HUNGRY

 

1. Country Info

Hungary is a European Union member located in Central Europe, sharing borders with Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia.

• Population: Approximately 10 million

• Capital: Budapest

• Language: Hungarian

• Time Zone: CET (GMT+1)

• Currency: Forint (HUF)

 

2. Climate

 

Hungary has a continental climate:

• Winters: Usually cold, cloudy, and humid (average temperature between 0 and −15 °C / 32 and 5 °F)

• Summers: Warm (average temperature between 27 and 32 °C / 81 and 90 °F)

• Average Annual Temperature: 9.7 °C / 49.5 °F

• Average Yearly Rainfall: Approximately 600 mm / 24 in

 

3. Currency and Payment Methods

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• The currency of Hungary is the Hungarian Forint (HUF).

• Exchange Rates: 1 USD ≈ 295 HUF; 1 EUR ≈ 350 HUF.

• Credit cards are increasingly accepted (American Express, MasterCard, EuroCard, Visa, etc.).

• It's advisable to carry cash, as banks charge a 5% commission for exchanging travelers’ checks.

• Bank transfers can take 2-4 weeks unless using Western Union.

• Personal checks are difficult to process, often taking 1-2 months.

 

For more information about the cost of living, click here!

 

4. Useful Phone Numbers

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• Country Call Code: +36

• Debrecen Call Code: 52

• Immigration Office: +36 52 503 840

• Emergency Numbers:

  • Police: 107

  • Ambulance: 104

  • Fire Department: 105

  • All Emergencies: 112

• Directory Enquiries:

  • Domestic: 198

  • International: 199

  • Other: 197

 

5. Telephone

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• Pay phones accept 100, 50, 20, and 10 forint coins, though few remain in the city.

• To make international calls, dial 00, wait for the dial tone, then enter the country code, area code, and number.

• Green Numbers: 06-80 can be called free of charge.

• Numbers starting with 06-20, 06-30, 06-60, or 06-70 are cell phone numbers.

• Major phone companies: Vodafone, Telekom and Yettel.

 

6. Holidays

 

Hungary observes several holidays when schools, shops, and offices are closed:

• 1st January – New Year’s Day

• 15th March – National Holiday

• Good Friday – the Friday before Easter Sunday

• Easter Monday

• 1st May

• Whitsun/Pentecost – seven weeks after Easter

• 20th August – National Holiday

• 23rd October – National Holiday

• 1st November – All Saints' Day

• 25th-26th December – Christmas

 

7. Language

Learn the basics: Hungarian mini dictionary

 

 

Debrecen

 

1. City Info

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• With 220,000 inhabitants, Debrecen is the second-largest city in Hungary.

• It serves as a cultural, educational, and economic center of Eastern Hungary

• Is the seat of Hungarian Protestantism.

 

2. City Life

 

Debrecen offers year-round high-quality programs, including festivals, concerts, and various sporting events. Main attractions and places to visit include:

• Hortobágy National Park

• Great Forest of Debrecen

• Aquaticum

• Debrecen Zoo

• Lake Békás

• Főnix Hall – National and international sports events center (capacity: 8,000 spectators)

• Debrecen Ice Rink

• Kölcsey Convention Centre – The largest conference center in Eastern Hungary (capacity: 1,150 people)

• MODEM (Modern and Contemporary Arts Centre)

• Stadium

 

For more information about leisure activities, click here!

 

3. "10 Things to Do in Debrecen Upon Arrival"

 

1. Go to Aquaticum Thermal Spa and relax after your long journey to Debrecen.

2. Eat and drink something typically Hungarian, such as stuffed cabbage, goulash, fisherman's soup, sour cherry soup, somlói trifle at one of the nearby restaurants, or have a fancy local meal in the city centre.

3. Ride on the tram from the main campus to the centre and check out the beautiful main square with spectacular fountains and lovely cafes.

4. Take a long walk in the Great Forest and admire the picturesque surroundings. Lake Békás is a popular hang-out spot during the summer.

5. Make sure you have a refreshing drink at Víztorony (Water tower) close to the city's Stadium. The Zoo is also nearby.

6. If you feel like having a snack, buy a Túrórudi in one of the many grocery stores and supermarkets in Debrecen. (Túrórudi is a Hungarian curd-like sweet dairy treat covered in chocolate.)

7. Get educated on local folk-life at Déri Museum, then check out one of Hungary's greatest contemporary art collections at MODEM.

8. Go shopping in Fórum, the largest mall in Debrecen and the region. You'll need clothes for four seasons, after all! :-)

9. Feel like training a bit after all that Hungarian food? You can go to Unifit Gym located in the Stadium, to the professional swimming pool found at the Kassai Campus, or one of the University's football fields, tennis courts or running tracks at the Main Campus! Or check out the fun sports-classes the University offers its students during the semester.

10. Finally, it's time to think about studying a bit...check out the great libraries we have, that's where you'll make lifelong friends during exam periods! 

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4. Student Life

 

Debrecen is a "student city" with many international and Hungarian students, offering numerous programs and activities for your free time.

 

More information about great places and student hubs is available here!

 

For sporting possibilities, click here!

 

5. Transportation

 

1. How to Get to Debrecen

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• By Plane:

  • Direct flights operate between Debrecen and London Luton (UK), Eindhoven                                                                       (Netherlands), Munich (Germany), Istanbul (Turkey), and other airports.

  • An airport shuttle runs between Debrecen University and Debrecen Airport, touching major points in the city (Hotel Divinus, Főnix Sports Hall, Hotel Lycium, Downtown, Railway Station, etc.).

  • The city center is just 6 minutes away by car.

  • For additional information, please visit the website of Debrecen Airport

• From Budapest (Liszt Ferenc/Ferihegy) Airport:

  • By Shuttle: Minibus shuttles are available from Budapest to Debrecen. The University partner agency, Troubleshooter, assists in booking transfers. Reservations should be made at least three days prior to your flight.

  • By Train: InterCity trains from Budapest to Debrecen stop at Ferihegy station. From Terminal 2, take bus number 200E during the day and bus number 900 at night. The Hungarian state railway company MÁV operates a domestic ticket office at the Ferihegy train station daily from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Train tickets can also be purchased from ticket machines located on the platforms. Note that for InterCity trains, a ticket plus seat reservation is required.

 

2. Transportation Within Debrecen

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• UniBike: The UniBike bicycle-sharing system, established by the University of Debrecen and the Debrecen Reformed Theological University, allows students and staff to move between campuses.

• By Taxi:

  • City Taxi: +36 52 555 555, +36 52 888 444

  • Főtaxi: +36 52 444 555

  • Főnix: +36 52 444 444

• Public Transportation: Buses and trams are available. The best way to use public transport is by purchasing a monthly pass, available at a discounted price with your student card. For more information on public transportation in Debrecen, please visit DKV.