This is intended for Mr. E--if I can pull him away from re-reading Phil Steele's analysis of this year's Aggies team--and anyone else who wants to join in.
For those with limited time in Budapest, what are your must-see sights. In RS's guidebook, he has only one three-triangle attraction--the Szechenyl Baths. Then he lists in this order nine two-triangle attractions--the Parliament, the Great Market Hall, the Great Synogogue, the Opera House, the House of Terror Museum, Heroes' Square, City Park, Vajdahunyad Center, and the Holocaust Memorial Center.
My general sense is that Budapest is the whole that is greater than the sum of its parts--that the city's overall experience is much greater than its collection of "must-see" attractions. But regarding the two-triangle attractions I listed that take some time to visit, I seem in order largely interested in the Parliament, the Great Synogogue and then the Opera House. The House of Terror Museum (which I suspect takes some time to tour) gets a number of fairly negative reviews online; because of the time it takes to tour and the reviews I have read, I have pushed it down my rankings.
Again, I welcome the thoughts of all, not just our friend Mr. E.