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During our work, guiding stag groups around the social scene in Budapest, we answer plenty questions. We have put together a list from the most frequently asked questions! Is Budapest a safe city? Is here any threat from terrorism in Budapest? What do people think about English stag groups? What is the dress code the night clubs? Are pub fights regular here? What about the bouncers? Which is the most well known football team in Hungary? What did Hungarians invent or discover? Who is a famous Hungarian? What is the main religion in Hungary? Is Hungary the member of the EU? What are the surrounding countries? When and how did communism end in Hungary? How was life in Hungary during communism? Is Budapest a safe city? - Yes it is. Budapest is like a western European city; forget the horror stories you have heard about Eastern European countries.
- Violent crimes are rare and generally crime in Budapest is low by Western European standards. You are unlikely to have any problems during your stay if you follow the basic rules you wouldn't forget in other major cities;
- Racism or xenophobia against tourists is not too common here. Petty crime, however is common, but is mainly limited to pickpockets and petty theft.
- During the weekend you should take normal precautions like not to have a lot of cash on you, don't show off your money and keep it close and secure, don't wear flashy jewellery, try to stay in public place etc.
- Beware of pickpockets, especially at crowded pubs, restaurants, tourist sites and on public transportation vehicles.
- Budapest has no really hazardous areas, particularly not in the touristy areas or nearby. Local opinion pinpoints the most "dangerous" zones as the major railway stations, some outer zones of district 8th and 9th and dark side roads in the suburban areas. Most locals live their whole life without having even their purse robbed!
Is here any threat from terrorism in Budapest? There is an underlying threat from terrorism in Hungary. However nowadays there is a global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks. TOP ^
What do people think about English stag groups?
They don’t judge groups based on whether they are English stag groups or not, they judge them on their behavior. TOP ^
What is the dress code the night clubs?
It is the same like in any other cities in Western Europe – casual.
If you have a plan to dress up into fancy-dress, it is important to know you might not be let into most night clubs wearing it. TOP ^
Are pub fights regular here?
No. Fights are very rare! It is highly unlikely you will see any. TOP ^
What about the bouncers?
They are OK. They look harsh and rough but this part of their job to look like that! Otherwise they are generally friendly and if you don’t pick on them or create any trouble they won’t bother you. TOP ^
Which is the most well known football team in Hungary?
Ferencváros (aka. Fradi or FTC). You can see their stadium on the way from the airport. TOP ^
What did Hungarians invent or discover?
There are many scientific discoveries and ordinary objects that you might use frequently that were discovered or invented by Hungarians – you might be surprised!
Some examples: - Steel springs: The first vehicle equipped with a steel spring was created in Kocs (a village in Komárom County), this is where the Hungarian name kocsi comes from and which was taken over by other languages, like in English: Coach.
- Matches : Invented by János Irinyi.
- Ball-point pen (the “biro”) : László József Bíró patented the ball-point pen (also he developed the automatic gearbox for automobiles).
- Rubik’s cube : Invented in 1974 by the Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Ernő Rubik.
- Airship: Invented by Dávid Schwarz, from whom later Zeppelin bought the license and made this method of transport world famous.
- Helicopter: Invented by Oszkár Asbóth. On September 9, 1928, witnessed by many foreign experts, his model "AH 1" helicopter ascended from a standing position vertically to a great height for the first time in the world.
- Vitamin C: Discovered by Hungarian Nobel Prize winner Albert Szent-György.
- BASIC Programming Language: János Kemény worked out the BASIC programming language - for a long time the only programming language used for computers.
- E-mail : No, e-mail wasn't created in the Tatras or at the Baltic Sea. However, János Kemény, was supposedly the first person in the world to have sent an e-mail.
- Holograph: Dénes Gábor, a Nobel Price laureate, discovered the concept of Holographs.
- Dynamo: Ányos Jedlik built a dynamo (1842) before Siemens did. He also prepared plans for a soda water producing machine (1826).
- The Semi-automatic camera and film-camera: Designed by József Mihályi and Ödön Riszdorfer.
- Duplicator or stencil plate: Dávid Gestetner introduced it to the world.
- Carburettor: Donát Bánki invented it and it has remained an indispensable part of cars ever since.
- First electronically programmable computer: János Neumann invented it
- Colour TV: The creation of Péter Károly Goldmark, who was also involved in developing the first microgroove record-player and the Electronic Video Recorder!
Who is a famous Hungarian?
Sport
- Ferenc Puskás – Football player. He was a member of the Hungarian team that won the Olympics in Helsinki in 1952, and scored two of the six goals in the famous England-Hungary match in London in 1953.
- Krisztina Egerszegi – Swimmer, 5-time Olympic Gold Medalist."Greatest Backstroke Swimmer of All Time," youngest Olympic Champion of all time and the only woman to win five gold medals in individual swimming events!
- László Pap - Legendary Boxer. First boxer in history to win 3 consecutive Olympic Gold Medals.
Science - Ignác Fülöp Semmelweis - A physician who discovered the cause of puerperal fever, which was killing thousands of mothers.
- Leo Szilárd - Physicist. Co-developed the Atomic Bomb and patented the nuclear reactor. Conceived the nuclear chain reaction and campaigned for nuclear disarmament.
Music and Art - Ferenc Lehár - Composer of 20th century operettas.
- Béla Bartók - World-famous innovator of classical music. His opera “The Bluebeard’s Castle” and his theatre pieces, “The Wooden Prince” and “The Miraculous Mandarin” are on the repertoire of all noted opera houses in the world.
- Ferenc Liszt - Composer.
Film and Entertainment - Adolph Zukor - Producer, founder of a Paramount Pictures.
- Andy Vajna - Producer of “Rambo”, “Terminator 3” and “Evita”.
- George Cukor – Producer of “My Fair Lady”.
- Harry Houdini – Magician and Illusionist.
- Michael Curtiz (Kertész Mihály) - Oscar Winning Director of "Casablanca".
- Miklós Rózsa - Triple Oscar winning film score composer. His works include: “The Thief of Baghdad”, “The Jungle Book”, “Spellbound”, “Julius Caesar”, “Ben-Hur” and “El Cid”.
- William Fox (Fried Vilmos) - Producer and Hollywood Mogul - Founder of Fox Studios. He also invented the global media news gathering organization emulated today by CNN, BBC, ITN, DW and others. Fox commercialized talking pictures and introduced a larger movie screen.
- Zsazsa Gábor- actress
Second generation Hungarians - Calvin Klein - His father was Hungarian-born.
- Estée Lauder – She was born Josphine Esther Mentzer to Max and Rose (Schotz Rosenthal) Mentzer, a Hungarian immigrant with a French Catholic mother and a Jewish father.
- Drew Barrymore- actress
- Tony Curtis - actor
- Paul Newman – actor
What is the main religion in Hungary? Roman Catholic. The other most significant religions are: Protestant (Calvinist and Lutheran), Greek Catholic, Jewish and Orthodox. TOP ^
Is Hungary the member of the EU?
Yes, since 2004. TOP ^
What are the surrounding countries?
Austria to the West, Slovakia to the North, Ukraine to the North-East, Romania to the east and Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia to the south. TOP ^
When and how did communism end in Hungary?
In 1989 Communist dictatorship was over in Hungary. The democratic transformation moved on without any public disturbance. The first free election was in 1990 and in 1991 soviet troop withdrawal was completed. TOP ^
How was life in Hungary during communism?
Supposedly Hungary was the “happiest barracks in the larger of communism”. Hungarian communism was called “goulash communism”! Hungary was in the middle from every aspect between western European (capitalist) and the Eastern European (real communist) countries. Life style by western European standard was quite low but compare to other eastern European countries it was really high. TOP ^
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