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Budapest-any good for a weekend away?

Looking at taking my girlfriend to Budapest in November for her birthday. Has anyone been and is it any good? Heard lots of
Good things about it but is it generally safe? - anyone been and have good suggestions on things to do and places to stay? Thank you
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Comments

  • It's great mate. Went with the missus a year or so back. Cheap as chips. We stayed in an appartment we got off booking.com and it was something like £60 a night for the whole place.

    There is quite a lot begging/street urchins - my missus nearly had her phone nicked from a table outside a bar but she saw the fella and told him to F off in no uncertain terms.
  • edited January 2017
    Lovely place. The statue park is a bus ride away but has a lot of old Soviet era statues and monuments on display and try one of the baths (we did the Geller). Another good place is called the house of horrors, or something similar. It's the headquarters of the old state police. We also went to the opera, tickets were really cheap.Not something I'd normally think of doing but really enjoyed it.
  • Only place I have had a gun pulled on me by a taxi driver... But the spa's are great, the beer is cheap, the clubs can be dodgy, the gentleman's clubs would never get a licence over here and there's a castle...what more do you need? (for a lads break, not sure about with the missus...)
  • The parliament building it's my favourite looking building in the whole world .

    Great place and very easy in the pocket

    The local beer is called Dreyer and it's very nice and cheap

    I went with wifey for work and we stayed in the Novotel on Racuzi Ut. Decent price and a decent location on the main drag. You can do an open top bus tour that will take you into both Buda and Pest. Again cheap as chips but lots to see.


  • Can't really comment on clubs but really enjoyed the kert bars around the Jewish quarter (think szimpla is the one I remember most).
    Never thought I'd do a spa thing but went to a big yellow one that had floating chess boards which was good.
    There was a chocolate festival at the castle which pleased the mrs.
    Zoo on margrit island was disappointing.
    Nice and cheap for food and drink.
  • edited January 2017
    been there a few times. **edit: Only in the summer months. **

    great city. fortunately was lucky then as saw no crime while I was out there though the locals are a moody bunch, but we did meet some who were right characters.
    if you can it is better during the week as you do find a fair few stag and hen dos over weekends.

    I stayed at the agape apartments every time ive been there. ask for a room with a balcony. (usually Juliette) I think they all come with a little kitchen as well.
    depending on when you go but it roughly costs £30 a night.

    go to the castle across the river. great views up there of the whole city. especially at the fisherman's bastion.

    spas are a must as well. most are over the buda side (castle side) and are indoors though the most popular is in the park on the pest side. which has both indoors and outdoors. plus the building is like something out of a fairytale. there's a zoo in the park as well as lake. theres a castle and out buildings in the park which also give off a fairytale vibe. often they have festivals there during the summer. in the drained out lake just by the park they have festivals for music.

    parliament square is pretty cool as well. the government put out a competition for a parliament building but couldn't decide between the final three (think there's three) so they built all of them. the synagogue is also a must see as is the terror museum. though the latter is quite sobering.

    make sure to do a river cruise.

    check out the two islands in the middle of the daube river. one is known for its night time raves. but both are chilled out places to walk and sit with a couple of tinnies during the day.

    talking of drinks there are plenty of ruined bars around the jewish quarter. near where that hotel I stayed in. cheap beers and the local red wine is beautiful. most don't have roofs which suits the locals who seem to all smoke. and all carry a beer around with them. it's a drinkers paradise. drink wherever and whenever you fancy.

    food is good on the most part but not fantastic. make sure you have some paprika dishes, hard not to really as most of their food has it in. Dunacorso next to the river is a great restaurant with views of the river and the castle.

    oh and one more thing. I know your bringing your bird but the girls there are something else.
  • Try Szimpla Kert, a cave of different bars which can get very crowded but a must go even if only for a couple, it's on a street surrounded by other bars, known as the Ruin Pubs

    The New York Cafe is a must, people are queueing just for breakfast, this is only a five minutes walk from the bar area mentioned.

    The Hungarikum Bisztro(5 minutes walk from the Hungarian government buildings)is excellent if you want to sample traditional Hungarian cuisine. We booked a table before we visited, the replies by email were immediate and an easy way to book. This is strongly recommended as countless people were being turned away.

    A word to the wise, my wife and I had a lovely time but the Hungarians can be taken as very abrupt and rude. Overall though, you will have a lovely time.

    Ps There is lots of football that can be done whilst out there.
  • As an aside, try Prague, I am sure this would be a much better option.
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  • Went in late December for 4nights / 5days. Stayed in the Best western (free because of work) in the Jewish quarter - great location and value. Free walking tours starting from St. Stephens basilica are good value (two of us tipped c. £10 each both times, hopefully that was the going rate).mdid the full spa treatment at szechenyi baths (was about 110 euros for two for an hour massage - wife said it was worth it), went to my first ever ballet at the state opera house, tickets about £25, loads of decent restaurants, some touristy, some proper. Only got on the underground once to travel out to Corvin where there are a few 56 revolution sites / memorials, apart from that, walked everywhere. Nothing was too far but covered 31 miles in 4 days - still felt like a very walkable city. I've done a bit of travelling and usually stay clear of recommending places as each to their own and all that, but I would recommend Budapest.
  • Brilliant place. We went for a wedding last year with no expectations. We stayed in the Prestige Hotel which was fab. Great food at Mazeltoft.
  • Lovely place. The statue park is a bus ride away but has a lot of old Soviet era statues and monuments on display and try one of the baths (we did the Geller). Another good place is called the house of horrors, or something similar. It's the headquarters of the old state police. We also went to the opera, tickets were really cheap.Not something I'd normally think of doing but really enjoyed it.

    The statue park is brilliant.
    The food, when we went, was vile.
  • iainment said:

    Lovely place. The statue park is a bus ride away but has a lot of old Soviet era statues and monuments on display and try one of the baths (we did the Geller). Another good place is called the house of horrors, or something similar. It's the headquarters of the old state police. We also went to the opera, tickets were really cheap.Not something I'd normally think of doing but really enjoyed it.

    The statue park is brilliant.
    The food, when we went, was vile.
    I think everyone else experienced a different style of eating out...
  • Went in late December for 4nights / 5days. Stayed in the Best western (free because of work) in the Jewish quarter - great location and value. Free walking tours starting from St. Stephens basilica are good value (two of us tipped c. £10 each both times, hopefully that was the going rate).mdid the full spa treatment at szechenyi baths (was about 110 euros for two for an hour massage - wife said it was worth it), went to my first ever ballet at the state opera house, tickets about £25, loads of decent restaurants, some touristy, some proper. Only got on the underground once to travel out to Corvin where there are a few 56 revolution sites / memorials, apart from that, walked everywhere. Nothing was too far but covered 31 miles in 4 days - still felt like a very walkable city. I've done a bit of travelling and usually stay clear of recommending places as each to their own and all that, but I would recommend Budapest.

    If its your thing, read Twelve Days by Victor Sebestyen - a very readable overview of the 1956 revolution and the key players involved. Disturbing and compelling in equal measure.
  • Yes...saw new year in there once. Great place. Buda is great for sightseeing which your GF will appreciate. Lots of spas too.

    Go and make sure you learn how to say cheers in Hungarian though...it gets easier the more you drink!
  • iainment said:

    Lovely place. The statue park is a bus ride away but has a lot of old Soviet era statues and monuments on display and try one of the baths (we did the Geller). Another good place is called the house of horrors, or something similar. It's the headquarters of the old state police. We also went to the opera, tickets were really cheap.Not something I'd normally think of doing but really enjoyed it.

    The statue park is brilliant.
    The food, when we went, was vile.
    Is statue park also called heroes square?
  • FORD said:

    iainment said:

    Lovely place. The statue park is a bus ride away but has a lot of old Soviet era statues and monuments on display and try one of the baths (we did the Geller). Another good place is called the house of horrors, or something similar. It's the headquarters of the old state police. We also went to the opera, tickets were really cheap.Not something I'd normally think of doing but really enjoyed it.

    The statue park is brilliant.
    The food, when we went, was vile.
    Is statue park also called heroes square?
    No, statue park is out of town, where they have put many of the socialist era statues (and Stalin's boots) that were once in the city centre but were taken down post 89. Heroes square is at the entrance to the city park.
  • Lovely place. I'll second virtually everything thats already been said. Lovely place. You've got to go up to the castle and take pictures at night. ere's a couple.
  • Being a Charlton fan I'd recommend a ride on the children's railway...if your there long enough a trip to Szentendre and Esztergom is well worth doing.
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  • The 'ruin' bars are really cool, think on the Pest side of the river.

    On the whole it's a really great city. Again saw no crime but guess it's like any city, just beware what corner you turn if you are wandering around a little aimlessly.
  • edited January 2017
    Hotel is cheap as chips but the flight schedule isnt available yet as it november i want to go and the flights available for October are shit times and quite pricey really, who did you all fly with when you went?
  • cafc4life said:

    Hotel is cheap as chips but the flight schedule isnt available yet as it november i want to go and the flights available for October are shit times and quite pricey really, who did you all fly with when you went?

    BA from LHR. Flights are available now. Just did a quick search, outbound 27th Nov, return 30th Nov (so a 3 night break) is £88 each return (without bags). That's a good price..
  • cafc4life said:

    Hotel is cheap as chips but the flight schedule isnt available yet as it november i want to go and the flights available for October are shit times and quite pricey really, who did you all fly with when you went?

    BA from LHR. Flights are available now. Just did a quick search, outbound 27th Nov, return 30th Nov (so a 3 night break) is £88 each return (without bags). That's a good price..
    Nice one mate
  • Just looked, for the weekend i want to go ,friday to monday, its £264.00 return for the both of us.. Paid less than that for a whole hotel and flight combo before haha.
  • cafc4life said:

    Just looked, for the weekend i want to go ,friday to monday, its £264.00 return for the both of us.. Paid less than that for a whole hotel and flight combo before haha.

    Doh! but you are picking flights with highest demand so you'll pay loads more. I suppose its a balance of cost versus not using up work holidays - whatever you do, have a great time (and don't forget, scheduled airline seats generally only go one way in price, and its not down - you are likely to get the best available price if you book now).
  • cafc4life said:

    Just looked, for the weekend i want to go ,friday to monday, its £264.00 return for the both of us.. Paid less than that for a whole hotel and flight combo before haha.

    Doh! but you are picking flights with highest demand so you'll pay loads more. I suppose its a balance of cost versus not using up work holidays - whatever you do, have a great time (and don't forget, scheduled airline seats generally only go one way in price, and its not down - you are likely to get the best available price if you book now).
    Easyjet fly there but there schedule only goes on until end of october at the moment, i assume the flights for the end of the year wont be released until the summer maybe
  • cafc4life said:

    cafc4life said:

    Just looked, for the weekend i want to go ,friday to monday, its £264.00 return for the both of us.. Paid less than that for a whole hotel and flight combo before haha.

    Doh! but you are picking flights with highest demand so you'll pay loads more. I suppose its a balance of cost versus not using up work holidays - whatever you do, have a great time (and don't forget, scheduled airline seats generally only go one way in price, and its not down - you are likely to get the best available price if you book now).
    Easyjet fly there but there schedule only goes on until end of october at the moment, i assume the flights for the end of the year wont be released until the summer maybe
    Most airlines are just under a year - worth asking them on their facebook page / get set up for an alert. They may well be cheaper than BA, but they will equally be more on a Friday, Saturday departure
  • I flew in to Budapest on Wizz from Warsaw. I think they fly direct from Stansted and are pretty reasonable. I came back BA.
  • I flew in to Budapest on Wizz from Warsaw. I think they fly direct from Stansted and are pretty reasonable. I came back BA.

    It's very quick getting over there.
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