Budapest in December

Posted by Renee (Tacoma, WA, USA) on 08/23/24 08:28 PM

Thank you to those that have contributed to Budapest on the forum especially Mr. E and Texastravelmom. I am reading through it all as I begin to put together an itinerary. I'm in the "overwhelmed" stage of planning a new destination. I love it...it's almost like dumping a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle out on the table. By the time you get to those last few pieces you know them well.

We arrive December 10th at noon (from Seattle) for five nights at Hotel Moments. My husband's over 65, but I will be buying the 15 day travel card.

My current questions are:
In the season (winter) and the holiday are there sights/experiences/etc.
1) that you would add (we've added the Christmas market at Vigado Ter and the Basilica and the Nutcracker at the Opera House)
2) you would remove due to season (i.e winter/spring... not holiday) such as St. Margaret's Island.
3) I was not clear on this: On the 100E bus from the airport can I tap in/tap out with credit card without any "registration" (Buy your airport shuttlebus single ticket with your bankcard using the on-board Budapest Pay&GO device) or should I buy a ticket at the machine. I wasn't sure if Pay&Go was the same as tap in Tap out with my credit card.

Posted by TexasTravelMom

TX, USA

08/23/24 11:40 PM

4680 posts

So, I haven’t been able to get there in December yet, so I am officially jealous. LOL!

And I love this image!

like dumping a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle out on the table. By the time you get to those last few pieces you know them well.

It’s how I have been feeling about New Zealand!

1) I love music. And I love Christmas. So in addition to the Nutcracker (good job on getting tickets!), I myself would be looking at all the other venues for evening music celebrating the season. I will be there in Oct, and have a ballet, a musical, and a major concert scheduled.

2) I don’t think there is anything I would take off the table because it’s December. Sometimes it can be cold and sometimes gorgeous sunshine (I hear). So I would be more likely to keep daytimes a little fluid and check weather. If it’s bitter cold, do more inside things. If it’s nice and sunny, do more outside walking. I was there one March that fluctuated to both extremes and I just adjusted my sightseeing.

3) So, for the 100E bus, I am not sure. Hopefully someone with a more recent trip can help. But here was my experience last year (before the free over 65 setup). Upon arrival at the airport, they were making everyone either have a bus ticket from the BKK office OR have one in the BudapestGo app (which you need data to use). Even though you are correct that it said you could tap to pay. But that is a one day, 2023 data point. And although the airport has free wifi, it did not reach to the bus stop. I had a ticket in the app but my data wasn’t working and they wouldn’t let me on. I could have gone to buy a ticket but I was tired, so I just took a taxi (and got my unused bus ticket refunded easily via the app).

Posted by Renee OP

Tacoma, WA, USA

08/24/24 02:58 AM

580 posts

Good call on the ticket. For ease sake I’ll just buy a ticket at the machine as I won’t have any HUF’s at this point in case it doesn’t work.
This is our first trip to Budapest and I picked Christmas time as we had such fun in Edinburgh/London/Paris for the holidays in 2022.

Posted by Mr É (Ressurrected)

Magyarország / Rep of Texas

08/24/24 09:28 AM

19778 posts

In the season (winter) and the holiday are there
sights/experiences/etc.

1) that you would add (we've added the Christmas market at Vigado Ter
and the Basilica and the Nutcracker at the Opera House)

A bath house or two (each is a different world)
Music. The Budapest Operett Theater or maybe Opus Jazz or the Liszt Academy or organs at the churches.
A trip to Szentendre for their market

2) you would remove due to season (i.e winter/spring... not holiday)
such as St. Margaret's Island.

Depends on how much time you have in town. Would be lower on my list.

3) I was not clear on this: On the 100E bus from the airport can I tap
in/tap out with credit card without any "registration" (Buy your
airport shuttlebus single ticket with your bankcard using the on-board
Budapest Pay&GO device) or should I buy a ticket at the machine. I
wasn't sure if Pay&Go was the same as tap in Tap out with my credit
card.

You are going to need a travelcard anyway, so when you get to the airport and enter the arrivals hall, walk to your left and you will find a BKK window. Buy your travelcard and your bus ticket. Then there is no confuision as to what to do.