I have really enjoyed reading the replies on this forum. My husband and I plan to do a late winter cheapie trip to Budapest. We'd like to stay for 10-12 days. However all the recommendations are for 3 days in Budapest. We will do some day trips and at least one overnight somewhere along the Danube. But, are we nuts to try to spend so much time in/near Budapest? When we went to Morocco the travel agent told we couldn't spend 7 days in Fez, but he was wrong! We'd appreciate any thoughts. Thanks.

In my opinion, 10-12 days in Budpest is too long. Might try to include Vienna and/or Prague. Both are at least as interesting.......

Take a two night trip to zpecs ... 3 hours on the train ... a beautiful city with a historic center, a great cathedral and several museums of note. Do a search on this site for my earlier posts on Pecs. If you extend it to 3 days you will have time to visit the wine country in Villanyi and the medieval castle in Siklos. Email me if you want more information.

Budapest is a nice city and you could take day trips and use the spa, etc. I do think 10-12 are a lot. If the Danube is navigatable, taking a cruise to Vienna might be fun. Of course, Prague is just an 8-hour train ride and worth the trip. If you have not found a place in Budapest, may I recommend a very nice couple who has people in their home. Dr. & Mrs. Walter Fleps (he's a retired English speaking attorney) has a home which overlooks the city. You get a bedroom with great view from terrace, bathroom & huge breakfast. The address is Bogar utca 20b, 1022 Budapest, Hungary. The phone number is 36-1-326-8170. We paid $40/night for 2. You take a bus to the metro & 3 stops you are downtown. He has several walking tours which he will lend you.

We've been to Budapest twice, and agree with others that 10-12 days is too long to stay. If you're going in March, there's a wonderful musical festival going on, and even during non-festival times, there are always excellent concerts to attend. One thing I do not recommend - the hydrofoil trip up the Danube to Vienna. It's long, not all that scenic and the trip would be much better to take by faster train. The hydrofoil trip takes most of a day. <BR>Perhaps a week would be enough to stay. There's an open air museum just outside of Budapest-a quick train trip. Good way to see early examples ot Hungarian life style.

I went To Hungary in march or last year. I went for two weeks and was sad to have to leave so soon!!! I am going again March 15th 2000. This time for 3 weeks. I hope to go to Pecs and other small villages. I was just learning how to get around on all the public transportations and meeting the people and I had to leave. I used Ibusz to help me find a room. i stayed in a flat with a family in a tall building. We became very even if we did not understand each other. We all cryed when I left. But guess what?? I was invited to go back and stay with them this year. It cost me under $10.00 a night and I was treated wonderfully. Eat and go where the locals go I learned. I am a female in my 40's so it is o.k. to use Ibusz no matter what your age.

I spent 7 1/2 days in Budapest last Sept and could have stayed a couple of more days. There are also several side trips you could take, including Vienna, Prague, Lake Ballaton(the largest lake in central Europe and a smaller lake that averages 102 Degrees (F) the whold year with baths. There are many musiums in Budapest including the national museum, the Semmelweise, the Postal etc. I also stayed with the Fleps. Have a great trip. <BR>

We spent several days in Budapest a couple of years ago. I enjoyed the flea markets very much, though others in my group didn't--it depends on your idea of fun, of course. Lots of old russian things, many victrolas, beautiful furniture. I would go back. <BR> <BR>Definitely visit the spas. Take a boat tour on the Danube. Visit the opera house. For shopping, go to the Budapest folk art association store. Email me directly if you want the exact info. Everything is very cheap--American friends living in Munich travelled to Budapest to shop because prices were are so low. <BR> <BR>10-12 days may be a bit much. The city is still recovering from many years of Soviet rule and is not well off. I would take some of the side trips mentioned. Prague is wonderful, Vienna is not far (I haven't been there but would love to go someday. I understand that you can go by boat from Budapest.) I wish we had been able to visit a smaller town in Hungary. I would definitely do that if I were to go again. <BR> <BR>I was pickpocketed on the train while we were still in the station waiting to depart Budapest. Later I read that this is one of the most heavily pickpocketed routes in Europe. My thief got no money, only credit cards, which are not readily accepted in Budapest and therefore were not used before I was able to cancell them. I was distracted by young children and chalk it up to experience, but it's worth noting. <BR> <BR>We had to go to the cash machine constantly because the fl. was not worth much and the maximum we could take out at any one time was so low. <BR> <BR>Have a wonderful time!