The prices are only given for information purposes and are subject to change.
About Hungary
The official currency in Hungary is Hungarian forint (HUF). You can use an online currency converter to check the actual exchange rate (www.xe.com). You can pay using your bank/credit card (Visa, Master, Maestro) at many shops and vending machines, however it is good to have some cash with you just in case. A pizza costs 14 EUR worth HUF, a full common dinner costs less than 35 EUR in a restaurant. Service fees are often included in the price, however it is best to ask the waiter. If it is not included and you are satisfied, adding about 10% of the sum as a tip is typical.
Electricity in Hungary is 230 V, with a frequency of 50 Hz, plug types C and F can be used. For more information see www.power-plugs-sockets.com.
The weather in Hungary in October is usually a little cold and can be rainy; however, significant variations may occur nowadays. Check the actual weather/forecast here: www.wunderground.com
About Sopron
The city of Sopron is located in the westernmost part of Hungary, near the Austrian border in the vicinity of Lake Neusiedl/Lake Fertő, at a distance of 60 km from Vienna (the capital of Austria) and 220 km from Budapest (the capital of Hungary). The history of Sopron dates back to ancient times and nowadays it is frequented tourist destination.
Some recommended places to visit:
– Botanical Garden with Ligneum visitor center
– Sopron Castle Wall Promenade
– Firewatch tower (opening hours and ticket prices)
– Central Museum of Mining
If you have one more day to visit:
– Harrer Chocolate Workshop And Confectionery
– Lookout towers (e.g. Károly, Sörházdomb)
– Sopron Toboggan Park
Information of other sites can be found on the website of the Tourinform.
To reach Sopron from Vienna
The fastest and probably the most convenient way to reach Sopron is via Vienna International Airport (Schwechat).
From the airport direct train connection is available to Vienna Hauptbahnhof (travel time: 15-20 min, price 5.20 EUR). Search connection between VIE (Vienna International Airport) and Vienna Central Station on this page: https://www.oebb.at/en/
There is a ticket office of the Austrian railway company (ÖBB) at the airport but tickets are also available from the ÖBB Ticket Machines. One machine is located next to the ticket office and there are two more next to the platforms (usually the queue is shorter there).
There are many trains coming to Sopron from Vienna. Use the route planner here to find connection between Vienna Central Station and SOPRON: https://www.oebb.at/en/
There are several options but choosing direct trains (REX) is suggested. The journey takes 1 h 19 minutes and costs 21.40 EUR. Tickets can be purchased in the ticket office or from vending machines. Both cash and bank/credit cards are accepted.
Note (1) that the destination of those trains is Deutschkreutz, you should look for trains to Deutschkreutz on the passenger information boards. Sopron is not the last stop, so be sure to get off the train in Sopron.
Note (2) that if you purchase a ticket in Sopron to Vienna on your way home, that ticket (costs also 21.40 EUR) includes the fare from Vienna Central Station to VIE Airport using the Railjet service within one hour from arriving at Vienna.
When participants are travelling together as a group, taking a taxi is a comfortable way to reach Sopron from Vienna. If you are interested, please visit for example this webpage. Note that “Bécs” is Vienna in Hungarian and “Pozsony” is Bratislava in Hungarian.
Other transfer possibilities from Vienna Airport to Sopron:
1. Gettransfer.com: search route from “Vienna International (VIE), Wien-Flughafen, Schwechat, Austria” to “Sopron, Hungary”.
2. Jakabbus.hu: the webpage is only in Hungarian but you can send an e-mail to the office@jakabbus.hu address, they speak English.
To reach Sopron from Budapest
Take this route if you would like to spend some time in Budapest which is the capital and the most famous tourist destination of Hungary. Direct trains from Budapest to Sopron depart every second hour from Budapest-Keleti railway station which can be reached from the airport either by the local transportation system, by shuttle buses, or by taxi.
A convenient option to reach Budapest-Keleti railway station directly from the airport is to take the MiniBUD shuttle service (check fare to “Budapest, Budapest-Keleti, Hungary”, it costs 24.99 EUR or 9000 HUF). Note that you may need to wait some time for other passengers to gather for the ride.
A much cheaper as well as adventurous option is using local transportation. From the Liszt Ferenc International Airport (BUD), bus 100E (100E) takes you to the center of Budapest. Please note that one has to purchase a so called “airport shuttle bus single ticket” in the BKK ticket office, from ticket vending machines, through the Budapest Go app or from the driver for about 6.5 EUR (2200 HUF), the ordinary single ticket is not valid on this bus. If you want to go directly to Budapest-Keleti railway station you need one additional ordinary ticket is about 1.5 EUR (500 HUF). Take off from bus 100E either at “Kálvin square” and use Metro line 4, or at “Astoria” and take a bus (5, 7, 8E, use the google travel planner from Astoria to Keleti railway station), or at “Deak square” (end stop) and use Metro line 2 toward “Örs vezér tere” to get to Budapest-Keleti railway station.
Note that you need to validate a new ticket each time you change vehicle. Validation means either stamping or punching the ticket depending on the validator device. Do not be surprised: controllers often simply tear your ticket upon inspection. That is normal.
From Keleti railway station you can take a train to Sopron. Search connection between Budapest* and Sopron on this page: https://www.mavcsoport.hu/en
We suggest to take a direct (intercity, IC) train (one-way ticket ~4500 HUF = ~12.50 EUR, travel time is about 2 h 30 min).
Please note that the price of the ticket depends on the time of the journey and that of the purchase and on the type of the train, too. Expect to receive a base ticket and a combined seat reservation+supplemental ticket separately. Tickets can be purchased from MAV ticket office or from vending machines. Cash and most bank/credit cards are accepted.
Local transportation in Sopron
Sopron is a small town. The city center and most of the recommended hotels are within 1000 m from the railway station. Taxi rides within town cost usually around 2000-5000 HUF.
All locations on a google map (click on the image to jump to google maps):
Parking in Sopron
Parking in the downtown of Sopron is not cheap. Some hotels offer on-site parking, please ask at booking. Limited number of parking places are available in the courtyard of our institute. Please let us know if you would like to use one of them.
The prices are only given for information purposes and are subject to change.