Discover Budapest
Budapest is Hungary’s capital as well as its biggest and most populous city. It is the country’s political, cultural, commercial, industrial and transportation centre, with a population of nearly 2 million. The capital consists of 23 districts and is divided into the Buda side and the Pest side by the Danube River, the islands of which are also central to the lives of the residents. On the right bank of the river the Buda Hills are situated, while on the left bank the Pest Plains stretch out. The Danube, which is Central Europe’s biggest river, traverses the capital city in a length of 30 km from north to south.
Budapest is situated in the heart of Central Europe, so it is easily and quickly accessible by road, rail and air from almost each European major city. The rich history, unparalleled architectural and cultural heritage make the city, also called the Queen of the Danube, an attractive destination for tourists.
How to get there
By plane
It’s very easy to get to Budapest by plane – several low-cost airlines and also the national airline have great offers and services.
Budapest International Airport is sixteen kilometres south-east of downtown Budapest. From the Ferihegy Terminal 2A is within the Schengen borders, Terminal B to countries outside the Schengen Convention depart airplanes.
Getting to the city from the airport:
All major car rental companies have offices in the arrivals hall of Budapest Ferihegy Airport.
The Airport minibus is a popular and reasonably priced means of transport between the airport and the city.
The public airport bus, BKV bus number 200E goes to M3 station Kőbánya-Kispest (blue line), about 20 minutes away. From here, the metro takes passangers straight into the city centre.
A taxi to the centre of Budapest will cost anything between 3.500 Ft and 8.000 Ft.
Trains also commute between the airport and Nyugati Railway Station, 51 times daily on weekdays and 38 times a day on weekends and holidays. The train ticket price is about HUF 370-615 per person.
By train
There are 3 main international railway stations in Budapest: Eastern (Keleti), Western (Nyugati) and Southern (Déli). More than 50 trains a day provide direct links between Budapest and 25 other European capital cities. Trains to Vienna run every 3 hours, 7 times a day. There is also a popular network of Inter City trains linking Budapest with the main Hungarian towns. All three international railway stations are part of the Budapest Underground system, the Metró. The Déli and Keleti are stops on the Red (Number 2) line and the Nyugati is on the Blue (Number 3) line.
We suggest using this website for domestic Hungarian trains.
By car/bus
By car
In Hungary there are first-class high-speed highways. For the time being the total length of these Hungarian ways is around 1900 km. M1 connects Hungary not only with Austria and Slovakia, but through these countries the western, southern and northern part of Europe, too.
By bus
All international buses arrive and depart from Nepliget Bus station, which is located on the corner of the People’s Park. You can easily get by bus to Budapest with Eurolines, FlixBus, Infobus, Regiojet depending on the country of departure. The main arrival point in Budapest (Nepliget Bus Station), located outside the city center but well served by the city’s efficient metro system. For further information please visit the following website: https://www.omio.com/buses/budapest
Visa Information
Information
Hungary is a member of the European Union since 2004 and it is among the 26 European states that are part of the Schengen Area, which means that travelling to Hungary is comparable to visiting other Schengen states.
US citizens may enter Hungary without a visa for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes. You will need a passport that is valid for at least 3 months beyond your stay. You might also be asked to show a return airline ticket and prove that you have enough funds for your holiday.
Australian citizens do not need a visa to enter Hungary. You may stay as a tourist or for business purposes for a maximum of 90 days. Make sure that your passport has at least six months’ validity from when you plan to return to Australia.
You will not need a visa to enter Hungary if you are a citizen of the European Union or European Economic Area. If you plan to stay for over 90 days, you must register with the regional Immigration Office.
Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania and Sweden, Island, Liechtenstein and Norway.
The following states do not need visa if they intend to stay for less than 90 days. Nevertheless, they need a valid passport to enter Hungary:
Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Bermuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, East Timor, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldava, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Salvador, Samoa, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican and Venezuela.
If you’re from a country that has not previously been mentioned, you’ll need a Schengen (short-stay) visa to enter Hungary or any other country in the Schengen Area. We recommend checking out the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary for more information on the list of countries that require a visa and how to file for the application. Find the webpage here.
Letter of Invitation and Visa
To receive an Invitation Letter for your Visa application or other purposes, the meeting registration must be completed and the conference fee must be fully paid. Online registrants will be prompted to create a Letter of Invitation (only available to fully paid registrants). Registrants using paper form can request a Letter of Invitation from secretary@efic.org.
It is very important that registrants needing visas apply early enough to complete the visa application process. We recommend that travelers apply as soon as they possibly can after affirming their ability to attend the conference. It is the responsibility of the participant to obtain a visa if required.
The Letter of Invitation does not financially obligate the Congress organiser or any of their related partners in any way. All expenses incurred in relation to the Congress are the sole responsibility of the attendee.