Side trip to Szentendre? Wandering in Budapest? And to bath or not to bath?

I spent a week in Budapest and took one day to visit Szentendre, glad I did it. But with only 3 days, I would spend all of that in Budapest.

The easiest bath (I think) for a first timer is http://szechenyispabaths.com/ ; the health concerns are yours to decide (personally I dont have a problem).

You said "three-ish" so i am guessing two and half days; which makes Szentendre a bit of a stretch but not out of the question; but on a short visit I would just do the afternoon and possibly hire private transportation up (that will save you about an hour in a city you dont know); but always take the boat back.

Generally speaking if you just do the "Top Ten" avoid museums because they take too much time, and aren't much into exploring then Pest takes two full hard driven days and Buda takes one full day; to begin to do it right takes 4 hard days or 5 more laid back full days.

BUT, my first trip was three days and I dont regret it.

I fell in love with the place in the first 4 hours and have been returning several times a year for going on 20 years.

We did a side trip to Szentendre. It was a memorable day of our 3 days in Budapest. Our trip was a Sunday. A large part of the people there were Hungarian folk out for the day. It was casual. Crowds, but casual crowds. Quiet.

A highlight ... we got ice cream cones, then went down by the riverbank and just sat. Watching families enjoy the day.

Budapest is great. I hope to return. But it is only a part of Hungary. Not all of it. Szentendre gives you a different flavor.

Hi from Wisconsin,
DO a bath or two. I would recommend Szechenyi Baths in City Park. Populated by Hungarians. Cleanliness!!! Szechenyi is clean as a whistle. Besides the three pools are all outside.

See if you can book a performance in the Opera House. High quality performances at very low prices. Just getting in is worth the ticket price. Clothes? I have gone looking like a refuge, and one trip I took my tuxedo and was asked by one person if I was the music conductor and another person thought I was an usher. Most over dressed person there. But we had fun. They have a pretty usable website.

https://opera.jegy.hu/ticketsearch

Or try: operha.hu

wayneinWI

wayne iNWI

I would suggest that showing up looking like a refugee could be construed by many as disrespectful and you might be more appropriate if you tried to fit in with the norm:

https://previews.123rf.com/images/quasargal/quasargal1206/quasargal120600553/14148484-hungarian-state-opera-house-in-budapest-hungary.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FNpXb4SXEAM89kE?format=jpg&name=large

http://static.origos.hu/s/img/i/1602/20160206magyar-allami-operahaz-shakespeare-estely46.jpg
(I am in this one)

Budapest of one of our favorite cities!! It's a very special city and my daughter chose her university based on the accessibility to study abroad in Budapest.

Definitely BATH! Our visit to the Szecheny Bath is one of the highlights of our family travels!

http://szechenyispabaths.com/

We also enjoyed Margaret Island, which is geared toward families with younger children.

Did a fantastic walking tour of Budapest with a private guide who educated us about the Magyar people and the history of Hungary. https://www.triptobudapest.hu/. Our guide's name was Aaron and he had some interesting stories about growing up during communism.

And don't forget the ruin bars! https://www.offbeatbudapest.com/top10/best-ruin-bars-budapest/