Budapest - Question about National Palace and fun things to do with teens

Hi Julianne, I'm sorry I can't answer your question about Buda Castle, but I can supply you with a list of other things while you're in Budapest! Central Market is a great place to try new foods and observe old-time traditons. It's pretty busy all times of the day, but especially at lunch. Fun! Terror House is an excellent choice. It's on Andrassy ut, so you can just take a leisurely walk up the rest of the street to Varosliget to enjoy the Szechenyi bath, which, in my opinion, is the best one. The revitalized Belvaros neighborhood, on Kiroly Mihaly utca, is my favorite neighborhood in the city. While there's a lot of construction going on, grabbing a drink at the cafe across from the incredible Serbian Orthodox church is one of my favorite things to do. Raday utca is not far from there and I highly recommend eating at any of the establishments on that street. Erzsebet ter turns into a teenager/skateboard hangout in the afternoons. Call me crazy, but I had fun watching the kids (some better than others!) take their turns on the ramps. And, of course, there are all kinds of distractions on the Vaci utca. I know Rick rails on and on about it, and you definitely shouldn't eat there, but there's no reason not to enjoy the non-stop action. Street entertainers frequently perform on Vorosmarty ter, and there are many sparkly windows to attract everyone. Enjoy your time there. Still one of the most beautiful places I've ever been.

We were there last summer with 3 early-20s folks. They can drink, so we went to some bars. You probably don't want that. One fun thing - Marxim Commie-kitch pizza restaurant, on the Buda-side on the north end of Castle hill. It's on the web, and you can get a map. The pizza was good, and it was "fun with commie-stalgia", Comrade!! In a hip, fun neighborhood, too. Definitely the bath. We did the Eger trip. It was fun. Eger has a famous castle that held out for a long time against the Turks, and still exists today. You can buy a historical novel about the siege for 8-9 Es.

Thank you very much for your suggestions. Not having been to Budapest in almost 30 years, I am sure so much has changed. I am looking forward to seeing the transformation in the city. One last question, if you had to choose between Eger and Visegrad, which would you choose?
I see that Visegrad is going to hold the Palace Games in early July but we will probably miss that due to a trip to Transylvania.

I had to break up this answer because the site wouldn't take it in one post. "if you had to choose between Eger and Visegrad, which would you choose? " Neither (full disclosure - I haven't been to Visegrad). I took overnight trips to Eger and Pecs, and day trips to Szentendre and Vac. In each case, I much preferred the second of the pairs. So, for a true day trip, I'd see Vac, and for an overnight trip or a long day trip (2 and a half to three hours each way in transit), I'd pick Pecs. I know Rick is big on Eger, but I wasn't. And Szentendre was fine, but quite touristed, while Vac was even nicer (your kids would love the mummies!) and I had it pretty much to myself. But Vac isn't in Rick Steves book, you say. True - and Pecs wasn't in his book when I went in 2008 (it's there now). I used several other books in addition to RS, and the most useful one was Frommers Budapest. It's written by an American now living in Budapest, and is full of personal opinions (even more so than Rick) - the antithesis of an anonymous guide. I would definitely get it in addition to Rick's book, as I used both heavily. continued..

continued.. From Frommers, I got the most wonderful restaurant tip, and while I recommend it to anyone, it's especially useful for teenage boys and their legendary appetite. It's an all you can eat restaurant - Trofea Grill Etterem. There are several around town, each under different management, but here's the link for "the only one we recommend" (per the Frommers author): http://www.frommers.com/destinations/budapest/D70921.html The price includes all you can eat AND drink, and the desserts include unlimited whipped cream and chocolate sauce (just try keeping the kids away once they learn that!). The food was really good, and since lots of local families go, you get to see people of all ages having fun there too. Here's how to get there: Take the metro line 1 (the yellow line) to the last stop, Mexikoi Ut. When you reach the top of the stairs of the metro station, turn right. You will see tram tracks: cross them, and turn left. At the end of the block you will see the restaurant.

continued.. If you'd like Chinese food, try this place, in the central Pest: http://www.frommers.com/destinations/budapest/D70898.html It has a Japanese name and claims to be Japanese-Chinese fusion, but it's really Chinese (chicken with peanuts, shrimp with black bean sauce, and the like). It was good, and full of regulars - I was the only one who had to study the menu. Everyone else seemed to need only a glance, or to know what they wanted without even looking, just like my local Chinese places in New York. I remember that the evening I went, the street was deserted, but the restaurant itself was fine. Be aware that the Terror House is not named casually. Be prepared to have some serious discussions, and/or for your kids (or you) to be pretty depressed and upset afterward. I found the most upsetting part to be the video on the elevator down to the basement, if you or someone else wants to avoid that. It's definitely worth going, but, as with concentration camps, there's also nothing wrong with not going.

For an overnight trip Eger. Kids will like the wine cellers.. For a day trip Visegrad. Kids will like the castle. Rent a trabant. Go to the Hospital in the Rock. Bath house Zoo is pretty great. Danube boat ride. Some of the Opperet productions are good for kids. Sir Lancelot restaurant for the foox and the show.

So much good advice! I appreciate your insights very much -- it's been almost 30 years since I was in Hungary - so I am sure I will be amazed by the changes -- especially the food choices -- I remember when there were no McDonalds in Hungary -- and I cannot remember many Chinese restaurants, either! We will definitely do Pecs -- I remember that city very fondly but have never been to Vac so that should be very interesting. I will let everyone know what we did and hopefully, we will come back with some tips for people traveling there in the future.

While on Castle Hill, you might let them try medieval-style archery. I also second the Hospital in a Rock suggestion. My teenage son did not go with us, but I know he would have loved driving a Trabant and/or a tank (which you can apparently also do) if we could afford to let him.

We took our two teen boys to Hungary last summer and they loved it Budapest - highlights included: Bike tour with Budapest Bike Breeze - excellent ride around town with owner/guide Akos. Includes lunch in a hole in the wall cafe that was so good that we returned to the same cafe the next day Military Museum on Castle Hill - boys looked at guns etc. while we spent time tasting wine at the Faust Wine Cellar at the Hilton, then walk down the hill and get dinner at Marxim Pizza, the kitschy commie pizza joint Shopping on Andrassy Ave Szech. baths - at night Parliament tour - get up early to line up and get tickets for tour Momento Park - go with a guide -well worth it Great Market Hall - get the langos bread from the stand upstairs We spent 5 nights in B'pest and all agreed we could have stayed longer We also went to Eger, Pecs and Tihany. Everyone ranked these towns in that order. Walk to the wine caves at Eger, teens welcome. Have fun