2026 Wine Festival and transportation

I will be going, and a good chance on Thursday as it’s a little less crowded than the weekend. I also go fairly early, 5 or 6pm (starts at 3pm on Thursday) https://aborfesztival.hu/en

Unless you do a few museums there really isn’t more than a few hours of sightseeing in the Castle District. That depends on your interests. If you want to spend the day in Pest you have an early dinner then you take the M1 from your hotel or restaurant to Deák Ferenc ter, you go up the back stairs at the arrival platform. At the top, and across the small street is the stop for Bus 16 to the Castle District. It’s that easy.

Going back to your hotel is also safe and easy. The same way in reverse or better, enjoy the lights along the river and walk down to the chain bridge and take the trams home.

Budapest is a very safe place to walk in the evenings.

That ia great to know. Thank you!

We just dont have the sort of street crime that some cities do. Its almost like violence isn't in the Hungarian DNA. I know ladies that work till midnight and walk home alone. But who you need to talk to for a woman's perspective is TexasTravelMom.

I personally wouldn’t worry about safety going back to Opera from the Castle area. That doesn’t mean I don’t pay attention, but I end up being out late at least once a visit - maybe my flight arrives late, or I go to a concert, or a late dinner, or I just go to the river on my last night. Going alone to the wine festival won’t be any harder than any of the rest of the travel/sightseeing you’ll be doing alone.

As for advice on what to do that day, it’s whatever you feel like. :) I don’t think there’s a logistical right or wrong answer.

Thanks for sharing TexasTravelMom.
Looks like general safety precautions like my other travels. But glad to hear public transport should be just fine.

P.s. love your login name :-)
I am also a travel mom, and every year I make sure we have a family trip, mom and kid trip, and solo trip for me! Full time working mom with kid in middle school means my solo trips are usually 10-days max.

The key is to have a TravelCard for the duration of your stay.

Bad news TexasTravelMom, they did away with the 15 day pass, you gotta buy a month now (or 24 or 72 hour). Still reasonable price.

AND (well you know I cant shut up), here is a page on evenings in Budapest. Yes, its a tourguide page, but she's pretty correct. The video is sort of nice too. https://lovefromhungary.com/budapest-at-night-why-the-city-truly-shines-after-dark/

Okay a few more videos
https://youtube.com/shorts/i6mT_JmxF8w?si=ilGaG_Ao3qwFwocE
https://youtube.com/shorts/HoD4i_-i0XE?si=VukkVFWaI-PB2OTO

and another
https://youtu.be/RFWFCycjO5w?si=WW69z5BDi-se2D07

You know TTM is usually in Budapest in September or October. We just need to get her to come for the wine event. Then she can take both of us.

You guys need to post here: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/hungary-rs-forum-members-meetup-thread

You are funny.

I am about to get fall dates set but they aren’t firm yet. But it won’t be September……