"The apartment was spacious and so inviting!! Our host, Laszlo, was absolutely fantastic!!! I will be returning to Budapest in the future and you can be sure I’ll book this apartment again!"

WHAT'S A GOOD ITINERARY FOR BUDAPEST, HUNGARY?

Budapest is a large city spread over two sides of the Danube. With this in mind it makes sense to break up your day by focusing on certain areas rather than trying to see the whole city in one go!
In two days you could also use one day each to explore both sides of the city.
If using Budapest as a base then of course you could base yourself here for 3-7 days and explore the city and take day trips as noted above. Here are some suggested itineraries and ideas:

Budapest in one day -
After breakfast, take the train to the Buda side Szeli Kalman ter and walk up to the Castle District.
Explore the Castle District including the Royal Palace, Fisherman's Bastion and surrounding streets
Admire great views from all sides of the Castle Hill
Lunch, eat at one of the many restaurants here like Pest-Buda Bistro (try the Paprika Chicken!)
Walk to the base of the hill and cross the Chain bridge for views of the Danube
Turn left and explore the Parliament area and Shoes on the Danube tribute.
Walk back into town via Szabadsag ter and have a drink on Oktober 6 Utca
Turn left and admire St Stephens Basilica
Walk through Erzsebet Park to Vaci Utca
Browse for souvenirs along Vaci Utca.
Spend the evening at Gozsdu area with trendy ruin bars and restaurants, very hip!

Budapest in two days -
Day one
Explore the Castle Hill district in more detail In the evening window shop in Vaci Utca and have dinner and drinks in Gozsdu.
Day two
Head to Gellert Hill for views of the city and Danube.
Then cross again back to the Great Market Hall for lunch and browsing.
In the afternoon head to Heroes Square and City park before crossing the road and relaxing at Szechenyi baths.
Have dinner back in town perhaps besides the Danube.

Budapest in 3-7 days -
A longer stay means you can explore the city more plus take day trips like the Danube Bend to Szentendre,
Visigrad and Esztergom.
You could visit the Gellert Baths and spend time at one of the many museums like the National Museum.
A tour of the Parliament building is highly recommended as the interior is stunning!

TIPS for visiting Budapest -
Euros - Some attractions and restaurants accept Euros in Budapest to make it easier for tourists, however the rates in euros will generally be more expensive than the rate in Forints just for that privilege!

Taxis - Do not take taxis that show "Freelance" on the side unless you have no choice as they will set their own excessive rates and then let you haggle. Best off taking an official taxi that uses set rates as stated on the stickers inside the cab so you don't get ripped off!

DID YOU KNOW? FUN FACTS FOR BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

1. Budapest or Buda only became the capital after the Mongolian invasion in 1241-1242 when King Béla IV moved the Royal Seat to Buda which they thought offered more protection. Before that, Esztergom, the birth and coronation place of St. Stephen the first king of Hungary, was the capital of Hungary.

2. Unlike many other cultures, Hungarians use their surname first and their given name second, any second given names come after that, but many don’t have second names.

3. Due to a fault line shaping the course of the Danube Valley, a great number of thermal springs come to the surface in Budapest (hence the famous thermal baths!) Budapest is the world's only metropolis which has more than 130 thermal springs and wells beneath it.

4. Budapest used to be not two, but three cities before 1873: Buda, Pest, and Óbuda. These three settlements were united by the Habsburg rule.

5. Did you know that the first subway line of continental Europe was built in Budapest? The Millenium Underground Railway line was constructed for the Millennium Celebration of 1896, commemorating the Hungarian Conquest of 896. It is the third oldest underground railway in the world after “Tünel” in Istanbul, and the London Underground.

EVENTS AND FESTIVALS IN BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

There is always something happening in Budapest all year round. Here is a calendar of the major events.
You may want to plan your holiday to coicide with these events!

JANUARY/FEBRUARY - Farsang Carnival Festival

Hungarians love a good excuse to party and the Budapest Carnival season is an almighty 40 day blow out before the austerity of Lent begins. The Budapest Carnival season, known locally as Farsang, starts just after Epiphany and is an almost endless series of masquerades and balls, coupled with the noisy warding off of winter. By the time Ash Wednesday comes around the Hungarians are exhausted, fatter, and ready to sit quietly in the corner until Easter arrives. The traditions in place have been nurtured and followed for centuries, and while they often have the same religious roots, the bizarre adaptations mean each of them has a life of their own. The Budapest Carnival season is a festival of life, colour and joviality to be enjoyed by all, regardless of religious belief. For many, it has become more than a social event, with traditional events like Busójárás expressing the country’s roots and culture, while bidding farewell to winter and heartily welcoming the arrival of spring.

FEBRUARY/MARCH - Budapest Dance Festival

The most influential troupe of contemporary dance world comes to Budapest! Three international productions, three Budapest premieres, three co-production premieres and the gala evening and dance history lecture of the Hungarian Dance Academy are included in the program of the Budapest Dance Festival organized in Budapest's four most prestigious cultural institutions: Müpa - Budapest, the National Theatre of Hungary, the Liszt Academy and Pesti Vigadó.

MARCH/APRIL - Budapest Spring Festival

The Budapest Spring Festival awaits visitors with a programme that involves many of the arts, with events in classical music, opera, jazz, world music, dance, contemporary circus, theatre and the visual arts. With the best Hungarian performers and real world stars. The Budapest Spring Festival is a truly special occasion, presenting premieres and co-productions with partner institutions. There will be dozens of venues used: in addition to the Müpa Budapest and Liszt Academy, Bálna Budapest, Vigadó, Budapest Music Center, Akvárium Klub, Várkert Bazár (Castle Garden Bazaar) and other Budapest theatres, cultural institutes and museums will also be home to outstanding events.

MAY - Mayfest at the Opera House

World-famous musicians perform at the Budapest Opera House during the Mayfest at the Opera music festival. Miklós Ybl’s neo-renaissance palace has remained virtually unchanged in the 130 years since and continues to attract admirers of opera and ballet alike. Each year, thousands of tourists visit the building to take in one of Budapest’s most impressive 19th century national monuments. Mayfest usually has a different theme every year coinciding with anniversaries and the like of historical events.


JUNE - Danube Carnival

Budapest hosts one of the most colourful cultural series of events of the Hungarian summer every June. The Danube Carnival awaits you with a wide range of phenomenal programs on several spots of the city: enjoy the folk, symphonic and world music, traditional and contemporary dance and the colourful folklore of the participating countries! Virtuoso and breath-taking fusion of symphonic and authentic folk music will impress the audiences of the Gala concert at the Margaret Island Open Air Stage. Spectacular scenes performed by the best Hungarian professional dance troupes will make the experience unforgettable.

JUNE-AUGUST - Budapest Summer Festival

Hungary’s most versatile festival hosting more international artists than ever this year delivering a high-quality cultural programme for all distinguished guests who come to town between June and the end of August. Just like in previous years, the choice will be yours as we present great productions in a wide array of genres featuring world stars from every continent performing on Hungary’s most impressive open air stage. Enjoy this unique chance, sit back and let us entertain you! Features first class operas, marvellous concerts, stunning musicals and a unique ballet performance, various jazz, world music and cross-over concerts.


JULY - Hungarian Grand Prix

Hungary first hosted a Grand Prix in the 1930s, but following the Second World War it was not until the 1960s that motorsport began to find a place in the country. At the start of the 1980s there was a general wish for a Grand Prix to be held behind the Iron Curtain. At first a street race through Budapest was suggested, but in the end the decision was taken to build a brand new circuit in a valley 19 kilometres outside Budapest. The track opened in 1986 and it held its first Formula One event in August that year. It was a huge success and almost 200,000 fans showed up. Although tight and twisty, the circuit has been known to throw up some great races, the most memorable being Thierry Boutsen's win in 1990, beating Ayrton Senna by 0.3 seconds, and of course the 1997 race where Damon Hill in the Arrows sensationally passed Michael Schumacher's Ferrari only to be denied the win by mechanical failure on the very last lap.


AUGUST - Sziget Festival

Sziget Festival is a multi-genre island festival in Budapest, Hungary, in August. Now one of Europe's most iconic music festivals, it has become famed for its diverse lineups that span everything from EDM, house and techno to rock, pop and indie. Lighting up the city for a whole week, Sziget brings some of the world's biggest artists to its island, with recent names including Muse, Rihanna and David Guetta. But Sziget isn't just about the music, with there also being a host of other activities to get involved in and experience, from an amusement park, workshops and beaches, to surreal venues and installations dotted around Budapest.


SEPTEMBER - Jewish Cultural Summer Festival

The Jewish Cultural Festival in Budapest (formerly Jewish Summer Festival) is a great opportunity to find out everything about Hungarian Jewish culture. The Jews played an important part in Hungary’s history. The city’s Jewish community has started to reborn in the previous couple of years. This cultural event reflects this ambition. The festival is organized by the Jewish Tourism and Cultural Centre (ZSIKK in Hungarian). Come to the Hungarian capital at the end of summer, and visit some of the programs of this unique event to make your stay even more memorable! The first Festival was held in 1997. The center of the event was the beautiful Dohány Street Central Synagogue in the historic Jewish Quarter.

OCTOBER - Oktoberfest Festival

Oktoberfest Budapest, This event showcases products like the city's biggest celebration of the favorite malty beverage, about 100 domestic and international beer types to beer-lovers, Well known breweries along with lesser-known microbreweries will showcase their products in City Park, plenty of tasty fare to pair with your beer and several live performances and much more etc.

OCTOBER - Budapest Palinka and Sausage Festival

Palinka & Sausage Festival in Budapest (or simply Budapest Palinka Festival) is about two things Hungarians like and are passionate about: Hungarian brandy, a strong fruity spirits called ‘Palinka’ (pah-lin-kah), and the other one is sausage or ‘Kolbasz’ (kohl-bus), which is probably the closest to the Spanish chorizo type of sausage. We assume that no health fans or fitness enthusiasts are reading about this festival, so let’s focus on the fun. You may not learn about the secret ingredients and special treatments of palinka and sausage, but you may thoroughly enjoy them. Or who knows? Some secrets may be revealed after a few shots. Two yummy things in a spectacular place: Palinka & Sausage Festival takes place in the Buda Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Budapest. The festival is not only gastronomical with all day palinka tasting and kolbasz munching, but also cultural due to the various programmes organized by the Hungarian Palinka Marketing non profit organization.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER - Christmas Markets and Fair by the Basilica

What makes many of the Christmas markets really enticing and outstanding in Budapest is that there is a real focus on trying to preserve authentic Hungarian folk art, traditions and offer really good quality handcrafts rather than commercialized kitchy Christmas gifts. So the Xmas fairs in Budapest are more about buying little hand made gifts, drinking mulled wines, nibbling Hungarian pastries (like the chimney shaped cylindrical ‘Kurtos kalacs’), eating traditional street foods (sausages, snacks, roast chestnut, etc.), and having fun by meeting, mingling, chatting and listening to the nice Christmas concerts on the stages of the markets.

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