I'm in denial about traveling to Hungary. What were your best moments and absolute must-sees-do's in Budapest?
 

I'm going to Budapest in a matter of 7 days. Normally I'd be thrilled and would be researching-this-trip-to-death like I always do. However, I am experiencing great anxiety in leaving my 2-year old son behind for so long & far away, so beyond booking the flight and hotel, I haven't researched a thing. So, please forgive me for not doing any homework. It has been easier just to block it out, if that makes sense.

That being said! I am trying to be positive.

We have tickets to the opera that Friday night and our friend will be driving us around the countryside on a Saturday. Which gives us about 5 days leftover in Budapest to do whatever we want.

In your opinion, what are your best memories of Budapest and the must-do attractions there? I am not the "touristy" type and when traveling I get as much enjoyment as experiencing a great cafe as I do a museum, if that is helpful. I love the essence of a place more than the technicalities of it, so to speak. We will be staying at Hotel Gellert which I know is famous for its spas, so I'm sure I'll take advantage of that.

Thanks very much for the suggestions...

Some of my favorites:

Zeneakademia (Liszt Academy of Music)
http://images24.fotki.com/v854/photo...CF6567e-vi.jpg

Museum of Applied Arts
http://images24.fotki.com/v851/photo...SCF7917-vi.jpg

view of the House of Parliament from across the Danube http://images103.fotki.com/v426/phot...cropped-vi.jpg

Szabadsag Bridge
http://images23.fotki.com/v858/photo...F8358cr-vi.jpg

the Geological Institute building

Central Market http://images106.fotki.com/v513/phot...CF7463e-vi.jpg

Gresham Palota
http://images106.fotki.com/v507/phot...SCF6322-vi.jpg

and lots of lesser-known little art nouveau houses.

Look for the little open-faced sandwiches for lunch.
http://images106.fotki.com/v487/phot...cropped-vi.jpg

We will be in Budapest October 1st. Have never been there before. One of the places we would like to visit is Szentendre. It is noted for artists, museums etc.

It would be a day trip going by boat and returning by train.

We also would like to see the catcombs under Budapest.

Our friends in Budapest has suggested these places which are out of Budapest:
Gödöllõ Andrássy Kastély (http://www.kiralyikastely.hu/index.php?l=english ),

or Visegrád (http://www.visegradmuzeum.hu/?page=s...=palotas1.html in Hungarian),

or the Pálvölgyi dripstone cave http://web.axelero.hu/palvolgy/kepek/pal/index.htm

This is a tip I found on Fodors. Being that it is on Andrassy street it may be close to the Opera House.
"The fabulous Lukacs at 70 Andrassy Street (H-1062) for great coffee and possibly the best cake (esterhazy) I’ve ever eaten."

The House of Hungarian Wines over by the Hilton hotel was a wonderful experience for me-over 50 different wines to sample for a minimum price including wine crackers and cute glass.There were maps and lots of info about the wines and vineyards as you went up and down the cellars sampling.You can access it by walking over the main bridge and taking the funicular up the hill and then walk over to the Hilton Hotel area-its right across from it.

Also, the House/Museum of Terror is a must see in my opinion. It was formally the building that the Russians/secret police used to interrogate and punish the Hungarians during the Cold War and beyond and it really makes you realize the atrocities that they endured.
The Central Market is another fun place to sample great food,shop for souvenirs and see the Hungarians at their day to day activities.
Enjoy Budapest-the time will fly by and you will enjoy the time to be a grownup again!

I enjoyed Budapest enough the first time (Szechenyi Baths, House of Terror, Szentendre) that I went back. Trip report for the second trip here: Szechenyi Baths, photos here: kwilhelm.smugmug.com/Travel/419378

I found laartista's trip report very helpful when I was planning my trip last year. http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34866633

oops, that TR link should have been: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35096856

bookmarking

I understand your trepidation on leaving your 2 year old but look at it as a rejuvenation trip and you'll be a more refreshed mom when you get back! Anyway, you have gotten some great ideas from everyone...try to do the things you like, if it's a spa, try the szechenyi, if it's museums try one of the many ( the art museum at Hosok ter is a blast), tons of great restaurants, enjoy the opera, hang out at one of the coffee houses just west of there, take your time and just wander, it's a great city to get lost in.

My favorite things were: the Szechenyi baths, Castle hill ( for the view), Esztergom for the cathedral, and just chilling out at cafes.

Have fun

I spent seven days there in July and loved it. I don't think though that I had any real absolute must-sees, I enjoyed doing "walks" all over the city. There are five different walks in Frommers Guide to Budapest and I did all of them - plus some extra stuff. They are available on-line at: http://www.frommers.com/destinations...047010008.html

If I did have to pick a favorite place it would be anywhere along the banks of the Danube - both sides. The best views are from the Fishermans Bastion on Castle Hill, and from the Margit Bridge( the tram that crosses it stops in the middle and you can get off, then wait for the next tram or just walk to the other side). The embankment right in front of the Parliament (between there and Chain Bridge) has not only good views of castle hill (especially at sunset) but has the most moving Holocaust Memorial I have ever seen - the shoe memorial.

The Chain Bridge is great and has nice pedestrian walkways on both sides.

Since you are staying at the Gellert (fabulous looking building) you are kind of away from everything else so I would definitely get a transit pass (get a seven day one). The metro and tram system are wonderful. There is a tram that goes from in front of your hotel all along that side of the river. You could get off and walk across the Chain Bridge to get to the Pest Side. There is a bridge right in front of the hotel over to the central market on the Pest side, but it was under construction in July and I doubt it would be done yet.

The Central Market is another must see. Upstairs are tons of craft booths and one side is food booth. The langos and the crepes (same booth) are to die for.

Here are my photos from my trip in July: www.pbase.com/annforcier/budapest

I found my trip report from this summer, you might find something useful in it. Budapest is at the end so just scroll down.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35152085

jumper,

We stayed at the Gellert several years ago, and loved it.

Be sure to take advantage of the spa areas.

I think the hotel suffered damage from a flood some years ago (after our visit), so I imagine it has been renovated since.

Our rooms were on the front of the building overlooking the Danube.

One day we're going back!

Byrd

We enjoyed the cafes in Budapest. Two we especially liked were the old-time Central Kavehaz and another old-timer, Gerloczy Kavehaz. The latter is technically on Gerloczy utca, but is really on a beautiful, tiny tree-filled square. I would have loved to have lunch here, but we discovered it on our last day in Budapest.

The central market was, indeed, fun, and more full of Hungarians doing their regular shopping than I had expected. We had the best strudel of our trip from a stall in the middle of the main floor. And the langos stall on the next floor up was an experience, though more filling than we anticipated.

We also enjoyed our time in the gorgeous little town of Eger, in eastern Hungary, if you're in the mood for an overnight trip to another part of Hungary.

if this hasn´t been mentioned yet..

Spoon Café. A floating restaurant/café/bar near chain bridge, almost in front of the marriot.

love that place!
www.spooncafe.hu

and robinson restaurant

www.robinsonrestaurant.hu

for romantic night out.. lovely live music... ask for table on main floor. this is right next to the opera house

www.belcanto.hu

i could go back to budapest again and again. there is so much music still in restaurants.. which is very unusual nowadays and so welcomed .

Kids.. they always live. And they always miss you far less than you fear.

From where you are staying.. the city market is across the river.. and it is great. Directly across the street from your hotel is an underground church.. and that is interesting. But my favorite is the Holocaust monument behind the synagogue. You must pay to enter the synagogue.. but the monument behind it and free. Tony Curtis (of Hungarian Jewish extraction) endowed it. That, and the "shoe memorial" are my "must sees".

My favorite dinner.. also across the river a short walk is Trattoria Toscana. And after the opera, walk up to Liszt Ferenc ter and have a drink anywhere (for food, I like Menza.. but for a drink - no worries).

If you like to read, grab James Michener's "the Bridge to Andau" .. a short read about the Hungarian revolution and look for the sites. The radio station is across the bridge from your hotel near all the subway construction... and the bullet holes are still in the walls near Parliment.

And, of course, take the metro up to Hero's square. Line 1 is the oldest metro in Europe.. and it was buried from above ground (vs. tunneled in).. .it looks like a trolley underground.

Have fun... I am envious.

My wife and I must be the only people to have enjoyed (or perhaps, to have seen) the Ethnography museum, across the street from the Parliament. Marvelous displays of the folk costumes from different parts of Hungary, and of historic traditional furnishings. Perhaps not an operalovers treat, but then it's close to the parliament.

If you like cafes, check out Liszt Ter. It's a good walk (6-8 blocks)up a main street from the center of town. It's a tree-lined boulevard lined with sidwalk cafes for at least a block either side of that main street, and had the appearance of a place where "happening" locals congregated. It honestly felt like Paris the evening we dined there.

We loved Budapest. I have a file which contains some websites and other info I gathered when planning our trip. If you'd like to have it, just e-mail me, I'll be happy to send it to you.

GOOD To Read about some new "feedback" about BUDAPEST.

This post has many great suggestions and information regarding Budapest. I look forward to seeing all of the ART NOUVEAU Architecture which I hear is fabulous!


I will also be visiting BUDAPEST at the end of the year, and am beginning to research sights, restaurants, and potential "day trips" outside the city for my upcoming trip.

Trend Girl

The Ethnography museum is one of the sites of Russian conflict. If you look at the facade, you will see the holes left by the bullets. My husband is a Hungarian history buff (if this seems a bit odd).