QUICK CITY GUIDE - BUDAPEST
Budapest is the capital of Hungary and the cultural, commercial, historical and financial hub of the country. Budapest has a very long history, the very first settlers in this area were Celts that came here before 1 AD! The city, as we know it today, was created by merging two separate cities Buda and Pest in the 19th century, each of them on the opposite bank of Danube River. That is why the central area of Budapest along the river has several notable monuments and it’s classified as UNESCO World Heritage Site. city guide Budapest
Budapest is a truly picturesque city full of architectural and historic treasures. Whether you love strolling around museums and galleries, or you love to travel for great food and party, or even if you are planning a romantic getaway, Budapest will always give you a great time. It’s a perfect mix of old and new and I’m sure it can please everyone. city guide
GENERAL INFORMATION
Hungarian Forint (HUF): 1USD = 323 HUF / 1 EUR = 350 HUF
Hungarian language, but you should be able to communicate in English or German.
ATMs in Budapest are everywhere and Hungarian banks don’t charge additional ATM usage fees so the amount is costs to withdraw money in Hungary depend solely on the fees from your bank. Generally, it is more convenient to take out money from ATM than exchanging in a currency exchange.
Smaller bars, restaurants, shops or markets won’t necessarily have EFTPOS terminals, so having cash is essential. Some establishments may accept Euros.
Budapest is a year-round destination, beautiful in any season. Summers can be quite hot and because of school holidays in Europe, it is probably the busiest time of the year (with prices going slightly up). If you are travelling to Budapest on budget, I would recommend winter, when you can also visit Christmas markets.
If you are already in Europe, you can get to Budapest easily by train. The Eurail pass gives you unlimited train travel (for an amount of time chosen by you) around Europe. Other option is to fly to the Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport that connects most of the world.
Getting around Budapest is very easy as the city is well-connected with metro, trams and buses. The most cost-effective mean if transport is metro, when one way would cost you about 1.50 EUR. Taxis are also available, but drivers may overcharge foreign tourists. In Budapest, Uber is not very popular, but they have use Bolt, which is similar to Uber and cheaper than taxi.
Hungary uses electric sockets type C and F with standard voltage 230 V.
Hungary and Budapest are overall safe places to visit, however, be mindful of occasional pick-pocketing and petty crimes, especially on public transport and places with bigger amounts of tourists.
BEST PLACES TO SEE
Historical palace complex from the 13th century. The castle now houses the National Gallery and Budapest History Museum.
One of the top tourist attractions in Budapest. Its beautiful lookout towers give the best views over the Danube and city center.
One of biggest parliament houses in the world. This Neo-Gothic building is particularly beautiful at night from the other side of Danube, when it lights up.
One of cities major landmarks. At the end of the bridge on Buda side, there’s a funicular train to take you up to the Buda Castle.
The biggest and most sacred cathedral in Budapest with a holy relic of mummified right hand of the church’s patron – King St. Stephan.
The largest synagogue in Europe with rich decorations inspired by Islamic art in North Africa and Spanish Alhambra. There’s also a Jewish museum within its grounds.
One of the largest bathing complexes in Europe in the Pest side of the city. The indoor bigger baths were built in Roman style bathhouses while the whole building was built in modern Renaissance, which gives it very grandeur atmosphere.
One of the finest and most unique churches in Budapest located right next to the Fisherman’s Bastion. I recommend going inside to see the stunning interiors as well.
Beautiful romantic castle located in the City Park, where you can hire a boat on a pond in summer or do some ice skating in winter.
Mysterious complex of underground corridors in the Castle Hill. Little bit “off-the-beaten-path” experience.
TOP THINGS TO DO
- Bar-hopping in ruin bars in Jewish Quarter – ruin bars are unique to Budapest! What it may look like an old building from the outside, will reveal a cool interior with music, delicious food and modern drinks. Check out some vintage shops – Budapest is home to some eclectic boutiques.
- Visit Great Market Hall for local food and souvenirs.
- Take a walk along Danube River and across one of the seven historic bridges.
- Soak in one of the many public bathhouses. Szechenyi Thermal Baths is the biggest and most popular one, but there are many other smaller and less busy spas in Budapest.
- Admire Hungarian folk dances in one of the shows that take place in the city. Hungarians are very passionate and watching them dance is a whole different experience.
- Chill in the park on Margaret Island on Danube River.
WHERE TO STAY
Budapest offers some great accommodation options for every type of traveler, from stylish hostels to high-end hotels.
- Maverick Hostel – for solo travelers
- Wombats City Hostel – for couples
- Lavender Circus Hostel – private rooms
- Pest-Buda boutique hotel
- Hotel Clark
- Callas House
- Aria Hotel Budapest
- Corinthia Hotel Budapest
- New York Palace Budapest
FOOD & DRINKS
Local Food
Goulash – stew/soup made with beef or pork, potatoes, onions and carrots
Paprikas – thicker and spicier than goulash, usually served with small potato dumplings similar to gnocchi
Halaszle – spicy fish soup
Langos – deep fried dough shaped as a pancake, usually topped with garlic, sour cream and cheese
Segedin goulash – stew of sauerkraut, pork and sour cream, this dish may remind of curry with its texture but the flavor is undoubtedly Hungarian. Usually it’s served with steamed dumplings
Hungarian sausage – little bit spicy, usually served with bread and pickles
Somloi Haluska – layered dessert made of sponge cake, whipped cream and fruit (sometimes also chocolate)
Cockail Bars
- Blue Fox The Bar
- Warm Up Cocktail Bar – they’ll make you special cocktails according to your wishes (they don’t have menu, each cocktail is original)
- Tuk Tuk Bar – near Hungarian State Opera
- Black Swan Budapest
Restaurants
- Mazel Tov – ruin bar located in Jewish Quarter serving delicious meals
- Café Kor – serving popular Hungarian dishes
- Bock Bisztro – award winning restaurant with great selection of wines
- Borkonyha – Michelin star restaurant
EXTRA TIPS
- Some shops and restaurants can be closed on Sunday, so double check the opening hours beforehand.
- In sit-down eateries, tipping your waiter 10% is expected, but not mandatory. Some restaurants may include the tip of 12.5% in your bill so check it before you leave.
SOUVENIRS TO BUY
- Hungarian paprika spice for every food lover
- Hungarian wine, especially from Tokai region
- Hand-made embroidery
- Authentic Hungarian alcohol Palinka
Have you visited Budapest? How long have you stayed and what you enjoyed the most in this city? My personal favorite were the ruin bars, hearty Hungarian food and beautiful Fisherman’s Bastion!
If you are planning to travel to Budapest, try to add Prague and Vienna to your itinerary as well. They are all amazing cities located very close to each other.
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