This Saturday, May 30, Budapest hosts the Champions League final

Or a little crazy at the worst. 🤣

I ate lunch near Keleti today and when I came out, I thought I would take the bus over to Hero’s Square. But I was apparently near where the French supporters were gathering and there were LARGE crowds along the street and traffic was creeping only. Headed to the M1 and couldn’t even get on two trains. So I gave up and went to the grocery store instead. Everything I saw was peaceful but there was definitely a large police presence, just in case. When I arrived last night, I saw several groups of police at the airport, which isn’t usual.

I should have gone this morning, but jet lag…..

The fan festival continues tomorrow. So far not a bit of violence; and if there were the locals seem well staged to crush it quickly.

I started in an English restaurant pub. Moved on to a hidden basement Thai sushi restaurant / pub for the match (I was 1 of 2 non Thai in the place) and finished in a Scottish bar weeping like the rest. Saw the cops staged and prepared. Now home, within earshot of any issues and all remains quiet.

Add a review on your train restaurant to your restaraunt thread 🤣🤣

It's fun for Budapest to be hosting it. But I must say, I am glad not to be there.
I would be bummed to be visiting the city for first time and find Heroes’ Square covered with event stage, people, tent.
Don't get me wrong, I love soccer (the real football).

I'll be there during Wine Festival when Buda Castle will be covered with event tents, so it will mask seeing the grounds. A bummer as well, but at least I will partake on the wine fest.

Heroes Square is an overhyped plaza good for 7.67 minutes while on the way to the good stuff a few blocks in each direction from the main plaza missed by many of the guidebooks. So no great loss. The angel is still missing for what its worth. The sports tourists will all be gone by Monday. They are mostly European city break types.

The area where the wine festival will take place, constructed in the 1950's, serves no other historic purpose other than events like the wine festival. But at least at the wine festival the vinters are there and I can ask questions and learn ot just communicate with people from a different culture. That what make these special events for me. Otherwise I am happy in a wine bar.

But everyone tours at different levels of involvement and its about finding what works for me. Its all good. All positive.

That is a good way to see things, Mr E. Nice perspective.

I would be bummed to be visiting the city for first time and find Heroes’ Square covered with event stage, people, tent.

Joy, I get what you are saying but it turns into a whole sightseeing conundrum. I have been so many places for the first time with a special event happening: Wroclaw with the Easter fair set up in the Market Square; Strasbourg with Christmas markets in front of the cathedral; Constitution Square in Bucharest with a 3 day music festival set up (buy a ticket and see Andre Bocelli? - absolutely!); and Budapest on my first long visit when they had their national horse racing weekend happening (a racetrack and bleachers) set up in Hero’s Square. It definitely does change things but not in a bad way. Just a different way. What I got to experience at those times is something most others don’t get to experience.

So rather than disappointment, I feel rather lucky. Sometimes (looking at you, Valencia during Las Fallas), it’s a great excitement - but it tells me I need to return and see the city in both states of being. But it’s a whole lot easier to hit most of the year when Valencia is “normal” than to book a trip during the week of Las Fallas.

I admit there are downsides to winding up somewhere during a big “special time” - like higher priced lodging, for example. I wondered why prices were higher in Budapest this visit (since I didn’t know about the soccer match). And it would be a shame to come here during this weekend and think that the number of people headed to Hero’s Square crowding on the darling little M1 or that the group of harmless but very loud (not drunk - yet) middle-aged British guys on the bus is normal. But for me, those are minor things compared to the experience of seeing big cultural events. (Yes, the craziness of the fan excitement is still cultural.)

I have a couple of things to do today, but I will probably see if I can get there to see it myself today before everyone heads back to work or their respective countries. Lol.

⅞I am a bit off the ordinary. I look for special events for trips. I want to see and do things that are unique in the world. Maybe its a good topic for another thread. "One-Off European Events & Dates worth Visiting to See and Participate In"

Some of my travel highlights have been:
RedBull Diving Championships in Mostar. https://youtu.be/GDUrg31W-_g?si=v9DRB-2YjnVSAECj National Galloup at Heroe's Square that TTM talked about https://youtu.be/ZAM8ukx3m04?si=uIU4Q1MOFejC6RVw which has moved out of the city the last few years. And - Joy - 's Budapest wine festival https://youtu.be/X6N54IoFHe4?si=gThIi1yxsr6ZvrAR. Ukraine's 25th anniversary of independence https://youtu.be/-8uhP9z3TNs?si=yt0qQyKMMfMJRtmI. Christmas Markets in any city are always unique and special. Of course best here: https://youtube.com/shorts/PCgmLIw3PqY?si=DW1eFljcLAZAhnVL Bastille Day in Paris (La Fête Nationale) NYE in Rome, London, Mexico City, Sydney. Christmas church service in any location. I have been blessed to be at Christmas service in a number of cities. Mohacs Busójárás https://youtu.be/1jt1fDQQJvg?si=jCHmuBJoNsYL__1B Or maybe you just plan a trip around the perfect date for one if Europe’s great train rides or maybe a one-off special train ride. We have a few out of Budapest every year and I know there are several in the UK. Old world trains or trains that take the old slower route through the mountain passes. Speaking of trains, several really interesting relatively short “unique” train trips in Montenegro, Bulgaria and here in Hungary. Anyone that avoids being in Budapest on 20 August is just missing one of the Europes great events. Or for that matter any of the great political holidays here (and the same elsewhere in the world). Wahington DC 4 July (the first time I did that was 1976 .... yes, I am old ... done it twice since. Always good.

It definitely does change things but not in a bad way. Just a different way. What I got to experience at those times is something most others don’t get to experience.

Another great point indeed. Hope you have a great time in Budapest. Do you have family there that you visit often or do you go for work? Or just love the city?

I just love the city, Joy. And now it makes a really easy begin or end to my other travel. I don’t always make it here but at this point, I have friends who ask me to come with them (they won’t travel by themselves). So it’s self-propagating. LOL. .

What about the local scoundrels!!!
Be careful!!!
And its a very conservative culture so be careful with the self propagating.

We left Budapest on May 29, the day before the Champions League Finals.

When I planned our trip, many on Reddit warned me that the week leading up to the game could get pretty crazy. They said the 2023 Finals resulted in some damage to the city.

I did not notice anything during our stay and I had forgotten that there would be a big game on Saturday until we went to Heroes' Square and found it fenced off for the upcoming festivities.

I did find the restaurants to be more expensive than I expected during our May 24-29 visit. Did restaurants raise their prices during this game week?

We left Budapest on May 29, the day before the Champions League Finals.

When I planned our trip, many on Reddit warned me that the week leading up to the game could get pretty crazy. They said the 2023 Finals resulted in some damage to the city.

I did not notice anything during our stay (no big groups of fans, flags, chanting, etc) and I had forgotten that there would be a big game on Saturday until we went to Heroes' Square on Wednesday and found it fenced off for the upcoming festivities.

I did find the restaurants to be more expensive than I expected during our May 24-29 visit. Did restaurants raise their prices during this game week, even though they did not seem busy? IIRC, the hotels were more expensive for our week, but I had booked months ago.

P.S. We went for dim sum today in Vancouver. It cost us CAD$100 including tip for 3 people. And that was with the 10% Grandpa loyalty duscount. It is not cheap to dine out anywhere.

Funpig, I guess anything is possible but they would have to reprint menus, reprogram POS systems, change websites. I sort of doubt it. I don’t know where or what you ate. Do remember that the US dollar is down against the EU by about 15% at its best a few years ago. Hungary uses the Forint but as an EU member the economy, and the Forint, are tied to the Euro so if the Euro is strong, the Forint is stronger as well.

I don’t know where or what you ate so I will just throw out a few comments on restaurant costs here. To be fair, because of where the tourists stay, what they are out visiting I would count on the high end of the range. You just arent doing local like you would be at home.

The 2026 Big Mac Index says
- US: $6.12
- Hungary: $4.99
- Czech Republic: $5.49
- Romania: $3.97
- EU as a whole: $7.00

"A sit-down dinner at a mid-range local restaurant runs around €10–15 per person for a main course, rising to €25–30 per dish at higher-end establishments. No longer cheap by Budapest’s own historical standards, but still well below equivalent restaurants in Germany, Austria, or the UK." https://www.triptobudapest.hu/budapest-on-a-budget-in-2026-your-honest-guide-to-spend-less-and-see-more/

"Budget meals cost $10-$15, mid-range restaurant meals $20-$35 per person." https://radicalstorage.com/travel/is-budapest-expensive/

"Eating out in Hungary is 45% cheaper than in the USA, France, or Germany, and 36% cheaper than in the UK. A basic meal with a drink at an inexpensive restaurant costs €9.82, while a combo meal at a fast food restaurant is €7.37. A cup of cappuccino in a local coffee shop costs about €1.98. A couple will pay €44.20 for a three-course meal at a mid-range restaurant …" https://imigrant-hungary.com/en/blog/imigrant-hungary/

I already know what I am havig for lunch today, and I am doing lunch pretty nice so it will be $30 with the service charge and a nice glass of wine. Pretty certain I know what I am having for lunch tomorrow and it will be $11 with drink (Fanta Orange of course) and a tip. https://maps.app.goo.gl/nDm8eYBeMrRBjCmp8. The day after maybe eastern european pancakes (crepes). One just doesnt cut it so for two and a drink not more than $10. https://maps.app.goo.gl/6jjGPqBBagW35rim6

funpig, I am really enjoying reading your after-trip mini-reports! I would love it if you would add something about where you ate on the Restaurant Tales thread! There was a recent thread about the cost of food (among other things) in Romania, with the point that expectations need to be up to date. And that is important. I do love my restaurants here in Budapest, so a report on a place you enjoyed (or one you didn’t) feels like it could help future travelers. I’ve been including cost with what I had to make it more practical, since there’s always a range.

Prices have risen here since I began coming somewhat regularly in 2022, that’s for sure. Not hugely, but I’d say maybe about $3/nice entree at a nice restaurant. I was in Belgium, Netherlands, England, and Switzerland in April and food here is definitely cheaper. But if you are expecting Sarajevo prices, you would be surprised.