I know January is cold in Budapest but has anyone traveled there at that time? I have a week in January where I might be able to go before my current passport hits the expiration point (it expires in July 2014) and just want pros and cons.

Thanks.
Deborah

It's a charming and fascinating city and well worth a visit - as long as cold doesn;t bother you.

It's on the central european plain and does get a real winter with cold temps and often substantial snow. We loved it then - but we like winter weather - prefer it to hellish heat.

Pro: It's Budapest.

Con: It will be cold. Danube cruising may be limited/inadvisable.

Pro: It's Budapest.

Pro: It's Budapest.

Pro: Art, museums, architecture. So, there's that too.

ACH! Another pro: it's not Moscow/St. Petersburg, Kazan, Finnish Lapland, Edmonton . . .

In other words, Budapest may be chilly, but it shouldn't be excessively frigid.

We survived Krakow and Gdansk in the same time period and they're both further north.

Only if you are desperate to see Budapest then fine but if you're just randomly picking a city I'd go elsewhere where it may be warmer - like Florence, Venice, Rome, Barcelona, southern France even Paris or Amsterdam or London.

There's nothing quite like a dip in one of the thermal baths in the winter, outside, with snow falling all around you. That alone is worth a winter visit!

I spent a month, two years ago in Budapest during late December and through most of January. Yes it was cold and overcast, but not too much snow. It didn't prevent me from stopping by most of the grand cafes throughout the city to have great coffee, nor wandering the streets nor visiting the museums and other sites. I described my cafe visits in a trip report, just click on my name and go back a couple of years.

I would think Budapest would be remarkable in any season. Go for it!

BTW nothing against lovely interesting Buda or Pest in my above post!

I spent 10 days in Budapest last January wrapped around my birthday. We had a great time, and here is a tripreport ---> http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...l_Hungary.html

Pjk

The goodthing is there are no thunderstorms in January and the spas are mainly open. The trams and underground keepp running.

I'd choose a hotel near to most of the restaurants so out by the Opera maybe.

Thanks to you all. You've assisted me tremondously and with my reading, it sounds like going to the spas in winter would be a treat.

PalenQ - I understand what you are saying but I've already been to all the cities you mentioned...Budapest is still on my bucket list.

Thanks again.
D