- Accommodation
- Nutrition
- Transport
- Entertainment
The capital of Hungary, made up of stylish Buda, crazy Pest and ancient, Roman-remembered Obuda, combines the grandeur of the Austrian Empire with decadent madness. Budapest is full of paradoxes. Monumental palaces stand next to modern mansions, between monuments from the time of Franz Joseph, luxurious passages and glittering shopping centers - architectural masterpieces of glass and steel. Nearby are centenary courtyards, lively avenues and baths from the century before last.
Once Budapest was called the Paris of Central Europe and the Pearl of the Danube. In all respects, Budapest was ahead of Vienna and was the pride of Emperor Franz Joseph. Sometimes Hungarians say their capital is a mixture of museum Vienna and vibrant, fun-loving Prague. People come here for a day or a week, dance in the nightclubs of Pest, walk reverently through the historical complexes of Buda, just live, enjoying their vacation in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
Every traveler is worried about how much money to take to Budapest. The capital of Hungary is not an insanely expensive city. Both budget tourists and wealthy people feel comfortable here. All payments in Hungary are made in HUF. We recommend that you take with you to Budapest not dollars, but euros, since the exchange for forints will be a little more profitable. 100 euros in 2019 is changed to 31,800 Hungarian forints.
Accommodation
Budapest is a very hospitable city. There are a variety of lodging options for tourists to suit every budget. When deciding to go on vacation to Budapest, you should remember that from late spring to early autumn prices for rooms in Budapest hotels rise by 40%. Around 20% above the normal rate is asked for rooms during various holidays: Christmas, Easter, etc.
In addition to hotels, Budapest offers its guests a huge number of apartments. These are two- or three-room apartments with a kitchen and a wide range of different equipment. Prices for such apartments start at 15,900 forints.
You can settle in Buda or Pest. Buda is a quieter and more environmentally friendly area. The Castle Hill with the Royal Palace and the Fisherman's Bastion are located here. Among the disadvantages of living in Buda is its remoteness from restaurants and nightclubs, which are mostly located in Pest. The most fashionable and expensive five-star hotels in Budapest are located in Buda. These include the Hilton Budapest (HUF 36,800 per day), which is located near the Fisherman's Bastion. Apart-hotel “St. George Residence - All Suite Hotel DeLuxe”(31,400 forints). It occupies a 14th century building. According to historical documents, a hotel was opened in this mansion in the 18th century. Therefore, the owners of the "Residence of St. George" consider their offspring to be the oldest hotel in Budapest.
Pest also has decent five-star hotels. The cost of living in them starts from 40,000 forints. The Ritz-Carlton Budapest (123,000 forints), the Budapest Marriott Hotel (61,000 forints), and the InterContinental Budapest (69,000 forints) are built in the center near the Ferenc Deak metro station.
There are also more affordable housing in Budapest. Rooms in 3-star hotels cost from 10,000 to 23,000 forints per night. We can recommend excellent hotels located near the center and close to the metro station: Silver Boutique Hotel (19600 forints) and Sissy Residence (15700 forints). The cost of living in four-star hotels in Budapest starts from 18,000 and can reach 38,000 forints. Not far from the Parliament, behind the Freedom Square, there is an excellent 4-star hotel - "Hotel President" (26,600 forints). In the Terezváros area you can find a decent Stories hotel (38,000 forints per day).
Nutrition
It is definitely worth getting to know Hungarian cuisine, which is not like other cuisines of the world, although it is somewhat reminiscent of Italian and Turkish. Hungarians prefer fatty, hearty food generously seasoned with paprika and garlic. Probably the most popular dish in Hungary is goulash soup. Moreover, there are many recipes for its preparation, therefore, in each institution of the Hungarian capital, goulash is prepared in its own way. In small cafes for a couple of tables, it will be even tastier than in famous restaurants that have been operating since the last century. The cost of this dish is approximately 900-1000 forints. You should also order percolt at least once - a stew resembling a stew (about 1,500 forints). It is customary to drink this yummy with Tokay wine.
Many restaurants put their menus in front of the entrance. So tourists can find out in advance the prices set here and choose an institution that will be affordable for them. The food is very tasty in those cafes and restaurants where Hungarians themselves eat.
You should definitely go to several famous restaurants with a rich history:
- the Gundel restaurant in Varoshliget Park, which has been operating since 1894. Local chefs once treated European monarchs, popes, presidents of foreign states. Try the Gundel Pancakes for HUF 2700. Meat dishes cost from 5900 forints, soups - from 2700 forints;
- confectionery "Gerbeau", founded in the middle of the 19th century. You can have a cup of coffee and a slice of Gerbeau chocolate cake for 6300 forints;
- The Bagoivar restaurant, located near the Budapest Zoo and decorated in a rustic style, is famous for homemade dishes prepared according to old recipes. Goulash with chickpeas will cost 2950 forints, lamb liver with pickled onions - 3900 forints, salads - 850 forints;
- the Onyx restaurant on Vereshmarty Square, awarded with a Michelin star. Order a four-course lunch for HUF 20,000.
Those who do not like pretentious restaurants with silver cutlery will be delighted with the presence of small restaurants in Budapest, open in industrial zones and the ruins of old houses. Such taverns are decorated in a retro style, very simple. These establishments often host exhibitions of local artists, backgammon championships, etc. Perhaps the most popular Budapest tavern is Slima Kert, which translates as Simple Garden. Several types of beer and wine are served here, as well as hearty lecho, croutons, stews, simple but delicious salads with meat. The average check will be about 4000-5000 forints.
Transport
If your hotel is located in the city center, then any of Budapest's attractions can be reached on foot, thereby saving a few forints. Some parts of the Hungarian capital, for example, Castle Hill, are generally closed to car traffic.
But it so happens that fatigue takes its toll, and you have to drive up by public transport. And here tourists have a choice between:
- underground. 4 metro lines connect different parts of the city. They all intersect at the station under Ferenc Deak Square;
- trams. There are many tram routes in Buda and Pest. The tram also runs along the embankment - from the Petofi Bridge to the Magritte Island;
- trolleybuses. Trolleybus lines are laid only on the Pest side of the Danube;
- buses. Buses will run where there are no trams or metro. They will take you to the hotel located on the outskirts of Budapest. Regular buses have black numbers. Buses with red numbers are additional transport on the most popular routes. They stop less frequently than regular regular buses;
- HEV trains, which can take you to the towns closest to Budapest, for example, to Szentendre, a popular tourist destination;
- river transport. On it you can get to several central squares of the capital.
Boat tickets are purchased separately and cost 750 forints. A single ticket is valid for other types of transport. You can buy it from vending machines at metro stations, tobacco kiosks, and even from bus and tram drivers. Before the trip, the ticket must be validated, otherwise the controllers may issue a huge fine. One ticket for a trip by one type of transport costs 350 forints. In Budapest, there is also the concept of a transfer pass. This ticket allows you to travel, for example, first by tram, and then by metro. Its cost is 530 forints. A ticket valid for one day will cost HUF 1,650. There are also tickets for 3, 7, 14 and 30 days.
Entertainment
There are many places in Budapest where you can walk for free. Even on Buda Hill, no money is charged to enter the territory of the royal castle. You need to pay if you plan to visit the Museum of the History of Budapest and the Art Gallery located in the palace. The same goes for the famous Fisherman's Bastion. A fee is charged for the opportunity to climb its walls. The cost of tickets to museums in Budapest will be about 3100-4700 forints. A visit to the Hungarian opera will cost more - 3100-25000 forints.
A popular pastime for tourists in Budapest is visiting the many baths. Budapest is built on thermal springs, the water of which flows into the pools of local thermal complexes. The most beautiful baths in Budapest, called Széchenyi, are located in Varosliget Park, not far from the zoo. They were opened at the end of the 19th century, and they still receive visitors. The baths have five pools, steam rooms, a jacuzzi, and rooms where various medical procedures are performed. For a day in the baths, you will have to pay 6,000 forints on weekdays and 6,200 forints on weekends. A 20-minute tour of the baths costs HUF 3000.
The Gellert Thermal Complex is no less popular than Szechenyi. The entrance ticket costs 5900 forints from Monday to Friday and 6100 forints on Saturday-Sunday.
Small children will also be interested in Budapest. There is a huge zoo for them (entrance ticket - 3000 forints for adults and 2000 forints for children), reconstructed in the Art Nouveau style. They say that the water in the zoo's aquariums and pools comes from thermal springs. Here you can see African predators, rare birds, almost endangered primates and ungulates.
A stone's throw from the zoo there is a brick building - the Circus Maximus, where you do not need to know the Hungarian language to watch the performances. A ticket to the show will cost from 1,500 to 4,500 forints.
Adults and children will also like a boat trip on the Danube, which divides the city into Pest and Buda with Obuda. From the deck of the pleasure boat, the Royal Palace, the Fisherman's Bastion, Mount Gellert, and the Parliament building, which is considered one of the most beautiful in the world, will be clearly visible. The cost of such an excursion will be about 3000-4700 forints.
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For a person with a limited budget, 47,700 forints will be enough for a week in Budapest, which is equal to 150 euros. This amount will be enough for food in inexpensive cafes and travel by public transport. For tickets to museums and other entertainment venues, it is worth allocating another 32,000 forints, that is, 100 euros. If you are planning to buy yourself something to remember your trip to Hungary, then take with you another 100-200 euros (32,000-64,000 forints).
