| Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is a metropolis | | | | that young people offer their seats for elderly |
| of two million people and a vibrant center of | | | | people, they are expected to do so. |
| European culture. The Danube flows through the | | | | However Budapest is not a traditional city for |
| heart of the city, dividing its two principals areas: | | | | bikers, biking is getting more and more popular in |
| residential and historic Buda on the hilly western | | | | the city. As more and more bike paths are being |
| bank; Pest on the eastern bank, the site of | | | | built it is much easier to get around on two |
| governmental, commercial, and cultural institutions. | | | | wheels than it was ten years ago. |
| Budapest is an ideal scene for international study | | | | News and media |
| and travel. Cinemas, theatres playing in English, | | | | Many foreign newspapers are available at most |
| cafes, festivals, sports events, and lively | | | | newsstands, such as e.g. the Economist or the |
| nightspots--all at reasonable prices--make the city | | | | International Herald Tribune. Budapest Sun, |
| attractive for students. The city is easily | | | | Budapest Business Journal and Budapest Week |
| accessible by taxi, subway, bus, and foot. | | | | are the local English speaking weeklies. It is useful |
| Culture | | | | to get one copy of the Pesti Est, the free weekly |
| Budapest, a beautiful, cosmopolitan city of | | | | program magazine which contains all necessary |
| approximately two million people, has served as a | | | | cultural information such as English speaking |
| busy cultural, intellectual and artistic center since | | | | movies for example. This paper is available in |
| the glory days of the Austro-Hungarian empire. | | | | most cinemas and fastfood restaurants. |
| Despite the destruction of the First and Second | | | | In most flats international TV channels such as |
| World Wars, Hungary retains a rich cultural and | | | | CNN, BBC World or Sky News are available. |
| architectural heritage. Students can explore the | | | | BBC-RFI radio broadcast on FM 99.1 in English, |
| ruins of a Roman city, mosques and minarets | | | | French and German. |
| from the 16th century Turkish occupation, the | | | | Housing |
| castle district of medieval Buda, remnants of the | | | | Students can find accommodation in downtown |
| Austro-Hungarian empire, and historic synagogues | | | | flats from 3-400 USD a month, but it is worth |
| and artifacts of Jewish life. | | | | paying a bit more for a nice, renovated |
| Students can attend a variety of concerts and | | | | downtown flat with all necessary comfort. If |
| theater, dance, and opera performances, or | | | | someone is on a low budget it is cheaper to get a |
| encounter an interesting blend of Hungarian and | | | | flat outside the city center area. If the flat is |
| Western culture in Budapest's jazz and rock clubs. | | | | located close to the underground it will be easy to |
| Language | | | | get to reach the centre, but be careful one can |
| Most Hungarian students speak English, however it | | | | travel an hour or even more from the outskirts. |
| is hard to find people over 40 who can give | | | | Internet connection is not common in all flats, but |
| directions for example. | | | | more and more households are connected. To get |
| Many Universities offer exchange studies or | | | | an offer it is best to search online apartment |
| semesters for foreign students, so today most | | | | offers in advance or when arrived buy an |
| students can find themselves in an international | | | | advertisement daily. |
| environment. | | | | Some places to go to |
| Transportation | | | | Margitsziget (Margaret Island) on the Danube is a |
| Students should be very cautious with taxies, | | | | great spot to relax, it is a huge park with no |
| they can easily be ripped off. It's best to order a | | | | traffic, there are two swimming pools, one all |
| taxi over the phone from a well known taxi | | | | year and one seasonal, a small zoo, a small lake |
| company and if possible agree upon the fare in | | | | with goldfish and a lot more. Many people, even |
| advance. It is not advisable to take a taxi on the | | | | foreigners go out jogging on the recently built |
| street if it does not belong to any large taxi | | | | jogging track around the island. |
| company. | | | | Budapest has many Museums, the Museum of |
| Budapest has a good public transport network, | | | | Fine Arts located at Heros' square holds a great |
| buses, underground and trams run frequently | | | | collection of European paintings and it offers |
| especially in the rush hours. The night bus network | | | | temporary exhibitions of great value and some |
| ensures transportation during the night. This way | | | | additional cultural programs as well. |
| it is not a problem to get around in the downtown | | | | The cafés and pubs at Liszt Ferenc |
| areas after midnight. Passes are available at | | | | square and the pedestrian street Ráday |
| modest rates, travellers are controlled frequently, | | | | utca offer a nice opportunity to have fun. These |
| so it is best to buy tickets or a monthly, weekly | | | | places are frequented by local young people and |
| or 3-day pass. It is a special Hungarian custom | | | | foreigners. |