We will be visiting Budapest for 3 nights in October. I am planning to do an Airbnb, but don't know which area will best fit our needs.
We are interested in seeing the Great Food Market, the Synagogue and all the main tourist attractions. We are in our 70's and like to walk. We're not party people, but do plan to visit a ruin bar during the day. I am looking at Belvaros and District V. Are these good areas? TIA, Deb
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17919 posts
Belvaros and District V are one and the same.
Generally speaking it's the most heavily touristed but not necessarily where the most tourist attractions are.
The key, no matter where you choose is to be close to the M1 metro or the 47/49 tram or the 4/6 tram; and in Pest.
Let's do this, you find some airbnbs you like and I will tell you about the neighborhood, street and public transportation serving them. Just PM me.
Keep looking in District V if that interests you, but also look a block or two each side of Andrassy ut and the M1 metro line. That would be District VI. And maybe along the 47/49 tram lines. One side is V but the other is VI or VII.
And there are some really interesting, reasonably priced hotels in town as well.
Posted by
OP
19 posts
Thank you Mr. E for the good information. I can't give you Airbnb information because they don't give you an address until it is booked- just an area.
I prefer an Airbnb to a hotel because we can make breakfast and they usually have a washer that we can use. I will try to find one near the M1 and look at other Districts too. Thank you.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17919 posts
AirBnb is notorious for not listing addresses. I never really understood the logic.
I am a pro at tracking down Airbnb addresses. Give me a link. Better than 50/50 chance I can find it. (I live here and landmarks in photos and exterior views are not terribly hard to figure out .. most of the time).
It's important sometimes as a block or two can change the experience.
Also be sure they list the license number. Never do business with an illegal listing.
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10222 posts
When looking at an airbnb I’ve always had success in getting it from the host by sending them a message and asking for it.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
322 posts
If I host will not disclose the exact location before I book, I walk away. I don’t trust their general area statements.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17919 posts
Just steer clear of address on Kiraly utca that are lower than about #35 and all of Dob utca as those are party neighborhoods.
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10222 posts
Carol, I do the same. There are too many places to choose from and if someone won’t give an address I’m not interested in staying there.
Posted by
27 posts
Mr. E, We are booked at Elisabeth Apartments, 07 Erzsebetvaros.
The reviews are great but is this a convenient/safe area for a late 60's couple, kind of like the OP but just a tad younger? Thanks for any input!
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17919 posts
07 Erzsebetvaros
07 is the District and Erzebetvaros is the name of the District. But I googled it: (districts are quite large and vary a lot depending on where in the district)
If it is, it is located on Dob utca 34-36 which puts it in the old Jewish Deportation Ghetto and sort of on the fringe of the new Party District.
Yes, it's safe. Convenient? Hmmm. Budapest is a big city and you will need the trams and metro to get around. For me they are part of the fun, so that's not an issue.
Your apartment is a solid 10 minute walk: (down my street, right past my home) to the M1 metro at the Opera, or 10 min. to two stops of the 47/49 Tram that serves the great Market Hall and the Great Synagogue and connects to the 2 Tram before crossing to Buda, or 10 min to the 4/6 Tram that connects to the M1 and the 2 Tram near the Parliament before crossing to Buda.
Good news is the walk to each of these metro stops will be very interesting with a lot of history and architecture, bad news is the distance but not absolutely terriable.
About a block away is an old market hall where i shop and a breakfast lunch place called Styka that sells palinka spiked raspberry lemonade that I love. You are also only about 5 min from my favorite wine bar Kadarka.
Oh, it appears to be new construction. So that helps to ensure nothing odd but you miss out on the interest of a classical building. Supplement by walking into as many courtyards as possible (just follow people in the door).
Hang on to that flat, because it isn't bad at all, but if you have time try looking a little closer to Andrassy in District VI. A lot of ViI is a party district and most of V is a tourist trap.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17919 posts
And a little of where to stay has to do with how long you are staying and the time of year. If it's 2 or 3 nights closer in would be better. Christmas, closer in is better.
Posted by
2 posts
We were in Budapest at the end of December. Due to the New Years Holiday hotels were expensive, so we stayed in District XII, at the Adina Apartment Hotel. It was a 20 minute walk to St. Stephens Basilica and the Parliment building. It is a 10 minute walk to the M-1 line. We stayed 3 nights in a 2 bedroom 1 1/2 bath condo. It had a washer in the condo. A washer and a dryer are located in the building's laundry room. There is a kitchen. It was immaculate.
We didn't see the Central Food Market as we got there after it closes. It currently closes at 3:00 PM.
Posted by
27 posts
Thank you, Mr. E for the reply. Yes, that's the place we have reservations. I will hang on to it but keep looking around for something closer. One of my hesitations was the modernity of the building- I do prefer something with more character.We will be there 4 nights, April 20-23, and may add a 5th. Budapest looks so interesting and we have some flexibility at this point. Thanks again for your guidance.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17919 posts
The Adina Apartment Hotel is in District XIII (XII is in the outter stretches of Buda) and its a lovely district. I think if I were to move it would be there. But to get from the the Adina Apartment Hotel to the Basilica or a stop on the M1 in under 30 minutes on foot would require a very brisk walking style. Too much good to see inbetween the two to walk that fast.
CW, just know that District VII during the day is facinating and historic, at night its party central. But there are some good corners for staying. District V is where all the river boat tourists end up so its sort of expensive, but again, there are some nice corners for staying. District VI has Andrassy ut. The French copied Andrassy ut when they came up with the Champs-Elysees and the M1 metro runs directly under Andrassy ut the full length.
Sort of the Ground Zero for tourism in Budapest is Deak Ferenc ter (ter = square). Physically it about center to most that is in Pest but it is also the hub for three metro lines (1, 2 and 3) and one tram (47/49) and one major bus route (9). So there is no place you can not reach on foot or on public transport in an efficient manner. Trouble is that point is not the prettiest so I say stay close to Andrassy and the M1 which both run right into it.
I think you get more out of a "classic" building as well. I am hoping that some that have stayed in short term rentals in Budapest will chime in.