I need some input from fellow travelers...
cannot decide what to do this July for about 10 days..( two cities)
I was considering Berlin and Moscow ( been to both, like both but Russian visa is a PITA and $200)
Thought about Oslo or Helsinki , the responses here were not very enthusiastic.
Now , I am thinking 4 nights in Budapest , and 4-5 in Berlin.
I have been to Prague and Vienna .. again, like both.
When traveling alone I prefer big cities with museums, history, architecture.. 4-5 nights max.

Do you recommend Budapest ?
Where to stay ? ( area)
Hotels? ( $150 - $ 200 a night).
Thanks.

I highly recommend Budapest. For some suggestions, go to https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com/ and put Budapest in the search box.

The last couple of times Ive stayed in a wonderful apartment:

http://budapestvacationrentals.com/S...n_Rentals.html

Otherwise I would say the Marriott probably has the best location (unless you can afford the Four Seasons!). Public transport is very good, though.

thank you very much.
I 'lll take a look at Marriott and hotels nearby.
When alone , I prefer hotels to apts.

The Marriott is very nice. Great views, location and Exec Lounge. People used to report getting it very cheap by bidding on Priceline. I stayed there using points.

Several years ago we stayed in the Danubius Gellert hotel and loved it. Location is right on the river, and the hotel has its own thermal baths and several pools.

And we remember Budapest as one of our favorite cities.

Thanks again...good to know

I think the Gellert is a bit out of the way, and unless it's raining I prefer the Széchenyi baths. I recommend staying on the Pest side: the transport is better, there are more eating options, and I'd rather be in Pest looking at Buda than in Buda looking at Pest.

I travel solo, and Budapest was the first city where I tried staying in an apartment. The owner provides SO MUCH information, and the apartments are SO well equipped I loved it. But it was my third visit to Budapest before I tried it.

I would stay in Pest anywhere from Liberty Bridge to Margit and closer to the water rather than further.

When I traveled to Budapest for work, I stayed in the Marriott. It is well located but with a big box feel. For your budget, you should have several options (though pity, not the Four Seasons).

My favorite baths are the Turkish ones like Rudas.

The only issue with July, Budapest can be extremely and inescapably hot.

It is a lovely city.

I am a bit concerned about the weather ...(" hot" is not my favorite)
that is why I was considering Moscow ( Berlin is o.k.,...visited five times in mid- July).

I hadn't really registered July... I think I would consider Stockholm and Riga instead. And I would still want AC.

Further to the July question, I was in Berlin July last year and definitely needed AC, and missed it on the metro and in the museums. It was 91F the day I arrived. But I live in NC and am accustomed to several months of AC.

Thanks for further comments....thursdsysd

I am sure Berlin can be hot...just not my experience
( one year it was rainy and cool for 5 days).

Amsterdam is usually pleasant, but last time I was there
(around 20th of July) - it was unpleasantly
hot.

I have been to lovely Stockholm...and Copenhagen.

It is a nice " problem" to have, but I am stumped ..

Well, there's always Scotland (Edinburgh, Glasgow) and Ireland (Dublin, Belfast). Or Edinburgh plus York. And Iceland. Europe is just hotter than it used to be, and Weather Underground for Budapest last July isn't encouraging.

"Europe is just hotter than it used to be"

Probably true.

Well, I think Budapest and Berlin would be a good pair, and Budapest and Moscow could work, but now the door appears to be too wide for me to comment.... Can narrow your interests and options down a bit?

FWIW, I also prefer "cities with museums, history, architecture" -- unlike you, I don't think they need to be BIG. I find many smaller European cities offer a great deal along these lines, and since I prefer to keep my ratio of time in transit to time on the ground as low as possible, I'd rather visit a big city and a couple of smaller ones, or even only some smaller times, than limiting myself to 2 big cities. JMO.

Good luck!

I agree there are many interesting smaller cities/ towns( Dresden, Toledo, Strasbourg, etc), ....but I prefer a big city vibe
(especially at night.) .