I thought it would be worth to compile some important info about Budapest for beginners

Entry - Hungary is part of the Schengen area, so the normal Schengen rules apply

Currency - is called Forint (HUF, locally Ft) In most places you'll need it, foreign currency, if accepted, is usually at a disadvantegous rate.

Credit cards - most international CCs are widely accepted, Visa and EC more so than Amex or DC. Some cab co's also accept CCs. Smaller shops or markets are usually cash only

ATM - lots of them

Cash - euros or dollars are both equally easy to change (as are most other European currencies) Look out for the rates though - some Bureaux de Change offer very, very bad rates. Also often they show their selling rate in big numbers. Avoid the ones at the airport (youl'll lose 20% or so on the rate), use the ATM instead.

Arrival

Air
The airport is BUD. Most LCC's arrive to Ferihegy T1 and others at T2A (Schengen) or T2B (non-Schengen) Transit between T2A & T2B is very easy and fast. T1 <-> T2 transits involve a bus/taxi ride. In T2 30-35 min transit times seem to be enough (especially if no checked luggage is involved)

EDIT - T1 closed in 2012, T2A and T2B serves all flights

Departure - during the season check-in lines can be long, so go early (60-90 mins) or check in online

More info: http://www.bud.hu/english

Train

Regular train services from all neighbouring countries. For schedules check

http://www.mav-start.hu/english/index.php

Boat

Regular boat services from Pozsony (Bratislava) and Bécs (Wien, Vienna), takes about 4-5 hrs, very scenic.

Car

There are 5 national capitals within a 400 km radius from Budapest, so it's easy to reach it from many places. Motorways connect to Vienna, Bratislava, Zagreb, Ljubljana and most of the way to Belgrade (but afaik not on the Serbian side)

There is a motorway toll in Hungary, you can buy it at border crossings, gas stations, etc. It's an electronic (surveillance) system, you'll have to provide the registration number at the point of purchase, no vignettes (stickers) are involved anymore.

Car rental

Most international rental firms have local presence, shop around. In some cases you can get better rates on the .hu site than on the .com site Most have the local motorway toll included, but check, because not all of them do.

Most charge a 10-12% surcharge for rentals beginning at the airport, so if you have a longer rental, it may be well worth to take a cab to the downtown office and pick it up there.

Getting to/around town

Zona Taxi Fötaxi is the authorised taxi co at BUD, they have booths outside the terminals. They have fixed rates, Budapest is divided into 4 zones. At the time of writing it's 4500-5000 HUF from the airport to the city. Cheaper to the airport, call them the day before departure. Prices are posted both in EUR and HUF, if you already have HUF, it's a bit better deal.

You can take any cab TO the airport. Most co's have fixed airport rates but they'll ask if you want the meter running or want to use the fixed rate. For me it comes out within 2 euros difference, but YMMV.

In Budapest taxis are always cheaper if ordered by phone than flagging one on the street. On short hops it doesn't make a big difference (1 km is ca 200-250 Ft)

From T1 there is also a train line downtown, the train stop is some 300 m from the terminal building

The local public transport company (BKV) runs bus 200E from all terminals to the terminal of blue subway (Metro) line, called Köbánya-Kispest. A single ticket is 300 Ft. At the subway station look out for the two very small boxes at both sides just after you go up the stairs - you must validate your ticket here, controllers might already be at the other end!

Budapest has an extensive public transportation system (bus, tram, subway). You'd probably be best off with booklets of 10 tix, but if staying for longer than a few days, a 2 week picture pass is the best option. Bring one passport size pic. There are also 24/72 hrs tourist tix, they are easy and provide good value - you can specifiy the date & hour when it should become valid. Ticket controllers are rather active, so punch your ticket. There are three different machines - old red mechanical ones, where you insert the ticket on the top, pull it down and it actually punches holes in it; newer types, where it stamps the time/date on your ticket and on the subways where they stamp and cut a piece. Tix are strictly valid for one trip, no changes allowed (The metro is an exception, but as a tourist you wouldn't want to get involved in the system of different other ticket types)

Hotels

You can have hotel rooms for just about any sort of budget.

The best ones are on the Danube front (Marriott, IC, Sofitel, Four Seasons) - make sure you get a Danube view room. (standard at Marriott, upgrade at IC)

If you're not into the river view, Kempinski, Méridien, Boscolo are excellent and expensive options, too. The Hilton on the Buda side has also very nice views, but aside from the old town, it's a bit out of reach.

Restaurants

I don't want to go into details here, as it's a too deep and wide subject - go out, experience and enjoy!

Some guidance, though - a local listing has these as Hungary's top 12

1. Costes (Budapest, IX.)
2. Chateau Visz (Visz)
3. Csalogány26 (Budapest, I.)
4. Enoteca Corso (Pécs)
5. Onyx (Budapest, V.)
6. Ráspi (Fertőrákos)
7. Bock Bistro (Budapest, VII.)
8. Fausto's (Budapest VI.)
9. Alabárdos (Budapest, I.)
10. Fuji (Budapest, II.)
11. Arany Kaviár (Budapest, I.)
12. Imola Udvarház (Eger)

(the Roman numerals refer to the arrondissement i.e. area in Budapest)

An English language food blog lists its top 33 here

http://www.chew.hu/top33.html

In downtown Budapest don't fall for nice young ladies suggesting a "good place" Those are usually tourist fleecing establishments where payment is sometimes assured by cupboard sized gentlemen in leather jackets. As a general advice - don't order anything that you don't know the price of.

Tipping

Taxis, restaurants, hairdressers - 5-10% is normal.

Safety

Pickpockets can be a problem. Use precautions you would use in any big city. Don't leave anything visible in the car, put everything in the trunk. At night in bars, etc use cash. Never lose sight of your CC and be very careful when pinning.

ENJOY Budapest! ^