Question about neighborhoods in Budapest

You picked a good place for Christmas. We have spent 3 Christmas holidays in Budapest over the years.

As for the location of the apartments, neither is a very good location. You will spend your Christmas traveling across town for everything. I would suggest you look in, or at least within a block, of the area outlined here: https://goo.gl/maps/zeG69ZcZSfD2

When you find something, let me know and maybe I can tell you a bit about the neighborhood.

Thank you, thank you, James! I'll map that out and start over. We are such a large group, places seem to be limited to accommodate us, but I'll see what I can find. Thanks for being willing to look the choice over. I'll be back. :)

Ok of course I don't have very specific addresses, but there are two suitable places on Andrássy-avenue. Both say they are close to Opera house and Deák Ferenc square. They seem to be in the parameters of your map from what I can see.

Thoughts?

And thank you again for being so generous with your time and experience!

Cindy

send me a link. I can usually figure out where they are. are you looking for one place or would two or three in the same general location work for you?

if you were to pick one place in Budapest that was roughly the center of the Top Ten attractions and points of interest in Budapest, then that would be Deak Fernec ter ( a ter is a square). At Christmas it is particularly suitable because of its proximity to the two major Christmas market locations and the music events (opera, operetta, church concerts, etc). The area I showed you keeps you out of the tourist trap of District V, while giving you good access to it and the river which is beautiful in the evenings. Under Andrassy ut is the M1 metro line which is the oldest on the continent and sort of fun and completely unintimidating to ride. It will get you from nearly the river to Hero's Square, Bath House and City Park and a few interesting stops in between.

At the Oktogon and at Deak Fernec ter and at the river front the M1 crosses tram lines that will get you to the rest of what is to see in Budapest.

I sent you a private message. Hope that's ok!

Looks like you have a good location.

A few things to do in the winter

Christmas Markets: https://www.budapestinfo.hu/newslist

Largest outdoor skating rink in Europe: http://visitbudapest.travel/articles/mujegpalya-reopens-in-budapest/ or a number of other rinks: http://welovebudapest.com/culture/15.places.to.go.ice.skating.in.budapest.this.winter

Childrens’ events at the Opera: http://www.opera.hu/musor/megtekint/varazslatos-opera-2016/eloadas-201612110900/ or the Erkel Theater: http://www.opera.hu/musor/megtekint/ringato-2016/eloadas-201612221100/ or the Palace of Arts: https://www.mupa.hu/en#family

Church Concerts: http://www.budapestbylocals.com/organ-concerts-in-budapest.html

Theaater: http://www.operett.hu/musor/laszlo-tolcsvay-peter-muller-peter-sziami-mullera-christmas-carol/178/6898/12

Opera and Ballet: http://www.opera.hu/programme

Jazz: http://opusjazzclub.hu/concerts and http://www.bjc.hu/home/

Bath House: http://szechenyispabaths.com/can-children-go-to-szechenyi-baths-szechenyi-bath-faq/

Hello James, would be kind enough to let me know if we are at a good location? We are going to be there during third week of June. Travelling with two kids (9/10 yrs). I haven't researched much about Budapest right now as I am still planning Veinna/Prague. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. We plan to stay in apartments Rákóczi út 10, 07. Erzsébetváros, Budapest, 1072
Thanks So much

For putting a pin in a map it's not bad. Its near the Synagogue and the 47/49 Tram and the M2 metro line so it's well connected. There are some decent cafes near the place too. But if it were me I would look along the M1 metro line and Andrassy ut because it's going to be more kid friendly and provide easier access to things.

You have to take them to the Zoo, as the zoo in Hungary is what you would expect in a country with few attorneys. The circus is also a good choice as are the bath houses; all on the M1 metro line.

Thanks James! planning to stay Király utca , Budapest, 1061 now after your recommendations. Hoping it a good place. Any suggestions for good places for food near by?
Thanks Again!

Hi John--you are so helpful on your advice, thank you in advance! My husband, and two adult children (age 23 and 20) are going to Budapest for 3 days March 22-25 next month. I'm debating on three different apartments and would love your advice--we love to be centrally located and want to walk most areas (though happy to take public transportation if necessary). First place is on the Danube by Liberty Bridge (across from Gellert Baths), second is in District 5 by University Square near Vaci St, and the 3rd is in District 5 near Central Market.

I’m not John (John is at that other, more popular, forum), but I will make a stab at it. Szabadság híd (Liberty Bridge) is at the Market Hall on the Pest side; which is the same location as third apartment. A lot of the apartment listings tend to be liberal in their description of location. I helped someone the other day that was supposed to be near the Gozsdu udvar, but turned out not to be so close. I don’t trust the adds; but with a photograph of the building and a general location I can usually track down the exact location. It these two are where they are purported to be then it’s not half bad. Find the central market on a map and then note that there is a tram line in front. That is the 47/49 tram. With a 3 day visit you will need to depend heavily on that tram. But that’s okay, the trams are famous and enjoyable for the most part. Like HOHO Busses but cheaper. The second tram line you will depend heavily on is the #2 that runs the river front to the Parliament Building. Between the two trams, a little foot work and the M1 Metro line you can reach most of the sites. Even the M1 is sort of fun and very easy.

The apartment in Egyetem tér (University Square), assuming the location is accurate, is about a 5 to 10 minute walk to one of 3 transportation lines. I generally don’t much care for District V because its sort of a Budapest Disneyland. This however is one of the more sane edges to the district; might even be a bit isolated for someone that need a lot of foot traffic to feel comfortable late at night. Oh, and if it really is on the square, then its not too terribly close to Vaci utca which is a good thing.

None of the places are “bad” and there is no “bad” in Budapest. Several that have posted here have stayed in the same general areas and have enjoyed. If it were my close friend or a relative I would try and push them closer to Deak Ferenc ter and outside District V. But again, you wont go wrong with these neighborhoods. With apartment names or Airbnb listing number or something more tangible to go on I can usually track down the building which may or may not reveal something.

Dear James--thank you very much for your detailed reply. I guess I was thinking Inner City is more convenient, but perhaps should be looking at Palace District based on your map. Would you mind if I privately sent you the links to the places I have found in the Palace District that look to be close or in the map area you set out in the earlier reply?

Sure, no problem. I sent you an answer and included a couple of apartments another PM was asking about.

Because we needed a bigger apartment for our party of 4 (adult son and daughter who didn't want to share a bedroom), we needed a 2 or 3 BR (if 2BR, needed a sleeper couch) in a central location. At this late date (about 3 weeks out), I didn't have that many options. Many thanks to James E for all his help on locations/excellent map etc. I checked Wimdu, VRBO/Homeaway, AirBnb and I ended up renting a place through Budapest Apartment Services--Opera Apartment on Andrassy Ut next to the metro: http://budapestapartmentservice.com/apartments/opera-apartment/

1.I had a backup reservation at Broadway Residence on Booking.com located on 1065 Budapest Nagymező utca 49 which was a little further away.

2. Also had a good option on Sarah/Belle apartments (on VRBO/Trip Advisor highly rated) http://www.budapestvacationrentals.com/Six_Very_Special_Apartments_in_the_Heart_of_Budapest/Six_Very_Special,_Very_Central_Budapest_Vacation_Rentals.html
3. Good AirBnB with 3 BR: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/10175727?checkin=03%2F22%2F2017&checkout=03%2F25%2F2017&guests=5&adults=5&children=0&infants=0&s=rV-XaumY
4. Loved this apartment but too expensive (almost $300/night with fees, cleaning charge etc) https://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p427382vb

Keep in mind that everyone has a personal bias on such things. I don’t want to be in the absolute center of tourism. In between tourist sites I want to hear more Hungarian being spoken than English. Every great city has tourist zones which exist because there is a high density of thing unique to the city. Then they have a fringe area that slowly dissolves into “typical” life. Budapest is special because that grey area is so large and serves to link various centers of interest. This is the area I enjoy most and it’s the area I stay in But that’s a personal bias. Some want to be in “Tourist Central”. Also, because Budapest is so large you must rely on public transportation. The good thing here is that the public transportation in Budapest is easy to use, not intimidating in scale and in some instances like the trams and the M1 metro; fun. To capitalize on that I suggest locations where the Trams and the M1 will meet all the needs when in town.

I ended up renting a place through Budapest Apartment Services--Opera
Apartment on Andrassy Ut next to the metro:
http://budapestapartmentservice.com/apartments/opera-apartment/

Really wonderful location. Just a block off Andrassy ut at about the center of the portion of the road with the opera, restaurants, shops, etc. Because I stay near there (just the opposite side of Andrassy ut, I have some neighborhood specific information I can send you.

I had a backup reservation at Broadway Residence on Booking.com
located on 1065 Budapest Nagymező utca 49 which was a little further
away.

I read the description. The location description was technically accurate but could lead to some inaccurate perceptions. Beyond that it is a bit far from public transportation and you will spend a bit of time walking back and forth to the apartment.

Also had a good option on Sarah/Belle apartments (on VRBO/Trip Advisor
highly rated)
http://www.budapestvacationrentals.com/Six_Very_Special_Apartments_in_the_Heart_of_Budapest/Six_Very_Special,_Very_Central_Budapest_Vacation_Rentals.html

I just don’t like the neighborhood.