Symposium and Workshops

The symposium and the workshops will be held in the NH Budapest City Hotel, which is located in the city center of Budapest, near to the Nyugati pályaudvar (Western Railway Station) that is easily accessible by public transportation (see detailed information below). From Nyugati pályaudvar the hotel can be reached by 6 minutes walk.

Hotel Information

NH Budapest City Hotel (the venue of the symposium) offers the attendees of SRDS 2016 special room rates. The number of rooms is limited.

• Please download the hotel reservation form (in PDF or Word format), fill in and sign it, then either fax it or send a scanned copy in email to the hotel, using the contact details given on the reservation form.
• The special rates are applied until August 15, 2016. After this date room reservation depends on availability.

About Budapest

Budapest is the capital of Hungary, it is one of the very popular touristic targets in  Europe. Last year more than 13 millions of tourist visited the country, which has a population of less then 10 million.

Budapest is a historic city having nearly 2 million inhabitants in the very heart of Middle Europe. Its architecture is a unique mix of the European art and the local traditions. As single entity it was founded in 1873 as the unification of the separate historic towns of Buda (the royal capital since the 15th century), Pest (the commercial center) and Óbuda (built on the ancient Roman settlement of Aquincum).

The city is bisected by the River Danube, which makes Budapest a natural geographical centre and a major international transport hub. The city offers several tens of museums, concert halls and an opera house, but junior people may enjoy its specific subculture ranging from jazz concerts to so-called ruin pubs. Budapest is called the City of Spas with a dozen thermal baths served by over a hundred natural thermal springs.

Budapest has an excellent public transportation system (offering among others the longest tram wagon in the world). The city is safe, the criminality rate corresponds to the European average.

For more information, please visit http://www.budapest.com.

Travel to Budapest by air

There are daily direct flights from several European and North American cities. Liszt Ferenc Airport is situated 20 km from the city centre and is a popular destination for many low fare air carriers. The airport has two terminals that are directly connected: Terminal 2A for international flights arriving from the Schengen zone, and Terminal 2B for flights arriving from the non-Schengen zone and departure terminal for budget airlines.

Getting to the city center from the airport:

• By airport shuttle: you can book a minibus transfer upon your arrival, at the luggage pick-up hall. The operators will group a few passengers going to nearby destinations, the shuttle will go to each destinations in a sequence. Expected waiting time is about 10 minutes.
• By taxi. Főtaxi has exclusive rights for operation of a taxi service from the airport. Sharing a taxi (by up to 3 or 4 persons) could reduce the price. You can purchase a pre-paid ride at the taxi booth at the exit of the airport.
• By public transport: take bus 200E to its terminal station Kőbánya Kispest, then take metro line M3 to Nyugati pályaudvar.

Travel to Budapest by train

There are three major international railway stations in Budapest.

• From Keleti pályaudvar (Eastern Railway Station): Take metro M2 to Deák Ferenc tér (3 stops), then change to metro M3 to Nyugati pályaudvar (2 stops).
• Nyugati pályaudvar (Western Railway Station), directly at the venue.
• From Déli Pályaudvar (Southern Railway Station): Take metro M2 to Deák Ferenc tér (4 stops), change to metro M3 to Nyugati pályaudvar (2 stops).

For information on international connections in English see the railway itinerary planner of the MÁV-Start Zrt. (Hungarian Railway Passenger Transport Co.) or the international railway journey planner of Deutsche Bahn.

Travel to Budapest by car

Budapest is in the centre of the radial road network of Hungary. It is along the European highways E60, E71, E73, E75, E77. There is a motorway connection from Budapest with the most neighbouring countries of Hungary. Motorways are toll roads; a virtual vignette system is in operation. For details (maps, vignette prices, methods of payment etc.) about the Hungarian motorway system see the official home page.

Parking in the city might be difficult: you will probably have a hard time finding a place close to the touristic places that you are going to visit. In the most parts of the city a parking fee must be paid in advance at the parking automata, in general from Monday to Friday, between 08:00-18:00, but there might be regions with different non-free periods (always check it on the spot). If your ticket expires, you need to buy a new ticket. Cars without a valid parking ticket will get a tire lock or will be towed away; getting back your car will be quite combersome and costly.

Travel to Budapest by coach

Volánbusz Zrt. (Eurolines Hungary) has scheduled passenger coach services to and from several European countries, see its coach journey planner. International buses depart from and arrive to the Népliget Coach Station (Metro line M3), from here take metro M3 to Nyugati pályaudvar. The discount coach company OrangeWays operates buses from/to a limited numbers of European destinations, especially to the neighbouring countries of Hungary.

Travel to Budapest by boat

An exotic way of travel to Budapest is by ship on the Danube. You can travel from Vienna to Budapest and back by hydrofoil.

Visa information for Hungary

Hungary is part of the Schengen Area of 25 European countries. For non-Schengen EU, USA and Canadian citizens a valid passport is sufficient to enter Hungary. Citizens of other countries should check whether visa is needed for them when entering Hungary (for more information please visit the home page of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Hungary). On request, the Organizing Committee will issue confirmation letters for visa applications when the registration was made. Please apply in due time for a visa if necessary. It is important to note that a visa is only a preliminary permission for entry, which does not authorise its bearer automatically to enter the country.

Customs information for Hungary

Hungary joined the European Union on 1 May 2004. Since that date Hungary has adopted the customs regulation of the European Union. Detailed information about travel documents and customs can be found in this booklet published by the Hungarian Customs and Finance Guard, providing useful information for tourists travelling within the European Union or travelling from a non-community country (third country) to any Member State of the European Union. For further information about the custom procedures, please consult the homepage of the Hungarian customs authority.

Other practical information

• Money: The official national Hungarian currency is the Hungarian Forint (HUF). All the major credit cards are accepted in Hungary in places displaying the emblem at the entrance. Though Hungary is a member of the European Union, only a few shops and restaurants accept Euros (EUR) for payment, and the rate might be unfavourable. Currency exchange booths are available in Budapest at the airport terminals, railway stations, travel agencies, banks and various places in the city. The exchange rates applied may vary. Traveller’s cheques and convertible currency may be exchanged at these facilities. Major credit cards are usually accepted in most hotels, restaurants and certain shops in the city. Obtaining cash against ATM or credit cards is very easy from the ATM cash machines that can be found at almost each bank office, hotel or on the street.
• Electricity: The electricity is 230 V, 50 Hz. Japanese, UK, USA and other visitors: please note that in Hungary Continental European German-style CEE7/4 sockets (“Schuko sockets“) are used, which also accepts CEE7/16 “Europlugs“.
• Insurance: Participants are advised to make their own arrangements to obtain health, travel and property insurance before their departure to Hungary. The organisers cannot accept liability for any personal accidents, loss of belongings or damage to private property of participants and accompanying persons that may occur during the conference.
• Telephone: The international code for Hungary is 36, the area code for Budapest is 1. To call a number within Hungary, first dial +36, then the area code, then the phone number. Budapest telephone numbers have seven digits, all other areas have six digits (in addition to the area codes). To call a Hungarian mobile phone, first dial +36, followed by the subscriber’s seven-digit number starting with 20-, 30- or 70-.
• Important phone numbers: Central help number: 112. Ambulance: 104. Fire brigade: 105. Police: 107. The Hungarian Automobile Club help number is 188.
• Taxis in Budapest: Budapest taxis have a yellow colour with yellow number plates and a taxi sign in yellow. It’s a good idea to avoid drivers who offer their services but don’t have a registered taxi sticker on their car. All cars must have a taximeter installed, and these also print out a receipt. Taxi drivers are required to give an invoice on request. From 1 September 2013 the taxi fares are centrally regulated, no fixed or pre-agreed prices are available any more. The total charge that has to be paid by the passenger is made up of three separate parts: the basic charge, which is irrespective of how far the journey is (presently HUF 450 during day and night), a per kilometre charge (HUF 280/km), and the waiting charge (HUF 70/min).
• Public transport: Metro, tram and bus tickets need to be purchased in advance (in very rare cases you can buy them on the vehicle, but that can cost more). The various types of tickets are presented at the official page. The Budapest public transport company has an on-line trip planner.
• Time: Hungary is in the Central European Time Zone. The conference falls into the daylight saving time period (which lasts until the last sunday of October), when clocks are set at GMT + 2 hours.