Wizz Air’s plane from Budapest to Abu Dhabi had to carry out an emergency landing in Ankara, Türkiye, because of a passenger. Others on board described the events as if they were in a catastrophe movie.
According to Blikk, a Hungarian tabloid, the plane took off with some delay from Budapest Airport. Instead of 1 PM, they left the runway at 1.41 PM, but nobody expected what would follow.
A woman later got sick on board. She fainted, but the cabin crew calmed other passengers, saying there was professional medical help on the plane who could help the woman. Panic broke out when some of the people saw the woman start to bleed unstoppably.
Some of the passengers were shocked by the lot of blood they saw. Thankfully, two doctors on board tried to provide medical help for the passenger but were not successful. The cabin crew created a temporary examination room for them in front of a toilet, but they could not help her.
Blood was everywhere, just like in a horror movie, a passenger told Blikk. It was on the floor, in the toilet, on the seats and in the corridor. The woman’s children cried, nobody knew what to do.
Wizz Air captain saved her life
Finally, the captain decided for an emergency landing in Ankara, Türkiye’s capital. The cabin crew tried to hide blood with some nylon bags they found on board.
A passenger said there was a seat which was soaked in blood, so they needed to replace it. After the landing, Turkish cleaners came and tidied the plane of blood.
The ambulance waited for the plane, and the woman was taken to hospital, followed by her relatives. According to Blikk’s informant, the family of four travelled to Abu Dhabi to spend New Year’s Eve there. However, a couple of weeks before, the woman went through surgery and her scar began to bleed unstoppably.
The plane arrived in Abu Dhabi with a 4-hour-long delay.
Read also:
Christmas nightmare: Wizz Air passengers left in Dortmund before Christmas – Read more HERE
Wizz Air rewrites timetable: flights cancelled, modified – Details in THISarticle
Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air has unveiled a significant increase in weekly flights to Türkiye.
Commencing in March, the route between Budapest and Istanbul will see a rise from seven to nine flights per week, with ticket prices starting at HUF 15,590 (EUR 41).
Starting 31 March, travellers from Debrecen to Antalya can enjoy bi-weekly flights, while Budapest will offer thrice-weekly flights to the Turkish capital from April. Ticket costs remain consistent with those for the Istanbul route, as reported by utazomajom.hu.
Major refurbishment works behind the scenes
Major refurbishments have been underway at Ferenc Liszt International Airport since May, focusing on aviation safety and compliance. Completed in November, projects included renewing asphalt and concrete pavements on taxiways B3, B4 and B5, covering over 37,000 square metres. Additionally, apron AG, primarily used for aircraft parking and ground handling equipment storage, saw renewal on over 16,000 square meters. Upgrades to storm drains (over 5000 meters) and lighting substructures of taxiways B3-B5 (over 4000 meters) were part of this extensive initiative, as reported by bud.hu.
Budapest Airport’s investments prioritised environmental protection during construction while maintaining aviation safety and delivering seamless passenger traffic, with over 95% of soil and demolition waste (20,500 tons from apron AG and 58,000 tons from taxiways B3-B5 refurbishment) prepared for recycling on-site. This eco-friendly approach saved the airport from emissions equivalent to those produced by 3200 trucks transporting waste.
The investment’s total value was approximately EUR 16 million.
Monthly passenger traffic at the airport exceeds one million in November, cargo reaches record high
November marked a bustling month for Budapest Airport, with 1,149,078 passengers recorded, an 18.5% increase compared to the same period last year.
As Budapest Airport approaches the end of another year of progression, the strength of its cargo development remains robust. Having seen 112% growth in volume from 2015 to last year, 2023 continues to produce an increase in cargo traffic with new records set. Handling 22,206 tonnes in November alone, a whopping 25.9% rise when compared to the same month last year, BUD is experiencing the strongest quarter in its cargo history. The volume handled in the last 12 months has also therefore surpassed all previous records to reach 198,264 tons, while cargo traffic registered between January and November showed a 47% increase, compared to the same period before the pandemic.
Safety first: successful emergency exercise at the airport
Hundreds of people took part in a simulated rescue during a full-scale emergency exercise at Budapest Airport. As an international airport, any potential emergency must be responded to immediately, accurately and in close cooperation with all stakeholders, so it is crucial to test the preparedness and effectiveness of cooperation between the competent units, authorities and organisations at regular intervals. In accordance with international standards, Budapest Airport organises a full-scale emergency exercise every two years, preceded by several months of planning. The purpose of the exercise is to test the emergency plan in real life and to harmonise rescue and communication processes, so that all participants are fully aware of their roles and responsibilities in the event of a real incident.
During the simulation, which took place on the night of 22nd November this year, an unused training aircraft was employed to imitate an accident. In the simulated event, the cargo aircraft made an emergency landing at Ferenc Liszt International Airport due to a fire on board. More than a hundred of people took part in the lifelike exercise, including 8 volunteers, who acted as the staff of the aircraft, while the rest of the participants were from the authorities plus the airport and rescue organisations involved in the emergency operation. According to the scenario, the incident involved several casualties, and the emergency was further complicated by the fact that the aircraft was carrying 20 tons of highly flammable fuel and other dangerous goods. The exercise was handled successfully with useful lessons drawn to further ensure that in the event of a real emergency, the BUD community are ready and fully capable.
Budapest Airport and Forest Rescuers continue joint program with the planting of eight thousand saplings
In addition to making its own operations sustainable and reducing the emissions generated at the airport, Budapest Airport is also working to protect local natural assets. As part of this initiative in 2022, the company’s volunteers, in cooperation with the Forest Rescuers (Erdőmentők) team, planted five hundred saplings in the Börzsöny hills, and this year hundreds of new trees found a home along the Selyem-Réti Nature Trail. In addition to the December campaign, Budapest Airport is supporting the work of the Forest Rescuers with several million forints, who are using the funds to plant a total of 8000 saplings around the nature trail this season.
The experts also paid special attention to the need to implement the initiative in a place where it is really crucial. At a nature trail belonging to Ócsa, climate change has led to the appearance of a fungal species that is not typical of Hungary, and has attacked the native forest tree species of the wetland forest. The only chance for this protected habitat, unparalleled in Europe, is to plant tree species resistant to the damaging fungus.
New children’s play area opens at Skycourt Foodcourt
The recently refurbished mini-airport themed play area at Pier 1 has been a great hit with children, and in November, Budapest Airport opened another empire for the youngest travellers. A new play area inspired by gastro-caravan concepts opened on the mezzanine level of the central hall of Terminal 2 next to the food and beverage outlets (FoodCourt), where children can enjoy a mini food truck, caravan and cake counter so that they can enjoy the first stop of their family holiday at the airport.
Budapest Airport has implemented numerous improvements to the passenger experience at its terminals recently, which will surely be well-received. According to the quarterly ASQ survey, Budapest Airport achieved the second best ranking in the category of airport leisure and entertainment among the twenty benchmark airports surveyed. In terms of overall satisfaction, the Hungarian capital airport was ranked highly in the list of 20, ahead of Warsaw, Vienna and Berlin, among others.
Read also:
Wizz Air rewrites timetable: flights cancelled, modified – Read more HERE
Wizz Air vs Ryanair ‘war’ continues in Italy, emergency landing in Budapest – Details in THISarticle
Hungarian and Turkish public media chief executives on Monday signed an agreement on cooperation and an exchange of content in connection with the joint Hungarian-Turkish cultural season, the press and marketing office of Hungary’s Media Service Support and Asset Management Fund (MTVA) said.
The document was signed at the foreign ministry in Budapest by Dániel Papp, MTVA’s chief executive, and Mehmet Zahid Sobaci, head of Turkish state media service provider TRT.
MTVA and TRT agreed on closely cooperating on content in the interest of the “worthy celebration” of the year-long joint Hungarian-Turkish cultural season in honour of the centenary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The sides agreed to continuously update each other on the programmes and festivities organised in connection with the cultural season and to share with each other the programming they produce about it. Under the agreement, next year the public media companies will each hold a day focusing on the other country, sharing the related programming.
The sigatories were in agreement that the exchange of content enhanced cultural dialogue and strengthened ties between their peoples. They underlined their intent to place special emphasis on historical, cultural and art assets when putting together their programmes.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan paid a visit to President Viktor Orbán on Monday, and the dynamic duo didn’t just engage in diplomatic talks – they exchanged surprising gifts that added a touch of flair to their meeting.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his Turkish counterpart, Recap Tayyip Erdogan surprised each other with gifts of notably high value.
Taking to his Facebook page on Monday, Orbán proudly announced that he presented President Erdogan with a Nonius stallion from the esteemed Mezőhegyesi stud farm. “A gift from one horse nation to another,” Orbán wrote.
Ahead of the meeting of the Hungarian-Turkish High Level Strategic Cooperation Council, the Hungarian Prime Minister also received a gift from the Turkish President, a Togg T10X electric SUV car, which costs HUF 18 million as a basic price. The two leaders took the car for a test drive, with Orbán confidently at the wheel and President Erdogan in the passenger seat.
“It was a good deal. One horsepower for 435”, commented the Hungarian prime minister.
The Hungarian-Turkish cultural season kicked off with a stunning gala evening on Monday, marking the beginning of a year filled with diverse cultural events between the two nations.
The opening ceremony was attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Turkey Katalin Novák and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Centenary celebrations
In his opening speech, Government Commissioner Péter Hoppál emphasised that the friendship between the two nations traces back to the times preceding Hungary’s conquest.
“A wealth of linguistic, archaeological, folk music and ethnographic evidence confirms the friendly kinship between Hungarian and Turkish culture”, the Government Commissioner responsible for the cultural year stressed. Additionally, he mentioned Hungarian freedom heroes, such as Prince Ferenc Rákóczi II and Governor Lajos Kossuth, who had found refuge in Turkey.
Hoppál recalled that a century ago marked the initiation of a new chapter in the history of collaboration between Hungarians and Turks.
He outlined that Hungary’s year-long cultural celebration would showcase the richness of Turkish culture, coinciding with a parallel Hungarian cultural year in Turkey.
Hungarian🇭🇺 and Turkish🇹🇷 cultures are both rich and – as a result of mutual influence – have much in common. So with @RTErdogan and his wife we attended the openning concert of the Hungarian-Turkish Cultural Year, launched on the ocasion of the Centenary of our diplomatic… pic.twitter.com/xFoVvDfiAm
The opening gala showcased performances by Hungarian and Turkish soloists, along with the orchestra and dance troupe of the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble, the Orchestra of the Hungarian State Opera House, and the Ankara State Modern Dance Company of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Broadcast live on Hungarian (M5) and Turkish public media, the opening gala at Müpa Palace was framed by a symphonic composition inspired by the melodies of both nations. The programme featured waltzing dervishes, Csángó songs, janissary and hajdu dances, as well as large orchestral works and opera pieces.
The Hungarian State Opera House Orchestra was conducted by Kornél Fekete-Kovács, leader of the Modern Art Orchestra, and Cemi’i Can Deliorman, music director and chief conductor of the Presidential Symphony Orchestra of the Republic of Turkey.
The gala evening was directed by Csaba Káel, Kossuth and Nádasdy Kálmán Kálmán Prize-winning film director and CEO of Müpa Budapest, and choreographed by Gábor Mihályi and Soner Sati.
The year-long Hungarian-Turkish Cultural Year, spanning both nations, will be featured across public service channels with educational content, films, series, cultural events, and concerts, connecting to the events of the year.
“I believe that the Hungarian-Turkish Cultural Season is a great opportunity to bring the two nations even closer. Special Turkish and Hungarian music and folk dance selections were performed by Turkish and Hungarian artists, and 42 artists from Türkiye came to Budapest for the event. In the framework of the Year of Culture 2024, at least 100 cultural events reflecting Turkish culture and art will take place across Hungary. The closing event will again be a joint event and will be held in Türkiye next year”,
said HE Gülsen Karanis Ekşioğlu, Türkiye’s ambassador to Hungary.
Márton Nagy, Hungary’s economic development minister, met Mehmet Fatih Kacir, Türkiye’s new industry and technology minister, and Omer Bolat, the trade minister.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of a meeting of the Hungarian-Turkish High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, convened in Budapest on Monday by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the ministry said in a statement.
The sides reviewed current economic developments as well as industrial and commercial cooperation opportunities, it added.
Nagy said Hungary was turning itself into a hub of Eastern and Western capital and technology.
They agreed on the importance of mutual investment promotion, cooperation in the construction sector and in third countries as well as in the green transition.
In 2022, Türkiye was Hungary’s 21st largest trading partner and trade turnover amounted to 3.5 billion US dollars. Hungary’s three major export products in that year were vehicles, electrical machinery, devices and instruments and their electrical components.
Almost 100 Turkish companies employ nearly 2,000 people, and hundreds of new jobs may be created in the future thanks to Turkish investments, the statement said.
Broadening economic and trade ties would focus on energy, logistics, pharmaceuticals, construction, agriculture and the food industry, it added.
As we wrote today, PM Orbán signs bilateral key strategic partnership agreement with President Erdogan, details HERE.
Also we wrote today about Hungary and Türkiye sign a new agreement for the most extensive energy cooperation ever, details HERE.
Hungarian and Turkish defence companies are establishing a joint venture to develop the Hungarian assembly and production of Turkish Gidran armoured fighting vehicles at the Rába Group’s production facility in Győr, in western Hungary.
Rába Jármű and the Turkish Nurol Makina ve Sanayi’s Hungarian subsidiary, Nurol Makina Hungary, announced the deal on Monday on the website of the Budapest Stock Exchange.
Hungarian suppliers will have a large role to play and the vehicles are primarily destined for the Hungarian Armed Forces, the statement said.
The “grand plan” is for Turks and Hungarians to be “winners together in the 21st century”, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said after signing a bilateral priority strategic partnership agreement with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday.
Orbán told a press conference after the agreement was signed that “in the language of diplomacy, this expresses the strongest possible friendly, brotherly and political cooperation”.
The prime minister said that although Hungarians had “lost the previous century”, the plan now was to “win the 21st century”, for which Hungary was seeking allies.
“That is what this priority strategic status is about,” he said, adding that Hungary and Türkiye wanted to work as closely together as the two peoples and countries possibly could.
Orbán said this was “a serious commitment” made in the hope that what had been laid out in the Turkish president’s programme, “namely that the next one hundred years will belong to Türkiye”, would come true.
EU and Türkiye
He said Hungary would do everything it could during its presidency of the Council of the European Union next year to revamp the customs union between the EU and Türkiye as well as supporting Türkiye on the issue of visa liberalisation.
Bilateral ecomic ties
Turning to bilateral economic ties, Orbán said Hungary and Türkiye doubled their bilateral trade turnover in the space of just over ten years. He noted that 500 Turkish businesses are present in Hungary, while 100 Hungarian firms are active in Türkiye. Turkish investments in Hungary are growing in both number and value, he said. Since these investments have expanded to new sectors, he added, Hungary and Türkiye also signed agreements on railway developments and the defence industry.
Orbán emphasised Türkiye’s role in Hungary’s general security and energy security, saying Hungary would be unable to keep migration at bay without Türkiye.
As we wrote today, Hungary and Türkiye sign new agreement for the most extensive energy cooperation ever, details HERE.
Ukraine, energy security
Concerning the war in Ukraine, the prime minister said Türkiye had been the only country to achieve any results in connection with peace and grain shipments. Türkiye, he noted, had also just taken command of the KFOR mission in Kosovo, where 465 Hungarian troops are stationed.
As regards energy security, Orbán said he and Erdogan agreed on Hungary purchasing natural gas directly from Türkiye in addition to receiving gas delivered through the country.
Budapest, Hungary. Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Photo: MTI
Scholarship
Hungary and Türkiye are also developing ties between their universities, Orbán said, noting that Hungary has offered 200 scholarships to Turkish university students. Next year, he added, will be dedicated to the joint Hungarian-Turkish cultural season to mark the centenary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties. Orbán added that 2025 will be declared the year of cooperation in Hungarian science and innovation.
The short-term bilateral programme “is specific”, while the medium-term programmes “are appealing”, the prime minister said, adding that when it came to strategic and historic issues, the two countries had the same goals and intent. Hungary and Türkiye were elevating bilateral ties to an all-time high, he said.
President Erdogan reacts
Erdogan praised Türkiye and Hungary’s long-standing friendly ties, saying both countries were willing to expand bilateral relations.
He highlighted the “very strong” historical and cultural links between the two countries, expressing his appreciation for Hungary’s presence in the Organization of Turkic States as an observer.
Türkiye and Hungary, he said, aimed to stimulate investments in each other’s countries along with joint investments in third countries, and sought to further deepen their cooperation in the defence and energy industries.
Erdogan expressed his country’s support for Hungary’s successful EU presidency in the second half of 2024.
Meanwhile, the Turkish president said violence did not yield solutions, noting that Türkiye was focused on a diplomatic solution to the war in Ukraine, and he urged a ceasefire in Gaza.
Erdogan, who is visiting Hungary to attend a meeting of the Hungarian-Turkish High-level Strategic Cooperation Council, signed a joint political declaration with Orbán on the two countries’ priority strategic partnership.
Also, Hungarian and Turkish ministers signed cooperation agreements on social services, the Hungarian-Turkish year of innovation, research and development, defence and foreign affairs, nuclear energy, civilian state of emergency as well as audiovisual political and government communication, among other areas.
Hungary and Türkiye are launching a year-long Hungarian-Turkish cultural season on Monday to mark the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Republic of Türkiye as well as their diplomatic relations.
As we wrote today, President Novák received her counterpart Erdogan with a military salute at Heroes’ Square in Budapest, details HERE.
President Katalin Novák received Recep Tayyip Erdogan, her Turkish counterpart, with military honours at Heroes’ Square in Budapest on Monday morning, the Presidential Office said in a statement
Novák and Erdogan held a tete-a-tete at Sándor Palace. She said Türkiye was key for Hungary in preventing illegal migration and providing energy security, as well as playing an important role in the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Regarding NATO, the two presidents discussed challenges faced by the alliance’s eastern flank and difficulties regarding its expansion.
Both hailed the centenary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and referred to increasingly strong bilateral ties.
Fully 17 agreements are being signed during the Turkish president’s visit, including the key strategic partnership agreement between the two countries.
Novák also hailed the establishment of cooperation in family affairs, and she welcomed the joint cultural season aimed at reflecting “the richness of the cultures” of the two countries and their commonalities.
The presidents will attend the opening concert of the joint Hungarian-Turkish cultural season on Monday in the Müpa.
This year, Erdogan is visiting Hungary for the second time and the presidents are meeting for the third time, showing how “strategically important friendly relations are”, the presidential statement said.
Novák met Erdogan in Ankara during her official visit to Türkiye between March 29 and 31, and the two presidents met again for talks during the Turkish president’s visit to Budapest on August 20.
Macaristan’da Resmî Karşılama Töreni ve Meçhul Asker Anıtı’nı Ziyaret https://t.co/vvaqq70xvw
Hungary and Türkiye are embarking on their broadest-ever energy cooperation as part of a new agreement after which natural gas imports from Türkiye can start next year, Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, said on Monday.
At the press conference held after meeting the Turkish ministers of energy, industry and trade, Szijjártó said the sides signed five agreements.
“The last few years have shown that the closer cooperation is between the two countries, the more” Hungary benefits from it, he said.
The new deal between Hungarian energy company MVM and Türkiye’s BOTAS broadens energy cooperation more than ever before, he added.
Türkiye will become a source for Hungary’s purchases of natural gas purchases next year, and cooperation will involve storage, infrastructure development, and the use of renewables and hydrogen.
Szijjártó said the EU faced “a serious energy crisis”, and, in contrast, Hungary’s supply was stable as it purchased energy “from reliable partners”.
Ankara, he added, was key to this, and more than five billion cubic meters of natural gas has already arrived this year through the TurkStream pipeline.
The minister also said cooperation in transport infrastructure development would be strengthened as Hungarian and Turkish rail construction companies V-Hid Epito and Gulermak entered into an alliance.
Hungary and Türkiye will be able to take part in major developments and investments bridging Europe and Asia as a result, he said.
Cooperation agreements also span Hungary’s national archives, the Turkish presidential office, Hungary’s Media Service Support and Asset Management Fund (MTVA) and Turkish state media service provider TRT, as well as Eötvös Lóránd University and the Yunus Emre Institute.
He said both countries were “proud of our historical heritage” and “common chapters” from the past.
Szijjártó noted that Budapest and Ankara were celebrating the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Also, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will sign today an agreement on forming a priority strategic partnership.
As we wrote before, the Hungarian-Turkish cultural year will start today, on Dec 18 to mark the centenary that diplomatic ties were established between the two countries – details HERE
Wizz Air is announcing a major increase in frequencies to Türkiye, with the introduction of nine flights a week on the Budapest-Istanbul route from March, up from the current seven flights a week.
Tickets are available on Wizz Air‘s website and through the airline’s mobile app from 15,590 HUF.
Spanning two continents, Istanbul is a unique fusion of East and West that will fascinate all visitors. Its cultural diversity, unique atmosphere and dazzling architecture give the city a unique charm. Turkey’s economic, cultural and artistic centre is home to many exciting sights and attractions. The evocative mosques, palaces and bazaars of the past, combined with the vibrant mix of the modern metropolis, make for an unforgettable trip.
“We look forward to further strengthening economic and tourism ties between the two countries with the expansion of this route. Wizz Air’s destinations in Turkey have already been popular with Hungarian travellers, so we are delighted to be able to make Istanbul even more accessible with the addition of flights to Budapest. We are committed to strengthening the aviation relations between the two countries and look forward to further developing our offerings between Hungary and Turkey in the coming period,”
said Zsuzsa Trubek, Communications Manager, Wizz Air.
WIZZ AIR JÁRATOK TÖRÖKORSZÁGBA MAGYARORSZÁGRÓL
Budapest – Istanbul
nine times a week
available
from HUF 15 590
Debrecen – Antalya
seven times a week
from 31 March 2024.
from HUF 15 590
Budapest – Antalya
three times a week
from 1 April 2024.
from HUF 15 590
Wizz Air’s first flight to Hungary took off in June 2004 and since then the airline has served more than 47 million passengers in the country, offering a total of 72 routes from Budapest and Debrecen to 29 countries around the world.
In the financial year 2024, Wizz Air will further strengthen its position as Europe’s fastest-growing airline. The airline will continue to outperform the industry average, with an additional 53% higher capacity than in 2019. It offers affordable travel on nearly 1,000 routes to more than 50 countries, flying 67 million passengers to their favourite destinations in 2023. Along with the popular Cairo, Sharm el-Sheikh, Copenhagen, Istanbul and Antalya, the airline has launched almost a dozen new routes from Hungary this year.
The Hungarian market leader, the airline’s growing fleet consists of more than 50 per cent of the most modern, sustainable Airbus A321neo aircraft. All flights will be operated with 180-seat Airbus A320s and 230-seat Airbus A321s, as well as 239-seat Airbus A321neo and 186-seat Airbus A320neo.
Traffic will considerably change in the Hungarian capital next Monday because of a presidential visit. Here is what you need to know.
According to index.hu, it will be much more difficult to commute to Budapest due to the official visit of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Türkiye’s president. Officials recommend everybody to evade the downtown region of Heroes’ Square, Andrássy Avenue, Kiskörút, Kossuth Lajos Street, Elizabeth Bridge and the crossing streets.
The road closures will affect public transport and the Liszt Ferenc International Airport. You should calculate a 10-30 min traffic restriction at the airport between 11.20 AM and 12.10 PM because that is when the delegation will arrive in Budapest.
Furthermore, Dózsa György Street, Andrássy Avenue and Heroes’ Square will be closed to the public between 11.40 AM and 12.40 PM because of official reception.
Between 12.30 PM and 1.10 PM, there will be 10-minute-long road closures on the Andrássy Avenue – Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Street – Deák Ferenc Square – Károly Promenade – Kossuth Lajos Street – Elizabeth Bridge – Attila Street – Palota Street – Dísz Square route. Furthermore, authorities will block the Hunyadi János Street – Dísz Square – Palota Street route between 12 PM and 2 PM.
Budapest Airport travel also changes
Between 6 PM and 6.40 PM, the delegation will go to the MÜPA (Budapest Palace of Arts) on the Dísz Square – Palota Street – Dózsa György Square – Krisztina Promenade – Szent Gellért Wharf – Szent Gellért Square – Műegyetem Wharf – Pázmány Péter Wharf – Dombóvári Street – Rákóczi Bridge – Soroksári Street – MÜPA (Palace of Arts) route.
According to index.hu, Erdogan will leave Budapest between 8.50 PM and 9.30 PM, so you should expect traffic restrictions on the MÜPA – Vágóhíd Street – Mester Street – Könyves Kálmán Promenade – M5 motorway – M0 motorway – M4 motorway between 8.40 PM and 9.20 PM.
Public transport will also be restricted on the above-mentioned routes, but only for 10-15 minutes. The only exceptions will be the airport shuttles 100E and 200E. They will not touch the airport between 11.20 AM – 12.10 PM and 8.50 PM – 9.30 PM.
Budapest Transport Company (BKK) asks every commuter to use the underground instead of surface transport vehicles. Furthermore, you should arrive at the airport much earlier, provided your plane takes off between 10 AM and 12 PM or 8 PM and 10 PM on Monday.
Read also:
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Schengen in serious trouble: strict control prolongedat Hungarian border again
If you’re a tourist in Türkiye, and you’re not just interested in the Istanbul bazaar and the Turkish Riviera, you should visit the places with Hungarian heritage. Our editorial team has been to some well-known and less well-known places, so let’s discover Hungarian memories far away from Hungary together.
The relationship between the Hungarian-Turkish people could not have been more complicated throughout history. The common ancestors and the similar sounding words in our languages tell us that the two nations have a long history. Although the two nations settled relatively far apart, they have been in constant contact. After the establishment of the Ottoman Empire and its conquests, some Hungarians regarded Constantinople (now Istanbul) as an enemy, others as a political ally, and this continued until the end of the Sultanate.
Türkiye was one of the first countries to sign a treaty of friendship and cooperation with Hungary in 1923, and the latest relationship, now in its 100th year, has begun, with the centenary to be celebrated in 2024 with a series of major events in the spirit of bilateral cultural cooperation.
As the short introduction shows, there are numerous links between the two nations. The easiest way to get to the Turkish biggest city from Hungary is by plane, either with Turkish Airlines or low-cost flights, so perhaps it makes sense to start your journey here.
Istanbul
Hagia Sophia
Perhaps one of the most famous buildings in Istanbul is the Hagia Sophia, once built as a church and an iconic building of Christianity.
Surprisingly enough, you can see Hungarian candlesticks here, collected as spoils of war after Sultan Suleiman’s entry into Buda. Copies of these can be seen today in the Matthias Church, Budapest.
The Hagia Sophia, now a mosque, fortunately retains some Christian features, including the mosaic of Empress St. Piroska/Irene in the south-east gallery and her sarcophagus at the entrance. Piroska, the daughter of King Saint Ladislaus of Hungary, married the Byzantine Co-Emperor John II Komnenos in 1104 and is the mother of the Byzantine Emperor Manuel Komnenos. Piroska led an exemplary life, helping the poor and living a strong ecclesiastical life, and became a saint of the Orthodox Church under the name of Saint Irene. The mosaic painting in Hagia Sophia is the oldest depiction of a Hungarian woman, making it doubly significant.
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul. Photo: Helló Magyar
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul. Photo: Helló Magyar
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul. Photo: Helló Magyar
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul. Photo: Helló Magyar
Blue Mosque. Photo: Helló Magyar
Hagia Sophia History Museum. Photo: MTI
Once out of the building and heading towards the Blue Mosque, we can visit the brand new Hagia Sophia History Museum, where we had a fascinating journey thanks to the excellent graphics. It’s definitely worth a visit, instead of the exhibits that many people find boring, you can learn about the history of the temple/mosque over thousands of years on huge projectors.
Zeyrek Mosque (Monastery of the Pantokrator)
St Irene’s alleged sarcophagus is located at the entrance to Hagia Sophia, but historians believe it may have originally stood in the Pantokrator Monastery, which she founded. We can visit the now Molla Zeyrek mosque, built at the initiative of the Hungarian empress between 1118 and 1136, which served as a church, monastery and hospital until 1453. Interestingly, it is the second largest Byzantine building in modern Istanbul after the Hagia Sophia.
Pantokrator Monastery, Istanbul. Photo: Helló Magyar
Pantokrator Monastery, Istanbul. Photo: Helló Magyar
Pantokrator Monastery, Istanbul. Photo: Helló Magyar
The Topkapı Palace, located next to Hagia Sophia, was the residence of the sultans for centuries and is the home of the Istanbul Antiphonal Codex, a codex of hymns for Christian church rites, which was made in Hungary in the 14th century. When Sultan Abdul-Aziz returned most of the Corvinas to Hungary in 1869 and Sultan Abdul-Hamid II in 1877, it was not among them and remained in the library of the Topkapı Sarayı.
The misconceptions about the harem were dispelled by our guide, Acarkan Emrullah, who explained in excellent Hungarian that the Sultan’s mother selected the ladies who would be placed in the harem and also told him who the monarch could spend the night with. They were paid a decent salary; many of them never met the Sultan. Many were even married off to other high-ranking generals, and thus were kept out of the palace.
There was also an arms exhibition in the palace, where Hungarian swords were on display. You can’t miss them, everyone is in awe of them, as their sheer size makes them stand out from the vast collection.
Topkapı Palace, Istanbul. Photo: Helló Magyar
Topkapı Palace, Istanbul. Photo: Helló Magyar
Topkapı Palace, Istanbul. Photo: Helló Magyar
Topkapı Palace, Istanbul. Photo: Helló Magyar
View from Topkapı Palace, Istanbul. Photo: Helló Magyar
View from Topkapı Palace, Istanbul. Photo: Helló Magyar
Don’t miss the most spectacular spot in Topkapı Palace: the terrace offers a sensational view of the Istanbul of 20 million people. You can see two of the bridges that connect the two banks of the Bosphorus, cargo ships lined up in the canal and millions of houses.
Monastery of Saint Benoît: Rákóczi, Zrínyi
Resistant to the vicissitudes of history, the monastery has been the burial place of many famous Hungarian fugitives. It was here that Ilona Zrínyi was laid to rest in 1703, and his son, Prince Francis II Rákóczi of Transylvania, in 1735. Currently, only a plaque and altar in the disused chapel commemorate them, as their ashes were repatriated in 1906 and are now buried in the St. Elisabeth Cathedral in Kassa. The memorial is open by appointment only.
Monastery of Saint Benoît, Istanbul. Photo: Helló Magyar
Monastery of Saint Benoît, Istanbul. Photo: Helló Magyar
Monastery of Saint Benoît, Istanbul. Photo: Helló Magyar
Address: No: 11, 34425 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Turkey
Ödön Széchenyi, the father of the Turkish fire brigade
The name of Count István Széchenyi’s son, Ödön Széchenyi, is less known in Hungary, but he is highly respected in Türkiye. Known as the founder of the Turkish fire brigade, the Hungarian man went to Turkey on holiday and offered his services to Sultan Abdul-Aziz following the Great Fire of Istanbul, who accepted. The emperor commissioned him to set up the Istanbul fire brigade. Ödön’s work became such a success story that in 1880, he became the first Christian to be promoted to the rank of pasha.
A special section of The Museum of Firefighting is dedicated to the Hungarian man, and his grave is worshipped every year on the anniversary of its founding.
The Museum of Firefighting, Istanbul. Photo: Helló Magyar
The Seven Towers
Once a city wall and later a prison, the Seven Towers/Yedikule may be familiar from Gárdonyi’s novel The Stars of Eger (Egri csillagok), part of which takes place here. This is not a place of Hungarian glory, as it was used as a prison by the Ottomans, and was the site of hundreds of Hungarian prisoners, including the execution of Gergely Bornemissza (1555). The building is currently under renovation, but is open to the public.
The Seven Towers/Yedikule. Photo: Helló Magyar
The Seven Towers/Yedikule. Photo: Helló Magyar
The Seven Towers/Yedikule. Photo: Helló Magyar
Address: Yedikule, 34107 Fatih/Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul Military Museum
The Istanbul Military Museum mainly commemorates the Ottoman Empire’s military forces, with several mentions of Hungary, including the glorious Battle of Mohács and the capture of Buda, which was a celebrated battle for the Turks.
Also not in a very good condition is Khedive’s Palace – Hidiv Kasri, a neo-Renaissance fortress built by Abbas Hilmi Pasha, who married the Hungarian-born Count Marianna Török of Szendrő in 1910. The Philadelphia-born Hungarian writer, pianist and painter lived in the palace until their divorce. The building can only be visited from the outside, but the garden is a pleasant walk.
Khedive Palace – Hidiv Kasri, Istanbul. Türkiye. Photo: Helló Magyar
It is important to point out that there is Hungarian cultural life in this great Turkish city, thanks to the Liszt Institute in Istanbul. The enthusiastic team at the cultural centre is trying to bring Hungarian culture closer to the locals by translating Hungarian literature, teaching languages, temporary exhibitions, performances and concerts.
Liszt Institute in Istanbul. Photo: Helló Magyar
Liszt Institute in Istanbul. Photo: Helló Magyar
Liszt Institute in Istanbul. Photo: Helló Magyar
Rodostó (Tekirdağ)
Anyone who remembers a little of what was said in Hungarian history lessons will be familiar with Rodostó as the “citadel” of Hungarian exiles in Türkiye. Located 120 kilometres west of Istanbul, now known as Tekirdağ, it is a must-see for any Hungarian visiting Turkey. You will be surprised by the pride the locals take in the fact that the Transylvanian prince Francis II Rákóczi lived in their town until his death.
The jewel in the crown of Magyarok Street is the Rákóczi Museum (Rakoczi Müzesi), which was once the ruler’s guest house and dining room. The building has been carefully restored and displays original artefacts from the period. After the fall of the War of Independence, Rákóczi found a permanent home in Turkey, where he lived from 1708 until his death in 1735. He was not alone: the Sultan of the time reserved 23 houses for the Hungarians in a wealthy district of Rostov, and a large delegation arrived with, among others, Kelemen Mikes, Miklós Bercsényi, Antal Esterházy and Mihály Csáky.
From the entrance to the Rákóczi Museum, we can see that this house is a tribute to the Hungarians and the Prince. Hundreds of ribbons in Hungarian national colours are hung from the ceiling, and Ali Kabul, who is in charge of the museum, tells in perfect Hungarian how much the Hungarian connection means to the people of Rodostó. When we were there, a delegation of Hungarian journalists welcomed us, giving us the means to visit. The photo gallery tells the story of the museum’s atmosphere for us:
On the trail of Hungarian memories in Türkiye. Rodostó (Tekirdağ). Rákóczi Museum. Photo: Helló Magyar
On the trail of Hungarian memories in Türkiye. Rodostó (Tekirdağ). Rákóczi Museum. Photo: Helló Magyar
On the trail of Hungarian memories in Türkiye. Rodostó (Tekirdağ). Rákóczi Museum. Photo: Helló Magyar
On the trail of Hungarian memories in Türkiye. Rodostó (Tekirdağ). Rákóczi Museum. Photo: Helló Magyar
On the trail of Hungarian memories in Türkiye. Rodostó (Tekirdağ). Rákóczi Museum. Photo: Helló Magyar
On the trail of Hungarian memories in Türkiye. Rodostó (Tekirdağ). Rákóczi Museum. Photo: Helló Magyar
There are several other Hungarian memorials nearby, including the Csáky House, which is not far from the museum and now serves as an honorary consulate, and a full-length statue of the prince in the Peace and Freedom Park (Barış ve Özgürlük Parkı), which is located in another part of the city. Every year, locals commemorate the Hungarian residents during the Cherry Festival.
On the trail of Hungarian memories in Türkiye. Rodostó (Tekirdağ). Csáky-house. Photo: Helló Magyar
On the trail of Hungarian memories in Türkiye. Rodostó (Tekirdağ). Csáky-house. Photo: Helló Magyar
Full-length public square statue of Francis II Rákóczi in Rodosto. Photo by Helló Magyar
Full-length public square statue of Francis II Rákóczi in Rodosto. Photo by Helló Magyar
Rodostó (Tekirdağ). Photo: Helló Magyar
Nikodémia (Izmit)
Imre Thököly and Ilona Zrínyi spent their exile in Nikomédia, today’s Izmit, and died here. The two iconic figures of Hungarian history were granted permission to settle in 1701, and there are several memorials to the famous historical figures in the town. We were the first to visit the memorial house, whose interiors have been filled with content with the help of experts from the Hungarian National Museum. The fate of Thököly and Zrínyi is a good illustration of the situation at the time, as many alliances were formed in the Transylvanian-Habsburg-Ottoman Empire triangle to supplant the other.
Nikodémia (Izmit). Photo: Helló Magyar
Leaving the memorial house, we had a taste of the Turkish village environment, as we found the well-kept Zrínyi-Thököly relief not far from Izmit in a small village.
Zrínyi-Thököly relief, Izmit, Kocaeli. Photo: Helló Magyar
Zrínyi-Thököly relief, Izmit, Kocaeli. Photo: Helló Magyar
Zrínyi-Thököly relief, Izmit, Kocaeli. Photo: Helló Magyar
There are many more memories to be found in Türkiye
Evidently, we couldn’t visit all the places of interest during our trip, but the Liszt Institute has set up a special website for Hungarian monuments, so if you are interested in learning more about the Hungarian side of Türkiye, you can find detailed information here.
And if you are interested in Türkiye’s historical sites and other attractions, we recommend GoTürkiye.com, where you can find comprehensive information in ten languages.
A Turkish man, aged 23, wanted for murder and belonging to an armed terrorist organisation has been apprehended in Hungary in the act of people smuggling with an accomplice, the Zala County police said on the police.hu website.
Local police tried to stop a van on road number 76 near Sármellék, western Hungary, on 16 November but the driver deflected and tried to flee after driving away and stopping on a minor dirt road.
The van he abandoned included ten illegal migrants who identified themselves as Turkish citizens.
The Turkish driver, aged 27, was apprehended a few days later near Székesfehérvár, along with an 23-year-old accomplice who had also been involved in people smuggling with a follow-up vehicle.
Zala police started a procedure against both and the court ordered their pre-trial detention.
The investigation revealed that the younger man was wanted by Turkish authorities for possessing a gun, committing murder and activities as member of a terrorist organisation.
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Government workingon the release of 2 more Hungarian hostages
Report on migration–terrorism connection made public in Hungary – Read more HERE
Péter Szijjártó, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, on Friday met Mehmet Kacir, Türkiye’s minister for industry and technology, and discussed the most important issues of bilateral economic cooperation with him.
“We reviewed the most important issues of bilateral economic cooperation, and were happy to see that the past few years have brought dynamic development in Hungarian-Turkish relations,” Szijjártó said on Facebook after the meeting in Dunakeszi, near Budapest.
“Turkish export to Hungary was at an all-time high last year, trade volume has grown by 29 percent this year, and we managed to build a strong and effective cooperation in defence industry, an indicator of the highest degree of trust possible,” Szijarto said.
Turkiyeremains an important factor in Hungary’s energy security, and there are hopes of finalising an agreement on gas purchases with the largest Turkish energy company before year-end, he said.
The two countries’ railway companies have also signed an agreement on submitting tenders together, within and outside Europe, he added. “We also agreed that the number of flights should be increased, and we will give Turkish Airlines the opportunity to do so,” Szijjártó said.
NBH signs cooperation agreement with Kazakh financial market watchdog
The National Bank of Hungary (NBH) has signed a cooperation agreement with the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA), Kazakhstan’s financial markets regulator, Hungary’s central bank and financial market watchdog said on Friday. The agreement involves an exchange of general information and the organisation of workshops and forums. The agreement was signed by NBH deputy-governor for oversight Csaba Kandracs and AFSA CEO Nurkhat Kushimov during the NBH’s Eurasia Forum held on November 23-24.
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Wizz Air increases number of flights to European cities, wins prestigious award – Read more HERE
After meeting Türkiye’s minister of industry and technology on Thursday, Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, the defence minister, said developing Hungary’s defence industry was “strategically important” and would help the economy “to leap forward”.
Türkiye, he noted, is Hungary’s strategic partner, and military cooperation “is also intense”. Hungary’s defence industry is attractive for foreign investors given the country’s geographical location, its highly educated workforce, the favourable tax system, and its political stability, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said at the press conference held with Mehmet Fatih Kacir.
During their meeting, they reviewed multiple cooperation openings and agreed on establishing a working group to manage them. The sector in Hungary is designed to meet the equipment needs of the modernised armed forces as well as helping to drive the country’s economy, he said.
The minister noted the establishment of the Defense Innovation Research Institute (VIKI), linked to the NATO DIANA innovation centre, thanks to which Hungarian companies can join development work with large international partners.
The year 2025 has been designated as Turkish-Hungarian science and innovation year, the Turkish minister said, adding that Hungary was an important trading partner, with trade volume doubling in the last 17 years and the common goal of 6 billion dollars per year.
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The Hungarian government has extended state of emergency – Read more HERE
Government sends home all foreign construction companies from Hungary
Hungarian-Turkish cultural year will start on Dec 18 to mark the centenary that diplomatic ties were established between the two countries, the minister of culture said on Monday.
János Csák said the programme had been designed to “support decades-long excellent ties by way of culture and to reinforce our cultural presence in the other country”.
Gülsen Karanis, the Turkish ambassador to Hungary, said that the idea for the season was developed jointly by representatives of the two countries.
“We thought it was one of the best ways to highlight our deep-rooted and comprehensive relations, as the cultural years are one of the best examples of cultural diplomacy,” she added.
She recalled that Türkiye had been a republic since 29 October 1923 and Hungary was the first country with which Mustafa Kemal Atatürk signed an international cooperation agreement on 18 December 1923 and one of the first departments of the new university established in Ankara under Atatürk’s leadership was Hungarian Studies.
Hungary was one of the countries that supported the development initiative of young Türkiye, so many Hungarian architects, engineers and professionals came to Turkey at the invitation of Atatürk and left their mark on Turkish buildings and institutions, she added. “The Turks still remember the work of Hungarians with great gratitude,” she stressed.
Gülsen Karanis said that next year, in addition to Budapest, eight cities in Hungary – Pécs, Szigetvár, Eger, Esztergom, Veszprém, Kaposvár, Szeged and Debrecen – will host programmes showcasing Turkish opera, ballet, modern and traditional Turkish dance and music, as well as theatre performances, exhibitions, literary programmes, film screenings, gastronomic events and scientific lectures.
The Ambassador said that on 18 December, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Budapest to mark the anniversary.
Péter Hoppál, government commissioner in charge of the programme, said it will offer more than one hundred art, scientific and innovation events aimed “not only at promoting Hungarian culture in Turkiye in general but to launch long-term cooperation to build tighter relations in particular areas.”
As we wrote before, Centenary of Republic of Türkiye celebrated in Budapest – PHOTO GALLERY.
Türkiye is a strategic partner of primary importance for Hungary, with long-established defence and military ties, the defence minister said after talks with his Turkish counterpart, Yasar Guler, in Budapest on Thursday.
Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said the talks focused on defence and security cooperation. Türkiye is a member of the NATO command deployed to Hungary, and is currently participating in Adaptive Hussars 23, the largest international military exercise of the past 30 years, he added.
Szalay-Bobrovniczky said Türkiye was “an extremely important player” in regional security policy, and “its counsel is indispensable regarding the conflicts threatening our security”.
A NATO member and a “leading nation in the region”, Türkiye’s stance on the war in Ukraine was similar to that of Hungary, he said.
Both countries are committed to promoting an immediate ceasefire and peace talks, and to avoiding escalation and further sacrifice, he said. Hungary and the region has a vital interest in peace and strengthening economic and trade ties, he added. Hungary and Türkiye also agree that NATO, the largest defence alliance in the world, should prioritise the monitoring of terror threats, he said.
Hungary also has an interest in preserving stability in Africa, Szalay-Bobrovniczky said. As part of a complex aid package, it is deploying a military mission to Chad next spring, with an aim of solving problems locally rather than importing them into Europe, he added.
The ministers also agreed on the importance of stability in the Western Balkans, a region where both countries deploy troops to NATO operations.
Regarding the defence industry, Szalay-Bobrovniczky briefed Guler on the modernisation of Hungary’s Armed Forces, including equipping the entire army with NATO compatible equipment as well as an expansion of the defence industry to ensure supplies and contribute to the country’s economic growth, he said.
It was recently announced that Gidran armed vehicles will soon be manufactured in Hungary, he noted. One of the most important vehicles of the Hungarian Armed Forces will be manufactured with a Turkish licence, further strengthening bilateral ties, he added.
Guler called talks “honest and constructive”. Türkiye sees its cooperation with Hungary, “a friendly and brotherly ally”, as especially important, he said.
He said he and Szalay-Bobrovniczky had reviewed the two countries’ bilateral ties, security issues in the Euro-Atlantic region as well as issues regarding their NATO membership.
They also expressed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in the defence industry and other sectors. He praised “the development of … Hungary and its Armed Forces”, and invited his Hungarian counterpart to a visit in Türkiye .
