Why Hungary | Facts About Hungary
Name: Hungarian Republic
Location: East-Central Europe (borders with Austria, Slovakia, Ukraina, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia)
Area: 93,030 square km
Population: 10,300,000 (21 percent under 14 and 60 percent between 15-59)
Density of population: 110 (per square km)
Form of government: Republic (parliamentary democracy - 4 year election periods)
Capital: Budapest (2 million inhabitants)
Number of counties: 19
Number of towns: 169
Number of villages: 2,904
Climate: Continental with Mediterranean and Atlantic influences
Average temperatures: January -2C (28F), July 23C (73F)
Language: Hungarian (a very special language, originating from the Finnougric tribe of languages)
Currency: Hungarian Forint - HUF (1 USD = 176.25 HUF / 05.Oct.2008)
Religion: Roman Catholic (majority), Protestant, Jewish
Urban population ratio: 60 percent
Population increment: -0.1 percent (decreasing!)
Life expectancy: men 66, women 74 (decreasing!!!)
Local time: in the winter GMT+1 hour, in the summer GMT+2 hours (same as in West Europe)
Public holidays: January 1, March 15, May 1, August 20, October 23, December 25, 26
International country phone code: 36
In addition to the more than 10 million Hungarians in Hungary, there are almost 5 million living in other countries who declare themselves as Hungarians.
Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungary
www.budapestinfo.hu/en
http://visitbudapest.travel
Money currency
The Hungarian currency is Hungarian Forint (HUF), in the stores this is the only currency to be accepted. Euro is not an official currency in Hungary, yet. The usual banking hours are from 8.00 AM till 4.00 PM every weekdays, at weekends banks are closed. Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) are available in most of the public places for examples in all hotels, railway stations, airports and many can be found on the streets, too. Credit cards (mostly Euro/Mastercard, VISA, Diners Club, AMEX, En Route, JCB) are widely used in hotels, restaurants and in certain shops. You can always see the logo of the accepted cards at the entrance of these places. The units that accept Eurochecks display the EC logo. Remember, you can only cash 3 Eurochecks at a time.
Links:
www.gocurrency.com/countries/hungary.htm
www.worldwide-tax.com/hungary/hun_current.asp
www.unicreditbank.hu
http://english.mnb.hu/Engine.aspx
National and Bank Holidays in Hungary
- 1st of January - New Year's Eve
- 15th of March
- Eastern Monday
- 1st of May - Labour Day
- Whit Monday
- 20th of August
- 23rd of October
- 1st of November - All Saints
- 25th and 26th of December - Christmas
Links:
www.filolog.com/crosscultureHolidays.html