Hello from New Zealand!
I am new to this forum but have already been so grateful - especially to Mr E - for great advice and tips!
My husband and I are avid travellers and this time will be joined by our adult daughter who is based in the Netherlands. We tend to look for apartments to give us a bit more space and feel a bit more connected to local culture. We like to be away from tourist traps (but proximate for walking to sites or using public transport). Love good food, history and have a keen interest in wine and music. Does anyone have any recommendations for a 2 bedroom apartment in District VI (as per Mr E's suggestion)? We will be in Budapest from 1 - 5 January 2025 before carrying on to Vienna and Prague.
Thanking you all in advance.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8144 posts
Last time we were in Budapest, we went through Andy Croyden at budapestapartmentservice.com
He has a number of great places to stay in prime locations. And Budapest is a very economical city to travel to.
Posted by
TX, USA
4081 posts
I second Andy. He manages several 2 bedrooms (which I have not stayed in because I look for smaller places). This one might work, but there are others. https://budapestapartmentservice.com/apartments/mahler-apartment/
But if you want some comparisons, I have found that Air BnB seems to have more Budapest apartment listings than booking.com.
I don’t think you have to worry about the concept of tourist traps for apartments. What you want to do is stay off Kiraly and be near a metro or a tram stop. Check for elevators if you will need that. Many of the historic buildings have tall ceilings and lots of floors - meaning quite a few steps with no elevator.
Budapest is a lovely destination for good food, history, good wine, and good music. Check early for the opera house season (probably too early right now), but there are lots of other venues as well.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17924 posts
What they said ⬆️
- Do make sure the listing has a registration number so you know it's legal.
- It will be too early to book most flats but you can begin putting together your list of preferred
- Send me the ones you like and I might be able to tell you something about them.
- The two tourist traps are Kiraly utca to Dob utca in District VII and most, but not all, of District VI. But even tourist traps have their appeal depending on your interests.
- Come a few days sooner (they close NYE) and enjoy the Christmas Markets. Even on your dates the lights will still be up, but it's a shame to miss the markets. Got awards for the best in Europe again this year ... 4th time.
Posted by
OP
New Zealand
5 posts
Thanks so much for the great advice. I have dropped an email to Andy as those apartments look perfect for our needs. I realise it's probably too early to be looking, but we have to travel so far from NZ that we tend to go for longer periods of time and that means multiple destinations and research! My favourite hobby! Really appreciate your insights.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17924 posts
Let me know which ones you liked. I might can tell you about the ares and convenience.
Posted by
OP
New Zealand
5 posts
Thank you so much for your kind offer Mr E - here are 4 apartments that are of interest to us.
https://budapestapartmentservice.com/apartments/mahler-apartment/
https://budapestapartmentservice.com/apartments/opera-apartment/
https://www.airbnb.co.nz/rooms/12492460?adults=3&check_in=2025-01-01&check_out=2025-01-05&source_impression_id=p3_1705877066_vJagSbAOJiX9ChMh&previous_page_section_name=1000&federated_search_id=10eea5da-3e09-47aa-abba-31f2a7eb4d44
https://www.airbnb.co.nz/rooms/4149996?adults=3&check_in=2025-01-01&check_out=2025-01-05&source_impression_id=p3_1705877162_HNXGR6DcBWpr42OR&previous_page_section_name=1000&federated_search_id=10eea5da-3e09-47aa-abba-31f2a7eb4d44
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17924 posts
Thank you so much for your kind offer Mr E - here are 4 apartments
that are of interest to us.
https://budapestapartmentservice.com/apartments/mahler-apartment/
This one puts you just off Nagymezo utca which has the Budapest Operett and a couple of local (Hungarian language) theathers on it as well as a really nice restaurant "N28 wine and kitchen". Actuall the stretch of Nagymezo utca from Andrassy ut to O utca has a lot of food and a few nice bars. You will have maybe a 5 minute walk to the M1 metro at the Opera House. Study the M1 route as it will be you lifeline to all the sights in town Pretty excellent location.
https://budapestapartmentservice.com/apartments/opera-apartment/
This one is on Revay utca across from the K+K hotel. The lower end of Revay utca isnt all that sweet, but where the apartment is, is nice. It does put you a little close ro Andrassy ut and the M1 stop than does the other apartment, and you can walk in just a few minutes to the food and drink on Negymezo utca. And next door is Marlou wine bar & store which is a nice way to end the evening and the Callas Cafe (very nice and very good) is right around the corner. Again, nice location.
I recognized the building in the photos. Its at Dohany utca 10 and it really is near the great synagogue. You could do worse. Its a tad isolated out there and you will find yourself crossing the avenue into District V a lot for food and entertainment. District V is most tourists but does have some the best food in town. For sightseeing, you will rely on the 47/49 Tram a lot. The stop is maybe a 5 minute walk at the Astoria Hotel. That end of the avenue is called Múzeum körút and it has a stretch that I love because every shop is used, and antique books and old art prints. The 47/49 almost connects to the M1 in one direction and will take you to the Great Market Hall, the famous 2 Tram and across to Buda in the other direction. Not poorly connected at all. But the area misses the beauty of Andrassy ut or the river front., But still very, very good.
This one if the pictures are accurate is located at Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út 35. Bajcsy-Zsilinszky is a continuation of Múzeum körút (that inner loop road changes name three times as it curves around District V). But at this end no tram. The nearest transportatio is the M2 stop a short walk away or the No. 9 Bus. Ehhhhhh, the others are better. This is sort of remote. I mean its "real" Budapest and all and the building looks lovely, but you will be taking long walks for dinner and drinks.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17924 posts
There was a concern on another thread about being in a tourist zone. Most of District V is a tourist Zone but the rest of the things to see and do are spread out all over town and what can be the most fascinating are the places in between. You stay half a block from an attraction, and 75% of all you will hear is Hungarian. Even on mid to upper Andrassy ut 75% is Hungarian.
The other difference is that the attractions here aren't museums of what once was. They stll function as intended and for a Hungarian audiance . The Market Hall full of Hungarians shopping and the Great Synagogue has a congregation. The parliament is the Parliament, and the most common language in the bath houses remains Hungarisn.