Things to do/restaurants near Elizabeth Square

A few highlights from our visit to Budapest:

-Hospital in the Rock Nuclear Bunker Museum (they shut the door after the end of the Cold War and all was preserved there) https://www.sziklakorhaz.eu/en

-Hungarian National Museum (the country has a unique and fascinating history among European countries and this museum is nicely done) https://mnm.hu/en

-the food blog of Carolyn Banfalvi (we had her book, but not sure how current it is, and the company website her blog appears on offers various food and wine tours) https://tastehungary.com/journal/author/carolyn/

Enjoy the planning!

The Kempinski is a modern hotel in the heart of District V. Kempinski hotels are aways good. You did well with your cruise as Viking tends to use the Hilton in Buda which is a terrible choice for a short stay.

The bathouse is a great idea, maybe on your arrival day? The Basilica and the pedestrian area in front, also maybe on arrival day.? With out a lot of details of when you are coming and what time you have available, all I can do is throw out the standard one day tour.

I assume breakfast in the hotel. But if you want to start the day off Hungarian, then go out the back door of the hotel and you will be on Deak Ferenc utca. From there a short walk to Café Gerbeaud (opens at 9am). This is one of the classic turn of the last century coffee houses that Budapest is famous for. https://gerbeaud.hu/

The walk takes you in the right direction to head to the river and the 2 Tram. The 2 tram is often cited as being one of the best tram rides in Europe. Take it up river to the Parliament. If you book early enough you can do a tour. But you have to book way early. https://www.parlament.hu/en/web/visitors/purchasing-tickets While there see the Shoes on the Danube Memorial https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoes_on_the_Danube_Bank If you are interested in antique shops in basements, let me know.

Otherwise, while I hate back tracking, it’s the easiest for a short stay. So back on the 2 Tram in the direction from which you came. Stay on until it parks under a bridge. Then go up the stairs and in front of you about 100m up is the Great Market Hall. Be sure to visit the basement where the pickled-everything and the fish is to be found. The second floor is some pretty fair tourist markets, but I love the ground floor booths of vegetables, fruit, meats, sausages …. You name it.

If you are dying of hunger before or after the market you can eat in the market second floor or you can walk across the street to Vaci utca for some tourist grub; better yet behind the market is Borbíróság https://borbirosag.com/. I like it quite a bit. Mostly Hungarian flair.

After the market, you will board the 47 or 48 or 49 tram that stops in front of the market. You want to travel away from the river. You want to get off at the second stop (Astoria) and then walk up the tracks in the same direction and the Dohany utca (Great) Synagogue will be on your right; maybe 200m. It is Saturday so closed to tours. But the outside is beautiful and if you walk up the street on the left, you can see the Holocaust Tree of Life Memorial.

Then back on the tram in the same direction to the end stop. Then continue walking in the same direction until you reach the end of Andrassy ut. You need to walk the first third past the Hungarian State Opera (take the tour even). https://www.opera.hu/en/about-us/guided-tours/ I have had no problem buying them just prior. But …. Who knows. You can always buy the 4:30pm ticket in advance.

After the Opera continue walking up to an intersection called the Oktogon. Now what to do depends on the time and your energy. At the very least take the M1 metro one stop and then go up and walk one stop and repeat until you reach Heroes Square.

To get back to your hotel to get ready for dinner you take the M1 to Deak Ferenc ter. Then on the platform landing at one end you will see stairs going up. Go up those stairs and you will be in front of the Ritz hotel which is next door to yours.

Dinner reservation for Hungarian food and music: Rezkakas Bistro, which is very near your hotel. https://www.rezkakasbistro.hu/

After dinner, go to the river and look for Duna Corso. Hopefully they have a table outside that is open and you can enjoy the view.

But I can help you modify it with the time you have and your interests.

Mister e has already recommended gerbeaud. I’ve been there and it’s definitely worth a visit. Out by the zoo and bath there’s also Gundel. The smaller cafe is an intimate quieter space but the main restaurant is lovely too. Try the pancakes with chocolate sauce at Gundel. So good!

https://gundel.hu/en/menus/

Thank you, especially Mr. E! Wow, so much to choose from.

Mr. E, if I might take you up on your offer to modify the suggested itinerary? So may wonderful ideas! But we do have a full day 1 on the cruise in Budapest and I think we will see some of those sites then.

We all land from different cities in the US around 2:00 p.m. Friday. As these things go, I anticipate the group would not be ready to head out Friday evening until about 5:00 p.m. We will no doubt be tired from the overnight travel from Chicago. Thinking a short walk around the neighborhood and dinner close to hotel? Which restaurant is closest? OR, should we do a dinner cruise on the Danube?

Saturday, our full day, breakfast at Gerbeaud? Then the central market. Will walk around, but would like to hit the Szecheni Baths at 3ish for a couple hours. Back to hotel. Then dinner? You can message me privately if you like.

Again, thank you so much for your input!

Thinking a short walk around the neighborhood and dinner close to
hotel? Which restaurant is closest? OR, should we do a dinner cruise
on the Danube?

Rezkakas Bistro, is less than 5 minute walk from your hotel. Simple walk, direct, no stress. https://www.rezkakasbistro.hu/

That puts you very close to the Basilica and the pedestrian area in front of it. A nice walk and very pretty in the evening. Here is an idea. https://maps.app.goo.gl/tvWJCbghda3ThMRK8

Saturday, our full day, breakfast at Gerbeaud? Then the central
market. Will walk around, but would like to hit the Szecheni Baths at
3ish for a couple hours. Back to hotel. Then dinner? You can message
me privately if you like.

After Gerbeaud you walk towards the river. There you will see the yellow 2 Tram. Hop on it moving right to left. Sit on the river side for the view. When it parks under the bridge, get off and go up the stairs and you are at the Market.

Will walk around, but would like to hit the Szecheni Baths at 3ish for
a couple hours. Back to hotel.

So, from the Market Hall you take the 47 or 48 or 49 tram away from the river. You go to the end stop (third stop). Sit on the right side facing backwards and you will see the Great Synagogue as you pass it. At the end, stop walk to the side of the street with most magnificent, yellow, somewhat in need of repair building that you see. Then continue walking in the same direction that the tram was traveling. In about 3 minutes you will be at the end of Andrassy ut. The M1 Metro line, the oldest on the continent and not at all imposing to use, runs under Andrassy ut and beyond to the Bath House.

I would recommend that you walk at least as far as the Oktogon metro stop. Further if you are up to it. Then get on and off at ever other stop until you reach the bath house (it has its own stop). This way you get to see some of a beautiful avenue with pretty amazing architecture. https://maps.app.goo.gl/myr11HRc7Rw6dctT6

To get home you get back on the M1 from the bath house and ride it to Deak Ferenc ter (or get on and off at the places you missed going up). At least get off at Heroes’ Square if you missed it on the way up. At Deak Ferenc ter you look for the exit marked “D” and you are pretty much home.

If you are going to do a dinner cruise, make it after 8pm and you should have time. If not that, then pick a restaurant from the list I am about to send in a PM.