I’m going to be in Budapest for 5 days in August. Any tips? I like art museums and historic architecture. I’m planning on visiting some of the public baths. Renting a bike on Margaret Island would be fun.
Does anybody have any recommendations for things to see or do, or general tips for experiencing the city? FWIW, I don’t speak Hungarian.
there really isn’t a lot in budapest. it’s a really nice city, but i didn’t find a lot of cultural things to do (in comparison to say, vienna or paris or prague). definitely go to the baths. there’s a market downtown right near a bridge (i forget the name of it, but it’s right across from the citadel) that has a lot of hungarian crafts and stuff (of course marked up for the tourists, but still cheap as far as we’re concerned), plus lots of interesting foodstuffs. there’s also a shopping district i forget where, but that’s even worse a mark up.
i really didn’t go in many buildings when i was there…i walked around, saw the place. climb up to the citadel and there’s a good look over the river.
also, the congress (or senate or something like that) is a really awesome building, all spidery architecture.
i was only there for three days, though, so walking around filled that time nicely.
have fun!
oh, and i don’t speak hungarian either. just learn the word kessenem (i think it’s spellled…) for thank you, and you should be able to get by ok. might have to use gestures and stuff, since the language is very eastern european and i couldn’t make heads nor tails of it.
There is a possibility that I may be going to Budapest as well for a week in December to visit a friend. Does anyone know how easy it is to cross borders and visit other countries from Hungary, and is the train system dependable? I would like to sneak across the border and visit Croatia or Slovakia if time permits.
“…since the language is very eastern european and i couldn’t make heads nor tails of it”
Actually, Hungarian is in the tiny “the Finno-Ugrian” language group and is considered quite difficult to learn. Other languages in the group, like Finnish, share a common grammar but no common words. Hungarian does share some common words with Turkish. (Its not part of the Slavic language group which includes Russian, Polish, Czech, etc.) IME, Hungarians will be incredibly impressed with even the most pathetic attempt to communicate in their language. Want to pick up a few words?
http://impulzus.sch.bme.hu/info/magyar.html
Anyhoo, there is an art museum on the Buda side in the old castle. No particularly famous art but its interesting enough to have a look-see if you enjoy paintings of storm clouds, St. George & the Dragon, etc… A funicular (a type of cable car) takes you to the base of the hill.
If its still there, and you enjoy bizarro museums and the history of technology, allow me to suggest the Museum of Electro-Technology. Its somewhere near the Pest side of the Chain Bridge and free for students. A strange place staffed by retired physics professors and electrical engineers, you will learn the importance of Hungarians in the evolution of electronics, and see fascinating historical displays of early electric items (including a truly disturbing assortment of electric medical tools.) The kindly professors do speak English though it is a bit rusty as they see so few English-speaking tourists (or did in 1997). Watch out as they will try and zap you with their Van Der Graaf generator for big laffs.
tsarina Assuming you hold an American passport there is no difficulty whatsoever in going to any country that does not require a visa to enter (important detail). I’m not sure what the current deal is with Croatia but I’m pretty sure Slovakia is no problem. We arrived in Budapest from Italy and upon leaving went to Slovakia and did not require anything more than a ticket and our passports (took a hyrofoil up the Danube to Bratislava, very cool).
I emailed your question to my brother who has been living in Pecs, Hungary for the last 18+ years, and here is his reply:
"For its size, Budapest is an unusually good city for walking tours, in that most of the things worth seeing are concentrated in a relatively compact area (try walking from the Collosseum to the Vatican in Rome, and you’ll see why this is an advantage). I especially recommend the walk from Vörösmarthy Square to the Chain Bridge and Parliament Building on the Pest side, and from the Royal Castle to Matthias Cathedral on the Buda side.
The Vörösmarthy-to-Parliament walk will take you either directly by or within a block of most of the sights on the more commercial Pest side, including the Hungarian National Museum, the Basilica, Gerbaud’s (Hungary’s most famous coffeehouse, incidentally the starting point for the 1848 Uprising), and – of course – the Chain Bridge and Parliament. Alternatively, you can move two blocks west of my proposed line of travel for a stroll along the Danube bank.
Once you’ve reached Chain Bridge, it is but a walk across the bridge and through a park (up a monstrously high hill, did I forget to mention that?) for the Castle-to-Cathedral walk along Fortuna Street. The Cathedral is at the north end of the street, with the Fisherman’s Bastion (great view of the Danube) and the Hilton just a few paces away (the Hilton harmonizes with the other two better than you’d expect). The Castle is at the south end of Fortuna Street; it also houses a couple of worthwhile museums.
Most of the major museums which are not on the above lines are at Heroes’ Square (which will probably appear as “Hõsök Tere”) on the maps. That’s a longish, but not impossible stroll from the other points of interest, but I haven’t personally been in that direction in some time. Unless you’re really into walking in a big way, you’ll probably want to find another means of transportation there.
You also asked about renting a bike on Margaret Island – sounds good to me. I usually try to make a visit to the Island if I’m in Budapest and have the time. It’s basically one enormous park: renting the bike may well be a good idea if you want to see all of it."
I hope that helps. Enjoy your trip.
In August, Budapest should be hot and beautiful, and there are a number of villages along the river which are easy and quick to get to from the city, and are worth the effort for the relaxed setting and natural beauty.
Don’t stay at the hostel I stayed at. It was notorious for bag thefts - five in just a couple of hours. My technique was to open up my rucksack and leave it out for all to see, as that makes it clear that all they’d be stealing is dirty underwear, and means they have to tidy the bag before they can steal it. That hostel also had a bar in the basement called the Black Hole, which became the fashionable place to go for a while, and was just a bizarre place to be. That would be worth going to of an evening if it’s still there.
The language is inscrutable. Nobody will expect you to speak or understand it. Because it has so little in common with Indo-European languages such as English, it sounds wonderful - like one of those machines that garbles language. Or perhaps that was just the effect of the Black Hole…
tsarina, the train service over there is reliable and extremely cheap, and most likely all that will happen is you’ll get a cool stamp in your passport at the border. If your journey is long, get a sleeper cabin, it doesn’t cost much more.
My tip for saving big bucks on train fares in Eastern Europe: only buy a ticket as far as the border, and when you cross the border buy a second ticket from the guard (you have to pay in the currency of the country you’re now in, but you would probably have purchased currency ahead of time anyway). In-country train fares cost practically nothing, but there’s an ‘exit tax’ on the routes that leave the country. You will have to see the guard at the border anyway, when he brings the customs guys round to check your passport, so it’s easy (and legal) to just buy the second ticket.
If you want to take a trip out to somewhere else in that region, and you haven’t been before, go to Prague. Everyone should visit Prague at least once.
I lived for two years in Budapest. I still miss it. the best beer is Dreher Pils. Budapest is wonderful for walking. Start out at Marget Hid (margeret bridge) and go West along the great boulevard. Walk down Vaci ut. but don’t buy anything. Buy your souvenirs at city market by the freedom bridge.
Visit Castle Hill.
Take the suburban Railway to Szentendre. Spend at least a day there looking at shops and musiums.
Go to the New York Cafe for coffe and marvel at the insides.
Now pay attention. Americans are well likes as muuch as any tourist. But be careful about loud talking and standing out. Especially on public transport. Theives are pros there. The only time someone tried to pick my wife’s pocket was when she was with some loud Americans.
I know that time is limited but my 3 favorte things there besides eating were walking, people watching, and just sitting by the Danube watching the boats. So sit on Margeret Island and watch the wake of the boats and skip rocks for me for an hour ok?
The National Museum is very nice, but it helps to know a good bit about world and Eastern European history before you go, as the exhibits are not in English (except for the lapidarium downstairs, which has some interesting local Roman Empire pieces with the cards translated at the bottom - I suppose because of where the money came from). I enjoyed the museum very much, though.
Also, the big cathedral, while under construction, has as its big relic the hand of King/Saint Stephen. The -whole hand-. Mummified. Cool.
It’s a great city, and a great country, that most American tourists haven’t found yet. And with American dollars, it’s amazingly cheap. People were very friendly, although not a whole lot of English was spoken. If I had the choice to go back to any place in Europe, Hungary would definately be it.
Ah, Szentendre! That’s the place I was thinking of by the river. Thanks for reminding me of that one, Roadwalker. This thread has bought back a lot of memories for me, in fact. Szentendre is definitely a place you don’t want to miss at this time of year.
Hey, I live here. Drop me an e-mai, perhaps I can help show you around.
Well, I respectfully disagree with Sivalensis’ opinion. Of course, if I didn’t I wouldn’t be living here for the last four years. I prefer Budapest miles above Vienna.
What to do?
Well, the Castle District for starters, of course. Vaci utca is boring for me. It’s just the classy shopping district of Budapest, and a total tourist rip-off.
The Thermal Baths. Do not under any circumstances miss the baths. Szechenyi is the one I’d recommend for visitors. Gellert is nice and elegant, but Szechenyi is beautiful, half of it is outdoors and tourist friendly. You will pay about 6 dollars to get in, but if you stay less than 4 hours, you get about a dollar back. Less than 3, two bucks back, less than 2, three dollars back. So it’s not as expensive as it seems. For a more Turkish and historical flair, try the Kiraly baths (you go nekkid there. Days for men and women alternate, so check.) For men, Rudas is the place to go.
Hero’s Square and a walk through the park there is recommended.
To relax and people watch, go to Liszt Ferenc ter. There’s a huge coffeehouse/pub scene there. It’s a bit trendy and touristy, but on hot summer days it’s a great place to hang out. Plenty of Budapest’s “beautiful people” hang about there, as well as us mere commoners. 
The synogogue is one of the most famous in Europe, and beautiful. Check it out.
Tips on taxis: Do not use taxis that don’t have a company affiliation. They will charge you 2-3 times normal rates. Instead, you can trust: City, Buda, 6x6, Taxi 2000, EstTaxi, and a smattering of others. Also, visit http://www.usis.hu for the embassy low-down on what scams to avoid. There are a few. Use common sense and you’ll be fine.
The public transportation system is straightforward and cheap here. If you’re staying here for a few days, invest in a 3-day or weekly pass. It’ll be worth your while.
If you like contemporary photography, the Ludwig Museum near the castle currently has a Helmut Newton exhibition.
Margit Island is nice for an afternoon walk and “sightseeing” i.e. seeing half-naked sunbathers of either sex.
Architecture? It’s mostly fin-de-siecle 'round here. The Nagycsarnok at Szabadsag Hid (Liberty/Freedom Bridge) is one of the architectual highlights. Nyugati Palyaudvar (West Train Station) was designed by Eiffel. Ah…here’s a good walk. Start at the beginning of Andrassy Avenue and walk to Hero’s Square. You’ll pass the historic opera house, the ballet institute and a bunch of cool buildings. Andrassy is the premiere avenue of Budapest. Incidentally, seek out Andras Torok’s Critical Guide to Budapest. You’ll find it sold here, too, of course. It’s by far THE BEST guide to the city, with plenty of foolproof maps and suggested walks depending on how long you plan to stay here. You won’t regret buying it.
This is just off the top of my head. I can go on for pages. Any more specific Qs, just contact me.
Pete
So how cold does Budapest get in the winter, and what is there to do right before Christmas? (If I end up going, it’ll be from around the 16th to the 23rd of December.)
Well, Budapest has, how would I describe it, fairly normal winters. Meaning we get snow, the temps are usually just below freezing, etc. These last two winters have been very mild, but you can expect temps in the 20s to 30s F at that time of year.
The thermal baths (especially Szechenyi, which is outdoors) are especially comforting during the winter. What else is there to do? Well, you can still do all of the same sightseeing you could do in the summer. The pubs get nice and cozy during the winters, but my favorite time of year here is fall. Winter can get gray and depressing, but only if you stay here the entire time. Summers get hot and humid. The climate is similar to Chicago in many ways, though slightly less extreme.
Oh, the Christmas markets in town during that time are fun to visit. The main one is at Vörösmarty tér, plus you also have them at Liszt Ferenc tér. It’s quite festive and if you liked mulled wine, cinnamon pastries, sausages, and the such, you’ll enjoy it. That’s probably my favorite part about Christmas time in Budapest.
If you do drop by, drop a line. I may be back in Chicago for the holidays, but I’m sure I can hook you up with some folks who’d help show you around, or at least join you in the pub for a few pints.
Wow, this thread popped up at a perfect time. My wife and I will be in Budapest about 2 weeks from now for 3 days (part of a longer trip).
Anyone know anything about the Gold Buddha Hotel - that’s where we’re staying. (just to reaffirm our choice, hotels can look so different on the Internet)
More importantly, we’re celebrating our anniversary while there. Any restaurant ideas?
a friend of mine lent me Torok’s book mentioned above, and it is really good.
I’ll definitely second Pullykamell’s recomendation of the Szechenyi baths…they are a little distance from the center of town, but they’re right near Heroes Square (if I’ve got the right name here, I hope)…the outdoor part of it is great…they have whirpools and geysers and stuff you can play in and the pools are heated to different temperatures. This was especially good since I was there in April and it was rather chilly. Plus, it’s probably cheaper than the ones in the center of town (though, to be honest, I didn’t go in those ones).
It’s a great way to spend a morning!
rexnervous - I had a prety good authentic (I think) Hungarian meal right near the city market (is this the one near the bridge that goes by the gellert baths?)…it was right across on the side street next to it. They had an excellent steak with some kind of sauce…who knows. But it was good.
Any of you Budapestians know which one I’m talking about?
Oh, and plus, all you who are going…there’s a pastry you have to try but I can’t remember the name of it. It’s like the Hungarian equivalent of a strudel, but you can get it in plum, apple cinamon, sesame, cream, apricot, pineapple, and lots others. I think the name began with an r, but that’s as far as I can help…again, and residents help me on this?
rex- Restaurant recommendations --> Well, the traditional high-class restuarant of choice is Gundel. I haven’t been there for three years, and some people complain that the food isn’t that great there anymore. I dunno. I had a lovely time there, and a good place to go for a special occasion.
Now, the places that I like. I’d recommend Remiz for Hungarian fare. If you like French food, then Chez Daniel is your best bet. Also Le Jardin de Paris is quite nice; both have lovely outdoor seating areas. Cafe Kör is another place to get a nice, elegant Hungarian/continental lunch or dinner, for a very reasonable price. It’s been fairly trendy, but manages to be homey rather than snobby. There’s also a cute Hungarian place called Képiró, which is on the pricier side of things ($30-$50/person with wine; Gundel-level prices.)
There’s plenty of restaurants out here, but you really have to know Budapest fairly well to discern which are worth going to. Typical Hungarian fare (though I like it) may take some getting used to, unless you’re already used to high-cholesterol, lard and onion-based meat dishes.
Siva- Yep, it does begin with “r.” It’s rétes. Hungarians are known for their rétes. You can get them all over the city (particularly at Metro stations.) I’d recommend checking out the Central Coffehouse on Ferenciek Square to get a glimpse of what Budapest must’ve felt like during its heyday at the turn of the century. Or, my favorite, is Szalay Cukraszda, a teeny tiny little bakery somewhat near the Parliament.
Another question for the illustrious pulykamell:
Will it be difficult to get around without speaking Hungarian? I can speak English and German. Will I be able to get food at a restaurant without resorting to drawing on napkins?
You’ll be fine in most places. With German and English you’ll be understood in most places. German usually works better with the 35+ crowd, English with the younger. Budapest isn’t as English-friendly as capital cities in Western Europe, but you have about a 50-50 chance of getting a waiter that speaks at least some English. And if not, there’s a 50-50 chance s/he speaks German.
Most average-to-classy restaurants and almost all the restaurants near Vaci utca (I urge you to avoid these) have at least a bilingual menu (often trilingual.)
Getting tickets at metro stations and the such usually will require some amount of mimeing by the tourist, but ticket prices and explanations of them are available in both English and German, so you can point and signal with your fingers what and how many you want. Western fast-food places tend to be somewhat English friendly, as they draw a young staff. More indiginous fast-food stands are less foreign-language friendly.
The baths are also hit-and-miss, but they see so many foreigners that as long as you don’t ask complicated questions, you’ll get along fine. Remember, the key to speaking good foreigner-friendly English is not to speak louder and slower, but to speak simpler and slower. I know it’s obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people will approach the Hungarian with elementary English knowledge and say something like “Can you please tell me which is the best way to get to the Synogoue” rather than “Where is the synagogue?”
In other words, you’ll be fine. It may occassionally take an effort, but it’s not like happening upon a linguisitically isolated Ural village or anything like that.
As a native (almost - I live near the city), I can second pulykamell’s recommendations. Also of interest:
-the Vasarelly museum in Óbuda for his works - freaky pseudo-3d paintings and gobleins!
-while you are there, make sure to take a look the Millenary Subway (Line 1), built in 1896. It has very nice late XIX. century stations.
-if you like caves, the Szemlohegyi Cave is the place to see - it is one of the 60 (or 80? Can’t remember anymore…) in the city and it has mineral formations that are pretty uncommon (not the standard stalagmite-stalactite stuff).
-the National Gallery - although I do agree that some knowledge of the local history could help…
-the Parliament and the Crown Jewels.
As for restaurants, Gundel is pretty good, albeit a tad expensive… The Pilvax restaurant is another great place (and, unlike The Frumious Bandersnatch said, this was the place where the 1848 uprising began). If you can tolerate killer food (read: extremely unhealthy, even by local standards), go to “Fatál” near Vámház Square. The name means Wooden Plate (they serve food on it), but it describes the course well… A dish you should try is “Vargabéles”, a sort of sweet dessert made of cottage cheese, spaghetti (?) and raisins.
Avoid Váci street, it is a tourist trap with really overpriced pseudo-folk art crap manufactured in Hong Kong.
You don’t need to learn the language, it isn’t that hard to find someone who speaks English or German. Naturally, if you are up to the challenge, go for it! 
Getting to other countries is easy. Travel by the Intercity trains. I would recommend:
-Slovakia for the Tatra mountains, the ex-Saxon towns, the intact Hungarian castles (those in Hungary are mostly ruins), etc.
-Slovenia: it is as beautiful as Switzerland and less crowded.
-Romania: a bit rougher, but it has some of the most beautiful castles and towns in Europe - I would visit Vajdahunyad, Segesvár, Kolozsvár (Klausenburg), Korond (for pottery), etc.
-Croatia: seacoast and old Mediterranian cities. Lovely weather, lots of German tourists.
Any further questions?