I really think Budapest is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. The Danube, the hills, Margaret-island, yellow trams, the Chain-bridge, baths, markets makes this city colourful.
Arriving at Budapest Airport
It does not matter at what time you arrive you can get in to the city centre by public transport. During the day the busses come often, and during the night seldom but I think it’s normal. The bus stop is in front of the airport building, it is easy to find.
During the day: the bus no. 200E (timetable here: http://www.bkk.hu/apps/menetrend/pdf/2005/20130501/10.pdf)
The final station of the bus is the first station of the metro (blue or no. 3, which is the south-north line)
During the night: it is a little complicated, but if you follow my instructions you cannot get lost :-)
So, first you take the bus no. 900 (http://www.bkk.hu/apps/menetrend/pdf/9000/20130501/1.pdf)
till the final station, and there you change to 914 (http://www.bkk.hu/apps/menetrend/pdf/9140/20130501/1.pdf) This bus takes you to the city centre (Deák Ferenc tér and Nyugati-pályaudvar (Nyugati Station)
About the busses and further information please use google maps, and plan your trip, I suggest you print it so you can easily ask (or show) someone about the busses or bus stops. I do it all the time if I go abroad.
If you want to travel by taxi you can also get into city. It is not expensive and taxi drivers are really kind. (tips: Show (or tell) your destination to the taxi driver and ask for the price before you get into the car).
Getting around the city without any nuisance
- Put your MONEY in a safe place in your bag, from where nobody can take it. If I travel abroad I always wear a little bag which is attached to my belt, cause it is easy to open and to take care, too. There is always a crowd on the buses and trams and thieves are always there.
- You can use your CREDIT CARDS almost everywhere just search for the mastercard, etc. signs on the doors of the shops.
- EXCHANGE- NEVER exchange your money on the streets. You can find many exchange offices along the route of the tram line 4, 6, and near the stations (Nyugati, Keleti, Déli) and the airport.
- Public transport tickets- the public transport company is called BKK. There are ticket machines in some tram stops, but I suggest you to buy a one-day ticket or other long-therm tickets if you stay longer. You can find ticket offices in front of every entrance of the metro. If you got a ticket do not forget to validate it in an orange machine at the entrance of the metros or on the trams and busses. There are inspectors everywhere and you should pay a fine once you are caught. The inspectors usually do not speak English, so it could be hard for you.
Eating
My philisophy is: if You travel abroad You have to taste the local dishes. Budapest have plenty of good restaurants where you can eat Chinese, Greek, American, English, Italian dishes, and we got a lot of Burger Kings and Mc Donalds, but be curious and try Hungarian foods. I will suggest you the best dishes you have to try, and I will tell my favourite places. If you come to Hungary you have to try the following foods:
Salted dishes:
lángos- it is like doughnut, it is also fried in oil, but it is salted, you can ask cheese or garlic on it, both are really delicious. We eat it for breakfast. Where to eat: You can find it almost everywhere, especially at markets, railway stations. My favourite place is in Fény utcai piac. For lángos see more information in English: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A1ngos
halászlé- fish soup with lots of paprika. You can find it almost in every restaurant.
kenyérlángos- it is bread dough indeed but it is baked in another shape, with sour cream, cheese, bacon, sausages and onion on it. Especially in winter times you can find it at Vörösmarty tér or Deák Ferenc tér. It is the Hungarian pizza.
gulyásleves- if you have ever tried goulash soup you will surely revalue your experience about it if you try it in Hungary.
sült kolbász- fried sausages with mustard and french fries, at market places you can find it.
Other common dishes: pacal- (tripe), stuffed cabbage, stuffed paprika with tomatoe sauce.
If you want to eat a good Mexican food you should visit Elrapido (underground place with mexican fast food and mexican drinks). The best authentic Italian food is served in Okay Italia restaurants. A good Chinese restaurant is hard to find. Authentic Chinese restaurant is located near Chinese market in Kőbányai street. If you want to taste a good gyros than visit the one near Nyugati pályaudvar (it is opposite the Station on the left), but at Déli-pályaudvar is also a good one.
If you want to eat cheap but good food I suggest you these:
Ikea: hot dog, doughnuts Fény utcai piac: lángos Déli pályaudvar: gyros. Főzelékfaló (at Móricz Zsigmond tér): many good Hungarian dishes.
Sweets:
Kürtős kalács- Vörösmarty tér, Deák Ferenc tér and Keleti-pályaudvar http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%BCrt%C5%91skal%C3%A1cs
Eszterházy torta- I suggest you try it at Szamos cukrászda (with nut)
Szatmári szilva torta- Szamos cukrászda (my favourite cake, it is perfect!) Two kind of cream fillng in it, with plum. http://szamosmarcipan.hu/en/
Gerbeaud szelet- (with nuts and apricot jam and chocolate on it) the best and only one place you can try it is the Gerbeaud cukrászda. (http://www.gerbeaud.hu)
Drinking:
If you want to taste the most famous wines of the country you can visit DiVino. (it is not cheap but good)
Pálinka (spirit) is the most famous alcoholic drinks in Hungary. My favourite is the birsalma pálinka (made of quince) but others are also really good :-)
Beers are fine but I suggest you to drink wine cause Hungarian people are very proud of wines. We like to talk about wines. Ask the waiters about wines :-)
Restaurants:
I suggest you check the menu and the place before you order food. Drink a cup of tea or a glass of mineral water, and during that time you can check if the prices are high, the waiters are not polite or the place is not clean. The restaurant in the city centre and in the castle are the most expensive ones. Always check the bill if the items are correct and if the service fee included already. If the service fee is not included 10 % or more tips is OK.
Markets
Fény utcai piac- near Szél Kálmán tér (metro line No.2, red line on the maps) and then a 5 minute walk http://www.fenyutcaipiac.hu/ (only Hungarian webpage)
Fővám téri Vásárcsarnok (Market Hall)- can be reached with tram line No. 47.
Lehel piac- on the line of the (blue) metro (No. 3)
For further information about market places in English: http://www.piaconline.hu/new/index.php?pageLang=angol
Places to see
You can find many tourist guides about Budapest and I suggest you to take a look at those guides and choose some places to visit. But if you want to get a real picture of Budapest you will have to listen to me :-) Begin the morning with a lángos or sült kolbász at Fővám tér market place or other markets near to you.Take a walk in the market. Visit the Synagogoue http://www.dohanystreetsynagogue.hu, then take a walk to Deák Ferenc tér, than to Vörösmarty tér (there is the Gerbeaud :-) ) In Váci utca you will find the best and also the most expensive shops in the city.
Walk to Lánchíd (Chain-Bridge, the one with the lions :-)). Walk through the bridge to Buda side. Go up to the castle by funicular http://www.bkk.hu/apps/menetrend/pdf/E098/20130101/b.pdf
When you are up in the castle take a big walk. Visit the Mátyás-templom and the Halászbástya. (The most skilled pickpockets are there in every season so put your values in safe place. Never give your credit card or wallet to anyone, even if he claims to be a police officer! He has no right to take your wallet, only your ID card or passport, but police never disturb tourists, so be suspicious!) From the castle you can go down to Szél Kálmán tér by the bus or if you are fit you can walk down,too. At Szél Kálmán tér take the bus No. 21 to Normafa. This is a quiet place up in the hills with a nice view. Climb up to Erzsébet kilátó (viewpoint). Go back with the bus to Szél Kálmán tér, take the tram No.4 or 6. Get off at Margit-sziget stop (Margaret-island) and take a long walk on the island. Go back to the tram and go to Octogon stop. Take the metro line No. 1 to Mexikói út direction. Get off at Hősök tere. Go to the square, then cross the little bridge and walk in the park. It is called Városliget.
The sunset is very nice in the summer. I suggest you to wait for it on the Szabadság-híd (green bridge). Young people used to get on the bar of the bridge. They drink wine and stare at the sunset. It is fun :-)
Party places
A38 Ship- http://www.a38.hu/en/, Gödör Klub, Morrison's Liget http://ligetclub.hu/, Morrison's 2 http://www.morrisons.hu/morrisons2/, Dürer kert http://www.durerkert.com/, In the summer time best places are: Zöld pardon and Budapest Park open air places. Zöld Pardon on the Buda side, and Budapest Park on Pest side of the Lágymányosi- bridge (Rákóczi-bridge).
