food shopping, it is wise to have your own plastic bags in which to put your purchased foods. You can always buy a bag at a larger store, but small grocery shops and the open air markets assume you will have your own.
Transportation http://www.bkk.hu/en/main-page/news/
There's a variety of public transportation vehicles you can choose from:
- bus, streetcar, subway, electric bus, suburban railway
You need to have a pass or validated ticket to use public transportation. You can buy a Student Monthly Pass.
​There are several official Taxi companies but there are also non-registered cabs that charge much more than the registered ones.
Registered companies: FőTaxi (official airport cab company), RádióTele5 Taxi, 6x6 Taxi, Taxi4, Barát Taxi, MiniMobil
The prices are cheaper if you call the company to order the cab than if you hail one in the street. In average the prices are: 260-280 Ft/km. There’s an extra charge if the driver waits for you.
Banking: OTP Bank (www.otpbank.hu) is the leading bank in Hungary, while other important banks also offering all the usual banking services include Budapest Bank (www.budapestbank.hu), Erste (www.erstebank.hu), MKB (www.mkb.hu), CitiBank (www.citibank.hu), Raiffeisen (www.raiffeisen.hu) and UniCredit (www.unicreditbank.hu).
ATM machines are available at all banks, on major streets, and in shopping malls. You will receive Hungarian forints (officially written as HUF) at that day’s current exchange rate. Always exchange currency at banks or at designated currency exchange shops. Be sure to take your passport with you when exchanging currency at banks, and keep all receipts for exchanges since you might need to show them when obtaining your residency permit.
Never deal with any individual offering to exchange money on the street—you will be cheated, since these men usually slip less or even worthless money in with the bills they are giving you in “exchange.”
Telephones/Telephoning: For their convenience and safety students are urged to buy a mobile (cellular) phone. A “mobil” (as it is called in Hungarian) can be purchased with a debit card system installed, thus avoiding a monthly contract fee. Mobile phones can be purchased in phone stores on major shopping streets and in shopping malls. There are 3 mobile networks in Hungary at the moment:
Telenor: 20
Vodafone: 70
T-Mobile: 30
Mobile numbers and Budapest landlines have 7 figures. If you want to phone a landline from your mobile or another mobile network, you have to use +36 to switch.
E.g. if you want to phone the school, you have to dial from your mobile the following: +36 1 413 3025
There are also debit calling cards for making inexpensive (in-country and international) long distance calls.  They (for example, Neophone, EZ Phone, and Barangoló) can be purchased at larger newsstands at a minimum of 2000 forints’ worth of time and can be used from either mobile or land line phones. The caller uses an access number to begin the call, enters the card’s account number, then the desired phone number.  These cards provide flexible use, but check the various rates they charge for international calls.
​You may check the following useful links too:
Airport: Budapest Airport
Public transportation in Budapest: BKV Zrt.
Public transportation in Szeged: Szegedi Közlekedési Kft.
Public transportation in Pécs: Pécsi Közlekedési Zrt.
Trains (to Szeged or Pécs): MÁV Zrt.
Coaches (to Szeged or Pécs): Volánbusz

II- From Budapest to Szeged

If you arrive to Hungary's international airport, Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport we recommend taking the following means of transport to get to Szeged:
By train or bus
 If you would like to take the bus from Budapest to Szeged, you should start from Budapest Népliget Bus Station. Buses leave six times a day to Szeged Bus Station (Mars Square). You can check the schedule here: http://ujmenetrend.cdata.hu/uj_menetrend/en/index.php ​
To reach the city center in Budapest we recommend you to take the Airport Minibus. To arrange a pickup please call: (+ 36) 1-296-8555.
Travel by train
Trains to Szeged depart from Nyugati Pályaudvar (Western Railway Station) and stop at Ferenc Liszt International Airport. Railway tickets to certain destinations can be purchased at the Airport station from the vending machines placed on the platforms. To destinations which are not enlisted by the vending machines, tickets and IC supplementary tickets will be issued without extra charge by the conductor on board. Travel time to Szeged is approx. 2.5 hours.
For information on timetable for trains from Budapest to Szeged please see the following website: http://elvira.mav-start.hu/elvira.dll/
Important notice: Trains usually have an additional IC-car where seat reservation is compulsory.
For more information on the price of IC surcharge (supplement and seat reservation) please visit the following webpage: http://mav-start.hu/res/tajekoztato_20130301_en.pdf
Please note that prices are subject to change.

​III- From Budapest to Pecs

By Train
​There are several daily trains between Budapest and Pécs. We recommend you to take InterCity trains which are faster and more comfortable. For timetables, prices and depart stations, see Elvira Online Timetable. Unfortunately, without a Hungarian student card, you are not entitled to the student discount.
By Bus
Volánbusz runs domestic coaches in Hungary, thus daily coaches to Pécs. They leave from Budapest Népliget Coach Terminal (Budapest, IX. ker. Üllői út 131). Check out the domestic timetable