In July, we are getting off our Viking 8-day Danube cruise AM on a Friday and on Monday late afternoon start our RS Best of Venice, Florence and Rome. We have 3 days to kill before we join the tour. I assume we will have hit many of the major spots in Budapest with the two days from the cruise. We are debating spending the 3 days in Budapest or heading to Venice. A friend suggested wine tasting tour outside of Budapest. has anyone ever done that, and which one would you recommend?
Also looked into taking the train from Budapest to Venice and it looks like a huge hassle, so we are looking into direct flights with Ryan Air. We will have carryon only luggage. Is Ryan Air a good option?
Posted by
Northern Rockies, British Columbia, Canada
543 posts
James E will be around shortly to tell you about Kadarka.
Standby.
Posted by
TX, USA
4893 posts
Peter, I laughed out loud.
jmdtcarr, stay in Budapest and head to Venice on Sunday. If you go back through this Hungary forum, you will see amazing amounts of great information from James on what to see in Budapest.
Posted by
Lincoln, NE, USA
201 posts
I would stay in Budapest.
We've done the wine tasting at Faust Wine Cellar several times. You can find information here: http://gbwine.eu/index.php/en/
Gabor is an excellent host, knows his stuff, and provides an educational, fun evening. Wines are available for purchase at a ridiculously reasonable price.
Another fun option is the tasting table at Taste Hungary: https://tastehungary.com/ They offer daily tastings.
And now, cue James to discuss Kardaka (it's worth it!).
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
20451 posts
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I am rolling on the floor laughing.
Okay, lets get the obvious out of the way. There are a number of good wine bars in Budapest. The one near where I stay and have stayed on and off for nearly 20 years is called Kadarka. It is at the corner of Vasvari Pal utca and Kiraly utca. (utca = street). The owner and the staff are like family to me and to anyone that opens up to them. Indoor and outdoor seating, good prices, amazing food too if you are in the mood.
Now
What i have heard and seen printed on the Viking cruise standard tour as part of the cruise is sort of disappointing. I would be tempted to say dont even do it because they take you to all these places as drive-bys, then if you want to do it right you have to return to each. But okay, you will do the Viking standard tours, cause you paid for it.
Tell me when your dates (on and off the cruise) and we design something for you a hell of a lot better than Venice land of the dead. Wine tasting outside of Budapest definately a possibliltiy and so "real" in Hungary. Try these guys: https://tastehungary.com/tours/ never used them myself, but they have a good reputation. If that doesnt light your wick, let me know and we find plan B. Budapest is a minimum 4 night stay and you could do 5 or 6 and not get bored; belive me I am going on night 400 (literally).
BUT, if you are just insistant on leaving Budapest, then NOT VENICE!!! Lets go to some place interesting like Bosnia or Montenegro or Romania or Bulgaria; all accessible on Wizz Air for less than a tank of gas in California.
Feel free to PM and I will be glad to help.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15794 posts
I love James dearly, but he's dead wrong about Venice, OTOH he's right about Budapest . . . always. Venice is wonderful and I hope you learn to love it as much as I do. But do stay in Budapest as long as you can if only because chances are better that you'll return to Italy more than once and visit Venice again. I would fly to Venice. I've used Ryan Air without a problem.
I had a wonderful week in Budapest back in October, spent many happy hours at Kadarka, did the Tasting Table that Christy recommended and enjoyed that a lot too. On a previous trip I did a wine tasting at Faust that was also very good.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
20451 posts
Chani, I wasnt being fair. I apologize about Venice.
As for your visiting Kadarka. I was in town right after you and when I walked in the hugged and thanked me for sending you. They say your business made up for the COVID losses......
Love you too.