Straddling the Danube where East meets West, Budapest has spent the last two millennia being overrun by Romans, Slavs, and then Magyars - the asiatic forebears of the present-day Hungarians - followed by Mongols, Turks, Habsburgs, Romanians, Nazis, Soviets, and, lately, Irish real estate speculators. As the capital of what was widely considered the least miserable of the Warsaw Pact states during the latter decades of the Cold War, Budapest met the changes of 1989 head-on and has since made immense progress culminating in Hungary's joining the EU in May 2005.

Show Me the Money

Hungarian banknotes come in denominations of 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000, and 20,000 forints. Confused by all the zeros? A good rule of thumb is to think of the 2000 forint note as a fiver. Also keep in mind that those 2000 forints buy a round of six pints!

If you bring Pounds or Euros on your trip, you'll have no trouble finding a place to exchange them, but we strongly recommend that you just bring your cashpoint card and obtain cash that way. You'll get the best exchange rate from any of the cashpoint machines that are everywhere in Budapest. (Avoid the money changers that loiter in touristy areas and train stations!) And finally, note that cash is king in Hungary; credit cards aren't as widespread as they are in the UK and Western Europe. Outside of more upmarket establishments your credit card will be of little use.

Costs

With the exception of designer clothing, electronics, and other imported goods, Hungary remains dirt-cheap compared with the UK. Here's what you can expect to pay for the essentials:

A Word on Tipping

Hungary isn't as tip-conscious as, say, the United States, but it's nonetheless a good idea to tip waiters, waitresses and cab drivers the standard 10-15%. Tipping at the bar is generally not practiced.

Eating & Drinking with the Hungarians

Budapest seethes with bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants that open and close seemingly with the seasons, and our job at Stag Republic is to make sure you end up at the best of them. From the beer gardens hidden in District VII's decrepit courtyards, to central Pest's chichi watering holes and the outrageously fit birds who go there, to the open-air dance clubs lining the Danube, Budapest has all the venues you need for a proper weekend pissup.

Hungary is traditionally a nation of wine-drinkers, but beer (sor) enthusiasts needn't worry: the close proximity of Germanic Europe has left a fairly strong and beery impression. Several local pilsner-style lagers (quite good, save for the really cheap stuff) are always available on tap, along with a wide variety of imports from neighbouring brewing giants Slovakia, Czech Republic and Austria.

The national firewater is called pálinka, and it's a sort of brandy made out of whatever rotting fruit is available. Common varieties are distilled from plums, apricots, and pears. Another celebrated Hungarian elixir is Unicum, which is syrupy and black and tastes kind of like Jaegermeister, except much worse.

On to the vino. Hungarians, who by some statistics are the biggest alcoholics in Europe, like their wine (bor). Quality ranges from poor to incredibly good, and prices of course vary. One famous Hungarian vintage is Tokaji, from northeastern Hungary. French King Louis XIV liked it so much he called it "the king of wines, the wine of kings."

Budapest Weather

The Hungarian climate is continental temperate. Springtime is glorious, and you know it's arrived when the female half of the population uncorks its warm-weather look, best described as "barely there." The Hungarian summer is warm, sunny and unusually long, but the resorts are crowded in late July and August. Autumn is beautiful, particularly in the hills around Budapest and in the Northern Uplands. Winter, meantime, is cold - yet not as damp as the UK, and mercifully short. Anytime is a good time to visit Budapest: the party runs year-round, from the the outdoor cafés and clubs in the warm months to the raucous cellar bars that are packed clear through wintertime.

Getting Around

Most anything of interest in Budapest can be found within 3km of the city centre. Budapest's public transit system is excellent for navigating this radial sprawl, and using it is ridiculously cheap. An extensive system of metro lines, trams, trolleybuses and buses provides frequent service throughout the city. There are single tickets available for 290 HUF per ticket, or books of 10 tickets for 2600 HUF - but the best option if you're here for the weekend is the 72 hour tourist pass (Turistajegy) which costs 3700 HUF for unlimited use of the transit system.

If you're moving about in groups of three or more, taxicabs are a fast and affordable option, especially in the evenings. When you book with Stag Republic, we'll provide you with a list of reputable, English-speaking taxi companies that'll reliably take you where you want to go, and at a discount.

Csókolj meg, beszélek magyarul

Hungarian (Magyar) bears no relation at all to the Slavic and Germanic tongues spoken in neighbouring countries, and finds its closest cousins in the national languages of faraway Finland and Estonia. The alphabet contains such logical innovations as eight variations on the letters O and U, all of which are unpronounceable, as well as compound letters like "Dzs", which sounds like the English letter J. With some patience, though, you'll be fine speaking English - especially amongst younger Hungarians.

Hauling out the phrasebooks for anything beyond everyday pleasantries isn't for the faint of heart: to the Magyar ear, even slightly mispronounced Hungarian sounds like gibberish. Should you wish to give this bizarre Finno-Ugric language a whirl, here are the essentials. Just remember that the emphasis is always placed on the first syllable of every word.

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Our parent company also organizes European hen weekends. Call us on 0845 686 0619 for more information.