Budapest
May 13th, 2008, 09:30 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Budapest
I am getting off a Viking River Cruise trip in Budapest in October of this year and would like to stay at a safe reasonable hotel/pension near Budapest Airport for return trip early next AM. Any ideas?
I do have another question if you wouldn't mind. Has anyone traveled by train from Budapest to Vienna or the return trip back to Budapest?
It seems as though we didn't think this trip thru enough to realize we would've preferred to spend extra days in Vienna rather than Budapest and had already booked our return airfare from Budapest and it's too costly to rebook from Vienna back to Chicago. Oh well, live and learn not to be hasty when booking airfares....
Thanks for all of your help!
I do have another question if you wouldn't mind. Has anyone traveled by train from Budapest to Vienna or the return trip back to Budapest?
It seems as though we didn't think this trip thru enough to realize we would've preferred to spend extra days in Vienna rather than Budapest and had already booked our return airfare from Budapest and it's too costly to rebook from Vienna back to Chicago. Oh well, live and learn not to be hasty when booking airfares....
Thanks for all of your help!
May 13th, 2008, 09:45 AM
#2
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 12,492
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i have traveled from vienna to budapest by train. it takes about 3-3.5 hours. the discounted tickets are 19 euros.
if you do not know budapest i think you will be pleasantly surprised. if you search othersītrips here on the forum you will see that it is a charming city full of music, dance, good food and beautiful sights.
if you do not know budapest i think you will be pleasantly surprised. if you search othersītrips here on the forum you will see that it is a charming city full of music, dance, good food and beautiful sights.
May 13th, 2008, 08:02 PM
#3
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 356
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We stayed at the Marriott in Budapest (booked with Priceline for $85 US) and took a cab in the morning to the airport for $30 for 2 of us. We were able to walk or take public transportation and had 3 wonderful days touring the city and didn't see or do everything we wanted because we ran out of time. We took the train from Vienna to Budapest.
May 15th, 2008, 05:25 AM
#4
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you would like to stay near the airport there is an Ibis hotel that I stayed in near the airport that was nice, nothing fancy and maybe $15 taxi ride to the airport.
Taking a train to Vienna and back there are some magnificent fares right now Like 22 E each way so about $60 RT and it's easy to do. But Budapest is a great city to explore, so much to do and there's great music, opera, concerts to experience and wonderful places to see in Budapest. I think you'd be pleasantly surprised...and it will be less expensive than Vienna.
Enjoy your trip.
Taking a train to Vienna and back there are some magnificent fares right now Like 22 E each way so about $60 RT and it's easy to do. But Budapest is a great city to explore, so much to do and there's great music, opera, concerts to experience and wonderful places to see in Budapest. I think you'd be pleasantly surprised...and it will be less expensive than Vienna.
Enjoy your trip.
May 15th, 2008, 06:22 AM
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 738
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
While I like both cities (Vienna and Budapest) - Vienna is, to me, one of the neatest cities in Europe. What a neat, historical, friendly city!! I would definitely spend a few days there if you can....
May 30th, 2008, 02:59 PM
#6
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I wouldn't quickly pooh-pooh Budapest. "Paris of the East" is a terrific City. You don't have enough time to run from there to Vienna and back, unless you want the stamp in your passport!
Spend the time in Budapest and get to know another great place. No matter what you decide, please have a nice trip!
tptr
Spend the time in Budapest and get to know another great place. No matter what you decide, please have a nice trip!
tptr
May 31st, 2008, 05:35 AM
#8
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 374
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I wouldn't stay at the airport but right in the city, taking a cab in the morning. Your cruise will end in the morning leaving you plenty of time to explore Budapest on your own. The area out by the airport is industrial and ugly and it's only about a 45 minute ride from the city center. We ended a river cruis in Budapest last summer. Even though the cruise included tours of the city, it was nice to have extra time to explore it on our own.
Jul 8th, 2008, 11:29 AM
#9
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
carol33
First, why stay at the airport? It's out of town in a unpresupposing area. From central Budapest (early in the AM)a taxi should take no more than 30-40 minutes to the airport. With tip (and using Zona Taxi), the total was about $40. It's well worth it to get the evening in Budapest rather than the airport.
Second, we took the train from Budapest to Vienna and return, and I would give it 3 hours. Both stations are centrally located and on subways that link you to everything in the center of those cities.
And while we've been to both cities, we were also in Budapest for several weeks and are big fans. It's much different this than Vienna and you can get a lot out of the city at the Castle (half day) and around the St. Stephen central city area.
First, why stay at the airport? It's out of town in a unpresupposing area. From central Budapest (early in the AM)a taxi should take no more than 30-40 minutes to the airport. With tip (and using Zona Taxi), the total was about $40. It's well worth it to get the evening in Budapest rather than the airport.
Second, we took the train from Budapest to Vienna and return, and I would give it 3 hours. Both stations are centrally located and on subways that link you to everything in the center of those cities.
And while we've been to both cities, we were also in Budapest for several weeks and are big fans. It's much different this than Vienna and you can get a lot out of the city at the Castle (half day) and around the St. Stephen central city area.
Jul 15th, 2008, 06:55 AM
#10
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You might be better off staying in the city center. There is nothing by the airport--nothing at all--and it is not a very picturesque area.
Stay in the city center, see a bit of Pest, Vaci Utca (the main pedestrian thoroughfare), the grand market hall--AMAZING food market with lots of cool gift shopping, small wine bars, etc....Also, Castle Hill (in Buda) is gorgeous, and you can reach it quickly and affordably by cab.
Personally, I think Vienna is pretty but not nearly as interesting as Budapest. It's a bit bland in comparison...but, that said, I am partial to Budapest having lived previously.
Stay in the city center, see a bit of Pest, Vaci Utca (the main pedestrian thoroughfare), the grand market hall--AMAZING food market with lots of cool gift shopping, small wine bars, etc....Also, Castle Hill (in Buda) is gorgeous, and you can reach it quickly and affordably by cab.
Personally, I think Vienna is pretty but not nearly as interesting as Budapest. It's a bit bland in comparison...but, that said, I am partial to Budapest having lived previously.
