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Kids in Budapest

How are kids received by the citizens of Budapest? Friendly? Welcome?

Like Rick (and many of you), my wife and I believe very strongly in the power and education that comes from travel. We have taken our 4 kids (ages 10 to 2) to many different European cities over the last several years (Paris, Rome, Florence, Venice, Madrid, Barcelona, London). Many, if not all, of those cities are known for being welcoming to kids, but not all of them lived up to that reputation. Our kids are fairly well-behaved and have had some experience with traveling. In fact, we've had success doing all of the major "touristy" things people do in these locations (museums, nice dinners, palace tours, walks, etc.).

We are considering a trip to Budapest and Vienna (10-12 nights with 5-6 in each city) for our next adventure!

Are kids well-received in Budapest (and Vienna - I realize I am posting in the Hungary section)?

How is Budapest with race (we have a mixed-race family with Blacks, Asians, and Whites)?

Example: I know this is impossible to predict because there are a lot of factors, but in general some cultures are more welcoming than others....

How would a restaurant owner or small shop owner in Budapest react if a conspicuous, mixed-race family of six with kids unexpectedly walked in? Would they greet this family warmly and roll out the red carpet or would they panic or be secretly wishing the family had gone elsewhere. Again, no judgments here. Some cultures are different than others. Just want to go somewhere we would be welcome.

No need to post about children activities in each city as we can save that for another time.

Posted by
20451 posts

How would a restaurant owner or small shop owner in Budapest react if
a conspicuous, mixed-race family of six with kids unexpectedly walked
in? Would they greet this family warmly and roll out the red carpet or
would they panic or be secretly wishing the family had gone elsewhere.

Why would you expect a red carpet? Are you something special? Otherwise the cultural norm in Budapest is to not give a sh&$ about what you described. I say "cultural norm" because there are bad people everywhere. If you want a red carpet, go someplace else. If you just want to have a normal week, like all the other tourists, then Budapest will be fine.

Posted by
290 posts

Such a classy reply.

Using “roll out the red carpet” was not the right word choice. I don’t consider myself to be better than anyone else and that’s not what my intent was.

I have been though a lot of Western Europe and was thinking about venturing into Central Europe. Since I don’t know as much about it, I was trying to gauge the friendliness of the people. That’s all.

I think it’s a legitimate question to ask about how people in an unfamiliar city may act around kids, especially a large mixed-race family.

Posted by
20451 posts

Children running around inside a restaurant is not a cultural norm. Kids screaming in public, no matter how important the parents think the child's self expression is, is also not a cultural norm. Basically, children acting like they do in the US and in the UK is not really appreciated in Budapest.

A csend arany, a Duct Tape ezüst

Posted by
290 posts

That makes sense. I don’t think kids should be screaming, crying or running freely either. My kids are usually behaved but they are kids. If they act up, I remove them from the area. I don’t want to be around a screaming kid either.

Posted by
20451 posts

Then I wouldn't expect a problem. Its an interesting society. It is socially conservative. I always feel comfortable because the societal norms remind me of my childhood in the 1960's. But you would think that would come with racism and homophobia, but that doesn't seem to be the case. A great example of not being able to judge a different culture by our cultural norms. The one exception that is a bit glaring is antisemitism. But even that is sort of oddly expressed. "We don't like Jews, but we recognize just about everyone in town has some degree of Jewish blood." Or when Putin's motorcycle gang, the Night Wolves, showed up in Budapest to terrorize the Jewish district, citizens who were otherwise a bit antisemitic showed up to protect "their Jews" for the Russians. It was an odd sight, but nice to see. The extreme far right makes up about 15% of the vote but maybe 5% of the practice. The government, while right of center, has done a pretty good job at keeping the extreme fringe in check. They have to, they would get tossed out of power if they didnt. Violent crime is statistically about the equivalent of a nice upper middle class neighborhood in the US. So even if someone does have an issue, its just not a cultural norm to do anything about it.

Posted by
290 posts

I sincerely apologize to anyone that may have been offended by anything I wrote here. I am not as familiar with Central Europe as I am with Western Europe and I was trying to gauge what it might be like and learn more about a different culture. My word choices were not the best.

Hungary looks amazing and the food, even the less authentic, Americanized-version is delicious. Plus the unique history of being part of the Austro-Hungarian empire, being dragged into communism and then emerging triumphantly is fascinating.

Hoping to visit!

Posted by
5513 posts

Vienna - Kids in a restaurant is not common. I do think you would get an attitude, honestly, and likely be turned away. Viennese like their quiet everywhere and typically speak in hushed tones. As for the mixed race issue, I would say that while VIENNA is an international city (UN is headquartered here), I do not think people are as accepting as they should be. I have many friends here with families like yours and they endure looks and odd behavior - enough that it is tiresome. Some are curious and touch peoples’ hair. Some are downright mean and yell at people to go home. Stares are an absolute guarantee. That said, Vienna has thousands of tourists every day, so if you stick to the tourist circuit, you’ll probably be ok. I honestly hate to write these negative things, but living here as a mom of two for 12 years with many international friends, I stand by these comments. We go to Italy and Croatia for vacation to get effusive kindness towards our kids. You will find the opposite here.

Posted by
20451 posts

agwoodsus, I dont think you said anything offensive. Sounds like Hungary is a lot more welcoming to your situation than Austria; actually that doesn't surprise me. Enjoy your trip.

Posted by
12 posts

Heck, our family with teens got kicked out from an ice cream shop in Lake Garda this past August, just because we admired the gelato so much, we took pictures before making the purchase.

The owner basically screamed Italian at us and kicked us out. When we explained that we just loved the gelato so much, and wanna purchase, he bluntly said "Asians go home" and refused to serve us.

We ain't that offended. Just something to think about what we do in our home country could be taken as offensive elsewhere.