We are going to be spending 3 nights in Budapest with our 22 year old daughter (my wife and I are 55). We are looking to for some advice on the best area to stay for the 3 nights to take full advantage of Budapest. Close to restaraunts, nightlife, attractions and public transportation would be ideal.
Also looking for any can't miss attractions while we are in Budapest.
Where to stay: I like District VI along Andrassy ut and the M1 metro. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/rs-forum-favorite-hotels-and-their-cost
Restaurants: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/restaurants-in-budapest-revisited
Can't miss attractions: All of it.
There is more on my profile page, but see if either of these show anything of interest.
Favorite Tourism Video of Budapest https://youtu.be/1nd5AtZIrTk?feature=shared
Anthony Bourdain describing how visually pleasurable Budapest is https://youtu.be/0nd9DuDGCz0?si=aa0c19KaJHEtabkX
Do as Mr. E says. He knows Budapest.
When we were there in February, we stayed next door to him. But he and Paty were not home and did not know we were there. We did get our Zing Burger fix, however.
😳 LOL......
This is all very helpful, thanks.
If you have any other suggestions, please share. We want to make the most of our time.
When will you be here? Different ideas for different seasons.
October 10th through 13th
We made music the theme of our visit with the following stops:
Opera House (went to a wonderful performance, bought inexpensive tix before we went).
Opus Jazz Club: I went to their website and checked out two possibilities for our dates - looked them up on YouTube and chose a real winner. A "gypsy" music trio - really four musicians - who had amazing instruments my musician husband had never seen before. We did not understand a word but loved it all. I think tickets were $10 US in advance on their website. We booked a time an hour before the music, and enjoyed a nice dinner then the show in an intimate setting.
Dinner on the waterfront at Dunacorso Étterem. They had gypsy music, and kind of a dueling setting with the restaurant next door. We happened to sit on the border railing between the 2, and they took turns serenading everyone. Food was wonderful here also.
Have fun - use those trams and metro, safe and easy using google maps.
We stayed at Hotel Oktogon, in the center of everything (although not on the water). I would go back!
Joan has great ideas.
Are the Tuk Tuk tours in Budapest a good way to get an overview of the city on the first day of our first visit?
Sure, you could do that. Or tell me where you are staying and what time you arrive and I might be able to suggest a tram tour that is essentially free cause you have a travelcard for your stay.
The Tuk Tuk. It's such a large and spread out tourist area that with the Tuk Tuk, you will only see a very tight section. With the trams, which are as good as HOHO busses, you can pass through most of the tourist area and get orientated for follow-up visits over the following week you are here. Time of year might impact some decisions, too.
We are staying at 1 Kaldy Gyula, Budapest, 1061
Okay, nice location. In one direction is Andrassy ut which is nice and civilized. In the other direction is Kiraly utca which during the day is interesting but at night its the land of Spoiled-European-Trustfund-Brat-Party-Heaven.
Unfortunately, Google Maps won’t let you do multiple stops on public transportation so you will have to follow the segments.
First you will walk to the beginning of the 47/48/49 tram. Will take you about 5 minutes. The fastest way is to walk down Kiraly utca to Deak Ferenc ter where the tram ends its run. https://maps.app.goo.gl/TminXPeuC2cuHbWK8 Hop on and sit on the left.
You will take this all the way to the river. The trip is about 5 minutes, but the great thing is, because you have a travelcard, if you see something interesting, you can hop off and go look, then hop back on. Just show the travelcard if asked by and inspector.
Along the way you will pass, on the left, the Great Synagogue (Dohány Street Synagogue) and the Hungarian National Museum. Between the two, if you look out the right window you will see some wonderful antique books and art print stores. About 5 of them lined up just before you get to the Museum. Here is one. https://maps.app.goo.gl/iC6FYr2SNPkiG8kEA.
The tram continues across the river, but you want to get off at the last stop before the river. Just look at your google maps. If you go too far, you can always get on one going back.
At the stop before the river, you get off, and you are in front of the Great Market Hall. I don’t know what time it is, or what day of the week it is, but if it’s open, walk on in. Next, if you look towards the river, on the other side is the Gellert Hotel and Bath House (both closed for renovations but worth looking up for the history and the architecture). You will also see stairs right in front of you that go down under the bridge. So, walk on down. At the bottom you will find an entrance to the M4 Metro and a stop for the 2/2B/23 Tram line. Thats what you want. You want the tram that is moving from left to right. This is the tram line often referred to as the, or at least one of the, most beautiful rides in Europe https://maps.app.goo.gl/xzmGt9erJDEakavM7.
Sit on the left so you can see the river and the castle district of Buda and the Chain Bridge. Stay on for 3 stops, then get off at the Vigadó tér stop and walk up to DunaCorso Restaurant, sit down for a meal or a drink and suck in one of the most beautiful views in town. https://maps.app.goo.gl/18o2rKsPu3y4EEw88.
Now walk up the tracks to the next stop and reboard the tram in the same direction as before. We are off the Parliament building. The second largest in Europe I believe, but the most beautiful. Again, sit on the left. After a few stops you will find yourself at the first stop behind the Parliament building https://maps.app.goo.gl/8z7zvUdsAu9Zx6VZ7.
From here if you are interested and have time and energy, you walk down to the shoes on the Danube Memorial. Google Maps refuses to do it correctly, so I must tell you. You will walk directly from where you get off the tram, past the statue of the man on the horse and down the stairs to the river, the turn left and follow the river about 150m to the Shoes. https://maps.app.goo.gl/7ZAigtVtjN8N8ucdA
Now we take a nice walk across the back of Parliament and down a street lined with antique shops to where we find the next tram. https://maps.app.goo.gl/NNPY1BCb6mX4TVfz7 If you are interested in the antique shops, this is the one to go into. https://maps.app.goo.gl/9Lm3fAPweTjH7Rtq8
continued:
At the end of the walk you will see the 4/6 tram, thats your next tram. Board it moving from left to right. Sit on the left. https://maps.app.goo.gl/5UL2dgXWCiNQYqv67 First thing you will pass will be the Nyugati Station designed by Eiffel. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/Nyugati_p%C3%A1lyaudvar%The next stop is the Oktogon where ou will get off.
Now you have two choices. Another hour of tour or go home.
For another hour of tour you will turn left and start walking up Andrassy ut. This avenue makes the Champs-Élysées in Paris look insignificant. Just enjoy the architecture all the way up to Heroes Square. https://maps.app.goo.gl/JsFDCb66Vp22jKBfA At Heroes square cross the road and take the M1 metro back to the Oktogon. https://maps.app.goo.gl/AYPbhdC4mMYb8Gai8 Then walk down Andrassy ut, past the Opera House to where you are staying https://maps.app.goo.gl/qzoPpE4dBHsuRoap7
You can do this in as little as an hour if you stay on the trams and dont poke around at all. You can easily spend 4 hours doing it too. What you miss this day you can come back for because now you are confident with the public transportation and you have some idea of orientation in the city. What we didnt get to was Buda. Only so much you can do on arrival day.
Or the TukTuk
Thanks again, incredibly helpful.
I kinda like it here and like to share it. Check your PM's for a little more.
Dear Mr E and others on this reply chain,
I have 2 free days and nights at the end of a group tour in Romania . I just realized, I could fly to beautiful Budapest to which I have never been !
What are the must see sights and experiences in Budapest ???
Do you know an excellent English speaking local guide, and 4 or 5 star hotel with excellent concierge services to expedite my brief visit in Budapest ?
Thank you
J
2 free days and 2 free nights isnt a whole lot, but you know my first visit wasnt much longer so who am I to be critical.
First, the hotel, for two nights there are only two choices: The Marriott and the Intercontinental. But WAIT, Mr E, you always send people up Andrassy ut for a hotel. Well, with 2 nights you havent got much time so you need to be in a location where you can exploit what time you do have. No casual wandering of neighborhoods. Those two hotels are on the river and the rooms all face the river and the views of the Castle are stunning. In the evening the restaurants and a glass of wine on the Corso is perfect. The 2 Tram runs out front from Great Market Hall to Parliament and with one change I can get you to a few other of the top 10 destinations and make it a fun and very visually impacting 2 days.
The guide, not a bad idea for a 2 day visit. I havent used a guide in 10 years. My favorite from the old days uses a cane now, so hmmmmmm...... But this one comes well recommended and a few on here have used her, so you might be able to search the name and find some references: https://lovefromhungary.com/ But I have never met the woman. I guess some day I will have to hire her before I pass her name around any more often. I do know a great winery guide, but you dont have time.
If you decide to go without a guide, let me know and I will help you plan a few days. But I need dates and arrival times and departure times and methods and your hotel so it gets done right.
OH, and start your own thread. Better that way.
We are finishing up our visit in Budapest today. Actually sitting on a plane ready to depart.
We stayed at Hotel Zenit and loved it.
Dinner recommendations:
Urban Betyar—don’t miss the unique museum downstairs!
House of Strudel—favorite with locals as well. Lots of savory items in addition to sweet
Dinner cruise on Legenda cruise lines. This was really nice seeing the city lit up at night. Food was very nice and as a dinner cruise, there was t commentary over speakers, but instead very nice live dinner music.
Visit the baths as well! Fun and unique experience.
Typo above—- There *wasn’t commentary….
Actually sitting on a plane ready to depart.
Me, too! (Finn Air in case you are here also) Thank goodness I already know when I’ll be back. 🤣
And TexasTravelMom did a good post on restaurants. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/restaurants-in-budapest-revisited
