Who Will be in Budapest, July thru December and Events in the City

Thank you for the calendar and helping to people to connect.

Conde Nast on Budapest.

An article about 8 spectacular rivers to cruise. The Danube through Budapest made the list. https://www.cntraveller.com/article/river-cruises
A list of the 6 best river cruises for the Summer of 2023 and Budapest to Bucharest made the list.
https://www.cntraveller.com/article/european-river-cruises
The 17 cheapest city breaks for 2024 and Budapest made the list. https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/cheapest-city-breaks-in-europe
Top places to go in EUROPE in 2024 and Budapest made the list of 12. https://www.cntraveller.com/article/best-places-to-go-in-europe-2024
The best places to go in the WORLD in 2024 begins with Budapest. https://www.cntraveller.com/article/best-places-to-go-in-the-world-2024
Four best historic cities to visit in Winter, names Budapest. https://www.cntraveller.com/bc/article/marriott-winter-holidays-in-europe
The best hotels for 2024 has one in Budapest among the list of 29 European hotels. https://www.cntraveller.com/article/best-hotels-in-the-world-2024

Thank you!!

Was the Aug. 19-26 person me with my original dates - or someone else? That’s when I had first planned to be there…..

Ive already arranged for someone to use your dates.

When you come, I know you like unique dining. Try Goli
https://maps.app.goo.gl/6wN8EBcdEFpes9Ht6.

Sort of new age Isralie meets Iranian grandma. A tad pricy but that just means U.S. prices more or less. Nice street to explore too.

GOOD GRIEF! You gave away my dates!!!

Goli now saved. Smoke & olives sounds interesting. I may have to stay a month to even begin to catch up on restaurants.

What a great idea this is!

Me!! I will be in Budapest late July early August. I am in the early stages of planning a trip to Budapest and Prague. This will be a high school graduation gift trip for my son. We delayed our oldest son's trip because of covid and decided to wait until after a year of college this time, too. It's a nice way to reconnect after a year of him not living at home. He picked the cities on a whim, but I am super excited about them. None of us have traveled there before. I am open to any and all recommendations.

This is a good bunch of people, ask your questions and you will get lots of help.

A few comments, if you can push it to start in August it might be a tad cooler, but even at their worst Prague and Budapest are not horrible.
Starting in Prague or Budapest won't make any significant difference with the temps. I checked the tourist numbers in Prague for July and August and July was a tiny bit less crowded. Budapest it doesn't matter because the city tourist area is so large the numbers get absorbed pretty well.

If it's only 1 or 2 weeks and you are sticking to just the 2 cities then really consider flying between Prague and Budapest. It's fast and easy and not expensive.

Enjoy the planning.

I had not even thought about flying between Prague and Budapest. I have only ever used trains to get from one place to another within Europe. Are flights really cheaper than trains? And will I have to worry about our luggage size on those planes?

Here is my take on train vs plane. The plane costs more but i save 4 hours of travel time and I'm not trapped in a bread box for 7 hours.

Train gets you to your hotel at 3pm, a flight can have you in your hotel before noon.

The train can be as little as $30 with a seat assignment. Ryan flights range from $35 to $80 but with checking luggage figure $100. Then figure another $40 in taxi fare because airports aren't in the center of town. So the flight might cost you $110 more than the train if you check a bag. Maybe $45 more if you go carryon.

Prague Old town to the main station (by taxi) is about 10 minutes.
Me at least, especially in a new station, I arrive no less than 30 minutes early find the platform, validate the ticket, find the new platform when it changes, get my reserved seat before anyone else sits in it, etc…..
The average train is 7:10 hours
The time from the Nyugati or the Keleti Train Station to the Opera House by taxi or metro is 15 minutes but throw in another 10 to call and find your taxi. Same would be true about buying metro tickets.

So, door to door = 8:15 hours
Now for me personally, I will have my morning coffee and croissant first so add 30 minutes for an even 8:45 hours.

Prague Old Town to the airport by taxi is about 30 minutes.
Pre Arrival time 2:00 hours (to be honest I never arrive more than 1.5 hours early)
Flight time 1:10 hours
Deplane, luggage, passport control, walk to taxi stand: 30 minutes
Order taxi, wait for taxi: 5 minutes (really is that fast they way they have it set up)
Ride to Opera House part of town 30 minutes on average Metro will take you that long too.

So, door to door = 4:45 hours
Now for me personally, I will have my morning coffee and croissant first so add …. Well nothing … I get it in the airport. So, still 4:45.

Wow. Thank you so much for this excellent description. We will still probably take the train, though. The cost would add up with 3 of us on this trip, and we are Texan, so the novelty of train rides is part of the fun! And maybe a down day sitting and looking out the window will be a welcome rest between cities. Nothing is set in stone yet, so maybe I'll change my mind. Budapest is the anchor, so the other city might change. Prague is probably nice, but my heart isn't set on it. What other nearby-ish cities might we look into? It is a trip for our 19 year old son who wants to "see Europe". Mr E, you are a goldmine of information!

LAB, if you have 2 weeks I would 1 of 2 things. Either classical history or adventure. Which ever you think will have the most profound impact.

So, either Rome for classsis European history ... or the coast of Montenegro for adventure and a little nature. This is a one off trip so a 90 min discount Airline flight is 5 hours out of two weeks for a great payoff. Travel light and the ticket could be under $100. Budapest is well serviced by the discount airlines so this works.

If you have 3 weeks, Rome - Montenegro - Budapest the ultimate holiday adventure.

And I am a Texan too. For a train experience
https://texasstaterailroad.net/
Or
https://www.laev.hu/

August 12 thru 15. It doesn't look like there is any festivals. Maybe 3 days of spas.

Lifetime Travel, the city spends the second half of August trying to recover from the Sziget Festival which is 7-12 August this year. Imagine Woodstock on steroids. I think it is either the largest, or among the largest, outdoor festivals in Europe. I didnt list it because its not really a RS venue. But if I were young again ..............

But there is the Folk Art Festival that starts on the 17th and the Summer Festival usually runs in August, but I cant find a date for this year yet. I will post it when I get it.

And a rumor that the Budapest Klezmer Band will have a concert this summer. If you have plans to go to Paris and Rome and you find out that the Budapest Klezmer Band is playing in Budapest, cancel all you plans and come to Budapest. I could kill myself for missing this concert, Kátya Tompos and the Budapest Klezmer Band TOGETHER! ......... two of my absolute favorites. https://youtu.be/dO9gJKojEGs?feature=shared

But if you only have 3 days, I guarantee we can come up with suggestions beyond spas .............. just ask.

The Opera House has their new season posted now so I am starting to look and make decisions for early Oct.. Doesn’t look like tickets are available beyond August yet, though.

buy quickly. they sell fast and have been on sale since the third week in March.

I will be in Budapest in late May, ca. the third week, am certainly looking forward to this as my last visit , a day trip, was in May of 2015.

Don’t try to scare me. Tickets for October are not on sale yet. I could buy season tickets - or individual tickets through August…..

Fred, wave when yoi get here.

I could be up to 8 now, we'll see. :) This will be our first time for the Christmas markets and we're looking forward to it.

We were hoping to be there for the wine festival again, but that will have to wait until another year.

Hmmm, Christy, maybe I will have to meet you there for the wine festival next year. :)

Yay!

We attended the wine festival in 2022 and loved it. I know some of the locals on other boards have mixed feelings about it, but we had a blast. The multiple day ticket was so reasonably priced that I bought those and I'm so glad I did. We went several times, had a different experience each time, and really enjoyed it.

@ Mr E....I shall certainly contact you in BP, and meet a fellow Basic Economy (what ever it is called, ) ie the rock-bottom, cheapest , presumably, the least comfortable flying over option. I'll take it.

My husband and I hope to be in Budapest December 8-10.
Karen

Karen, added above. I have enjoyed meeting up with RS types while traveling, and it appears you and another will be in town at the same time. I will update the list of things going on from time to time, so if you see it bumped to the top, check in.

Updated above
International Palace Games of Visegrád, 12 - 14 July https://palotajatekok.hu/en

1 - 7 September Jazz Festival https://mupa.hu/en/events/jazztime-2024

My husband, daughter and I will be in Budapest July 15-19. We haven’t planned that part of our trip yet so glad to have this forum ideas!

Let me look and see what I can find for those dates

I will be in Budapest in October. My dates are flexible. I am a senior lady. Looking to meet up. Planning to go to the Opera!

Excellent. We have e listed above and one more that I suspect is coming, but not yet committed. All ladies I believe. TexasTravelMom is a great organizer. You should give her a call. Meeting RS on the road is always fun.

Lol. Mr. É knows I like meeting new people. Feel free to message me if you are around the first week of Oct. My plans aren’t fully set yet but I will be in Budapest or in and out. Lunch, coffee, or an evening meet up is always fun!

Since your dates are flexible and you want to go to the Opera, I would use tye Opera to establish the dates. The Operetta is also fun.

So far, for October I only have

October 12 - 13 Etyeki piknik (my guess based on last year' date https://etyekipiknik.hu/en/#programok
Revolution Day. Oct 23rd

One fun and about 45 min out of town, one interesting in town.

Hi, not sure if this is permissible but here goes, my friend and I bought tickets for the Hungarian opera in August. When they emailed the tickets we realised we had ticked the wrong date duh! We wanted tickets for Saturday 17th August and the tickets we have are for the 10th August. The website will NOT refund or exchange our tickets.
We paid £42 each with good seats . Would anyone like to make us an offer for these? We really would like to go on the 17th even if the seats were not so good
Kathryn Clark

It shouldnt be against the rules. But maybe it is. PM me with the details. I might be interested. Best yet, I can pay you in Hungarian forints when you get here. :-)

Jewish Cultural Festival will be September 8-17 according to their FB page - https://www.facebook.com/zsidokulturalisfesztival/

MIla0329, THANK YOU!!

Not much information up yet. But if one is into the music and culture, this is one of the best events in Budapest each year. And I would suggest that this is going to be a city where such an event can take place without disruption this year.

I hope so. Waiting for the program to be posted.

I know so about the disruption. There has been zero tolerance here since day 1. Everyone goes about life in peace.

Shalom

Wow! Sounds so good and promising!

Mr E Thank you for your wealth of knowledge!
First time to Budapest Sept 26-29. Will be there as part of an RS tour!

Lisa, the Best of Prague and Budapest, correct? If thats right, then perfect because it ends in Budapest. That means you can extend the stay a day or two. Here are some ideas on time: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/amount-of-time-needed-in-budapest

Your Tour if I guessed correctly:

Day 5, bus to Budapest. On a tour bus like that I suspect it will take every bit of 7 hours. So you dont arrive until maybe 4pm. Pooped and you still need to check-in etc...... That tour you get is going to be somewhat "compact".

Day 6, Half Day Buda tour and Half Day free and part of that in a cooking class

Day 7, Half day Pest tour and Half Day free.

Day 8, Ends.

You need two more days if it is possible. Or just come back for Christmas.

If you do have some free time and you need some ideas, give me a call. I am in town more oftent than not.

Thanks for posting.
I'll be there from November 5 - 12th. Purchased my tickets this weekend. Thanks for all of your advice and tips: I'm an oenophile so I'll be interested in trying some Hungarian wines while there.

I will be there from Sept 27 thru Oct 2- total of 6 nights. First time to Hungry. Part of a 7 week trip around Europe with a friend.

I’m starting to drill down to plan some activities. Will want to have at least one slower down day without too much planned since we need a break when traveling for so long.

Would love recommendations for any good wine bars.

Thanks

Mary

There are a number of good wine bars in town. My favorite in Pest is called Kadarka. It's in Distict VI at the corner of Vasvari Pal and Kiraly utcas. My current favorite in Buda is called Palack. It's across the street from tge Gellert Hotel / Bathhouse. 3 evenings a week I am at Kadarka and 3 sunny afternoons a week I am at Palack. Both outside seating. Both excellent staff and good selections. Both more Hungarian than tourist. Another, more touristy is Cork Wine and Breakfast. It's next to the Opera. A beautiful place to sit with a great view of thr Basilica. Worth having to pay $6 a glass. Run by Ukrainians so they get my business for that too.

This seemed like an appropriate place to say that, while I don’t often go to Profiles (except to check out “suspect” posters lol), if you check out Mr. É’s profile, he has a really in depth document available with tons of information on visiting Budapest. Might be helpful to all of us showing up there this year!

Am i a "suspect poster"?

Am i a "suspect poster"?

Absolutely.
Probably a suspect everything else, too, except wine drinker…..

My S/O and I will be there probably Aug 13-15, for ~ 48 hours, then onward to a friend’s wedding in Slovakia

Looks like you will have RS company

So we were supposed to have a week in October but alas work and bad luck intervened. I have salvaged 4 days, though, Nov 23-27! Will see some Christmas markets I think but more interested in a first-time trip for my husband, have been trying to arrange his introduction to the city since I spent a month there for work in 2018.

JoAnne, then do it up right. The season is good, but some advance bookings are in order.

You know where to find me now. PM if I can help.

Mr E you are correct while in Budapest Sept 26-29 it will be part of the RS Best of Prague and Budapest tour. I did add a day on but will certainly have to come back! Staying at the K&K for tour and extra night. You mention a unique Hungarian experience dinner and an organ concert. What/where would you recommend for both? I like organ music but have never been to a concert though and I think I would really enjoy it.

Goli looks very intersring. Do you think we should book it for dinner after our Opera visit on September 7? We are staying in Hotel Moments. It looks like it is around the corner from our hotel. Or is it better as a lunch stop?

After walking past dozens times, always looking in with interest. I finally stopped in for lunch about 6 months ago. If was okay I guess, but I was disapointed as it didnt really live up to the expectation that had developed from all of the window shopping in the months earlier. https://www.goli.hu/menus But not at all bad.

Here is another "Mediterranean" restaurant I go to fairly often. https://darband.hu/ Very good if you like the specific genre. Not real close to your hotel, but convenient if you are visiting the Parliament or Margrit Island. But for that matter there is a fairly decent Lebanese & Syrian Restaurant in your hotel.

Thank you, Mr. E!
Can you help me better organize our time in Budapest and recommend some fine dining places?
That's what our schedule looks like today.

September 6 - dropping off the cat at the airport (around 3 p.m.)

We will be driving from Vienna and thought we might stop by in Gyor. Do you think it makes sense or rather drive directly to Budapest to have more time there?
Check in to Hotel Moments.
We have a 7 p.m. reservation at Spinoza to listen to a klezmer band. I am not sure I want to keep it though. I am still waiting for the program for the Jewish Culture Festival. Once it is up I am pretty sure that we will go there at least once (on the 8th or 9th) If we cancel Spinoza it might make sense to take the Danube cruise at sunset and eat lunch/dinner?? Late dinner is fine with us.
September 7 - 9 am - 3 pm Buda and pest private tour
6 - 8:30 pm - Budapest Opera House "Taming of the Shrew"
September 8 - 10 - 11 am - Parliament visit.
September 9 - 10 am-2 pm Jewish quarter tour.
2:30 pm. - Synagogues visit

September 10 am - flight back home :((((

Thank you!!

You have it pretty well thought out so ….. And its hard without knowing where the guides are taking you. If the guides are good, then please post them here because finding good guides has been difficult.

For the fine dining, I will PM you a list of restaurants. We have Michelin Star restaurants and just general fine dining restaurants. For me one of the advantages of being in a large international city is being able to do more than just the local food. We have good food from every corner of the globe.

I’ve been to a few of the Michelin Star, and …….. well …………

Three places near or not far from your hotel that I have come to enjoy, while very, very nice, will never get a Michelin Star:

1. Excellent Jewish Inspired Hungarian. So much of Hungarian cooking is Jewish inspired: https://maceszbistro.hu/
2. Excellent International with a lot of Hungarian flavor and with a great host and excellent wine selection: https://n28.hu/
3. Excellent Eastern European with a very good wine list, owned and operated by Ukrainians so they get my love always. Great location with some great views and very nice outside dining: https://corkbreakfastandwine.choiceqr.com/

FRIDAY September 6 - dropping off the cat at the airport (around 3
p.m.) …

you meant “car” right?

If you are going to drive, then stopping in Gyor for lunch or Pannonhalma to see the archabbey, if you are interested in that sort of thing, makes sense.

If you want to drive, great, but the train is a lot easier and cost efficient. Driving you will have the cost of the rental, gas, tolls, parking. Once you drop it at the airport now you have another $30 for a taxi to town. That drive will cost you more than $100 …. Maybe a lot more.

Even if you wanted to stop in Gyor, Gyor is on the tracks from Vienna to Budapest so you get off and the Old Town is a 5 minute walk from the station.

Just suggesting.

Check in to Hotel Moments.

Spoke to a tourist a few days ago that moved from the K+K to the Moments. Said it was a worthwhile upgrade.

We have a 7 p.m. reservation at Spinoza to listen to a klezmer band.

You had a long day, That might be a good reason to put it off and take it easy. Plus, first night in a new city, might be more interesting to go look around than sit in a concert/dinner? And there will be a lot of similar going on for a week. Here is where you can sign up for notification when the schedule comes out: https://www.zsidokulturalisfesztival.hu/

SATURDAY September 7

9 am - 3 pm Buda and pest private tour

6 - 8:30 pm - Budapest Opera House "Taming of the Shrew"

Early show? Hmmmm. So something light on the veranda at the W Hotel before, then maybe N28 after?

SUNDAY September 8

10 - 11 am - Parliament visit.

And you could make this river front day …. Both sides … by tram …. Think about Margret’s for lunch.

MONDAY September 9

10 am-2 pm Jewish quarter tour.

2:30 pm. - Synagogues visit

Then the rest of the day in District VI and VII. Hard to help without knowing where your guide takes you. Dont know who is doing the tour, but I like to book them thru the synagogue.

TUESDAY September 10 am - flight back home :((((

Thank you Mr. E! You are the best!

For personal reasons, we should rent a car. Yes, we understand it is more expensive but under the circumstances, we will need to do it.
We will need to drop it off at the airport no later than 3-3:30 p.m.
Where would you suggest we go for a snack/lunch?
If we are canceling Spinoza, which am I pretty sure we'll do, we would like to take the Danube cruise. Sunset at that time will be around 7 pm in Budapest.
We do not want to take dinner and a cruise. I thought to stop by Corso before the cruise. It is very beautiful there. How far away it will be from the cruise terminal?
And where can go for dinner after that?

I signed up for the festival notifications a while ago. Thank you. Waiting.

N28 for Saturday, September 7, after the show sounds good! Thank you.

And you could make this riverfront day …. Both sides … by tram …. Think about Margret’s for lunch.

Where do you think we can go for dinner?

but I like to book them thru the synagogue.

We had a conflict in schedules between the Parliament Building and the Dohany Street Synagogue. Official tour in Synagogue is only on Sundays and Parliament does not open on Mondays. That's why we ended up with this schedule. We shall be free by 3-4 p.m. Where do you suggest we go?
Separately, can you recommend any coffee places as we are big coffee lovers? Thanks again for all your help!

Where would you suggest we go for a snack/lunch?

You mean after you drop off the car? Or on the way to Budapest? If on the way to Budapest I would go to Széchényi tér in Győr. That’s the old town main square. A couple of local spots there. Hard to go too wrong.

If you mean after you check in to your hotel, you will have had a long day. I would stick close to the hotel. But the hotel is in an excellent location so that isn’t a compromise.

Cork Breakfast and Wine next to the Opera has some light things on the menu. Or you could go to Mûvész Cukrászda up Andrassy ut and do something sweet. Across the street is a Spanish Tapas place. At best it is “okay”. But the portions work for a sack.

We do not want to take dinner and a cruise. I thought to stop by Corso
before the cruise. It is very beautiful there. How far away it will be
from the cruise terminal? And where can go for dinner after that?

Exactly how close depends on which cruise line. But all the cruise docks are within 300m (more or less) of the Corso.

After, Duna Corso for dinner.

And you could make this riverfront day …. Both sides … by tram ….
Think about Margret’s for lunch.

Where do you think we can go for dinner?

Felix. https://felixbudapest.com/ Upscale
Margrets https://www.facebook.com/margaretsbudapest/ basic Hungarian
Both on the Buda river front. Felix has the view, Margrets is just good old Hungarian at its best.

We had a conflict in schedules between the Parliament Building and the
Dohany Street Synagogue. Official tour in Synagogue is only on Sundays
and Parliament does not open on Mondays. That's why we ended up with
this schedule.

Check again: https://jewishtourhungary.com/en/jewish-quarter-tour

We shall be free by 3-4 p.m. Where do you suggest we go?

I am a bit lost in your plans. Take a look at that information I sent you. Then tell me the open holes in your schedule and lets see what we can figure out.

Separately, can you recommend any coffee places as we are big coffee
lovers?

Too dangerous a topic to voice my opinion. Here are ideas, classic to modern.

https://urban-wanders.com/7-cafes-you-must-visit-in-budapest/
https://welovebudapest.com/en/toplist/2019/12/27/ultimate-budapest-the-best-classic-coffeehouses-in-town/
https://justbudapest.com/best-cafes-in-budapest/

Unfortunately, Jewish tours are not available on Mondays.

"Time: every Sunday 10:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m."
Please correct me if I am wrong. Or, do you suggest taking a tour after the Parliament building visit on Sunday, at 1:30 pm???
Technically we can do it. Our Parliament building tour should be over by 11 am. Let me know what you think.

There is a Jewish Culture Festival program posted on FB. There are no tickets yet. Here is the program for our days. See below.
PROGRAMS AT TOBOBBAH STREET SYNAGOGUE
Sunday, September 8 @ 8 pm
Leslie Dés concert
Guests: Juli Básti, Vera Tóth, Peter Geszti, Joseph Wunderlich
Monday, September 9th @ 8pm
Ladybug from Illényi: Summer, klezmer, tango

Is the festival usually taking place in one synagogue? Or should I wait for the additional schedule?
So far, I think, we will go on Monday, September 9. Sunday's schedule looks a bit confusing. I think there will be more talk.. I might be mistaken though.

I would do the Parliament, grab lunch at one of the places in the building adjacent to the Kossuth Lajos ter metro station then take the M2 metro a few stops, maybe 10 minutes, to thr Astoria stop, and a 5 min walk gets you to the Dohany utca Synagogue. Or go straight to Astoria and eat at the wonderful old cafe in the Astoria Hotel.

There will be events at many of the Pest Synagogues. Wait for webpage to catch up.

Sounds like a plan to me! Thank you.
This way we can be free from any tours on Monday, September 9 and enjoy the City!

Yup. Enjoy. Here if you need me

The stars of nine countries, the best of the artistic world, will gather at the Dohany Street synagogue on Monday, July 15, 2024 at 8:00 p.m. to remember together the darkest era in history, the Holocaust that happened eighty years ago. Among others, the world-famous violinists Dora Schwarzberg and Shlomo Mintz will perform. Hungarian violinists Orsolya Korcsolán, Ferenc Liszt Prize winner Katalin Kokas and Kelemen Barnabás Kossuth and Ferenc Liszt Prize winners and the Söndörgő ensemble.

14 July UEFA Finals at Synagogue? Yup.interested, write and I'll send you the name. 8pm.

https://www.zsidokulturalisfesztival.hu/programok-2024
September Jewish Festival Schedule

Seriously looking at a long weekend in Dec. for a visit to Budapest. Hotels are cheap.

Not "cheap", reasonable for what you get. Sounds better. But yes, they are indeed cheep compared to the West.

Compared to Paris, where I'm visiting friends in late NOV, and Zurich, in DEC, Budapest is much more "reasonable".

Mr E! Hi! You are wonderful to do this. We will be in Budapest Nov 20-Nov 26. Staying in the Botel (!). Would love your suggestions. Of course we plan on doing some touristy things. We'd love your suggestions about less obvious places. We're also thinking we might rent a car one or maybe two days to drive aimlessly through the Hungarian countryside.... thoughts? (ps: you were so kind and helpful when we first embarked on our slow travel planning, which has now morphed into something less although better for our current circumstances. Look forward to hearing from you!

Shelley, The "Botel" The only thing that pops up under that name isnt really ..... well. Do you have an address?

We'd love your suggestions about less obvious places.

That depends on your interests.

• Semmelweis Medical Museum (some of it gross I understand)
• Hungarian Railway Museum (old trains to climb on)
• Museum of Ethnography and The Hungarian House of Music in City Park are both amazing examples of modern architecture done well (and you dont even have to go in to appreciate them
• Budapest has some amazing Art Nouveau and Bauhaus architecture, and there are tours.
• One bathhouse does not make a “did it” experience. We have 500 year old baths, elegant baths, icon baths, neighborhood baths and baths with a view.
• Lots of museums, some quirky like the pinball museum and the Retro Museum (daily life under communism)
• Antique shops all lined up in a row
• Antique book, art print, 60’s/70’s/80’s posters all lined up in a row. My favorite are music and movie posters from the past that are very familiar except the language is Hungarian.

We're also thinking we might rent a car one or maybe two days to drive
aimlessly through the Hungarian countryside.... thoughts?

That could be fun. Pick maybe two or three destinations not too far apart. Here is an idea: https://maps.app.goo.gl/VX7UT4W9sckaox9g6 Spend the night in Gyor.

Shelley, open the pictures of the boat hotel https://1drv.ms/f/s!Ai7Zk-szxfTJi9QTvCkCWn1zerc1aA

The river bank is in terraces, 4 if you count the river level. The 4/6 tram that takes you to Andrassy ut after crossing the 2 tram is the highest. With street crossings and the back and forth path, it's 5 to 10 minutes to the Tram. Then 3 min wait worst case for the tram and less than 10 minutes to Andrassy. So, 15 to 30 min more or less.

The 19/41 tram is on the third level. It goes to the Buda funicular and on to the Gelleet bath where you can take the 47/48/49 tram to the Great Market Hall, Dohany Synagogue and Andrassy ut / Deak Ferenc ter. The tram also crosses the 2 tram that takes you along the river front to the Parliament and ends at the 4/6 which will get you home. Figure 20 min to Deak Ferenc or the Parliament once you get to gellert which is maybe 15 minutes. Not all bad because so much to see along the way. It's a beautiful city. All this in that guide I gave you a link to.

The boat. It's a 3 star hotel, and it is. The smell is a tad funky. The carpets full of rolls that are easy to trip on. But the rooms were spotless, but old. Good housekeeping. The smell of the breakfast room reminded me of the diner I worked in 48 years ago (we didn't change the grease often enough). The stairs were glorified ships ladders, so be careful. There is a roof deck but in poor repair and no chairs.

Hallways are no more than 6 foot 8 inches high. Rooms looked a bit higher.

All ships leak, and old ships leak more so the bilge pump working overtime is probably not a concern.

I saw 4 guests on the boat. They seemed okay with the experience.

Read the Google reviews and remember the rating is relative to the expectations. I generally go to the worst reviews thinking it can't be worse than those. There seem to be a problem when the river is up, so they move people to another hotel. No idea which.

Also, if you pay extra for a city view, make sure the city is Pest.

Trams stop running about 11pm, but there are night bus replacements, but only every 15 or 20 minutes.

Good news is right above the boat at the end of the bridge is Margaret's Restaurant and Pub for excellent rural Hungarian food. But too much will kill you. A few stops into Buda on the 4/6 takes you to The Thirsty Swan bar (where I now sit). Promise you will be the only tourist. There is an amazing park near here too.

The view of Pest will be spectacular too.

On tge 4/6 towards Pest the first stop across the bridge is the entry to District XII which is pretty sweet, nice architecture and restaurants, mostly local. Then tge 2 tram will take you to the Parliament area, also nice.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/travel-meetings/international-travel-group-meeting-sunday-8-11-9-30-a-m-pacific-time

Andrea's Travel Group will talk about Budapest 11 August.

And dont forget the jewish cultural festival 8 thru 18 September: https://www.jegy.hu/venue/zsido-kulturalis-fesztival-2024?affiliate_code=nl20240802top_zskf-dohany&utm_source=nl20240802&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=reguler-hirlevel&utm_term=toplist-helyszinlink&utm_content=zskf-dohany

I’m sorry we will miss the Jewish Cultural Festival. I would have enjoyed that.

Andrea, When are you coming?

20 August St. Stephens day. That’s a Tuesday so I suspect the
festivities begin the prior Friday. Largest annual celebration in
Budapest with fireworks, food, crafts, all sorts of events.

A group of us has a bus chartered to Lake Balaton for the day. We will be back in time for the fireworks, which we will watch from the Parliament. I may have 2 extra seats (will know in about a week), but the company will be "interesting". The fireworks are some of the best I have ever seen. This is Hungary's high-holy-day and they celebrate it better than any other holiday of the year. Very good time to be here. https://youtu.be/AEnYYdRcgu8?si=zDCYyZ0yeG5YGyIM The music you hear is pipped all up and down the river. Ocassional poetry reading (in Hungarian) and what sounds like statements of glory for the Kingdom.

Weather right now is downright cool out of the sun. Lets hope it holds a few more weeks. By by 1 September things are generally pretty pleasant.

We arrive in September 25th.

Enjoy .....

A source for what is going on in town: https://xpatloop.com/calendar

If anyone will be in town 11 November and wants an uniqe dinner, I have a great idea.
If anyone will be in town 7, 8, 14 or 21 December and enjoys riding the rails and is free that day, I have another idea.

Mr É, We'll be in Budapest December 7 and 8 and would be interested in hearing about your idea.

Lucy, I sent you a PM.

Mr É, We'll be in Budapest December 14th and are interested in hearing about your idea.

Renee, i wrote you

Budapest, Hungary
Winter is, hands down, the best time to visit
Budapest. Seeing the Hungarian Parliament surrounded by ice drifts on
the Danube could make even the strictest of beach bums embrace the
cold. And you’re sure to find all of those grand cafés, museums, and
thermal baths infinitely more welcoming after spending a few chilly
hours exploring the city.

https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/european-cities-that-are-even-more-charming-in-winter?uID=7c410f027f87c20bc98af6219567d1e40ba4b2d84c89ac7381414d37bc095e5c&utm_campaign=newsletter_daily&utm_source=newsletter&utm_brand=cnt&utm_mailing=CNT_NEWS_Daily_011124&utm_medium=email&utm_term=CNT_DAILY_ACTIVE

If you will be in town today, tomorrow or presumably the next, it is a bit of a zoo. The "Meeting of the European Political Community" is going on and there are representatives from Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom

And the Hungarian government doesnt believe that any politician should travel unless accompanied by five or six police cars with sirens and flashing lights. And a fairly large area around all the best hotels has been roped off. I presume so nothing goes band in the night. I live next to a 5star hotel and the ropes stop about 30m from my front door. Cops everywhere.

Its a cultural even YEA!!!!!!!!!!!