Practicalities | erdoscenter.renyi.hu

Transportation

Airport <--> City Center

Bus 100E is a fast and convenient direct bus line connecting the airport with the city center operating on a 30 minutes basis (sometimes more frequently). Apart from the airport, it stops only at Kálvin tér, Astoria (60 meters away from Rényi Institute and Erdős Center) and Deák tér -- all three stops are in the very center of Budapest. This line requires a special ticket that can be purchased at the airport, from several transportation ticket vending machines in Budapest, as well as the Budapest GO public transport app.

Bus 200E takes you to the terminal of Metro line 3. Buses are available till after midnight, but keep in mind that the last underground train leaves at 23:15 (there are night buses afterwards).

There is a shuttle service called Airport Shuttle. The Airport shuttle picks you up together with 4-5 other passengers and takes you to the given address, but you may not be the first to get to your destination. You may buy your minibus ticket at the counter in the arrival hall (ATM's and exchange bureaus are available at the airport). Your return trip should be ordered by phone 1 or 2 days before leaving. (phone #: 296-8555).

Public transport

In Budapest, there is a great variety of public transport: underground (metro), buses, trams, even trolleys (buses running on electric lines above the road). For information on the types of tickets and passes, see the web page of BKV Rt. (Budapest Transport Ltd.). For trip planning, you may use Google maps, or the Budapest GO trip planner.

The Budapest GO public transport app, available for both Android and iOS phones, lets you plan your trips and buy tickets from your phone. Make sure to read the instructions on how to validate electronic tickets using the QR code or the NFC sticker found on the outside of the vehicles next to the doors. Once you learn the system, it is rather simple to use. The special ticket for Bus 100E, the express line connecting the airport with the city center, is also available for purchase in the app.

Taxis

In general, when taking a taxi in Budapest, the fare is lower if you call the taxi by phone. Take one belonging to a taxi company (e.g. Fotaxi which is also the official airport-city transfer company, or ). When you flag a taxi on the street, it is good practice to inquire about the fare in advance in order to avoid surprises.

Tourist information

Hungary has been a member of the EU since 2004 and of the Schengen Area since 2007, and applies the Schengen regulations in full. For details on entry and stay rules visit the relevant Ministry of Foreign Affairs homepage.

The currency is Hungarian Forints (HUF). For exchange rates, see the page of the Hungarian National Bank. Some places accept Euro, but usually at an unfavorable rate. You can pay by card almost everywhere. As in any country outside of your card's country of issue, it is good practice not to let vendors' card readers do the conversion from HUF to your home currency (EUR, USD, etc.), but let the bank that issued your card do it. In short: make sure to be charged in HUF, and not in your home currency.

Check the weather forecast for the next 7 days.

Some Budapest links:

Budapest portal
Budapest Tourism Office

Going out:

Spas of Budapest
Things to do in Budapest

Restaurants

Some places have options for dietary restrictions, always ask beforehand.

Tipping is between 10-20% depending on the type of the place.
Many places include a service fee listed as an additional item on the bill.
This needs to be stated on the menu. You can ask if it is included.

Some places offer lunch menus during weekdays (Monday through Friday).
These are fixed menus (with little or no choice), which are cheaper, but restaurants often run out of them by 1pm. Among the places around Rényi Institute (and Erdős Center) that offer lunch menus are Ruben, Bonnie, Napfényes, Ropogó, Fecske, Puder, and Café Inténzo.

Restaurants in Budapest

Ruben [1]: small Hungarian restaurant, may need to reserve. 1 minute.
MANU+ [2]: Marco-approved pizza. 2 minutes.
Bamba Marha Burger Bár [3]: burgers on burgers. 2 minutes.
Donna Mamma Pizza [4]: Marco-approved pizza. 2 minutes.
Beerstro14 Restaurant and Craft Beer Bar [5]: meat-based menu, rather expensive. 2 minutes.
Byblos [6]: Lebanese cuisine. 3 minutes.
Bonnie [7]: Hungarian restaurant. 3 minutes.
Indian palate [8]: Indian restaurant. 3 minutes.
Belvárosi disznótoros [9]: Hungarian sausages and grilled meat. 3 minutes.
Napfényes [10]: vegan restaurant. 4 minutes.
Vega City [11]: vegetarian. 4 minutes.
Padthai Wokbar [12]: Thai. 5 minutes.
Ropogó [13]: fried dishes with sides, several options for vegans, too. 6 minutes.
Tahina bites [14]: Lebanese place, ideal for a quick lunch. 6 minutes.
Dobrumba [15]: trendy Middle eastern restaurant. Only with reservation. 7 minutes.
EPOCH [14]: vegan burger place. 8 minutes.
Pata Negra Pest [16]: tapas. 8 minutes.
KIOSK [17]: relaxed restaurant. 8 minutes.
Baalbek [18]: Lebanese. 8 minutes.
Keksz Bistro [19]: try Gulyás (Goulash soup) here, good for drinks only, as well. 9 minutes.
WAFU [20]: small Japanese restaurant, with karaage menu for lunch. 9 minutes.
Tifliso [21]: Georgian restaurant. 10 minutes.
Bors Gastro Bar [22]: streetfood, great for a quick lunch unless the queue is long. 10 minutes.
Salad Box [23]: make your own salad. 11 minutes.
Twentysix [24]: Mezzes, main dishes, drinks in a cool interior with lots of plants. 12 minutes.
Hanami Sushi Bar [25]: sushi, 14 minutes.
VAJ [26]: great croissants, sandwiches. 14 minutes.
Mazel Tov Restaurant [27]: Middle Eastern, book ahead. 16 minutes.
Retró Lángos Budapest [28]: Lángos is a Hungarian fried dough with savoury topping, go-to street food. 18 minutes.
Trattoria Pomo D'Oro [29]: Italian. 20 minutes.
Stand25 Bisztró [30]: traditional Hungarian restaurant with a modern twist if you end up exploring the Buda side. 32 minutes.
Piroska Vendéglő [31]: traditional Hungarian, go back in time 15 years with the style. 33 minutes.

Coffee shops

Csendes Létterem - Vintage Bar & Café [32], 2 minutes.
Fekete Café [33], 2 minutes.
Madal Café [34], 3 minutes.
Budapest Barista [35], 3 minutes.
Arch&Beans [36], 4 minutes.
Ahoy! [37], 5 minutes.
NOR\MA [38], 6 minutes.
Mantra [39], 6 minutes.
Vivina [40], 6 minutes.
Double Shot Coffee & Brunch [41], 8 minutes.
Lumen Café [42], 11 minutes.

Pastry shops and cafés in Budapest

Centrál Grand Cafe & Bar [43]: beautiful and expensive historic café. 2 minutes.
Auguszt cukrászda [44]: pastry shop. 2 minutes.
Café Gerbeaud [45]: another historic café. 12 minutes.
New York Café [46]: historic, famous café, during the communism it was renamed "Hungaria". 16 minutes.

Bars in Budapest

Csendes Létterem - Vintage Bar & Café [32]. 2 minutes.
Keksz Bistro [19]. 9 minutes.
Szimpla Kert [47]: the most popular ruin bar, touristy but worth a visit. 10 minutes.
Nomád Travelers' Bar [48]: both expats and Hungarians show up, open mic on some nights. 13 minutes.
MITZI [49]: also near Gellérthegy, locals like this one, too. 20 minutes.
BÉLA [50]: near Gellérthegy on the Buda side, cool ambiance, locals, artsy people like it. 24 minutes.