Disabled Facilities, Access & Mobility
As with many major cities in Europe, facilities for disabled
visitors to Budapest are limited. Despite public transport in Budapest being fast and efficient,
access to metro and railway stations can be problematic (see below). However, on certain
bus and tram routes, the situation for disabled travellers has improved dramatically in
recent years. BKV Rt. (who are
responsible for Budapest's public transport network) have introduced large numbers of
low-floor Volvo buses on central routes, along with some "Localo" vehicles for
outlying suburban services (such as the no. 147). In addition, some wheelchair
friendly (Ikarus) buses operate on routes around the city, although to use them you'll have to contact
MEOSZ (details given below) in advance. On tram routes 4 and 6, fully accessible Siemens
Combino units operate, although elsewhere older Czech and Hungarian rolling stock continue
in service. Further information is also available at: www.bkv.hu.
As mentioned, we find it rather frustrating that, in a city where metro stations (the most convenient
way to travel around Budapest) have platforms built to the same height as carriages, access to most
stations is by escalator. If accompanied, stations on the M1 metro line are just about accessible
(being only a few feet underground) with stair lifts available at both Deák
tér at Mexikói út stations.
Thankfully, Ferihegy Airport is a better proposition having been built in the
mid-80s and enlarged in the 90s. As well as ramps and sliding doors, you'll find five disabled
toilets located in arrivals/departures for both terminals (2A and 2B), while four more are
situated in
other public areas. Staff are available to help passengers board/disembark flights, while an
ambulance service is also on call (although arrangements must be made in advance with your
airline).
While an increasing number of the larger hotel chains offer a limited number
of wheelchair accessible rooms, it's important to get as much information as you can from your
travel agent. Be sure to ask hard questions like:
i) does 'accessible' mean that spaces, furniture and doors within a room have
been thoughtfully designed? Or has the manager simply asked for grab handles to be fitted in the
toilet/bathroom and nothing more?
ii) are all parts of the hotel i.e. restaurant/bar areas, saunas, solariums,
swimming pools accessible to disabled guests?
iii) are lift doors wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair?
See also our Budapest hotels guide, which
gives details of properties with rooms equipped for disabled guests.
Many of Budapest's museums and monuments are still not fully accessible to
disabled visitors, although those scheduled for renovation in the near future will become
wheelchair friendly.
For further information visitors may wish to contact:
Mozgáskorlátozottak Egyesòleteinek Országos Szövetsége or
MEOSZ (The National Association of People with Mobility Impairments) III. San Marco utca 76,
Budapest, Tel: 388 5529, 388 2387, 388 2388 or 368 1758, Website: www.meosz.hu (in Hungarian and English only).
See getting there.
Our comprehensive guide to the best cafés, bars and
restaurants in Budapest (which include direct website/e-mail links to individual establishments and
over 100 reviews) can be found in our food and drink section.
Plugs in Hungary are the standard continental type, using
220-volt current (50 cycles A/C). Visitors from the UK need only buy a two pin plug adapter to use
British 240V electrical goods, whereas North American travellers with 110V appliances also need a
current transformer. Modern equipment such as PC notebooks work equally well on both currents,
although it's advisable to check operating instructions before travelling.
Australian Embassy - VI Királyhágó tér 8-9,
Tel: 457 9777, Fax: 201 9792, Website: www.ausembbp.hu
British Embassy - V. Harmincad utca 6, Tel: 266 2888, Website: www.britishembassy.hu
Canadian Embassy - XII. Zugligeti út 51-53, Tel: 392 3360, Fax: 392 3390, Website:
www.canadaeuropa.gc.ca/hungary
French Embassy - VI. Lendvay utca 27, Tel: 374 1100, Fax: 374
1140, Website:
www.ambafrance.hu
German Embassy - I. Úri utca
64-66, Tel: 488 3500, Fax: 488 3505, Website: www.deutschebotschaft-budapest.hu
Swiss Embassy, XIV. Stefánia út 107, Tel: 460 7040, Fax: 384 9492,
Website:
www.eda.admin.ch/budapest
US Embassy - V. Szabadság tér 12, Tel: 257 4400, Website: www.usembassy.hu
For countries with embassies not listed in the above table, check out www.embassyworld.com for further
information.
Dial the following numbers to connect to
Budapest's emergency services:
Police 107. Calls can be taken in English, German and other foreign
languages.
Ambulance 104. Calls can be taken in English and German (also 311
1666)
Fire Brigade 105. English callers are requested to contact the Police
(also 321 6216).
Please click for
approximate flight times based on Malév, Malév-Delta or Malév-Alitalia
scheduled services.
Back to Top
|
