Driving in Hungary

Key rules, regulations and things to know

Driving: Drive on the right and overtake on the left.

Speed limits: Built up areas: 50km/h (31mph) - Open Roads: 90/110km/h (55/68mph) - Motorways: 130km/h ( 80mph).

Headlights: Dipped headlights must be used at all times outside built-up areas. Keep a look out for unlit vehicles such as farm vehicles and carts at night in rural areas.

Mobile Phones: It is illegal to use a hand held mobile phone whilst driving. Don't risk using one as you can receive a heavy fine in most countries and more important cause a serious accident.

Horn: Only use your car horn in an emergency as it is an offence to use it otherwise

Seat belts / child seats: Seat belts are compulsory in front and rear seats. Children who are less than 1.5m in height and over 3 years of age must be seated in the rear of the vehicle.

Warning / Emergency Equipment: Vehicles should have a warning triangle, reflective jacket and first aid kit.

Drink and Driving: 0.00 mgs You are not permitted by law to drink and drive in Hungary - Basically this means there must be no alcohol in your blood system whilst driving. More information Here

Snow Chains: The condition of some roads may mean that it is essential to have snow chains. These can be in the vehicle or on it, check this out with the vehicle hire company when you collect the car in the winter months.

Accidents: If your hire vehicle gets any damaged bodywork during your trip, you must obtain a certificate from the police.

Trams & buses: You must always give way to trams and buses at junctions and when they are pulling away from a tram stopping place.

Headlights: Dipped headlights must be used.

Motorways: As in many other European Countries if you want to use the motorways in Hungary you will need a motorway pass called an e-vignette. These vignettes can be purchased from most fuel stations, online or by telephone. Keep an expired vignette for a period of 12 months. For further information go to the National Toll Payment Services PLC / Nemzeti Útdíjfizetési Szolgáltató Zrt Website - It should be noted that following a consumer's letter in The UK Guardian on the 1st December 2018 that if you don't buy an e-vignette and use the motorways they will pursue you to the home country the vehicle is registered in.

Disabled Parking: The Blue Badge is recognised in all European countries - More information Here

Magyar Autoklub - (MAK) - To enter the site, click on the image above left

Home to the famous Danube River, 11 national parks and Lake Balaton, Hungary really is a sight to behold. Hiring a car is the best way to ensure that you have enough time to see and do as much as possible during your trip to Hungary

Hungary's roads are well maintained, the road system consists of motorways and some toll roads.

Wine tasting, relaxing in one of Budapest's many thermal springs, taking a dip in Lake Balaton, and bird watching are just a few of the things that you can do during a visit to Hungary. Hungary offers any visitor plenty to see and do. Get around Hungary by car and have the flexibility to explore this amazing country.

Sopron and Köszeg in the west of the country are both worth a visit. Sopron has 240 listed buildings including a Firewatch Tower, Storno House and Gothic Goat Church. Köszeg has baroque, renaissance and gothic architecture, which can all be enjoyed on a short visit. With so much many places to visit and activities to occupy you, holidaying in Hungary is a fantastic experience.

Hike in Hungary's mountains, popular areas are the Börzsöny, Pilis and Mátra ranges north of Budapest. Fish in the River Tisza one of Europe's premier angling spots. Relax in Budapest's thermal springs and medicinal baths. There are over 100 thermal springs and around 50 swimming pools and medicinal baths.

Try wine tasting in the Szépasszony Valley. Visit the caves at the Aggtelek National Park. Go bird watching in the Hortobágy National Park. Go horse riding on the Great Plain, home to several famous stud farms and regular horse shows.

Take a dip in the shallow waters of Lake Balaton and visit Siofok on the south shore of the lake which has some of the sandiest beaches and has good facilities for tourists.

Visit the beautifully preserved baroque town of Eger. It is home to the celebrated Egri Bikaver (Eger Bull's Blood) wine. A great place to explore on foot, it has several protected buildings and monuments and is closed to traffic. To relax after all the sightseeing, visit the large thermal lake at Hévíz, which is close to Lake Balaton. Visit the historic towns of Szentendre, Visegrád and Esztergom. Szentendre has numerous church spires, and Visegrád has ruins of a 15th century palace and castle.

Esztergom has got Hungary’s largest Basilica. The country’s northeast has tiny medieval churches and one of the country’s most beautiful cathedrals – the Greek Catholic Cathedral of Máriapócs. Enjoy a short break in the city of Budapest. The city is split into two parts by the Danube. Buda is the older part of the city and Pest is the commercial centre with art nouveau buildings.

FACT FILE — Hungary:

Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia.

The area of their country is barely 100,000 km2. Hungarian, their language is spoken nowhere else, however German and English are widely understood.

The Capital is Budapest located on the Danube River. It is renowned as the location of one of the most beautiful World Heritage sites. There are three distinct districts Óbuda, the oldest section, with Celtic and Roman ruins on the Buda side of the Danube: Buda in the gently rolling hills on the western bank, famous for its historic Castle Hill and beautiful residential area and bustling Pest with its shopping, government and commercial districts on the flat plain of the east bank.

Population: Hungary 10.04 million — Budapest 1.82 million

Language: Hungarian -German and English are widely understood.

Land Area: 93,030 Km2

Religion: Roman Catholic 65% — Protestant 25%

Telephone Country Code: +36

Electricity: The voltage is 220 V/50Hz with European two-prong plug. Electrical equipment of 110V/60Hz requires the use of an adapter and/or voltage converter

Currency: The unit of currency is Hungarian Forint (HUF). In Hungary the abbreviation of Forint is Ft.Currency Conversion Here

Climate: Hungary has a continental climate, with cold, cloudy, humid winters and warm hot summers. Average annual temperature is 9.7°C. Temperature extremes are app. 35°C in the summer and -29°C in the winter. Average temperature in the summer is 27–32°C, and in the winter it is 0 to -15 °C. The average yearly rainfall is approximately 600 mm. A small, southern region of the country near Pécs enjoys a Mediterranean climate.

In 1999 Hungary became a member of NATO. Hungary is a member of the European Union (EU) since 2004

Source jmlvillas.com - (some of this information has been provided by jmlvillas.com clients)

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