Anniversary Conference
Gödöllő (Hungary), 30 July – 3 August 2024
By train
Gödöllő can be easily reached by train from Budapest’s main Eastern Railway Station (Keleti pályaudvar, abbr.: Keleti pu., deutsch: Ostbahnhof). Travel information: https://www.mavcsoport.hu/en
International trains from Vienna (and further afield from Western European and Italian connections via Vienna), Graz, Eastern Slovakia, Ukraine and Romania arrive at this station.
The information board at the front of the station hall provides information about nearby arrivals and departures. (It is a charming memory of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy that the information board is Hungarian-German bilingual, although bilingualism means Hungarian-English in today's Hungary.) Trains whose terminus is Gödöllő or which travel to further destinations from there, start from the hall or from the side tracks.
From Hamburg-Berlin-Prague-Bratislava, Warsaw-Cracow-Bratislava trains arrive at the Western Railway Station (Nyugati pályaudvar, Nyugati pu., Westbahnhof), from where the trolleybus 73 between the two stations goes directly to Keleti (Eastern) Railway Station. (The iron structure, bridging the station's hall, was a technical feat of its time, at 1884. Hungarian national pride attributes it to Gustav Eiffel, even though only the engineer-designer worked in his Paris office.)
Trains from Zagreb arrive at the Southern Railway Station (Déli pályaudvar, Déli pu., Südbahnhof). Every day, one train from Ljubljana arrives at the Keleti (Eastern), another at the Déli (Southern) Railway Station. The original station, built in 1880, was bombed during World War II. (The current, initially significant modernist station, built in the 1960s, is now in a disgraceful state of disrepair and neglect. It has also been mooted for closure.)
Although Metro 2 arrives directly at Keleti Railway Station from here, it is less of a shock to get off one stop earlier at Kelenföld Railway Station, from where Budapest's newest metro line (Metro 4) arrives at the Keleti Railway Station metro terminus, and, on the way, the passenger admires the exciting architecture of stations such as the international award-winning Szent Gellért tér (square) station (Saint Gerard being the patron saint of Budapest); the glass mosaic design that covers the vaults was designed by visual artist Tamás Komoróczky; the station really is spotlessly clean like in the photo:
Passengers from Keleti (Eastern) Railway Station arrive at Gödöllő by fast ("Interregio") train terminating in Eger or Gyöngyös in 26 minutes, which does not stop before Gödöllő, or by suburban train terminating in Gödöllő in 38 minutes, which stops at all stations and stops.
There are two fast trains and two suburban trains every hour from 5 am to 10:55 pm, plus two late suburban trains 5 minutes before midnight and 5 minutes before 1 am, and two early morning suburban trains between 4 am and 5 am. Both the fast and the suburban train run on the same track. Stadler's modern KISS trains are of good quality, but delays of a few minutes often occur due to traffic management problems in the overcrowded Budapest section.
You will see a destination indicator mounted on the front, side or rear of the train indicating whether the train is going to Eger or Gyöngyös (if it is an „Interregio” fast train) or it is a suburban train, with the destination sign Gödöllő. In the former case, it is very rare to find two trains on the same track, the front end going to Eger or Gyöngyös and the rear end to Gödöllő. However, you may be suspicious if there is no one in the rear carriages, and there are no lights or end-of-train signs, or even more confusing, the rear cars have the Gödöllő sign, the front cars have the Eger or Gyöngyös sign.
(Warning: express trains to Eastern Hungary or Slovakia do not stop at Gödöllő!)
There is another type of suburban train running in the Budapest agglomeration. It is the so-called HÉV (pronunciation: [he:v]; officially BHÉV, Budapesti Helyiérdekű Vasút, i.e. Budapest Railway of Local Interest. You can reach to H8 HÉV terminus from Metro 2 terminus Örs vezér tere. H8 HÉV terminates at Gödöllő railway station, but taking another route. The trains not only approach slowly on the congested track (the journey time is 45 minutes), but the decades-old green-white carriages are a veritable time travel experience, showing the so-called Socialist era.
However, from the centre of Gödöllő including the Erzsébet Hotel, i.e. from Szabadság tér stop (Hung. megállóhely), it takes four minutes to get to the H8 HÉV terminus, which is the same as the Gödöllő train station. From there it is only a 5-10 minute walk to the Abbey.
The HÉV usually runs every half an hour, but fortunately every 15 minutes in the morning and afternoon-early evening. We do not recommend it for travelling from Budapest, especially when there are few passengers, because public safety is not always the best on the earlier sections, but it provides a comfortable ride within the town for those who do not want to or cannot make the pleasant 20-25 minute walk through a nice park (Alsó park/Lower Park) to the train station and then to the Abbey.
It is worth watching the video with the railway station (Gödöllő vasútállomás) and its surroundings.
If you have not purchased your ticket in advance (also in English), you can buy tickets for every type of trains and local transport at the numerous yellow ticket machines, which are located everywhere in the stations and at the stops. The machines are in Budapest urban transport (BKK) in Hungarian-English-German, but at the railway stations and stops only in Hungarian-English. There is a customer service centre on the underground level of the Keleti Railway Station, with staff speaking foreign languages, and ticket offices on the other side. At smaller stations and stops, staff may not always speak foreign languages. The same applies to ticket inspectors.
Online purchase is not only more convenient and faster, but in the case of certain premium products, it is also cheaper than buying from the machine or the ticket office. If you're really modern, you can travel with a mobile ticket. The ticket inspector is prepared for that. (Just don't let the beeping of his phone be so annoying!)
Although travel has become much more expensive in recent years compared to Hungarian salaries, if you don't fall into the category of those on benefits (schoolchildren, young people, elderly), it seems remarkably cheap to many Westerners. The Budapest-Gödöllő section (30 km) with fast and suburban trains costs only 750 HUF / 2€, in Gödöllő the two stops from Szabadság tér to Gödöllő train station cost 400HUF/1,06€ (any short trip within 10 km costs the same). Of course, you can pay everywhere with internationally accepted bank cards.
In Budapest, a ticket for one stop, but for also a very long route is only 450 HUF / 1,19€, but if there is ticket sales on the vehicle, at the driver, it is 600 HUF / 1,58€. (We Hungarians, unfortunately, are rather impatient with those who dare to do such things even in heavy traffic, in a crowded vehicle...) It is of course possible to pay with a mobile ticket (by scanning a QR code at the vehicle) on many lines. It is also worth knowing about the complicated system of many discounts (e.g. day tickets), see here.
Citizens of the European Union over 65 years of age can travel in 2nd class on national services without paying a fare, provided they can prove their age and identity (by passport or identity card). The exemption does not cover the use of the higher class and the supplement if the reservation is obligatory. The exemption also applies to urban transport (buses, trams, trolleybuses, local trains, etc.).
From Liszt Ferenc International Airport (Liszt Ferenc Nemzetközi Repülőtér, formerly Ferihegy), bypassing the metropolis altogether, you can reach Gödöllő in 30 minutes by shuttle bus or taxi. The traffic at Liszt Ferenc International Airport is (fortunately) not comparable to that of the major airports, and its structure is transparent, but given the significant increase in traffic during the tourist season, it is advisable to book as soon as possible.
Fortunately for us, it seems that the Formula 1 races (at Hungaroring) will be held again this year before our conference, about only 10 km from Gödöllő (19.07-21.07). This also made it easier to book a hotel, as after the races the staff of the "stables" stay in hotels in Gödöllő and the surrounding area for several days.
FlixBus provides connections to a large number of European cities (14 pairs of buses a day connect Budapest with Vienna alone). International buses arrive and depart from Budapest at Kelenföld (near to Kelenföld railway station, and Metro 4 terminal) or Népliget bus stations (Hung. autóbusz-pályaudvar). Metro 4 provides a direct connection from Kelenföld bus station to Keleti railway station (and from there to Gödöllő by train, see above), while Metro 3 transfers from Népliget bus station to Metro 4 at the Kálvin tér (square) stop, and from there to Keleti railway station or to Metro 2 at the Deák tér stop, and from there to Keleti railway station. (The modern metro lines 2,3 cross at Deák tér (square) the Millennium Underground Railway, Metro 1, the first underground railway on the European continent, 1896. Metro and Suburban Railway Network in Budapest, see here)
There are bus services to and from Gödöllő to and from the Budapest Stadionok bus station, which is located at the Puskás Ferenc Stadium stop of Metro 2, one stop to Keleti railway station. “Stadionok” coach terminal provides for patches that operate between 6:00 am and 10:45 pm on weekdays with more than 30 direct shuttle buses to Gödöllő. It takes about 45 minutes to get to Gödöllő by bus. From Gödöllő buses depart to Budapest between 6:00 am to 7:30 pm. (For bus schedules please visit http://www.volanbusz.hu/) The Gödöllő bus station is also in the centre, next to the Royal Palace park. There are several bus stops in the town.
The town is connected to the M3 motorway and the M0 ring road. From Budapest city centre, Andrássy út (boulevard) links directly to M3 motorway, or starting from Keleti railway station, Kerepesi út (street) connects to M3 which passes through Kistarcsa, Kerepes and Mogyoród. If you want to avoid the metropolis, the M0 ring road (around Budapest) and M31 motorway lead to Gödöllő.
Parking is available both at the Elisabeth Hotel and the student residence, as well as at any guest houses. Conference guests have free use of the Abbey car park.
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Travel arrangements are a private matter for conference participants, but the organisers will be happy to assist by gathering key information websites etc. and providing general information.
Anyone can also arrange to hire a shuttle bus or taxi on arrival at Liszt Ferenc airport or before (miniBUD Airport Shuttle, see here in 8 languages). The Elizabeth Hotel can also organise the return journey itself. Currently, the total price is approx. 20,000 HUF / 50€ for one trip to or from Gödöllő.
We do not recommend using a taxi. Currently, the taxi hyenas, who were waiting around the airport, offering seriously overpaid trips, are banned due to serious abuses. (Such cases did not only occur only in Hungary...) Of course, you can order a taxi by phone. We will provide information about the current situation again at the beginning of the summer.
Taxis are a focal point of Hungarian transport. There are many small and large taxi companies (Uber was chased away by the taxi drivers, but just recently, it returned in a regulated form) that fight with each other, but according to the decree of the Metropolitan Municipality, the application of an official fixed price is mandatory from May 9, 2022, the rates of which are: basic fee: 1100 HUF + 440 HUF/km, waiting 110 HUF/minute. The toll is from the Budapest border sign 440 HUF/km (tariff 1). In the case of Hungaroring delivery, the toll outside the border sign: 880 HUF/km (tariff 3). Although the taxi passes by the Hungaroring in the direction of Gödöllő, the taxi driver cannot ask for tariff 3! Starting taxi clock in the case of an immediate order, at the cut-off time specified by the service provider when placing the order, in case of pre-order at the previously specified time.
There is a very cheap and money-saving method that involves very little inconvenience and clutter: a direct shuttle bus (like a normal bus) service to operate as 100E Airport Express, see here. The service connects to the above mentioned metro lines in the city centre, which provide easy access to Keleti Railway Station and some sightseeing. If you wants to spend some time in Budapest before or after the Gödöllő conference, especially if you don't have a large luggage, this is the cheapest transport option, and a very reliable one at that.
The conference venue, the Abbey, is an 8-10 minute walk from the train station, which is also the terminus of the H8 HÉV, through the gently sloping University Park.
The student residence is located on the campus next to the Abbey. The conference venue is a 5-6 minute walk through the University Park.
From the town center (Erzsébet Hotel) it is a comfortable 20-minute walk to the train station under the beautiful trees of the Alsó park (Lower Park). There is also a modern running track and a beautiful modern swimming pool, also used for world competitions, near the end of the park. (See here.)
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From the city centre (the Elizabeth Hotel as well as the Royal Palace) it is a 150 m walk to the Szabadság tér (Liberty Square) stop of the H8 local train (H8 HÉV). From there it is a 4 minute travel to the train station.
It's a speciality that only the H8 HÉV in Hungary has had left-hand traffic along its entire length. This was the case on the Millennium Metro 1 from 1896 until 1973, and today there are only two train sections in Budapest with left-hand traffic (one of them is a short section of the line to Gödöllő). By the way, left-hand traffic was abolished in 1941 in Hungary.
14 local bus services operate in Gödöllő. In addition, bus services to the surrounding area also stop at local bus stops. All these, however, avoid the university campus and the Abbey. The bus services are suitable for guests who do not wish to stay in one of the two large accommodation facilities, but in private pensions or who wish to visit more distant attractions. (See here.)
If you're in a hurry, tired or have limited mobility, you can use one of the three taxi companies of the town or one of the cars that are on the way. Both Erzsébet hotel and the conference helpdesk will be happy to assist you with your car arrangements.
Numbers for the local companies are these:
Although Gödöllő is a frequent tourist destination and boasts many events, there is a limited need for accommodation, which is offset by the ease of access from Budapest, where there is a large number of accommodation facilities. After the Covid pandemic, higher-end hotels have been represented only by the Hotel Queen Elizabeth***; pilgrim accommodation (not very cheap) is available in a remote part of the settlement (Máriabesnyő); as well as a few private guesthouses and bed-and-breakfasts. The student hostel of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences offer a large number of cheaper guest accommodation.
For conference guests, we have reserved rooms in the Hotel Queen Elizabeth and in the student hostel of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Both have advantages and disadvantages. The former is more expensive but offers more amenities, the latter is much cheaper but more "youthful" and very close to the conference venue. However, both have the advantage of bringing the scholars into contact with many colleagues on a day-to-day basis at least during five days.
H-2100 Gödöllő, Dózsa György út (street) 2.
+36 28 816 817
https://erzsebetkiralyne.accenthotels.com/en (See our conference booking form below)
Located in the heart of Gödöllő, close to the Royal Palace (Hungarian: gödöllői királyi kastély). (The reddish brown building on the left.)
We have managed to agree with Gödöllő's flagship hotel (a member of the Accent Hotels chain) to book 30 double rooms (half of the total) at a discounted rate for the duration of our conference (this means 30-60 guests, probably with an average of 45.) If the chain does not require the number of rooms they have booked, additional rooms may be available. However, the discount is only valid for conference participants (including their family members or partners).
The prices are (room/night), see Boking Form (below) attached:
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89 EUR |
It would be fortunate in terms of occupancy if a significant proportion of the rooms could be booked for two people (not just family members and partners, but also colleagues and friends, which would of course mean for them a significant reduction in the price).
Accommodation service package contains:
Equipment of rooms: individually adjustable cooling/heating, LCD TV, minibar, hair dryer.
The city tax is payable separately, the rate of which is: 500 HUF=1,31 EUR (17.01.2024.)/ person/night above the age 18.
Check-in from 2pm, check-out until 11am
It is possible to park in the Hotel's 20-space underground garage, depending on availability, the rate of which is: 3,000 HUF=8 EUR/car/night or 200 HUF = 0,5 EUR/car/hour
You can return the Booking Form as an attachment to the Hotel Sales Manager (Zsófia Uzsoki): This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
You can include in the e-mail any questions or requests you have about the accommodation.
IMPORTANT! The hotel informs the organisers about the reservations from time to time, but it makes their and our work extremely easy if we receive information about your reservation, the easiest way of which is to send a copy of the letter about the reservation to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We especially ask the participants of the conference to do so.
Depending on the occupancy of the hotel, it is possible to extend the time slot agreed with the hotel. It depends on the discussion between the conference guests and the hotel management. This also includes whether they can rent out the rooms at a discount. This is between the guest and the hotel, not the conference organisers.
Magyar Agrár- és Élettudományi Egyetem, Szent István Campus / Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences
(formerly: Szent István Egyetem / University)
„B” épület, Kollégium (University Hostel)
H-2100 Gödöllő, Páter K. u. (street) 1.
+36 30 512 2177
Located in the Szent István campus of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE) in Gödöllő, 10 minutes from the Premonstratensian Abbey. The Campus is currently one of the largest university campuses in Hungary, located in a landscaped area, next to the university sports fields and forests, yet in the immediate vicinity of the city.
The 40 double rooms on the 4th floor of building D (build 2006, top left hand side, third row edge on the photo) have 80 beds. This floor is rented as accommodation all year round, mainly for a large number of tourists and conference or sports guests. During the summer season, the accommodation is rented at almost full capacity in the building (lower floors). The organizing committee of the conference reserved the entire floor as a starting point. Additional bookings will be expanded according to applications.
Accommodation information
The simple but youthful and well-maintained rooms are all double rooms with bathroom (shower), wardrobe and a small fridge. Most of the rooms have air conditioning. Every room has a desk and well-functioning Wi-Fi, for unlimited use.
The hostel has a reception service from 0 to 24 hours in building B.
Room can be occupied from 14:00, and the guest must leave it by 10:00 on the day of departure. In case of late departure, the Hostel will charge an additional fee, which is 50% of the current daily room price until 2 pm, and 100% of the current daily room price after 2 pm.
Prices:
The room rates are not given in euros and dollars, as they always depend on the current daily exchange rate. (In January 2024, the above amounts represent approximately 32 and 37 EUR)
The above room rates do not include room service and breakfest. There is a buffet on the ground floor of building B. Building B (with a covered passageway from building D) has also the main entrance. The buffet is open from 7 am to 10 am on weekdays. In the lobby, several vending machines for food and drinks are available day and night.
Guests can only book accommodation at the agreed price for the places indicated through the Hungarian conference organisers by filling in the online booking form. As a large number of guests are expected to arrive almost at the same time, and as the correct recording of basic data is a state requirement, please fill in the details accurately in advance to facilitate the reception, so that the organisers can forward them together to the management. This way, the recepcionist only need to controll the details at check-in. Of course, if there are any changes in the meantime, we will be able to amend them.
In order to make better use of space, it would be advisable (but we will not force anyone to do this) to book double rooms for two people (spouses, partners, colleagues, friends, without any restrictions). This way the accommodation fee is almost halved. If you are ready, you can fill in the booking form together.
The accommodation does not have to be paid in advance. The hotel trusts in the seriousness of the organisers and we, the organisers, trust in the responsible attitude of our colleagues. Of course we understand cancellations for unforeseen reasons, but please let us know as soon as possible.
Guests can pay on the spot by cash (HUF only) or credit card at the reception. It is possible to issue an invoice for the paid accommodation fee at the reception upon request. It is important to note that the invoice can only be issued upon payment of the accommodation fee, not before or after the payment.
There are also some good private guesthouses and bred-and-breakfasts in Gödöllő. It is important to note, however, that these accommodations are usually some distance away or just on the outskirts of the city, and this can cause some difficulties in the evening with public transport. However, if someone would like to find accommodation away from the larger groups or for any other reason, the organisers will will be happy to help them.
At the Hotel and the student residence. In Hotel Queen Elisabeth (Erzsébet királyné szálloda) accommodation service package contains buffet breakfast (continental) between 7 am-10 am in the Hotel’s restaurant.
In the Student Accommodation of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences the room rates do not include breakfest. There is a buffet on the ground floor of Building B (with a covered passageway from building D), which is open from 7 am to 10 am on weekdays. In the lobby, several vending machines for food and drinks are available day and night.
Supermarkets, shops. There is a well-stocked supermarket (ABC, ) right next to the main building of the University and the car park of the Abbey. In addition to groceries (including vegetables), soft and alcoholic drinks, ice creams, everyday items can also be purchased here. Opening hours: Monday-Friday: 06:00-19:30, Saturday: 06:00-15:00.
In the centre, around the hotel, you will find all types of grocery shops, bakeries (generally with dairy products), some of which stay late into the evening.
There is a day and night convenience store at Batthyány L. u. 142, near to the center and the campus.
Market. It is worth visiting the Gödöllő City Market (Hungarian: gödöllői városi piac, Szabadság u. 3), close to the Hotel, early one morning (open from 7:00 to afternoon). Village women in traditional costumes offering their produce from the garden, neatly arranged fruit and vegetable stalls, tables with hundreds of colourful flowers give the market a feeling of the old days, with its people-oriented atmosphere. As fare, in addition to the usual lángos [ˈlaːŋɡoʃ], you should try the locally and always freshly made strudel (Hungarian: rétes), which comes in at least 8 flavours.
Tobacco. In Hungary, tobacco (Hungarian: dohány) products can only be purchased in designated shops (Hungarian: dohánybolt), which also sell a large selection of alcoholic beverages, soft drinks and energy drinks.
Meals during the day. Food (included in the conference fee) will be available during the day (Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday: lunch), provided by restaurant Amenza (university canteen, in the immediate vicinity of the abbey) who have experience of international visitors.
Allergens. The canteen always lists the following allergens on their menu: 1 Gluten 2 Crustaceans 3 Egg 4 Fish 5 Peanuts 6 Soybeans 7 Milk 8 Nuts 9 Celery 10 Mustard 11 Sesame seeds 12 Sulphur dioxide 13 Lupin 14 Molluscs. (Pickles may contain sugar or sweeteners.) This designation and the order of the allergens follow the regulation 1169/2011/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (25 October 2011) on the provision of food information to consumers.
Please indicate your dietary requirements (religious dietary restrictions, food allergy/intolerance, vegetarian or vegan meal) in our questionnaire, as soon as possible, but at least until 30 June, so that we can order suitable food.
In higher-end restaurants, you can expect to see allergens listed on the menu. Elsewhere (in simpler places, takeaways, street pizzerias, markets), ask the vendor! Colleagues who have a severe, life-threatening allergy should be very careful! If you have a severe allergy, please let us know in the Comments section of the questionnaire! This will not infringe your privacy rights, but will help in prevention.
In the questionnaire, we distinguish the fact of food intolerance. It is assumed that everyone is aware of their own possibilities and limitations. (It is known that, for example, a very low percentage of the Nordic population is lactose intolerant. But it affects one third of the Hungarian adult population. This is usually explained by our Asiatic genetic heritage. Many people, like the writer of these lines, with mild lactose intolerance, cannot completely give up some typical Hungarian food, sweets or ice cream containing milk, so they usually have a lactase enzyme tablet ready...)
Spices. Note, that traditional Hungarian cuisine, especially in the Great Plains (Nagyalföld), uses hot paprika (peppers) very often. Many Hungarian dishes are much hotter than Turkish or Indian ones. Nowadays, unfortunately, this is not typical in public catering, but paprika and pepper are usually provided separately in a suitable container.
Open-air gulyás dinner. On Tuesday evening, after the official opening, the opening lectures and the solemn vespers, we will serve an open-air dinner (included in the conference fee) in the courtyard of the secondary school (certainly with the help of parishioners, who used to help on such community occasions). The menu will certainly be beef gulyás (not the Gulash known in the West, but real soup) cooked in a bogrács (traditional Hungarian cauldron).
Gulyás [ˈɡujaːʃ] is usually very spicy, but according to the above, we cook moderately piquant. Nevertheless, the real taste (with added paprika) can be tried by adventurous.
The aperitif will be Hungarian pálinka, of course, by popular demand (also at the request of the colleagues who participated in the CP in Athens).
For gulyás, like many other soups, Hungarian and generally Central European cuisine also uses caraway (Carum carvi, Persian cumin) and parsley root (Petroselinum crispum var. tuberosum, Hamburg root parsley) („Although seldom used in Britain and the United States, root parsley is common in central and eastern European cuisine, where it is used in soups and stews, or simply eaten raw, as a snack, similar to carrots.” Wikipedia) These are essential components of Hungarian cuisine. Since this is not (often) used in the South and West, nor in America, it is possible that sensitive people may have a slight food intolerance, so it is worth tasting a few bites first.
During the excursion on Friday, participants will receive meat-free cold food (included in the conference fee).
If there is also an evening session on Thursday, we will offer a cold sandwich dinner (included in the conference fee) beforehand.
The closing dinner on Saturday evening will be provided (included in the conference fee) by a good external catering service company that has proven itself many times at the Abbey's events. The location will be the secondary school hall (aula), which will be rearranged after the Saturday afternoon session.
During the morning and afternoon coffee breaks, including the excursion, and after lunch and dinner (if any), coffee, tea, soft drinks and cookies are available to the participants (included the conference fee).
As indicated, the above are all included in the conference fee.
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There won't be much time to experience the culinary delights of Gödöllő, but Wednesday (after the concert) and Friday evening (after the excursion) will be free. If you arrive before 30 July, or leave late on 4 August or after 4 August, we can also recommend you some good places to eat. (Unfortunately, food prices in Hungary are starting to catch up with European standards... It's hard to get used to, but in return the quality of food is more reliable and the service more cultured.)
Some Hungarian words to know: étterem = restaurant, pizzéria (with „accent”, to indicate the vowel length) is the same (if pizza not baked in Italy can even be called pizza!), söröző = a pub where you can mainly drink beer (Hungarian: sör), borozó = a pub where you can mainly drink wine (Hungarian: bor), kocsma = tavern, kávézó, kávéház = cafe, coffee bar, cafeteria, cukrászda = pastry shop, fagylalt, fagylaltozó, fagyizó = ice cream (shop). More recently, old, strange words are often revived as names, and often (misleadingly) ridiculously pretentious English names are given.
The closest pub to the conference venue is the curiously named Lapátos Malátaház (Shoveler’s Malt House). Lapátos used to be a tavern for ordinary people, named after the coal shovels the workers used to leave in front of the building. After the renovation, it was partly renamed. The Malt House is a rare synonym for a pub (Hungarian: söröző) where you can mainly drink beer (Hungarian: sör).
The place is a perfect combination of a pub (with a wide selection of beers on tap), a restaurant and a bistro. The street food menu is not typically Hungarian, but it's reliable and, if not cheap, not too expensive. Due to its proximity the pub is certainly of particular interest to those staying in the Student Hostel. If there is no menu in English in this place, which is mostly frequented by local young people, we will translate it for those interested.
Opening hours: Sunday-Thursday 15:00-23:00, Friday-Saturday 14:00-1:00; kitchen: 15:00-22:00
Tel.: 06-70-394 7583
Venue: Gödöllő, Állomás út 3.
How to get there. Coming up from the railway underpass you have to cross the main road, then turn left on the next street and walk along the road for about 200 metres to find the reddish-yellowish, ground floor building with a garden inside, so the noise of the traffic (not too much in the evenings) does not disturb the guests. (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g754049-d23651339-Reviews-Lapatos_Malatahaz-Godollo_Pest_County_Central_Hungary.html)
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The most exclusive restaurant in Gödöllő is Smarni. Its name is a Danube Swabian (German from Hungary) word, a variant of Kaiserschmarrn or Kaiserschmarren. Kaiserschmarrn is a popular dish or dessert in Bavaria and many parts of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire, such as Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Northern Croatia, where the name is usually used as a loanword or translation. Its Hungarian name is császármorzsa or smarni.
The restaurant is recommended for anyone who wants to eat expensive, but light food, with high quality, in a very pleasant, park-like setting. (http://smarnietterem.hu/) The fact that the restaurant is completely gluten-free shows that they are not serving traditional Hungarian cuisine. Or traditional food too, but "rethought" and modernised. The menu always has allergens listed.
Information, menu: https://cdn.website.dish.co/media/1c/63/1469964/Smarni-Etterem-Etlap.pdf
Opening hours: everyday 11:00-22:00
Tel.: 06-20-270-1239
Venue: Gödöllő, Szabadság út 4.
How to get there. The Smarni is close to the Szabadság tér (square) HÉV stop, almost opposite it on the other side of the main road, 100 m on the footpath. (Watch out for the two or three busy pedestrian crossings!!) It is not difficult to find it in the trees even if you come from the conference venue through the park (Alsó park/Lower Park). It is even easier to find it from the Erzsébet Hotel through the main square. Heading towards the one-tower white Reformed church, you have to go around the department store (Áruház) and, directly opposite the church, cross a pedestrian underpass under the train tracks and the main road, on the other side of which you will find the restaurant on the right.
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The same company runs Pizza Palazzo (Palazzo pizzeria étterem). This is the city's most popular pizzeria, located in the heart of the city centre, in the old station building (Gödöllő Szabadság tér) of the HÉV.
Italian guests please do not be offended by the desecration of the pizza! You won't find real pizza anywhere outside your home country. But we love this Hungarian-Italian dish, because for us it is a real Neapolitan pizza. Verifiable: their hand-stretched dough is baked in a wood-fired oven.
Information, menu: http://www.pizzapalazzo.hu/#!/home
Opening hours: Sunday-Thursday 11:00-22:00, Friday-Saturday 11:00-23:00
Tel.: 06-28-420-688
Venue: Gödöllő, Szabadság tér 2.
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Despite its name (often silly English names are epidemic in Hungary), the Yellow Pub is not an international or British-American restaurant, but a place with Hungarian tastes. It is a little further from the city centre, but the good food makes up for the walk. On a warm summer evening the garden is very pleasant, but the interior is also welcoming.
There are here some excellent starters, but they are not really part of the Hungarian diet. Traditionally, we Magyars start with soup, and there are many soups as one-dish meals, especially on weekdays. (At most a dessert is a complement.) So this restaurant naturally offers an excellent tyúkhúsleves (chicken meat soup) as a first course, since húsleves (meat soup) is often the first dish of a Sunday family lunch. Or if you eat a big portion, the bableves (bean soup) is a lunch in itself. (Here they serve less.) Among the second courses (main courses) there are some that are not easy on the stomach. For example, the rántott hús (giant crusted meat, pork tenderloin). Or the crusted chicken breast (with ham, smoked chesse). But there are also many lighter dishes.
The allergens are also listed here.
Information, menu: https://yellow-pub.hu/,
English: https://yellow-pub.hu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Digit%C3%A1lis-%C3%A9tlap_Yellow-Pub_20240509.pdf
Opening hours (each day): 11:00-23:00 (kitchen hours: 11:00-22:00)
Tel.: 06-70-322 4505
Venue: Gödöllő, Dózsa György út 64.
How to get there. Dózsa György street starts from the Erzsébet Hotel (Dózsa György út 2). The restaurant is about 500 metres from the hotel, when you leave the centre, on the same side. It is worth the walk, because you will get hungry on the way there and work off your dinner on the way back.
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Of course we can also recommend the restaurant of the Elisabeth Hotel (Erzsébet Királynő Étterem és kávézó). (http://www.erzsebetkiralyneetterem.hu/).
Reservation: 06-28-816 819
And it's always a pleasure when a tourist discovers a good place by listening to the intuition. There are many restaurants and similar places to discover in Gödöllő.
We also recommend pastry and ice cream shops in the area. There are a good number just in the main square and in the surrounding streets, including of course Sissi Fagyizó. Of course, you can also drink murderously strong coffees in these cafés and the like. We don't like diluted coffee. In fact, we don't even consider it coffee. In this we are probably on the same level as the Mediterranean.
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In Hungary, alcohol consumption is not subject to any restrictions. (Hmm...)
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Here we draw attention to the fact that there is zero tolerance for illegal drugs (not drugs for medical purposes) in Hungary, which means that the possession, use, exchange, manufacture or selling of illegal drugs (including marihuana cigarettes/“weed”) in Hungary is prohibited by Criminal Law. This applies fully to foreign citizens, regardless of the laws of their own countries. Violations are dealt with under the direction of the Police. See here.
Gödöllő has, in essence, good health care. In case of an emergency, everyone will be treated, but we ask that everyone arrives with health insurance appropriate to their state of health, as without it, you will have to pay substantial sums for treatments and surgeries in Hungary.
Please bring your specialised medicines with you, if possible, with a description (active ingredients, instructions for use) of your life-saving medicines. In the case of any permanent illnesses which may cause unconsciousness and other serious illnesses, you may wish, confidentially, to inform the organisers.
Please indicate your dietary requirements on our questionnaire, which will be sent out shortly, so that we can order suitable food. Please also bring with you a description of any other known allergies and any medication you may be taking to avoid anaphylactic attacks.
If these are made known to the organisers, they will be treated with complete discretion.
Please let us know about any mobility issues. You should be aware that the conference venue is located on a slightly sloping hillside and that not all means of transport are suitable for wheelchairs (unfortunately, not even the HÉV). We will try to provide individual assistance in all cases.
Because of Hungary’s continental climate, the summer season is warmer in Hungary (about 28-30), in Budapest, temperatures of more then 30 degrees are not uncommon.
The main conference venue is not air-conditioned, but many summer programmes are held here, and it is our experience that with adequate ventilation the large aula and other rooms are not too hot. The Premonstratensian auditorium is distinctly cool, sometimes too cool. The Elizabeth Hotel is air-conditioned, of course, as is the top floor of the student residence, but the floors below are also well ventilated by the natural ventilation of the windswept hillside, away from the traffic.
Some of the trains and city transport are also air-conditioned, but not the older vehicles.
Emergencies (Hungarian: sürgősségi ellátás)
The closest to the two main accommodation units is Medical Clinic II (Tormay Károly Egészségügyi Központ/Tormay Károly Health Centre, Petőfi Sándor str. 1-3). This is also the permanent medical service (Hungarian: orvosi ügyelet), which is available at night (from 18:00 to 8:00) and at weekends. The address of the doctor's surgery is Szabadság square 3, only 40-50 metres from the Queen Elisabeth Hotel. Phone: +36-70-810-5243
Pharmacy (Hungarian: gyógyszertár)
The seven pharmacies in Gödöllő provide night and weekend pharmacy services on a rotating basis. One of them is located at the entrance of the Erzsébet Hotel (Alma Patika/Pharmacy, Dózsa György str. 2. Phone: +36-28-510-220). The University Pharmacy (Egyetemi patika) is located 100 metres from the University's main building and the Abbey (Egyetem square 1. Phone: +36-28-420-243).
Ambulance (Hungarian: mentő)
Emergency numbers: 104 and 112
Hospital (Hungarian: kórház)
Flor Ferenc Pest County Hospital (Kistarcsai Flór Ferenc Kórház) is located 10 km from Gödöllő.
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Gödöllő's public safety is good. There have been no reported incidents in recent years. Drink-driving and speeding on public roads are a big problem all over Hungary. It should be remembered that the M3 main road runs through the middle of the town, which makes access to the centre easier, but if, for example, someone wants to cross from the Elisabeth Hotel at the Szabadság tér HÉV station to the Royal Palace on the other side, or to the footpath from there (via the Alsó Park/Lower Park), they must also adhere very strictly to the traffic lights, which regulate multi-directional traffic at pedestrian crossings. (Note also the unusual left-hand traffic for non-UK citizens on the HÉV, as described.) See here.
As almost anywhere in the world, we advise participants to obtain travel insurance and to keep an eye on belongings when travelling through urban centers, stations and public transport, not least after long travels.
Police (Hungarian: rendőrség)
Emergency number: 107 and 112, toll-free hotline +36-80-555-111
Firefighters (Hungarian: tűzoltók, tűzoltóság)
Emergency 105 and 112
Taxi
Numbers for the local companies are these:
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The staff of the Elisabeth Hotel are ready to help in emergency cases. We plan to have one of the Hungarian organisers' helpers sleep in the University's student hostel every night to assist guests.
The official currency of Hungary is currently the Hungarian forint (HUF).
A brief history. In 1325, King Charles Robert of Hungary started minting the Hungarian gold forint, modelled on the Florentine forint:
As far as we know, gold coins have been minted in Florence since 1252. Its Latin name was florentinus. At some point, the letter ’l’ was dropped from the old Hungarian name (florint). Apart from brief periods, the forint has accompanied us throughout the centuries of our history. Thus, after a break between 1892 and 1946 (following the hyperinflation of 1945-1946, which was the biggest price rise in world history), the forint was reintroduced on 1 August 1946. (At this point 400 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 pengő was worth one forint.) Although there are sometimes set deadlines for entry into the eurozone, the date is constantly being pushed back. One thing is for sure: the forint will certainly still be our currency in this summer.
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Today you can only pay in cash with other currencies where this is clearly indicated. In the stores of the larger foreign-owned hypermarket chains, this is mostly the euro. The daily exchange rate is clearly displayed at the checkouts, but change can only be obtained in forints.
We Hungarians have basically switched to card-based shopping. We even pay by card at an ice-cream shop across the street and the vendor gives us a bill. There are hardly any places where we can't buy with a card, e.g. at a vendor in a big outdoor event (here the vendor doesn't even have to give us a receipt) or at a small food producer, a village woman in a local market. As of 1 January 2021, traders (and almost all of them) and service providers (including taxi transport, catering, restaurants, pubs and museum admissions etc.) who have online checkouts will have to offer their customers at least one electronic payment solution, i.e. either accept credit cards or accept instant transfers at the cash register. (In the past, sometimes there has been abuse of not accepting payment by card for small value payments which is relatively expensive for the seller.) However, they had no right to do so. They should offer card payments for even the smallest value payments.
You are advised not to take out much Hungarian money at the airport or any other exchange office. You should pay for Queen Elisabeth Hotel in advance, and you can pay for your university hostel accomodation with a card on the spot. All shared meals are included in the conference fee. As described in the Travel & Transport section, automatic vending machines are available everywhere for the journeys you are likely to do. There are also ATMs for cash withdrawals in the town centre and on the university campus, and of course, in Budapest everywhere. In Gödöllő, there are branches of Erste Bank (Szabadság square 14), K&H Bank (Szabadság square 1.) and the nationally-owned OTP Bank (Szabadság square 12-13) open during the day, close to the hotel.
If you are withdrawing money from an ATM in the street rather than in a bank branch, it is important to be careful, just like anywhere else in the world. Especially at night.
Also, make sure that your bank card has not expired or is not close to expiry. (We organisers have had a situation e.g. in Florence, the birthplace of our currency, and in Syria, where our card was swallowed by the machine on a public holiday and we had to wait for it to open..., a very unpleasant experience.)
Note that restaurants, especially in the better categories, almost universally charge a service fee, so we have got rid of the former tortuous and humiliating institution of 'tipping' in most places. Likewise, after the extraordinary salary rise for doctors, the giving and accepting of a single forint in gratuities is now strictly forbidden.
For any large purchases, please make sure you know the customs rules.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the organisers.
The Conference is supported by:
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