Travel Suggestions / Questions

The hotel is in a great location. I stayed on the same street a couple of blocks away and loved it. You can walk everywhere.

The river cruise is worth it, especially around sunset. I went on the one Rick Steves recommends.

For attractions, the Museum of Fine Arts never gets mentioned here, but it’s excellent.. Walk around the Vajdahunyad Castle. Go inside St. Stephen's Basilica and Matthias Church. Walk around the Parliament at different times of the day. The link below has the best view of the Parliament from the other side of the river. Walk up Zrínyi utca for a great view of St. Stephen’s.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/63rUXs4vD854QKPR6?g_st=ipc

I am seeing tickets in varied quantities still available for the Nutcracker at both the Opera House and the Operette (admittedly not all together at the Operette). I also see availability for La Boheme at the Opera. Maybe your daughters would think it’s fun to get dressed up for the opera?

Perhaps a train to a small town?. Maybe an afternoon trip to Szentendre? I don’t think I would go to Vienna for just a part of a day.

There are 1 hr river cruises that might be fun. I took a Legenda one a few weeks ago. It’s most beautiful after dark - similar to Paris, but also different.

Random cafe experience? Take the 59 tram all the way from Szell Kalmen ter to the end of the line, walk straight ahead, and have cake and coffee at Auguszt cukrászda Farkasré (yes, there’s a closer one, but this is way up in a real residential neighborhood).

The 7Seasons looks like it’s a pretty good location for getting around (Deak Ferenc ter is a hub for transportation) - but be prepared for noise. It gets crowded with young people at night, which isn’t bad in and of itself - just potentially loud. But yes, an apartment is a great idea. Make sure it has a washer and an elevator. There are several second hand clothing stores not far.

Marco is right about the Museum of Fine Arts in City Park. There is also an ice skating rink in the park.

Edit: be sure to get your 15 day transportation passes when you arrive. If you are flying in, there’s an office at the airport. If you stay with the 7Seasons, the 100E airport bus stops just a few short blocks away.

This sounds like such a fun family trip!

Hi, we are visiting Budapest in December from 17-23. It's a bucket list city for me so lots of excitement on my end.
A nice long stay, that’s great.

The 7 Seasons is in a pretty good physical location for tourism. It puts you not far from the M1 Metro and within feet of the 47/49 tram both of which you will be on a lot. I sent you a PM with a little more information.

It is a bit removed from laid back street wandering. Your inclination will be to walk towards the river and that is great one or maybe even two nights but the best of the evening strolls and some of the best food and evening entertainment is up Andrassy ut.

Do get 15 day Travel Cards for everyone. https://bkk.hu/en/tickets-and-passes/prices/15-day-budapest-pass/ You can do a paper pass or you can download the BudapestGo app and buy an electronic one. I sort of like paper better. Are you arriving by train or plane, and I can tell you where to buy if you want a paper one.

December 18 has Nutcracker seats available at the Opera: https://www.opera.hu/en/programme/2025-2026/the-nutcracker/hungarian-state-opera-2025-12-18-1900/
The opperett theater doesn’t have any groups of four seats left.
At the Liszt Academy
18th https://zeneakademia.jegy.hu/program/barokk-karacsony-176652/1288367?lang=en
21st a very few tickets https://concert.lisztacademy.hu/programs/2025-12-21-christmas-concert-13619
18th Opus Jazz Club https://opusjazzclub.hu/en/concerts/agi-szaloki-janos-aved-istvan-toth-hu On the other dates, there are some tickets available at what looks like the perimeter. That is really on a different floor. Not the same as being down with the performance.
Church Concerts: Go here to see what is available (something most evenings you are in town) then try and track down the particular church and see if the tickets are cheaper. https://www.classictic.com/en/city/budapest-t18/budapest-events-ec1/budapest-church-concerts-el2896/
Here are many others: https://jegymester.hu/category/ZE*/zene?activePage=1&categoryCodes=ZE*%2CKZE%2CKPR%2CJZZ%2CNZE&cities=Budapest&endDate=1766530799999&onlyMarketable=true&orderBy=Popularity&osl=productions&ot=tickets&searchPhrase=&startDate=1765926000000&venueIds=80797%2C20002%2C80254%2C80060%2C80195%2C81737%2C81488%2C80490%2C81448%2C3%2C80244%2C80350%2C20040%2C80346%2C81505%2C81516%2C80866%2C80492%2C80121
Spinoza Theater/Dinner: The Klezmer is always good: https://spinoza-szinhaz.hu/en/eloadas/klezmer-pentek-vacsoraval-sabbathsong-klezmer-band

I have another suggestion that I sent to you in a PM.

For other interesting things, yet another PM. A few things like maybe your donut shop.

You have tickets to visit the Parliament: excellent

For the baths, you have time for more than one and they are all different. First you need to go to Széchenyi and if that lights your fire at all, you folks sound like the more local fun types so then go to https://en.lukacsfurdo.hu/ . This one is as “local” as you can get.

Fashion Districts: There are two places that come close to that description. One is Andrassy ut from the bottom end to the Oktogon. https://www.offbeatbudapest.com/budapest-city-guide/neighborhoods/terezvaros-district-6/ The other has the nickname of “Fashion Street” but it is really Deák Ferenc utca from Deák Ferenc ter most of the way to the river. https://fashionstreet.hu/our-story

For café life, don’t want to stumble on them, hunt them down: https://haircutharry.com/budapests-grand-cafes/

The river tour in Budapest is like 20x better than anything in Paris. With sunset at about 4:30 the lights are amazing. The dinner tours are pretty nice too. There are a lot of companies, this is a consolidator that shows the options pretty well (then track down the providers web page if you can) https://budapestrivercruise.com/

Is it possible to get a hot drink at the Christmas markets without alcohol? Seems to me last year the answer was yes. Here is more poop on the markets: https://comm

If you do continue looking at places to stay, if you post the ideas here, I suspect that someone will comment on the hotel or the apartment or the location before you book.

As for short-term rentals in Budapest, the situation here is not the same as in places like Barcelona if that concerns you.

I sent you some more ideas of places to stay in a PM.

The 7Seasons looks like it’s a pretty good location for getting around (Deak Ferenc ter is a hub for transportation) - but be prepared for noise. It gets crowded with young people at night, which isn’t bad in and of itself - just potentially loud.

This is true, the street is packed and loud.

The apartment I stayed in is in a courtyard many 50 meters away from the street and was completely quiet.

https://www.booking.com/Share-4TKG5X7

I call them the European Trust Fund Brats. Kiraly u. and Dob u. are where they hang out. If you want a place to stroll the streets, enjoy the lights and stop for coffee in the evening .... this isn't it.

For your day trip, the easiest is Szentendre. 45 minutes by local comutter train. But with a little creativity it can be combined with an interesting locals only Christmas market on tge edge of Budapest.

But you could even do an overnight to Eger or Pecs or Gyor/Pannonhalma (my first choice).

Tge Nuseum of Fine Arts is not actually in City Park. Its at Hősök tere (Heroes Square)