Hotel in Budapest

It IS one of the sights.

To make the best use of your time, it might be worthwhile to pick up a copy of a guidebook for Budapest - you should be able to find one at your local public library if you'd like to sample before you purchase.

You can also find basic info here on the RS website:

https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/hungary/budapest

lol, mark, that made me laugh. But true!

topgunlc85, it is in a good location. But sights are a bit spread out, so you will want to decide what you want to see and plot it out on a map. Google Maps is useful for that and does a good job of showing how to get everywhere on public transportation. Be sure you have a pass.

There is a TON of good info on Budapest on the Hungary forum. You may want to read through and see what questions you have.

Thank you for the reply. We are doing 2 tours from Viking. One is a day tour and one is at night. I would love to see the Peter Falk. ( Columbo statue ) I think it’s close to the Margaret bridge. I will look up more info. Again thanks everyone for the reply’s.

It is one of the most beautiful hotels in Budapest and among the best rated hotels in Europe. You did well on that regard.

Here is some history: https://signemagazine.com/lifestyle/the-story-behind-budapests-gresham-palace/

It sits directly across from the Chain Bridge, your way across the river and entrance to the Buda Castle District. The problem is that there is a greenspace between the hotel and the bridge and no convenient way to walk across the greenspace, so you have few minute walk around the outside. Interesting is that from 1946 until 2011 it was called Roosevelt tér (ter = square). Roosevelt square in a communist country? The name was changed to Széchenyi István tér in 2011.

Behind the hotel, down the street and up the long pedestrian corridor is St Stephens Basilica (Szent István-bazilika).

The rest of the sights will require you to use the public transportation system. Thats not a terrible thing. Out the front door of the hotel and to your left or right you will find a stop of the famous 2 Tram a 3 or 4 minute walk away. The 2 Tram will take you to the Parliament and Shoes on the Danube memorial in one direction and the Corso (River Front pedestrian zone), then the Great Market Hall in the other direction.

Frorm the Corso you will have to walk away from the river about 4 minutes to reach the M1 metro to get up Andrassy ut for the Opera House, House of Terror, Heroes Square, Széchenyi bath house, City Park.

From the Great Market Hall the 47/48/49 Tram will take you to Jewish District and the Great Synagogue and very close to Andrassy ut.

From the Parliament, ride a bit further on the tram and you reach the 4/6 Tram that will take you to Andrassy ut.

The trams are low key, sort of fun, go past great architecture and because you got a travel card you can get on and off anytime, anyplace and not have to worry about tickets.

My point is, yes, its not a bad location. Could be better, but for the experience of staying in that hotel, you put up with small inconveniences.

Yes, We may have to do the tram, I will have to see where the other tours will take us. We have 2, one in the day and the other a night tour with Viking. Did you get to see the Peter Falk (COLUMBO statue). I would love to see that. I think it’s close to the Margaret bridge. Thank you for your help and info. Larry

Yes, it is close to Margit hid (Bridge). Take the 2 tram to the end (Jászai Mari tér), get off and walk straight head to the big street. You will see the river and bridge on your left. Turn right and go a block. https://maps.app.goo.gl/cVsjsBb1oYdN6htD9?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

Or take a leisurely stroll from the hotel. Stop to see the Shoes Monument and wander around Parliament.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/CA7aR6sQwRLL8PeK9?g_st=ic

Peter Falk, Hungarian?: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbo_statue

If you take the 2 Tram (or the 2B or the 23 .... in this part of town they all go on the same track) from your hotel to the first stop behind the Parliament (or is it in front of the Parliament? Is the river the front and the landside the back? Doesn’t matter). Hop off and walk the square behind the Parliament. Lovely old buildings, unfortunately many being restored ... something to do with rebuilding the Empire.

At the opposite end of the square is the entrance to Falk Miksa utca (utca or u. = street). Walk up the street and notice the antiques shops. My favorite is called Pinter (https://maps.app.goo.gl/Y6YNCmyPumTp4KkRA ). If you go in you can go down the stairs and explore the collection in the basement. Just seeing the basements (many interconnecting here) is worth the time. Then further up Falk Miksa u. to the statue at the end https://maps.app.goo.gl/QmeUu2udhk24QrWy5 .

Here are the directions from the stop on the 2 Tram by the Parliament to the Antique shop and the statue on Google Maps https://maps.app.goo.gl/ku3XeY6CNuWuFSUp6

Now what to do? Before your walk to see Peter, see the Shoes on the Danube as you are near, well as near as you can get using the Tram. To reach the shoes dont use Google Maps as it will show you a 15 minute walk around the Parliament building for some reason. From the tram stop look toward the river, walk toward the river. Go down the stairs to the river and turn left. You will see the memorial about 100m down river.

From the Falk statue you can hop the 4/6 Tram to Margit Island (1 stop) or go all the way across (2nd stop) and get off and have lunch at one of my favorite very Hungarian places, Margaret's Restaurant & Pub https://maps.app.goo.gl/qxGn67MpKoXm5UGq7 . And if you are adventurous or curious and want to see a little "typical" Hungarian I can suggest a few places further up the 4/6 Tram line.

The other option is the 4/6 tram in the opposite direction that goes past the Comedy Theater and the Nyugati Train Station. Both great architecture. Nyugati was done by Eiffel. The second stop will be the Oktogon at Andrassy ut (ut = avenue or boulevard). Andrassy ut is the prettiest street in town and where the Opera House is located.

Another option would be to walk across the large street in front of the statue. This takes you into District XIII which isn’t often frequented by tourists. It’s sort of a upper middle income inner city neighborhood and there are some nice restaurants and has a good feel. For Balkan try Csevapivo | Balkan Grill & Beer https://maps.app.goo.gl/7iGoBxociwjxQ4Fe6 Some say the best ćevapčić in town. Very nice Hungarian is Firkász Restaurant https://maps.app.goo.gl/V3hH2BoPrXNkojpF8

topgunic85, here is your hotel. I am so jealous. Sometimes i will dress nice and go to the bar for a $8 beer, oh and the restaurant is very nice .... and not horribly priced. https://youtu.be/G46fDaAhQd8?si=A1lygHyk6k_RFpHp

Everyone else I have met or known that has been on Viking has ended up at the Hilton in Buda (not really great for tourism); They did very good by you.

@markcw is right — it is a destination. A beautiful Art Nouveau building with so much history.
We plan to do our best to spiff up our travel clothes to go have a drink.

A side travel joke that sort of applies here:
A kindergarten class was recently asked which of the four seasons was the favorite. One quickly replied “Maui for sure.”

Hello Fellow travelers, Would like to thank you for all the reply’s, they are very helpful.