Budapest recommendations?

engltayl · 26 July 2004 at 2:06AM

has anybody been to budapest? if so any hotel recommendations?i want to stay in something with a bit more character than a standard modern hotel.

Anybody wanting to go to budapest, buzz air have flights from luton for £55 return all in departing on the 26/12/04 and returning on 30/12/04. bargain!

Travelqueen · 26 July 2004 at 2:50PM

it'll be very cold!

engltayl · 26 July 2004 at 8:17PM

i do relise that, whats wrong with the cold?

Travelqueen · 26 July 2004 at 8:23PM

Nothing at all. Unfortunately I can't help with Budapest accomodation as I didn't actually stay there. However:

It is like silicone city, every person I saw seem to have had a lot of work done - apparently it is one of the cheapest places.

Beer - plentiful, cheap and good

Food - pretty stodgy but filling

Budapest - interesting place, make sure you visit the old part of the city. I'm sure if you search in google or go to the thorntree on lonely planet someone will be able to help you out.

Good luck

TQ

JuanKerr_2 · 27 July 2004 at 5:52PM

I spent 3 months there teaching English about 15 years ago, and went back for a weekend last year. Budapest is a fantastic city, however these days it is not as cheap as the rest of Hungary.

Can't really help with accommodation as I stay with friends but afaik the local tourist office still operates a homestay programme, basically staying in someone's spare appartment (usually self contained), which is cheap and fun but you can't book it really til you're there. Other than that, try the usual hotel sites

loates123 · 27 July 2004 at 10:07PM

where are the chepest places to travel surly prague has to be chepaer than budapest..

Bzmotman · 28 July 2004 at 1:52AM

Although I've been visiting Hungary for the best part of 10 years I tend to pass through Budapest rather than stay there so my info is a bit sketchy.

Try web page https://www.hungarytourism.hu which is the official site. The accomodation search is very good. As with every capital all the central hotels are not cheap. For a bit of character you might try Hotel Nemezti which is right by Blaha Luzja ter metro station and on several useful tram routes.

When you are there make you sure you get the tourist pass for the metro which also covers trams,buses and the HEV light rail to the city limit. Not sure if it covers the funicular up to the old castle. They come in 1 ,3 and 7 day versions and are available at all metro stations and I think at the Relay newsagent in Terminal 2A? at the airport. Its the terminal that MALEV flights use. Cheapest way into the city is to get the local bus from the terminal to the end stop Kobanya Kispest which is the terminus for one of the metro lines Ticket inspectors travel plain clothes and there are no acceptable excuses if you get caught without a valid ticket.

The comment about being very cold is very true but unlike this country they are used to it so snow etc tends not stop things.

As regards food there are plenty of places to eat but many are now either Western outlets or very touristy (plenty of gypsy music being played at your table). I can only suggest getting off main thoroughfares if you want a locals restaurant. Keep your eyes open for an Etterem.

I have to disagree with another post about plenty of good cheap beer. Yes cheap but many of the Hungarian breweries are now owned by concerns like Heineken with a resulting drop in quality. There is one brewpub which is situated at Vorosmarty ter metro station (end of line 1). As you emerge above ground you will see a posh cafe etc called Gebraud and it is part of it being in the cellar. Beers are good but pricey as is the food in the restaurant part.

Hungarian as a language is a nightmare but many people speak some English or German.

Safety is no worse and probably a bit better than most big cities as long as you take sensible precautions.

Hope you have a good trip

pedro3uk · 31 July 2004 at 8:59AM

::)We got a good deal at Art Hotel right on the Danube - book through any online site or its main site https://www.parkplaza.com Just down the road is a great Belgian cafe/bar with good selection of beers. Great place to be, good transport, beer so so and food similar. Try Gundels and Robinsons in Park for food expensive by Hungarian standards but cheap by ours. Must have a coffee and cake in Russwarm Cafe up by castle.

p3gg · 17 December 2004 at 2:45PM

Greetings moneysavers,

Off to Budapest very soon. Does anybody have any handy tips -- particularly for places where a good hearty meal can be got for fewer forints?

Egeszegedre!

gizzmo_2 · 20 December 2004 at 8:55PM

Went to Budapest with lastminute.com in November. It was a great deal £189 for 3 nights Hilton and flights. Is it the same offer?

We went to this restaurant which I highly recommend. It's called Belcanto, and is located next to the Opera House. It is really unusual as they have live opera singers that sing throughout your meal - very romantic - and every so often - all the waiters join in and burst into song as well. A very good experience and one that shouldn't be missed. If you are staying at the Hilton get the concierge to book it for you - as it gets fully booked on the weekends if you don't book it early enough.
Here is their website:
http://www.belcanto.hu/en/

We were also recommended this really great place for dinner - called Cafe Miro. Here are some details of that:
I. Úri utca 30, Tel: 375 5458, Open: 9am-midnight daily, nearest metro - M2 Moszkva tér. The square where this place is has a load of different restaurants and bars as well so worth going over there and spending an evening if you want some variety to choose from.

Lastly I highly recommend the Cake Buffet at the Marriott Hotel - they have it in the lobby at all times of the day. You pay something like £5 per person and eat as much cake as you like - the choice was impressive - and most people just go there for desert after dinner. And if you are MSE Experts then you will do what we did and just pay for 1 buffet and both eat off the same plate. I mean how much cake can 1 person eat after all. So much cake to choose from - not much space to put it...if you know what I mean.

Also- Budapest has natural hot springs and there are public Turkish spa baths all over the city - an experience of itself that shouldn't be missed although I have to admit I didn't like the idea of standing in a hot pool with 1000s of other people - it was kinda offputting - but my friend and I were commenting all day after that how soft our skin felt - so the minerals did have some good effects. I recommend you do it - but don't expect luxury. And go to one of the ones where they don't frown on you wearing swimming cossies. Some of them give you a little apron to wear that just about covers the basic bits... We went to the one called Széchenyi Baths as it had the most number of pools, was the largest and allowed both men and women on all days of the week - some of them alternate men and women on different days. This one had a definite 50s feel about it and apparently is the most popular one in Budapest. Its also close to the metro.

PS - If you are on the lastminute.com package - their half day sightseeing tour is well worth it - it takes you to all the key main sites so you feel like you really did see the best things - all in one morning - and then you can decide if there's anywhere you want to revist in your own time.
Will let you know if I think of anything else.
Enjoy!!

donnie_darko_3 · 20 December 2004 at 11:31PM

On the buda side of the river by the chain bridge there is a hotel called victoria go past the hotel with the river on your right hand side then first left and on the right hand corner is a very typical hungarian restaurant with the menu in hungarian and with an english hungarian translation ( quite comical really). It was superb. the locals take in their own cream and bread for the goulash.

it has lots of choice and a great atmosphere and is frequented by the locals. Sorry i cant remember the name. very reasonable prices and you would need a hearty appetite to eat 3 courses.

It is on the corner and has got a canopy for outside dining.

Budapest is great and there are lots of eateries to chose from and as the other poster stated the cake are a hidden gem. The best is ruuzwarm on castle hill (check spelling) tiny little place 130 odd years old but you can take away.

Budapest recommendations?

Comments

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

🚀 Getting Started

Categories

Is this how you want to be seen?

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free