We have uploaded a new video to YouTube. The video contains clips from Budapest; nature, buildings, people, transportation and much more! The video last for three minutes.
Blog
Strike is over at Budapest Airport
The strike at Budapest Airport is over, at least for a while. That means both Ferihegy 1 and Ferihegy 2 is in use again, and planes leave on schedule and from the planned terminals.
Both LESZ and RDSZSZ (the unions that were striking) went back to work before christmas. Even though they went back to work, they are still negotiating with Budapest Airport to get more money for their work. If the negotiations does not lead to change, they will stop working from January 6.
The train strike has also ended, so now transportation to Hungary, from Hungary and within Hungary should be going as usual!
Information from Budapest Airport
Budapest Airport opens Terminal 2A at 05:00 on Friday, 26 December. Terminal 1 opens one day later, at 04:00 on Saturday, 27 December. Until 27 December, all airlines operating from Terminal 1 are shifted to Terminal 2B.
Until 26 December, all passengers enter the transit area through terminal 2B that operates with full capacity. The check-in for some non-low-cost flights operating within the Schengen zone is at terminal 2A. BA advises all passengers to get in contact with their airlines. BA call center and flight information: +36 1 296 7000.
Blog now part of standard design
Today we updated the design of our blog, and from now it will be a part of the standard design of the “Guide to Budapest“. We hope this will make it easier for you readers, and that you will find what you are looking for faster than before!
We daily receive emails from people wanting us to reserve tables for them at New Years eve. Some restaurants are starting to get full, so if you want us to reserve a table for you, we advice you to read our article about Budapest on new years eve, and send us an email as soon as you have decided where to go!
Picture of the Musem of Fine Arts (picture made 24 December, 2008)
Merry christmas
We wish all our visitors a happy christmas! To not forget what christmas is about we recommend reading the section below together with the music from the video in the background.
Luke 2:1-20
“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,”Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”
Change in ticket prices for public transportation in Budapest
Every year we make wishes for what to change in the coming year, and every year the prices for the public transportation in Budapest goes up. So also for 2009. We have updated our page about public transportation in Budapest where you can get up to date information on the new prices.
One great thing is that the new metro ticket will be valid for 60 minutes, and it allows you to change metros within that timeframe.
Another new thing is the quarteryear ticket (100-day ticket) which will be priced 27.000 for adults. The monthly card will cost 9.000 forints, the three day card 3.700, the daily card 1.500 and the single ticket 290 forints.
Strike updates Budapest – December 23
What is up in the capital of Hungary? For foreigners coming to celebrate christmas in Hungary the airport is the most important, and at the airport planes arrive and depart on time. No flights are cancelled, and though travellers report that there are some lack of information at the airport, mostly everything is working perfect. It is still recommended to be at the airport at least two hours before departure, and do not forget that all flights leave from Budapest Ferihegy 2. Ferihegy 1 is closed temporarely due to the strike.
MAV (train strike)
In the last week several hundred thousand people have been suffering because of the train strike, and we wrote last week that the trains would be going as normal between 24-26 December. But, this changed, and it longed seemed as if the trains would stand on those days as well, but now it has been decided that trains will leave as listed in the train schedules. Today (23 December) there will still be some delays, but from tomorrow all trains should leave on time!
Szabadság Híd opened for tram traffic
Today the Szabadság Híd opened for tram traffic again. That means that the buses that has been going instead of the trams normally crossing the Szabadság Híd will now stop going. Unfortunately the bridge will only be used by trams, so cars will have to wait until spring 2009 before they can use the Szabadság Híd (Liberty Bridge). By then they will also install the lights that will make the bridge shine like never before.
In addition it is planned to install beautiful lights on the Elisabeth Bridge, which according to Index.hu should be finished by September next year. This will be accomplished with support from Japan.
Below at the picture you can see the univserity located next to the Liberty Bridge.
Strike updates Budapest – December 19
The Budapest Airport Zrt. has received critics from several places for using greeks to run the security checkin at the Ferihegy 2, but for us travelling it is normally more important to get home, than the nationality of the one checking if I have any explosives in my shoes or in my jacket! At least, due to the help from Greece all traffic at the airport is arriving and departing on time, and traffic is just as normal. The only difference is that all traffic still arrives and departs from Ferihegy 2.
Train strike
The MAV workers still strike, and though some trains go, that is impossible to know beforehand, so it is very risky to hope for your train to leave. The strike does not seem to end either, so several people who would like to go home for the 4th Sunday of advent might be stuck at the train station. As we wrote yesterday, it is though great that the MAV workers will not strike on the 24-25-26 December, to help out with some christmas traffic, at least!
Yet another strike cancelled
People working for the state also planned a strike in January, but the state managed to make a deal with them, so the planned strike was blown of before it started!
Malev has big problems!
In these days when everyone speaks about the strike, the Hungarian flight company Malev is experiencing hard times as well. The company has great loans, and if those who have given the loans decides to not trust in Malev and their compatibility of paying back, problems are around the corner. Malev changed owner 1 1/2 year ago, and due to the problems it might change owner again. Due to these problems it might be that Malev will have to cancel more flights (they have already cancelled several flights due to the problems), and in worst case, all flights!
According to the newsportal index.hu it might be that Aeroflot will be the new owners of Malev!
No BKV strike! (strike update December 18.)
In these days when there are strikes everywhere it is great to hear that there will be no BKV strike. BKV is the company running the public transportation in Budapest, and they were planning to strike today. But, late yesterday evening they came into an agreement with their employees, so the strike was cancelled.
Airport
At the airport everyhing is in order, and though workers are still striking, they now manage to let all traffic arrive and depart as planned from Ferihegy. All traffic still arrives and departs from Ferihegy 2.
Train
The strike is still active, and it is impossible to know anything about what trains are going and what trains that are suffering because of the strike. MAV workers have told that they will not strike on 24-26 December, which will help the christmas traffic a lot, but they will probably continue the strike from the 27 December if they have not managed to solve the problems before that.
Check back to our front page for more updates and information.
