Easter in Budapest
Mar 11th, 2011, 10:58 AM
#1
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Easter in Budapest
We'll be spending a few days in Budapest this April. I think we might have picked the worst time in the year to be there!
I've been told that the Jewish history tour and the synagogue are incredible places to see in Budapest, but our trip coincides with both the Jewish Sabbath and Passover and I've also been told sights of Jewish interest will be closed!
We will also be in Budapest for Easter. We are not at all religious -- not even Christian -- but I've heard that we might find a pageant or festival or something ...either in Budapest or somewhere in the countryside nearby. It sounds like a way cooler thing to experience than simply an open museum. Can anyone recommend something like this?
Thanks!
I've been told that the Jewish history tour and the synagogue are incredible places to see in Budapest, but our trip coincides with both the Jewish Sabbath and Passover and I've also been told sights of Jewish interest will be closed!
We will also be in Budapest for Easter. We are not at all religious -- not even Christian -- but I've heard that we might find a pageant or festival or something ...either in Budapest or somewhere in the countryside nearby. It sounds like a way cooler thing to experience than simply an open museum. Can anyone recommend something like this?
Thanks!
Mar 11th, 2011, 11:28 AM
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What are your actual dates? There is a "Jewish Sabbath" every week, it's called Saturday (technically sundown Friday to sundown Saturday). Check to see if the heritage sites are closed all of Passover week. You can still see the memorial tree from the street, though, ditto the outside of the Dohany Utca Synagogue.
And there's plenty to do in Budapest other than visiting museums. Go to St. Stephen's, go to Andrassy utca and Embassy Row, visit the castle, take a trip to Szobibor Park for the Commie statues, take a river cruise.
Check out inyourpocket.com for more.
And there's plenty to do in Budapest other than visiting museums. Go to St. Stephen's, go to Andrassy utca and Embassy Row, visit the castle, take a trip to Szobibor Park for the Commie statues, take a river cruise.
Check out inyourpocket.com for more.
Mar 11th, 2011, 07:33 PM
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Hey BigRuss,
I arrive on Friday April 22 (Good Friday!)late morning. I leave on Tuesday morning April 26.
Thanks so much for your input. I know that there is a lot to do -- but everyone tells me I've "got" to see the synagogue and go on the Jewish heritage tour. And you and I both know that if I don't do either, there is always next trip!
Any unusual suggestions for Easter Sunday?
I arrive on Friday April 22 (Good Friday!)late morning. I leave on Tuesday morning April 26.
Thanks so much for your input. I know that there is a lot to do -- but everyone tells me I've "got" to see the synagogue and go on the Jewish heritage tour. And you and I both know that if I don't do either, there is always next trip!
Any unusual suggestions for Easter Sunday?
Apr 1st, 2011, 11:38 AM
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Depends if this is your first trip to BP or not... Since you're only there for the weekend I would just recommend sticking to the "usual suspects" and enjoy Budapest's main attractions: Buda Palace/ Castle District; Váci Street/ Gerbaud Café & Inner city; Danube Boat Tour (1-2hrs); City Park/ Heroes Square... New York Café...
Apr 1st, 2011, 11:54 AM
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I was in Budapest over Easter weekend a few years ago. It didn't affect us at all.
We arrived on Good Friday, late afternoon. We found a perfectly good restaurant close to our apartment and did not experience any difficulties. On the Saturday we went to the Buda district and had not problems with anything we wished to see. We spent the early evening in Pest and again had no problems with anything being closed.
On the Sunday we took a train out to a small town in the country, I can't remember the name for sure right now - but I think it was probably Szentendre; apart from one church everything seemed to be open. The train was very busy though, with lots of people either going out for the day or visiting family.
We visited the Synagogue and Jewish Museum on the Monday. we had wanted to see the Parliament buildings, but the tours were full. We took a river cruise instead but it was cold! However Easter was earlier that year than it will be this year.
We flew home on the Monday night.
I posted a thread about budget eating in Budapest, here's the link
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...mendations.cfm
We arrived on Good Friday, late afternoon. We found a perfectly good restaurant close to our apartment and did not experience any difficulties. On the Saturday we went to the Buda district and had not problems with anything we wished to see. We spent the early evening in Pest and again had no problems with anything being closed.
On the Sunday we took a train out to a small town in the country, I can't remember the name for sure right now - but I think it was probably Szentendre; apart from one church everything seemed to be open. The train was very busy though, with lots of people either going out for the day or visiting family.
We visited the Synagogue and Jewish Museum on the Monday. we had wanted to see the Parliament buildings, but the tours were full. We took a river cruise instead but it was cold! However Easter was earlier that year than it will be this year.
We flew home on the Monday night.
I posted a thread about budget eating in Budapest, here's the link
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...mendations.cfm
Apr 1st, 2011, 01:10 PM
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The Jewish Heritage tours are good, and I lucked out bc I had one on my own bc no one else signed up with the company I chose (pure coincidence). When I was in Budapest, just about every place was budget eating because the dollar sucked less and Budapest was really inexpensive. If you go to Liszt Ter, you'll find many places to eat, drink, and be merry.
Apr 5th, 2011, 12:56 PM
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Thanks everyone! And thanks for picking up this thread and adding to it!
This is our first trip, and thus we WERE planning to stick to the "usual suspects," and not much more, as we're only there for four days! We'll probably do exactly like julia_t, only Monday is the start of the last days of Passover, and I believe that the synagogue will close early so we'll see if we manage the Jewish Heritage tour or not. Parliament sounds interesting...but um, I don't speak more than two words of Hungarian (1. goulash, 2. palachinka)so maybe it's not such a good choice for me after all ha ha!
On the upside, we do have tickets for the Opera on one night!
Again, I was just hoping that maybe there was something "special" to experience on Easter (I'm imagining girls in native costumes, dancing, and wine...)
Thanks all for the input!
This is our first trip, and thus we WERE planning to stick to the "usual suspects," and not much more, as we're only there for four days! We'll probably do exactly like julia_t, only Monday is the start of the last days of Passover, and I believe that the synagogue will close early so we'll see if we manage the Jewish Heritage tour or not. Parliament sounds interesting...but um, I don't speak more than two words of Hungarian (1. goulash, 2. palachinka)so maybe it's not such a good choice for me after all ha ha!
On the upside, we do have tickets for the Opera on one night!
Again, I was just hoping that maybe there was something "special" to experience on Easter (I'm imagining girls in native costumes, dancing, and wine...)
Thanks all for the input!
