BME Survival Guide 2010 (PDF version)

BME Survival Guide 2010
Introduction
Study abroad is no longer a luxury, but a necessity – not only for those individuals who
will be the future business and political leaders of your nation, but for all those who
wish to be informed and thoughtful citizens of the global community.
This handbook is only a start in preparing for your period of study in Hungary at the
Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME). We encourage you to
confirm the requirements for your study and to read as much as you can about Hungary.
This guide was designed in order to provide BME international students with
information which is either not printed elsewhere or is difficult to find. The topics
covered in this guide were suggested by the Students’ Office, the Study Abroad Office
of BME and the mentors of the local ESN (Erasmus Student Network) group. Should
there be information you feel ought to be added to the text next printing, do not hesitate
to let them know. The information in this revised edition was accurate at the time of
preparation. There may, however, have been some recent procedural changes or
reshuffling of offices.
Content
r egistration
For Both Regular and Exchange Students
Visa
Registration with Immigration Office
Health Insurance
Exchange Students
Registration at the University
Accommodation
University
Student Card
How You Get Your Student Card
Our University
About BME
Computer Facilities
Sports Facilities
Student Organisations at BME
Libraries
Environment of the university
Copy Centers Nearby
Postoffice
Canteens Nearby
Clubs of the Faculties
Student Life – Culture Shock
ESN BME
About ESN BME
Contact Information
The Goal of ESN Members
Mentoring System
Activities
Trips and Sightseeing
Tandem–Program
Parties
Free Time
Entertainment
Baths
Museums
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23
24
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25
26
27
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29
30
30
30
Theatre
Cinemas
Festivals and Concerts
Ticket Offices
Drinks
Eating out
Hungarian Specialities
Fast Food
Vegetarian Food
Recommended Restaurants
Party Places & Pubs
Shopping
Sports
Hungary
Health
Religious Services in English
Travelling
Travelling in Budapest
Travelling in the Country
Telecommunication
Media
Useful Links
Public Holidays
Practical Information
Greetings & Civilities
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50
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Each year more than 350 foreign students start their
first semester at BME. Some of them are regular
student who will study here for 5 years. The others
are exchange students who spend here only one or two
semesters.
Please, note which chapters are here for you.
REGISTRATION
Content
For Both Regular and Exchange Students
Exchange Students
6
10
6
hungary
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registration
For both regular and exchange students
Visa
Registration with Immigration Office
Citizens of the following countries enter
Hungary without visa:
1. Countries of EU and EEA (European
Economic Area)
Students of the above countries must
report their address and apply for the
registration certificate in Hungary after
getting registered at school.
2. Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil,
Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia,
Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, Israel,
Japan, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Mexico,
Monaco, New Zeeland, Nicaragua, Norway,
Panama, Paraguay, Republic of Korea,
Salvador, San Marino, Singapore,
Switzerland, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela
Students of the above countries must
apply for the residence permit within 30
days after arrival.
Please, visit the home page of the Office
of Immigration and Nationality of the
Hungarian Ministry of Justice and Law
Enforcement
for
details on the residence permit to get
properly informed. Here is some general
information, so that you know what to
expect.
IMPORTANT: When you have obtained your registration certificate and
the address card, please, come and present it in the office where you were registered (Bldg. Z, ground floor).
I. What you have to take with you
Forstudentscoming fromtheEuropean
Economic Area (EU + Norway and
Switzerland)
You have to apply for a residence permit
within max. 93 days after arriving! You
must do it in person. The document will
be issued immediately on the spot and will
be valid for unlimited time.
To apply for the Registration Certificate
and Address Card you are requested to
submit the following documents:
1. passport or ID card
Students from these countries must obtain 2. proof of health insurance
the residence permit within 30 days after 3. certification about your registration at
arrival.
BME in Hungarian (“iskolalátogatási
To obtain the visa may take as long as igazolás”) You will get it at registration.
months. Get prepared for it!!!
4. application form
Citizens of other countries must apply
for a RESIDENT VISA FOR STUDY
PURPOSES at the nearest Hungarian
Embassy or Consulate.
For detailed information, please, contact
our embassy /consulate and the web site
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Hungary
7
You can get the empty form at registration.
5. lease contract of your apartment in
Hungarian
language,
in
original
(“lakásbérleti szerzõdés”)
6. bank account statement (from a bank
account in an EEA country). You should
prove to have at least twice the amount of
the monthly rent of your accommodation
on one single bank account)
7. fee stamp for 1000 HUF, available at
post offices (“illetékbélyeg”)
Budafoki u. 60., Entrance I)
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You have to apply for a residence permit
within 30 days after your arrival! You must
apply for a residence permit in person in
the Office of Immigration and Nationality. The residence permit will be issued to
you for a year or longer and it is to be
extended 30 days before the expiry date.
Please, visit the home page of the Office
of Immigration and Nationality of the
university
For students coming from the following
countries:
Andorra,
Argentina,
Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile,
Costa Rica, Croatia, Guatemala,
Honduras, Iceland, Israel, Japan,
Liechtenstein,
Malaysia,
Mexico,
Monaco, New Zeeland, Nicaragua,
Panama, Paraguay, Republic of Korea,
Salvador, San Marino, Singapore,
Uruguay, USA, Venezuela
registration
TIP: A faster way to get the registration
certificate and the address certificate,
you can have appointment at
(Administration,
Appointment registration). Then you go
to Customer Service Office II (XI. Dist.,
Hungarian Ministry of Justice and Law
for details on
Enforcement at
the residence permit to get properly
informed.
You are requested to submit the following
documents:
1. passport
2. certification about your registration at
the University in Hungarian language
(“iskolalátogatási igazolás”)
3. proof of health insurance
4. proof of payment of the tuition fee.
You will get it at registration.
5. bank account statement. You should
prove to have enough money for your living and to return home.
6. address–registration card (“szállásbejelentő lap”) signed by the owner of the flat.
You will get the empty form at registration. Change of address must be
reported in three days!
7. lease contract (“lakásbérleti szerzõdés”)
in original. The residence permit will be
issued not any longer than you have a place
to stay. Thus, please, make sure the lease
contract is either valid for a consi- derably
long time – a year or two – or for
“unlimited” time. Should you be the owner of the flat you have to submit both a
property page (“tulajdoni lap”) not older
than 3 months and the permission you got
to buy a property in Hungary as a foreign
citizen.
8. property page (“tulajdoni lap”) of the
flat not older than 3 months, in original.
The owner of the flat will give it to you.
9. two passport size photos
10. fee stamps (“illetékbélyeg”) of 18
000 HUF available at post offices
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REMARK: extension of the residence
permit: If the conditions upon which the
residence permit was issued have not
changed, the concerned documents need
not be submitted again. The fee of the
extension is 6 000 HUF
For students coming in with a VISA
You have to apply for a residence permit
within 30 days after your arrival! You must
apply for a residence permit in person in
the Office of Immigration and Nationality. The residence permit will be issued
to you without any further application or
fees to pay, for min. half a year or longer
and the residence permit is to be extended
30 days before the expiry date.
got to buy a property in Hungary as a
foreign citizen.
6. property page (“tulajdoni lap”) of the
flat not older than 3 months, in original.
The owner of the flat will give it to you.
7. one passport size photo
II. Where you have to go
Office name: Bevándorlási és
Állampolgársági Hivatal (BÁH)
VII.sz. Ügyfélszolgálati Iroda
Office of Immigration and Nationality
Customer Service Office VII
Specialization: Aliens Policing
Address:1117Budapest,( XI.Dist.)Budafokiu.60.
– Sztregova köz
Phone number:
Processes:
– residence affairs;
You are requested to submit the following
– report of accommodation;
documents:
Clientele: Only for receiving the residence
1. passport
permits which were postulated at the
2. certification about your registration at
Embassies of Hungary
the University in Hungarian language
(“iskolalátogatási igazolás”)
3. proof of health insurance
4. address–registration card (“szállásbejelentõ lap”) signed by the owner of the
flat. You will get the empty form at registration. – Change of address must be
You can get to BÁH by bus No. 3 (black)
reported in three days!
5. lease contract (“lakásbérleti szerzõdés”) which leaves from Móricz Zsigmond
in original. The residence permit will be körtér (bus stop: Hengermalom utca) or
issued not any longer than you have a place by bus No. 103 (black) which leaves from
to stay. Thus please make sure the lease Népliget (bus stop: Hengermalom utca).
contract is either valid for a consi- derably
long time – a year or two – or for
“unlimited” time. Should you be the owner of the flat you have to submit both a
property page (“tulajdoni lap”) not older
than 3 months and the permission you
9
Health Insurance
registration
university
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pregnancy, abortion (unless it is medically
reasonable), treatments of cosmetics and
The health insurance system of the rehabilitation, tapering-off cures, diseases
Budapest University of Technology caused by HIV and medical examinations
and Economics and the Generali required for health certificate.
Providencia Insurance Co. provides the
The basic premium for one period – eifollowing services for foreign students of
ther from 1st Sep until 1st of Feb or from
the university and their relatives (husband,
1st Feb until 1st Sep – is 29 500 HUF for
wife and children) staying in Hungary. It
students and for members of their family.
covers the cost of curing and the necessary
Students registered after the registration
medical treatment caused by diseases or
period are ensured from the first day after
accidents. The company also covers 50%
paying the insurance fee.
of the price of payable medicine prescribed by the doctor. Disburse of in- voice The insurance card contains personal data
is to be paid through bank transfer to a of the insured person entitling its owner
Hungarian Forints (HUF) account, within to use medical services according to the
30 days after submitting the in- voice.
conditions specified above.
In need of paediatrician medical
attendance, treatments may be carried out Students are obliged to buy a health inby the Heim Pál Gyermekkórház (VIII. Dist., surance card, if they are not contracted
Üllői út 86.) or any other institutions. The with another insurance company regisobligation of the insurance company tered in Hungary. The premium paid by
refers only to outpatient treatment and the students who are contracted with
another insurance company registered in
hospitalisation in Hungary.
Except for emergency treatments, the Hungary will be repaid, if they report this
insurance company covers the cost of only fact before 30th September 2010.
the treatments which are carried out by Only in case of emergency:
GYÓGYÍR Kht (XI. Dist., Fehérvári út 12. Dr. Horváth Péter: (
basement, Dr.HorváthPéter)orhospitalisation
ordered by this health centre.
Presently, the services of our insurance A valid health insurance in Hungary is
company do not cover hospitalisation due OBLIGATORY for all international
to childbirth and any consequences of students . You can apply for a Providencia
illnesses or accidents that occurred prior insurance card at the Students’ Office
to the starting date of the insurance period. (Bldg. Z, room 201) or other conceptions
The insurance does not cover the costs of via Farkas Gergely, financial advisor. Tel:
email:
dental treatment (except for aftermath of +3630-914-24670
f a r k a s. g e r g e l y. j o z s e f @ v i p m a i l . h u
accidents), medical attendance of
IMPORTANT: EU health insurance cards
are accepted as well.
10
Exchange Students
Registration at the University
Accommodation:
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registration
Each student is obliged to register for These hostels are recommended to you for
each study period/semester at BME in the time until you find a permanent solution:
the Students’ Office, Bldg. Z, room 201,
The procedure requires your Letter of
Acceptance, passport, two photos, and
1000 HUF for a temporary student ID.
To get registered at school all exchangees
have to possess health insurance covering
the whole duration of their studies at
BME. This may be a package of your own
in your home country. However, if you
cannot show proof of it, you are obliged
to purchase the university’s insurance
package upon registration (29 500 HUF/6
months).
25€/person/night
11€/person/night
Hotel Flandria
Telefon: 061 350 31 81
Fax: 061 320 88 53
Email: info@hotelflandria.hu
from 10€/person/night
Easy Hotel Oktogon
16€/p/night
Corvin point
tel:0670/544-0224
3500 HUF/p/night
Ventura Hotel
Please, always refer to BME and/or ESN in any
of the communications with the hostels for
these prices. These are special prices only for
BME ESN Card holders. You can have the
ESN card the first day at the university and
show it to the hostel after, to get the discount.
You can find offers for hostels, rents, shared
flats on the home-page of the BME Erasmus
Student Network (ESN):
www.esn.bme.hu
“Education is learning what you didn‛t even
know you didn‛t know.”
Daniel J. Boorstin
UNIVERSITY
Content
Student Card
Our University
Environment of the University
12
13
20
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Student Card
Being a BME student, after the succesful
registration you will get a Student Card
(Diákigazolvány) which entitles its holder
to enjoy a 50% discount on the Hungarian
Railways (MÁV), long distance bus lines
(VOLÁNBUSZ), suburban trains (HÉV).
It can be used also for visiting some of the
museums free of charge or with discount,
and
buying
student
passes
(“DIÁKBÉRLET”) for Budapest public
transport. There are also shops where you
can get discount with a valid student card
(like book stores, copy centres, cinemas,
restaurants, etc. … always ask on the spot,
if you can get a discount).
The card also serves as an authentication
to use BME facilities.
How You Get Your Student Card
First you will get a temporary student ID.
The permanent student card will be ready
in a month. Temporary student IDs should
be returned, when permanent ones are
accessible. Permanent student IDs are
valid for one semester only. For this reason
it must be renewed at the beginning of
each semester after having the tuition fees
paid, after getting registered for the
relevant semester. Student Cards may be
renewed in the Students’ Office in Building
Z, ground floor for pre-engineering, first
year and exchange students. About time
and place of picking up the ID you will be
informed in due course.
IMPORTANT: Please, note that if the
student card is lost, a new one will cost
you about 2 500 HUF either temporary
or permanent.
REMARK: The BME student card is
valid only in Hungary. If you want to get
an International Student Identity Card
(ISIC), purchase it at Bldg. K 1st floor
52.
Tel: (1)
13
Our University
Budapest University of Technology BME International Education
and Economics (BME)
Center (IEC)
The university is the biggest university of
technology in Hungary. In 2007 it was
celebrating the 225th anniversary of the
founding of its legal predecessor. The
buildings are parts of the World Heritage
from 1987.
There are eight faculties in the university,
which are the followings:
Tel:
Fax:
Important contacts
Director of IEC
László Dvorszki
Bldg. Z, 1st floor # 102,
Bldg. K, 1 st floor # 42,
Erasmus Office
Bldg. Z 2nd floor, 202/b
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There are several separate buildings in the erasmus@mail.bme.hu
campus, each is marked with letters. The Opening hours of the office:
lettering system is in connection with the
departments which can be found in the
building or the street, Ch–chemistry, or 13:00 - 15:00
I–informatics, E–refers to the street of the
building (Egry József Street), the same
09:00 - 11:00
with St – Stoczek Street.
Closed
Website:
esn bme
Ms Ildikó Varga,
Ms Gabriella Nagy
Ms Zsofia Molnar
university
Dr. Moson Péter
erasmus coordinator
registration
• Faculty of Civil Engineering (ÉMK)
• Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
(GPK)
• Faculty of Architecture (ÉPK)
• Faculty of Chemical Technology and
Biotechnology (VBK)
• Faculty of Electrical Engineering and
Informatics (VIK)
• Faculty of Transportation Engineering
(KSK)
• Faculty of Natural Sciences (TTK)
• Faculty of Economic and Social
Sciences (GTK)
1111 Budapest, Bertalan Lajos u. 2.
14
Coordinators of the Faculties
István Mészáros drGábor Nemes
Bldg. K 3rd floor 3.1
(Faculty of Drawing and Architectural
Presentation)
Bldg. V2 room 1.59 Tel:
(1) 463 2883
meszaros@eik.bme.hu
gnemes@rajzi.bme.hu
Andai Attila dr.
Bldg. H room 2.28
andaia@math.bme.hu
Istvánné Réczey dr.
university
registration
Bldg Ch room 2.52
Kati_reczey@mail.bme.hu
Bldg. St room 4.12
dmeyer@lucifer.kgt.bme.hu
Ferenc Papp dr.
Bldg. Z room 8.16
András Eleõd dr.
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fpapp@epito.bme.hu
Számel László dr.
Bldg. V1 room 3.316
szamel@eik.bme.hu
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Dietmar Meyer dr.
Bldg. Z room 7.12 Tel:
(1) 463 3551
eleod@kge.bme.hu
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Computer Facilities
The BME Student Computer Center
(SCC) is available for all registered
international students in bldg. R, 3rd and
4th floor. If no classes are scheduled in
the computer labs, you are free to use the
computers. Remember to register before
the very first time you use SCC. Check
time-table on display in the main lobby by
the entrance of the labs.
Passwords to SCC can be obtained upon
registration in the Student Office (Bldg. Z,
ground floor)
university
esn bme
Please note the following advices
:
1. You can use modem via the University
net in your home.
For more info look at
web
page.
Unfortunately, according to the Division
of Telecommunication and Informatics
policy, the above specified page is available
only inside the university network.
registration
You may also use computers for emailing
for free in bldg. K upper ground floor 40
and 41. Entrance through the library
building.
2. In some different places of the
University buildings you can use wireless
computer connection to the University
net. For more info please look at
web
page. Similarly to the modem details, this
page is available only inside the University
network, too.
3. Ural2 is a Unix server for students at
the SCC. If you want your mail to be
forwarded you should create a file named
.forward in your home directory. This file
should contain the addresses to which you
want your messages to be sent. One at a
line. If you want to leave the forwarded
message there, too, you have to include
your login name in a line, right after a
backslash (‘\’). Spaces, commas, or other
separator characters are not allowed to
separate addresses. You must write them
in separate lines. If you decide to use the
e-mail address which the uni’ gave, be
careful, because when your quota is full,
no further mails will be delivered to any
address.
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After you have logged in to Ural2 type
‘pico .forward’. This will open a text editor.
Type the addresses, then press ctrl+x, yes
comes, and finally “enter”.
If you want to log in, you need to use ssh
instead of telnet.”
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To all the services above, you can register
yourself
on
webpage after you are marked in the
Student Information System as a student
with an “active” status. For registering
services for yourself on the webpage, you
need your Student Information System
(NEPTUN) code and a password. You can
ask for it upon school registration at the
academic administration of the IEC (Bldg.
Z).
every day 11:00–02:00
Mamut Shopping Center, II. Dist., Lövőház u. 2-6.
Duna Plaza Shopping Center, XIII. Dist., Váci út
178.
(Metro – blue, get off at Gyöngyösi u.)
hungary
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registration
Having any problems, please, write an
VIII. Dist., Rákóczi út 51.
email to the
address.
Open: Mon–Fri: 10:00–22:00,
Printing in SCC:
Sat-Sun: 10:00–22:00
• on 3rd floor: in 304 for rooms S–T
• on 4th floor: 401 for rooms A–E, 437 and plenty of others.J
for rooms F–P
Sports Facilities
You may as well visit some ofBudapest’s
The Department of Physical Education
internet cafés to email.
organises and conducts physical education
classes for first and second year students.
The department offers regular courses for
full time students in table- tennis, athletics,
body-building, handball, basketball,
VIII. Dist., Reviczky u. 6.
football, volleyball, tennis, dance,
badminton, and various other courses.
Open: Mon–Sat: 8:00–22:00
BME’s swimming
pool
(XI. Dist.,
IX. Dist., Ráday u. 58.
Kondorosi út 14.
VIII. Dist., Vas u. 7.
, Open:
on weekdays 6:00–
19:30 on weekend:
6:00-17:00 is at your
disposal. Go and get
a pass arranged for
you.
Mon–Sun: 9:00–24:00
XI. Dist., Budafoki út 22.
17
For a pass see Mrs. Éva Huszár
at the Physical Education
Department in Bldg. St, 3rd floor 323, take
a photo and your Student ID with you.
Office hours: Tue+Thu: 13:30–15:00,
Wed: 8:30–10:00.
More
information
via
email:
huszi@eik.bme.hu <huszi@eik.bme.hu>
Sport events
XI. Dist., Hauszmann Str. 10 (Gabányi Csarnok)
Mon, Wed:16:00–18:15
Mr. Harka
Fri: 14:00–17:00
Gábor Katalin
Organised buddy-system to make easier
your stay at BME.
:
(learn more in second
chapter)
BEST (Board of European Students of
Technology)
Being a BME student you can apply for
their 1–2 week courses all over in Europe.
You will learn more about the apply
seasons on posters, e-mails, etc.
EESTEC (Electrical Engineering Students
European Association)
See
AISEC (International Association of
Students in Economics and Business
Management)
hungary
The Students’ International Union was
established in 1990 “to create an
international family” which takes active
part in the university’s large community,
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page:
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IAESTE (International Association for the
Exchange of Students for Technical
For detailed information on competition Experience) moved out of BME, but can
be found as follows: 1081 Budapest,
sections, place and time of training:
Népszínház utca 8. Room A24
Mr. Pál Vincze, Head
of Department PE, SIU (Students’ International Union)
Bldg. Z, ground floor Student Office.
Bldg. St, 3rd floor # 325
university
REMARK: Regular students of BME
may also use the university’s tennis courts
any time between 6:00-16:00 1200 HUF/
hour, between 16:00-22:00 1500 HUF/
hour
ESN (ERASMUS Student Network)
registration
XI. Dist., Bercsényi Str. 28
Student Organisations at BME
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provides an environment where students
are encouraged to pursue their academic
work and also participate in social and
recreational activities. It also intends to
encourage students to be physically and
emotionally healthy by providing
information, activities and support.
The Union has also sought the right to
represent its members and, on request,
other students before the university
administration in matters that affect them
as students of the institution. The Union
also organises recreational activities. Any
student wishing to participate in the
activities of SIU is very much welcome!
Should you wish to become a member of
the university choir you are also welcome
to do so. At 17:30 on Thursdays please
contact either Ms. Emese Fülöp or Mrs.
Vasvári Györgyi Vida in Bldg. K 2nd floor
53.
Libraries
The biggest technical library in the country
is the BME’s (OMIKK). You can find it
behind the K-building.
(Circulation),
(Information)
Open: Mon.–Fri.: 9:00–20:00
Symphonic Orchestra and University To use the library, you have to register in
the library building marked with Kö (as
Choir of BME
könyvtár) on the map. The registration is
All those students wishing to play aclassical easy and only takes a few second, it costs
musical instrument at an orchestra, contact 700 HUF. You have to show your
dr.
Zoltán
Benedek residence permit and your student card.
(
) about place and time. The
IMPORTANT: Exchange students can
rehearsals are held every Mon-Fri
use the library but cannot check books
18:30–21:30 in bldg. V2. 7rd floor, room
out. Sorry.
717 .
Other libraries:
Library at British Embassy
The British Embassy has a
library where a large
number of newspapers,
periodicals and books are
available. A card can be
obtained free for the British
Embassy library: there is a
fee for the British Council
library though.
19
National Széchenyi Library
It is in the Castle Hill district of Budapest.
It is similar to the Library of Congress
(Washington D.C.). You can use it with
your Student Card and the staff is very
helpful.
Card for 1 year: 6000 HUF
Daily ticket: 1200 HUF
Open: Mon: closed, Tue–Sat: 10:00– 20:00
Foreign Language Library
V. Dist.,Molnár u. 11.,
Central European University Library
V. Dist., Nádor u. 9.
I. Dist., Fő u. 17.
esn bme
French Institute
university
Open: Mon.–Fri. 8.00–22.00; Sat.–Sun.
13.00–19.00
Main focus on social science literature.
Only by individual permission!
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Open: Mon–Fri: 10:00–17:00
A very good collection for literature
readers!!
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Environment of the university
Copy Centers Nearby
University Souvenir Shop
Copy Guru
Open: m-f: 8-21h sat.-sun: 10-21h
Goldman Restaurant building, ground
floor.
BKV monthly ticket for public transport
and MÁV train tickets are also avaible here!
XI. Dist. Bercsényi u. 4.
XI. Dist. Budafoki út 41/a
VIII. Dist.. Szenkirályi u. 38.
VII. Dist.. Thököly út. 20.
VIII. Dist. József krt. 25.
VIII. Dist. Baross u. 3.
Fénymásoló Szalon
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(Lecture notes are also avaible here!)
Post office
The nearest post offices to the University
XI. Dist., Fehérvári út 9-11.
XI. Dist., Irinyi József utca 38.
XI. Dist., Kemenes utca 1.
XI. Dist., Infopark sétány 1.
The main post office is at Petőfi Sándor u.
17. From there you can make international
telephone calls, send telegrams and faxes,
mail letters or packages. At the post office,
many of the employees are able to speak
English, and the opening hours are 8–20
daily and 8–14 on Saturdays.
Pharmacy
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XI. Dist., Budafoki út 47.
Canteens Nearby
Stoczek canteen: On the corner of
Stoczek utca and Bertalan Lajos utca
Goldman canteen: On Goldman György tér
Íz-lelõ: on Lágymányosi utca, if you come
from the direction of the university, you
can find it on the first corner after
Budafoki út
Pizza Boy: here you can eat Hungarian –
Italian Pizza (XI. Dist., Budafoki út 16.)
Clubs of the Faculties
Each faculty has a club in their dormitory.
These dormitories can be found near the
university.
Some faculties’ clubs are open for party
on a regular base.
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Vásárhelyi Pál Dormitory
(XI. Dist., Kruspér utca 2-4.)
Every Monday: Whitefül (rock music with
a live concert)
Every second Thursday: Vásárhelyi Klub
Every Wednesday and Sunday – Drönk
(drinking place in the basement – it’s a
good one)
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering:
Kármán Tódor Dormitory
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Every second Thursday: Old’s Club
Faculty of Chemical Technology and
Biotechnology
On weekdays – Csocsó Klub in the
Martos Flóra Dormitory
Every Friday – Ars presso in the Martos
Flóra Dormitory
More information on the non-regular
parties of the faculties can be found on
posters at the uni’, and flyers.
ESN BME informs you about the
happenings via e-mail as well.
Student Life – Culture Shock
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In reality, each culture is different, but not
better or worse than the other. At first you
will probably feel only excitement and
anticipation as you explore the new
surroundings. However, after a while, you
may find yourself with less energy or even
less enthusiasm. The home culture
becomes more appealing. You may be
irritated with the people and actions of
university
No one enters a new culture simply as an
individual – the history, values and
attitudes of the home culture are the extra
baggage you bring with you. Many
attitudes, values and beliefs are so taken
for granted that they are accepted as the
norm for all cultures.
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Culture shock is a very natural
phenomenon that can be expected when
a person moves from a familiar
environment to a new setting where
language, food, climate and even people’s
actions are different.
your host country. New experiences
change from exciting to strange and
different.
If you recognize that this disorientation is
a normal part of living in a new culture,
you can be reassured that the depressed
feeling will pass. Only when you can accept
the new culture, both its good and bad
parts, will you begin to enjoy your new
experiences. While it may be somewhat
painful, culture shock can be a
mind-stretching process that will give
understanding and tolerance for the home
and host cultures. There are many positive
actions that can be taken to help overcome
feelings of loneliness and withdrawal from
a new culture. Keeping busy and setting
goals are important. Activities that can
help you adjust to a new culture include
the following:
• writing a journal
• developing new friendships
• sharing feelings with other international
students or advisors
• improving language skills
• learning about the new school and the
new neighborhood
• pursuing or developing a hobby
• settling in the room or dorm
• planning excursions
• participating in sports/recreational
activities
“Xchange your life.”
ESN
Content
About ESN BME
Mentoring system
Activities
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About ESN BME
The university is not just an educational
institution, it is also the place where new
friendships begin and often last for a lifetime.
University years are unforgettable for every
student; long chats in the cafeteria, watching
football in the local pubs are those memories
you will talk about when you meet your
long-time university friends. The university
promotes and supports student
organizations, cultural events and other
community building activities to make your
university years a lifetime experience. There
are a number of student organizations that
help enrich students’ life at the university.
Erasmus Student Network (ESN) is an
international student organization with
over a hundred local groups throughout
Europe. Its goal is to support and develop
student exchange. It is composed of over
12 000 members from 339 local sections
in 34 countries working in Higher
Education
Institutes
(Universities,
Polytechnics, University Colleges etc).
ESN is organized on a local, national and
international level.
esn
In our university ESN BME, the Budapest
University of Technology and Economics
local section will be helping you during
your stay in Budapest. ESN BME consists
of lots of enthusiastic, open-minded,
helpful committee members and a board
with 6 members. These people are also
students who attend BME so they know
everything about Hungarian student-life
and you can turn to them for help any time
you need it.
Contact Information
Homepage:
BME
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The Goal of ESN Members
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The aims of ESN are to promote the social
and personal integration of the exchange
students. The local ESN sections offer
help, guidance and other valuable
information to the exchange students
hosted by their university. Newcomers find
their way in the
new
environment
easier and they can
utilize their time in the
best way possible to get
as much out of their
exchange as possible.
ESN also represents
the
needs
and
expectations
of
exchange students on
the local, national and
international
level.
Provision of relevant
information
about
academic exchange
programs and student
mobility is one of the
aims
of
the
organization.
ESN members help
international students
integrate
smoothly
within the student life
in
Hungary
and
organize
activities
such as excursions, city
trips,
theme
and
international parties
and sports events.
The ESN members will always be there to
help you with your first steps in Hungary,
such as finding your new home, shops,
restaurants, courses etc. We won’t leave
you alone after the orientation week either.
You can rely on us during your whole stay
in Budapest. Whenever you need help,
don’t hesitate to contact us!
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Mentoring System
ESN BME also has a so-called buddy
system (mentoring system) that links two
or three native Hungarian student mentors
to a group of app. 20 foreign students. The
mentors give you practical information
about living and staying in Hungary and
studying in Budapest, but they can also
help you to get acquainted with the city
and fellow students, both Hungarian and
international. The first impressions and
experiences are very important for
somebody who arrives in a foreign
country. The university would like to give
assistance to its exchange students in
finding a helping hand for the first days or
weeks of their stay. You can contact them
and they are ready to answer all the
questions concerning life in Hungary,
Budapest and the university. Who knows,
it may be the beginning of a new
friendship! It is up to you to get the most
out of it!
Board of ESN BME
Enikõ Chovanyecz
Csaba JAKABOS
Orsolya CZILI
László DEÁK
Sándor HADHÁZI
Erika HAJZER
President
Vice-President
PR Coordinator
IT Coordinator
Programs
Treasurer
They are the board members, but there are
about 20–25 more mentors who are here for
you during the semester.
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Activities
Trips and Sightseeing
On the so called “Mega Xchange Party”,
which is held every semester twice, you
There will be several organised trips during have to possibility to know other foreign
the academic year 2010-2011. We try to students who study in one of the
present you the most interesting sights of universities of Budapest.
Hungary and it’s neighboring countries
such as Croatia or Romania. You can also In addition this year ESN Hungary
try the famous czech beers in October organizes a camp for the new-comers
with a group of exchange students and on the first weekend of September,
mentors!
visiting the towns Visegrád and
Tandem–Program
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You will very likely meet us already on the
first days of your stay in Budapest, as we
will be helping the work of the
International Office, and organize
programs for all the exchange students of
BME (BUTE) to get known each other
before the semester starts!:)
The orientation programme is sent to you
via e-mail, and we will always remind you
to the upcoming events and parties via
e-mail.
university
Orientation week & Parties
During International Dinner the
students get the opportunity to show the
typical food and drink of their country and
taste each other’s culture! It’s a huge
mixture of several cultures, dishes, drinks
so everybody enjoys it!
Details of many other parties and
programs are spread via e-mail, flyers and
posters on several places of the university.
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It means that people who are interested in
learning new languages can contact each
other: you can teach your language and you
can learn from a native language- speaker
at the same time. Hungarian is said to be
very difficult to learn but if you try it with
a native Hungarian student, you can learn
it in a funny way and you can tell
everybody at home that you can speak a
mysterious language!
Szentendre.
“Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you
have, and only you can determine how it will be spent.
Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.“
Carl Sandburg
FREE
Content
Entertainment
Drinks
Eating out
Party Places & Pubs
Shopping
Sports
Greetings & Civilities
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Entertainment
Your best source of information for
performances nationwide is Budapest
Panorama, Budapest Week and Budapest
Sun. The Budapest Panorama are available
in the hotels and tourist offices or at
. The most complete
listing of plays, concerts, exhibitions and
films can be found Pesti Est and Exit.
Unfortunately, these are in Hungarian.
Funzine is in English, but it is not so
detailed,it comes out every second month.
These can be obtained mainly from movie
theatres, bars, pubs, McDonald’s, etc. – free
of charge.
You can also check
or
Museums
Baths
Hungarian National Gallery
Various collections of history, technology
and art can be found in the city. From small
house-sized galleries to the masterpieces
of architecture, Budapest offers you culture
in whatever form you like. You can find
the actual temporary exhibitions on the
link below and we listed the most important
museums that have English homepage.
Palace of Art:
Hungarian National Museum
Budapest is well known of its traditional Museum of Fine Arts
spas. People from all around the world are
visiting the city due to their healing effect, House of Terror
but they are perfect places to relax after a
busy day or a tough exam. You can find Museum of Applied Arts
detailed information about the major spas
and bathes on the link below.
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Theatre
Budapest offers so many theatre
performances that even if you go to a
different one every week, it would take
years to see them all. For your convenience
we collected the most elegant and famous
theatres for you to check them out. Don’t
hesitate, give culture a chance!
In theatres, there are bal (left) and jobb
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(right) seats with the same numbers so
make sure you know whether you are on
the bal or jobb side.
And the one that has the greatest
(Hungarian) Movie
traditions:
info in English:
National Theatre of Hungary
Festivals and concerts
Puppet-show (Bábszínház)
Budapest hosts various artists from all
around the world. You’ll be informed
about the hottest concerts on the website
of ESN (www.esn.bme.hu), or you can
find the posters while walking around the
city.
Theatre of Vaudeville (Operettszínház)
Katona József Theatre
National Opera
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Pesti Színház
Festivals in spring, summer and autumn
are scheduled in cities throughout Hungary,
and some of them, like Budapest Spring,
attract many visitors from abroad.
Cinemas
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Most of the movies have both Hunga- rian
translated and original language versions
with Hungarian subtitles. Foreign films
that are dubbed are marked ‘Mb’
(Magyarul beszélõ) on programmes and
posters. If you do not see it, the film is in
the original language and has Hungarian
subtitles. Usually, there are happy hours
on different weekdays, when the tickets are
cheaper. Moreover, you can use your
student card to get discount. You can find
multiplex movie theatres in every
shopping mall in town, most of them
belong to Palace Cinemas:
However, the largest one including an
IMAX room in Arena Plaza belongs to
Cinema City:
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For the exact programs, please, visit the in Zamárdi – southern shore of Lake
Balaton, a bit expensive)
following website:
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Budapest Autumn Festival (October 8–17
2010)
The Budapest Autumn Festival is now one
of Europe’s leading festivals of the
contemporary arts. Its aim is to present to
the public of Budapest the important
creative artists and achievements in all
branches of the arts in the present and
over the past decade. The series of events
sets itself the task of making new art
known and recognised in Hungary.
Sziget Festival –
(biggest
music and cultural festival, lots of famous
artists, also more expensive than others)
EFOTT –
(organized by one of
the Hungarian universities/colleges every
summer, always take place another city and
usually cheaper than other festivals.)
Ticket offices
Tickets can be purchased at the venue, but
it is always safer to get them in advance,
particularly in smaller towns where it may
be the big event of the month and the
Biggest music festivals in summer 2011: place to be seen.
You will find the addresses of ticket
VOLT –
(first music festival offices and information sources under
of summer, always during the first days of individual cities and towns in the Lonely
July, held in Sopron)
Planet
edition
of
Hungary.
Budapest Spring Festival (March 18 –
April 3 2011)
Balaton Sound –
(many dj’s from all over the world, held
The central ticket office at V. Dist.,
in Budapest can help with
information but seldom has tickets for
events around the country.
Tickets can also be purchased through the
university’s Cultural Secreteriat. Open: Tue
& Thu 10-14. (Bldg. K, 1st floor # 52, Mrs.
Romhányi).
For tickets for pop and rock bands, and
concerts see Music Mix 33 in VI. Dist.,
Andrássy u.18. or Publika ticket office in VI.
Dist., Hajós u. 31. 1st floor. Information about
tickets can be obtained from them at
or at
as well.
Vörösmarty tér
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Drinks
Rozé
Édes
Hungary is famous for its wine. You Félédes
shouldn’t miss out a wine tasting tour in a Száraz
cellar! The best and most traditional wine Félszáraz
tasting places can be found in Eger, Tokaj, Fröccs
(wine and soda)
Villány and the area of Lake Balaton.
You
can
ask
for
kisfröccs (small one, 3 dl)
But you can also try it in Budapest:
and nagyfröccs (big one, 5 dl)
Magyar Borok Háza (House of
Üveg
Hungarian Wines) (I. Dist., Szentháromság
Pohár
tér 6.)
Pezsgõ
Wine
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Hungary is not so famous for beer,
however there are some Hungarian brands
as well, such as Soproni, Dreher or
Borsodi, Aranyászok, Szalon.
Beer is sold in 0,5 litre bottles and cans.
Egészségedre!
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Beer
Pohár
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Pálinka is also typically Hungarian. It’s a
really strong brandy. You can buy it in
shops, but if you want to taste the “real”
pálinka, you should ask your Hungarian
friends, if their parents/grandparents have
home-made pálinka.
Sör
Sörözõ
Sörpince
Barna sör
Világos sör
Csapolt sör
Korsó
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Pálinka
Here is a little dictionary to help you when
you’d like to buy beer or wine in a pub.
hungary
Bor
Borozó
Borpince
Fehér bor
Vörös bor
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Eating out
Due to there are many restaurants in
Budapest, it is easy to find one, but what
about the quality? Not all restaurants offer
good food, honest service and fair prices.
All kinds of nationalities are serving food
from all over the world. Some restaurants
are absolute world class in terms of the
food, service or interior. You can find a lot
of fast food style restaurants as well.
If you don’t feel like going out to eat, then
you can order food on the internet:
Here you can choose
between several restaurants.
meat, spinach, cheese and more. There is
a traditional palacsinta called the Gundel
palacsinta which is stuffed with nuts,
chocolate, raisin and cream.
Pörkölt is a kind of stew with meat,
paprika powder, onions. It is served with
dumplings (galuska).
Somlói Galuska are “biscuit” pieces with
vanilla cream, raisin and nuts with
chocolate sauce and rum.
Fõzelék is also very common in Hungary.
It is made of vegetable and it is thicker
than a soup.
Hungarian Specialities
Fast Food
Goulash soup is probably the Hungarian
dish all people know. It is a soup made of
beef pieces, carrots, celery, potatoes and
paprika. Traditionally it is made over a fire
in gardens in big cauldron.
Be assured that Budapest is becoming
more able to satisfy your needs. Burger
King, Chinese Fast Food, Dixie Chicken,
Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonald’s (lots
throughout the city), Pizza Hut, Friday’s
can be found in the city.
The palacsinta is a stuffed pancake with all
kinds of things you can imagine starting Vegetarian Food
from sweet ones like cottage cheese, nuts,
cocoa and jam over to salty filling like
Normally a menu anywhere would offer
at least a few non-meat dishes, primarily a
couple of soups with mushroom,
vegetables or cheese, also fine breaded
cheese (rántott sajt) with tartar sauce and
cooked rice serves a good main course for
a vegetarian. Also, pasta dishes or
dumplings (galuska) and fried mushroom
caps (rántott gomba) are worth
mentioning. The traditional way of
preparing vegetables is called “fõzelék”.
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They are boiled and then mixed into a roux
with sour cream. Outside of restaurants,
go for „lángos” - the deep-fried dough
with various toppings sold on streets and
markets throughout the country. Outside
the country’s half a dozen vegetarian
restaurants, you will have to live with what
is on the menu or do your own shopping
in the markets.
Here are some restaurants that we
recommend:
address is VI. Dist., Jókai. u. 30.) Huge selection
of beers and whiskies.
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of Podmaniczky and Jókai u., near Nyugati, the
university
):
Medieval restaurants. Great food and time. Ráday utca Budapest
Ráday utca is a street which connects
Régi Sipos Halászkert (III. Dist., Lajos utca Kálvin tér and Boráros tér. There are a lot
46.) If you are looking for a traditional of bars and restaurants where you can sit
Hungarian fish soup, you must visit this outside if the weather is nice. At night
some parts of the sreet are reserved for
place.
Dzsungel Étterem és Crazy Cafe (Corner pedestrians.
Shopping Center, 2nd floor,
registration
Gundel Étterem (XIV. Dist., Állatkerti út 2.) is
the most famous and probably the most Nagyi Palacsintázója (I. Dist. Hattyú u. 16.,
M2 to Moszkva tér, and Batthyány tér next
expensive restaurant.
to the shopping mall): Palacsinta is
Sir Lancelot (VI. Dist., Podmaniczky u. 14.) equivalent to pancake or crepe. Great
King Arthur (III. Dist., Bécsi u. 38-44, Új Udvar prices, wide variety of palacsinta.
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Party Places & Pubs
There are plenty of great pubs where you
can spend your evenings together with
both Hungarian and international students.
Here are some places you should visit
during your stay:
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Szimpla Kert (www.szimpla.hu)
Gödör Club (www.godorklub.hu)
The coolest public square in Budapest.
Perfect for meeting friends and grabbing
a few beers with them.
The club is actually on the top level of
an underground car park.
Wide steps flanked by contemporary
sculptures lead down to a spacious
interior. Its glass roof is a minimalist
ornamental pool at ground level. The
club hosts art exhibitions, varied live
music, festivals and DJs.
Address: V. Dist., Erzsébet tér (dear Deák tér)
Szimpla kert is a mixture of a garden, a
pub and a cinema. There is no significant
sign or entrance, it looks like a regular door
from the street, so be open-eyed! (watch
out for a small yellow sign)
The furniture is interesting-crazy-retro, it
looks a little bit run-out but this givesthe
special “Szimpla Kert flair”.
Living Room (www.livingroom.hu)
The prices are reasonable.
Address: VII. Dist., Kertész utca 48.
As party-people say, “it is Budapest’s
night-living room”.
Szóda (www.szoda.com)
It is in the cellar of a regular house., but
An immediate hit following its opening in
downstairs is a spacious club with 2 rooms,
May, the success of Szóda (or Soda) is down
different music in both. A unique thing
to its slick presentation. Like the bar’s
that there are little separated rooms where
customers, Szóda is cool, retro and
you can hang around, close the curtains
fashionable at the same time. The large
and talk, party or just drink.
windows are emblazoned with its spaceIt is the usual place of the Mega Exchange
age logo and lined with (you got it!) empty
Parties as well.
soda bottles. Inside, the walls are topped
Address: V. Dist., Kossuth Lajos utca 17. (near
with action shots from Japanese Manga Astoria)
cartoons and the furniture is a mix of 1970s
2
armchairs and coffee tables. The popular
drink is beer, despite the fact that a glass
of soda is free. There’s a kitchen serving
breakfast and hot and cold snacks.
Parties are held in the basement.
Address: VII. Dist., Wesselényi u. 18.
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Morrison’s Music Pub
(www.morrisons.hu)
It is close to the Opera at Andrassy út., in
the basement. Morrisons has a great bar
with 4 or 5 different types of beer,
cocktails, long-drinks, wine and shots.
They organise karaoke nights. Who is not
drinking or singing at the moment can
dance on the large dance floor of
Morrison’s.
In addition, every Monday is a non-official
Erasmus Party, with many discounts on
prices until 11 pm.
Address: VI. Dist., Révay utca 25.
Usually one of the most popular clubs
among the exchange students. It’s a
spacious one, with separate rooms for
different kind of music, included retro,
Táncház, an evening of Hungarian folk
music and traditional dance, is great
entertainment and, as it is a great way to
meet Hungarian people. Gödör Club
organises “Táncház” regularly once a week.
Váci utca (Váci street)
is one of the main
pedestrian areas and
perhaps the most
famous street
of
central
Budapest. It features
a large number of
restaurants
and
fashion outlets.
Shopping malls in
Budapest
You can find plenty of malls in Budapest,
usually they do not have the same shops
and brands. So if you are looking for
something special, it’s worth visiting
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World brands in the heart of the capital,
in Deák Ferenc street, this is the Fashion
Street. After renovating the imposing
buildings situated on the uneven side of
Deák Ferenc street neighboured by Deák
Ferenc square and Bécsi street the street
offers the enjoyment of purchase again.
Folk Music Dance and Handicraft in
Hungary
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Fashion street – Váci utca
Nice place if you like dancing salsa.
Address: VI. Dist., Ó utca 33.
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In Hungary, shops are usually open from
Monday until Saturday, on weekdays
between 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., on Saturday
until 1 p.m. But you can find many big
stores and malls which are open every day,
late evening or 24 hours long.
Szilvuplé (www.szilvuple.hu)
university
Shopping
krt. 11.
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Morrisons Music Pub2
house/trance and disco hits.
Till 9 o’clock happy hour:
cocktails.
Address: V. Dist., Szent István
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more. Most of them are open between
Mon–Sat 10:00–21:00, Sun 10:00–19:00.
To mention some of them: WestEnd
City Center, Campona, Mammut, Allee,
Csepel Plaza, Pólus Center, Árkád, Arena
Plaza You can also find cinemas and
supermarkets in these shopping malls.
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Auchan
The French owned Auchan hypermarket
is well laid out and with a huge choice of
goods, it can be compared (for those from
England at least) to the hypermarkets of
Calais. Extended opening hours are a boon
too, while there’s also a petrol station next
door.
Tesco Hypermarket
Tesco (the British supermarket chain) has
an excellent presence here which, as well
as being well laid out, has top-notch meat
and cheese counters plus lots of ex-pat
friendly goodies.
Some others: Cora, IKEA and some
smaller ones like CBA, Reál, Match, Penny,
Profi, Plus, Lidl, Aldi. But if you really
want to get fresh vegetables, meat and
brad, wake up on the early morning on
Saturday, and go to the Fehérvári úti
vásárcsarnok (tram number 4 the last
station, Fehérvári út)!
Market halls
Spar Supermarket
Dutch store, high quality, medium prices.
They can be found in several places spread Central Market Hall (Nagyvásárcsarnok)
(V. Dist., Vámház körút 1-3.) In old times the
in the city.
most famous market hall was connected
Kaiser’s Supermarket
to the River Danube by a tunnel so that
Found within the Corvin Áruház goods could be directly offloaded from
(department store) on Blaha Lujza Square, barges and taken inside to the stalls for
this downtown Kaiser’s supermarket is an sale. Upstairs is a stunning - although
excellent place in which to stock up on sometimes expensive – range of folk art
essentials, fruit ‘n’ veg, wines, chocolate, inspired goods.
etc. Of course, with Kaiser’s being a wellknown supermarket chain in Hungary, they Fehérvári úti Vásárcsarnok (XI. Dist., Kőrösi
have a number of stores dotted around J. u. 7-9.) Closest one to the University. Just
the city. To find your nearest one visit their take the tram number 4 to the last station
store locater at:
(Fehérvári út) to get the best taste of
Hungary! Fresh fruits, vegetables, brad,
meat etc. You can find everything, for a
low price. Upstairs you can get great but
cheap Hungarian food. Yummy!
39
Sports
There are many sports available in
Hungary. It’s possible to go for fishing,
boating/ sailing, windsurfing, horse riding,
hiking, skating, roller skating. In the
countryside you can even go for birdwatching …:)
in Hungary with 38 recommended routes
including sketch maps. Hungary by
Bicycle, in Hungarian, German and
English, can be found in some Budapest
bookshops.
Hiking
Swimming
For more information visit this site:
esn bme
freetime
hungary
Hungary’s flat terrain makes it perfect for
cycling, however only a few towns and
regions (Budapest, Szeged, parts of the
Danube Bend, around Lake Balaton) have
systems of bicycle lanes. Renting a bicycle
is not easy in Hungary, but you can buy an
old used speed bike for 10 000 – 20 000
HUF.
The national tourist office publishes a
useful pamphlet called Cycling Tours
university
Cycling
registration
Some of the best places to go: Rudas
Baths (walking distance from BME, in
Buda by Erzsébet Bridge), Komjádi
Swimming Pool (get onto bus # 86 in
front of Gellért Hotel, and get off at
Margit Bridge).
Tourist Department of the Hungarian
Association of Friends of Nature (VI. Dist.,
Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út 31. II/3.)
“Help cleaning Budapest!
Eat a pigeon every day!”
HUNGARY
Content
Health
Religious Services in English
Traveling
Telecommunication
Media
Useful Links
Public Holidays
Practical Information
Greetings & Civilities
46
47
48
51
52
53
53
54
56
42
hungary
freetime
esn bme
university
registration
Health
Doctors and dentists who see patients
outside their jobs at government clinics or
hospitals keep very abbreviated schedulesusually only a couple of hours a week.
Your embassy can provide you with a list
of recommended specialists. Dental work
is usually of a high standard and cheap by
western standards Many dentists (come
licensed to practise abroad) advertise in
Budapest Week.
Most large towns and Budapest’s 23
districts have all-night pharmacies open
every day: a sign on the door of any
pharmacy will help you locate the closest
24-hour service.
Emergency numbers:
24-hour medical assistance:
24-hour dental assistance:
24-hour emergency medical service
(Ask for the “fõorvos”.)
Ambulance:
Health Center of BME, Gyógyír Kht.
Pharmacies on night duty
Pharmacies on night duty in Budapest
operate on rota-system. Those, in the
centre of town that are usually open late
are at:
43
Religious Services in English
Presbyterian
Rev. Otto Pecsuk (
Church of Scotland,
Danube International Church
Mathias Corvinus Collegium
)
,
Sunday at 10:30
Sunday 11:00
Roman Catholic
F. R. László Marosfalvi S. J., John Adam
S. J.
)
Church of the Sacred Heart,
Saturday 5:00.
International Church
Rev. Glenn Ford
The English Language Community
of
Szent Antals Roman Catholic Church
Sunday at 16:00
Golgotha (Calvary Chapel)
Hiradó Theatre at
,
,
)
Saturday at 17.30
New Covenant Church
Sunday at 10:00
Centre of the Hunagrian Muslim
Community
.
Close to the university, on
there is a Mecset (Masque)
hungary
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints
Jehovah’s Witnesses
freetime
Saturday 21:00.
Bible Baptist Church
Sunday at 10:30 at St Margaret’s Church
esn bme
,
Sunday 10:30
Jewish
Dohány utcai Zsinagóga,
Anglican-Episcopal Church
university
Sunday 10:30
Anglican
Magyar Szentek Temploma,
Jewish Synagogue of Budapest
registration
Óbuda Társaskör,
Sunday 10:30
International Baptist
Rev. Lee Powell (
Móricz Zsigmond Gimnázium
The Bible Speaks Church of Hungary
44
Travelling
hungary
freetime
esn bme
university
registration
Travelling in Budapest
Public transport
If you want to use public transport, you
need to have a ticket or a pass. These are
valid for all tram-, metro- and trolleybus
lines, on the Millennium Underground
and the cogwheel railway, but on HÉV
(suburban railway) only within the
administrative boundaries of Budapest.
On bus lines: tickets are valid on the
whole length of the lines, but Budapest
all-line passes (for example the monthly
passes) are valid only to the first stop
outside Budapest.
(Budapest unified/combined passes
(BEB passes) are valid on all lines of
BKV Ltd. (Budapest Public Transport)
and on allotted lines of MÁV-START
Zrt. (Hungarian Railways) and VOLÁN
(yellow buses beyond Budapest.)
Where to buy
Single tickets can be purchased from
ticket vending machines, at the cashiers’
at metro – and HÉV stations and on
the main traffic points in Budapest, at
newsagents’ and at every Post Office in
Budapest and in the suburb.
Pre-purchased one-day travel cards, threeday travel cards, seven-day travel cards,
family tickets and passes can be redeemed
before the starting day. You also have to
pay a handling charge of 200 HUF.
The monthly passes can be purchased
with any starting day and are valid until
24.00 on the previous day of the starting
day in the next month.
If holders of monthly passes are
controlled without their passes on them,
they have only two opportunities a year
to show their passes afterwards in BKV
offices, if they have no outstanding debts
on previous fines (holders of the yearly
passes have no limitation in showing their
passes afterwards).
The passes shown
have to be valid one
day before and on
the day of fining.
NOTE: Single tickets, transfer tickets,
tickets of the discount coupon book,
family tickets and the conurbation tickets
cannot be used on the night service
network. The single tickets bought
on the spot / ticket for night service
(320 HUF) are valid at night too, they
can be purchased from the employees at
the entrances of the stations, from ticket
controllers, from vending machines and
at the cashiers. The monthly passes are
valid on the night service network too.
45
The simplest, and best way is via the
Airport Minibus Service (
), which picks you up
at whatever address in Budapest you give
them and takes you to the airport in about
an hour. Be sure to order it in advance.
If more people travel together to the
airport, then Zona Taxi is the cheapest
solution. (They have fix price to and from
the airport.)
Public transportation: Take the blue
metro line (3) as far as Kõbánya–Kispest
(end station) and get on to bus 200
(Reptérbusz). Note that Ferihegy 1 and
Ferihegy 2 are two different terminals and
they are 10 minutes far from each other
by bus.
esn bme
freetime
hungary
Taxis
Taxis are abundant, but it is good to check
whether they have working meters as some
drivers may overcharge unsuspecting
foreigners. Better, determine price to
your destination before entering taxi,
if possible. Taxis with reasonable rates
included:
Getting to Ferihegy Airport
university
The starting day can be chosen at
purchase.
TIP: If you want to go somewhere, but
you didn’t know how to get there, you
can easily use this line planner:
First 3 heads: from where do you
start 1. city, 2. circle, 3. street and house
number. The second 3 heads apply for
the place where you want to go (the
same order as by starting place). If you
snap down “MEHET”, it will show you
how to get there, which bus, tram, etc.
you have to use.
6 X 6 Taxi
City Taxi
Tele 5
Fõtaxi
Rádiótaxi
Budataxi
Taxi 2000
registration
Controllers on the board
On the busses, trams, etc. can be
controllers. If you’re travelling without
a valid ticket or pass or not keeping to
Terms and Conditions of Travel, you
are obliged to pay a
fine:
• 6000 HUF paid
on the spot
• 12 000 HUF paid
afterwards on postal
cheque
• 24 500 HUF paid beyond 30 days
With a valid Student Card you can get the
monthly pass much cheaper. Now it costs
3850 HUF. The prices of other tickets
and passes you can read on this page:
46
Travelling in the Country
registration
Trains
Showing your Student Card at the time
of purchasing train ticket, you can
travel anywhere in Hungary with 50%
discount.
The train schedule (menetrend) is available
. You can also find
at
schedule for all trains in Hungary as well
as international trains to Prague, Vienna
and other cities in Central/Eastern
Europe.
There are three main train stations:
TIME TABLES on the Internet
• MÁV,
Hungarian
• VOLÁN,
Railway
Long-distance
• MALÉV
Hungarian
Rent a car:
• EUrent:
Buses
With a Student Card, there is a 50 %
discount on bus travel throughout
coaches
• BKV, Public transport in the capital
(menetrendek=schedules)
Nyugati=West;
Keleti=East;
and
Déli=South. If you are planning to buy
the ticket at the train station, it is a good
idea to arrive early, because the lines are
often long and English is rarely spoken.
Most international trains depart from
Keleti station.
In buying tickets for international travel,
be sure to have your passport with you
even, if you are paying in forints.
Co.
• MAHART, Passanger Shipping Ltd.
Every timetable is available at
university
esn bme
freetime
hungary
Hungary. The main bus terminals for
Volánbusz are Népliget (on blue M line),
Stadionok and Árpád Bridge (in Pest).
• World Wide Rent a Car
• Fox Autorent:
• Hertz Mercur Rent-a-car
Airlines
47
Telecommunication
For a longer stay here, it is best to buy
a mobile phone. Customers can choose
to either prepay for their phone usage
or purchase a monthly payment plan.
Both payment methods have advantages
and disadvantages. You should check
which one suits your needs better. The
major mobile phone providers: T-Mobile,
Pannon and Vodafone. These mobile
phone companies often have an offer,
you should check them.
Important phone numbers:
Ambulance
Fire department
Police
Emergency call
Directory Assistance
International Directory
hungary
(for example from Budapest
to Budapest, or from a mobile phone
number to the same company’s mobile
phone number): dial the 7-digit number.
Hungary’s country code: 36
freetime
To make a call:
00 + country code
+ area code + phone number
esn bme
You can also find some public phones
in the city. They take 10, 20, 50 and 100
Forint coins and give instructions in
English, French and German. Most public
phones are being converted to use phone
cards ONLY. Phone cards are available at
your hotel, post offices, petrol or railway
stations, and newsstands.
Budapest area code: 1 (+7-digit
number)
Cell-phone numbers are 9-digit, after
dialing 06, the first two numbers depend
on the telephone company: 20, 30 or 70.
university
Telecard
Neophone
Private Talk
No Limits
Area codes:
Budapest
T-Mobile
Telenor
Vodafone
Green numbers (free)
Raised calling fee
registration
To make an international phone call, the
cheapest way is to buy an international
calling card.
(for
example form Budapest or from your
mobile to other Hungarian cities or other
mobile phones): 06 + area code + phone
number
48
hungary
freetime
esn bme
university
registration
Media
There are quite a few English-language
newspapers in Hungary at present,
all of them weekly. The oldest of the
independents is Budapest Week, which
has ample coverage of news and cultural
events but sometimes reads a bit like a
college newspaper. It recently merged
with its sister paper, the Hungarian
Times, which deals with economics and
politics. The Budapest Sun is trying to
compete but appears to be saturated.
The Budapest Business Journal
devotes
itself to financial news and features. The
Daily News (in
fact a weekly) is
little more than
a news bulletin
published by the
Hungarian news
agency MTI.
Western newspapers in
English are available on
the day of publication at
many large kiosks and at
expensive hotels in Budapest
include the International
Herald
Tribune,
the
European edition of the
Wall Street Journal and The
Financial Times.
Other English-language periodicals
include the Hungarian Observer published
sporadically throughout the year, and
the monthly Hungarian Economic
Review from the Hungarian Chamber
of Commerce. The most erudite of all
Quarterly, which examines a wide variety
of issues in great depth and is a valuable
source of current Hungarian thinking
in translation. Another is the Budapest
Review of Books, the English-language
edition of the popular quarterly Buksz.
House of the World Press is the biggest
newspaper shop in Downtown where you
can find 1200 foreign papers (address:
)
Oxford University Press is situated in the
fifth district as well:
The Hungarian Television has several
stations (M1, M2, Duna TV, etc.), and
the Hungarian Radio has three named
after Lajos KOSSUTH, Sándor PETÕFI
and Béla BARTÓK. There are news
and cultural programs on Kossuth (in
Hungarian), classical music on Bartók,
and modern music on Petőfi.
Radio Bridge (102.1 MHz/FM)
has hourly Voice of America
news broadcast in English,
news features at 8 am and
8 pm weekdays and a latenight jazz show. Radio
Budapest (6110, 7220, 9385
and 11910KHz) has nightly
English-language programmes
at 11 pm.
TVs equipped with satellite dishes and
the relevant decoders can receive Sky TV,
CNN, BBC and others.
Besides, several commercial radio and TV
stations provide 24–hour programs (e.g.
Sláger Rádió, Juventus Rádió, RTL Klub,
TV 2, etc.).
49
Useful links
Culture in Budapest:
Itineraries/Travel plans:
Travelling:
Mobile phone services:
Lawyers:
World papers:
Weather forecast:
Internet providers:
registration
Public holidays
university
1st January
13th April
1st May
23rd October
25th–26th December
hungary
1st November
freetime
31st May
20th August
esn bme
15th March
New Year’s Day
National holiday – Anniversary of the war of independence
1848–49
Easter Monday
Labour Day
Whit Monday
National Day/St. Stephan’s Day – Anniversary of the
foundation of the Hungarian State by St. Stephen
Republic Day –
Anniversary of the outburst of the revolution and war of
independence 1956,
Day of acclaiming the 3rd Hungarian Republic (1989)
All Saint’s Day
Christmas
50
Practical information
Addresses
TIP: In Budapest, the post codes start
with 1, and the two middle number
marks the district. This way you are able
to guess where the place is what you’re
looking for. Like 1024 – Budapest II.
district.
university
registration
Hungarian addresses look like this:
Budapest V., Kossuth utca 107. II. 6.
The town/city comes first (Budapest
addresses begin with the district in Roman
numerals), followed by the street name,
building number, floor (Roman numerals)
and apartment number. Postcodes are
4-figure numbers.
esn bme
freetime
Forest tick
There are no troublesome snakes or
creeply-crawlies to worry about; the
biggest complaints among travellers are
insect bites. One insect that can bring
on more than just an itch is the forest
tick (kullancs), which burrows under
the skin causing inflammation and
even encephalitis. You might consider
getting an FSME (meningoencephalitis)
vaccination if you plan to do a lot of
hiking and camping.
Money, Exchange
Electricity in Hungary
hungary
is an assortment of extra levels between
the ground floor (földszint) and first, such
as magasföldszint (‘upper ground floor’)
and félemelet (‘half floor’).
The voltage is 230 V/50Hz with European
two-prong plug.
Electrical equipment of 110V/60Hz
requires the use of an adapter and/or
voltage converter.
Floor numbers
To avoid an old tax law that penalised
buildings with more than four floors, there
The unit of currency is Hungarian Forint
(HUF). In Hungary the abbrevation of
Forint is Ft.
Coins: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 HUF.
Banknotes: 500, 1000, 2000, 5000,
10 000, 20 000 HUF. (Always check
how many zeros you have there! Like
don’t pay 20000 instead of 2000.)
Since February 2008, we have no more
coins of 1 and 2 forints. But in shops,
the prices can still end in 1,2,3 etc. They
round 1 and 2 to 0 , and 3,4,6 and 7 to
5, and 8 and 9 to 10. (So if you want to
buy something for 312 HUF, you pay 310
HUF. Instead of 419 HUF, you pay 420
HUF.) With credit card you pay the exact
amount.
51
Names
Surnames first, Christian names second:
so Éva Pintér is in Hungarian Pintér
(surname) Éva (first name).
Tap water
Tap water is reportedly safe everywhere.
Time
freetime
• Check for cheap deals on last minute
packages ($150 for a flight & one week
apartment in Crete).
• Check airfare prices! Discount airlines
(WizzAir, EasyJet, GermanWings, etc.)
offer cheaper tickets to major European
cities than the railway companies. The
sooner you book in, the cheaper the price
could be. Online booking is available.
• Always check to see, if you need a seat
reservation.
• Carry euros and dollars with you, and
wear a money belt.
• Take advantage of travelling within
Hungary.
esn bme
Restaurant prices in Hungary generally
do not include a service charge and
it is therefore customary to give a tip,
generally equivalent to 10% (15% for
exceptional service) of the bill. Do not
leave the bill on the table, always pay the
server directly.
Travel Tips and Experiences (by
an
exchange)
university
Tipping in Hungary
If a non-EU citizen foreign traveller
purchases new, unused goods in Hungary
when the value of an invoice – including
V.A.T. – exceeds the limit of 50 000 HUF
and takes them out of Hungary he/she
is entitled to claim for the refund of the
value of V.A.T. The goods must be taken
out of the country within 90 days from
the issuance of the invoice, and V.A.T.
refund can be asked within not more
than 183 days from the date of customs
clearance.
registration
Time is always measured in
terms of time to come, not
in time past. 1/2 8 or f8 is
actually 7:30, as in German.
Think of it as half to the hour, not half
past it.
Also dates have other order: year/month/
day
VAT refunding
hungary
52
esn bme
university
registration
Greetings & Civilities
Szia (familiar)
Van itt valaki, aki angolul beszél?
Viszontlátásra (formal)
Szia (familiar)
Honnan jön?
Jó reggelt
Hogy van? (form)
Hogy vagy? (fam.)
Jó napot (most common greeting)
Köszönöm, jól.
Jó estét
Legyen szíves (for attention)
Kérem (asking something)
Tessék (handling something)
Köszönöm (szépen)
Köszi (fam.)
Sajnálom
Bocsánat(stepping on someone’s toe)
Elnézést
How much does it cost?
Mennyibe kerül?
Szívesen
Hol van ...?
Igen
Eltévedtem.
Nem
Talán
Tudna nekem segíteni?
Megégettem a nyelvem a krumplival!
hungary
freetime
(Nem) Értem
Nem beszélek magyarul
J
Mit sütsz kis szûcs, tán sós húst
sütsz kis szûcs?
The BME Survival Guide 2010 was published by the Study Abroad Office of BME.
Ildikó Varga
(Erasmus Office), Timea Nochta (ESN BME) and Csaba Jakabos (ESN BME).
Tímea Nochta.
The original material was compiled by Eszter Kiss, the current update was fully made and parts were
rewritten by the members of ESN BME: Mákos Erna Ninetta, Farkas Gergely.
László Bacsárdi,
Melinda Jambrich.
Eszter Ozsvald
aug 21, 2010. Printed in Hungary by Copy
Guru, Budapest, Aug 2010. Copyright 2010.
esn
BME