Isabel.. awesome pics.

Padraig.. walk up wow you must be so sort of athlete. It is a good 30-45 minute hike up. Going down was so much easier.

It looks like the Ballet is on tour, however, here is the HU version of ticketmaster http://www.jegymester.hu/index.jsp?l...entralHeader=1

Yes, definate on the Shoe memorial, we say the replic at Auschwitz too. Really makes you think.

I have been there so many times, I just take all the sights for granted. The Market is a must. Do not pay the price they ask, haggle. Also do not buy at the first stand you see. Most carry pretty much the same thing, and the stalls not so easy to access have better prices.

Train from BUD-VIE-BUD here is the one you should ask for the "Kirándulójegy" it is 29Euro r/t. It is valid for a 3 consecutive days. This price also includes public transport while in VIE. The train takes just under 3 hours. It leaves from Keleti PU (Eastern Rail Station). There are others at the other stations, but those have you changing trains. Not something you want to waste time with. If it takes longer than 3 hours, you will have to change trains.

Schonburn Palace,and RATHAUSPLATZ (City Hall) will both have large Christmas Markets going on. http://www.aboutvienna.org/veranstal...taltungen5.htm

shangrila wrote: "Padraig.. walk up [Gellert Hill] wow you must be so sort of athlete. It is a good 30-45 minute hike up. Going down was so much easier."

I'm no sort of athlete although, for some strange reason, I am good at walking uphill. I timed myself once on Gellert Hill: eleven minutes, working moderately hard (I was treating it as exercise combined with recreation).

My knees don't like me walking down hills. I suppose I could try rolling.

We just returned from Budapest and the Szechenyi Baths are a must. We spent 2 hours there and there must be something in those mineral waters as my "tennis elbow" of 3 months went away. Hope this advice will be of some help. Do not assume they speak any English--we found no advice/help once we entered the baths. We did take our own towels but forgot flip flops and there is no possibility we would ever travel with robes. You get a plastic card to use to lock your locker up--this goes into the space inside the locker behind the lock and then the key(which will only release when the card is inserted into proper slot) is on a wrist cord that your wear. After the baths there are shower facilities so take a hairbrush and other items you might need--I did not and regretted it. A restaurant we enjoyed was Toscana near the Danube and down the block from a Marriott. There is a great little neighborhood place that translates to The Little Cuckoo in English. The food is very good and the place feels like a small library. It is within a few blocks of the Margrit Bridge on the Pest side and runs parallel to the Danube. Our B&B owner recommended Mensa but we were not able to eat there. That one would be near the Terror Museum. Do not miss the Central Market--we did not haggle over the price but only bought paprika. The nesting dolls are everywhere but the craftmanship does not look good and if you have seen the movie Transsiberian Express you probably will not want these.

TrendGirl2,

I have only been to the gardens of the Belvedere, not the gallery inside, but it would be on my list for a return visit.

I think your idea of walking around is a good one, you will find interesting sights everywhere.

Here is my abbreviated list of Vienna favorites:

1. Kunsthistorisches Museum -- This is a fabulous museum, which, in my opinion, ranks right up there with the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, etc.

2. Stephansdom -- while the church itself is somewhat dark, the view from the towers is wonderful.

3. The Hofburg -- I really enjoyed visiting the Schatzkammer (Imperial Treasury) as well as the Sissi Museum and Imperial Apartments

4. Schonnbrun Palace -- this does involve a bit of travel (easily accessed by underground), but it is worth visiting for its sheer grandeur. If you choose Schonnbrun, I would skip the Imperial Appartments at the Hofburg.

5. Karlskirche -- the architecture of this church is so unique; stop in if you are nearby

6. Cafes -- I visited Cafe Landtmann, Schwarzenberg, & Imperial, but my favorite was Cafe Mozart, behind the Opera House

Padraig...LOL I could just picture it, rolling down the side of Gellert Hill, plopping into the river. Well actually not so funny, that is how Gellert (Gerard)got it's name. Saint Gellert he was rolled down the hill in a barrel
in 1046 during a Pagan rebillion.

It kills my knees too, but walking up hil kills my lungs even worse. 11 minutes, wow are you sure you are not an athlete? I guess we don't see eye to eye on how to get there, but I think we will both agree it is a real Kodak spot, and should not be missed.

That was a real blind spot on my part, shangrila, not to remember that rolling down the hill was far from original. I think most people who have been to Budapest know about Gellert.

Agreed that the view from the top is great, especially in the evening when the city and the bridges are lit up.

THANKS for your VIENNA "Must See" list & suggestion for my QUICK Vienna visit. All of your suggestions appeal to our tastes.

That will help alot for us to "focus" and have a game plan.
So many sights in Vienna!

It will be a nice trip really "soak up" Budapest, then a quick visit to VIENNA. Unfortunaley all the food sounds like a NIGHTMARE for my Arteries.

Strongly recommend Dio's as a "foodie choice" near St. Stephen's. So glad someone else told you about the Shoe Memorial as I am heartbroken that I missed it, although it would have been heartbreaking to see it. I do vote "yes" for Statue Park, and do be sure to catch the films in the visitor's center, especially the ones about how the Communists got neighbors and friends to spy on neighbors and friends. Another vote for Ruzwurm's; we went three times! I still dream about the Chain Bridge; it's just magnificent!

if you do a search for vienna budapest here you should get tons of recs from recent posts.

these two cities make a great combination. i never tire of them.

We are "all set" now with the dinner "BUDAPEST" game plan now!!
Thanks "peggionthego", I Will add "DIO'S" on the back-up list!!!

Once we are in Budapest, if we have to make changes and adjustments on our selected restaurants, then we can always do that once we are there.
We will have to now eat "2 dinners, 2 lunches, 3 stops for COFFEE & DESERT each day to try all the places that sounded like a good choice for us!


Walking to all the sights will be a good thing, to "burn all those calories."

It certainly does pay to plan a little, as many of the special places will not be available without reservations.

Many of the restaurants and sights will be closed on December 26 &, as BOXING DAY is observed in Hungary.

However, much is still open too, not like LONDON when the entire city shuts down.


Trend Girl

Oh good thing you mentioned closed on Boxing Day. That reminds me...

Christmas Eve, expect 99% of public transport to stop running very early. I think around 2pm with 99.9% stopping at about 6pm. A bit more is available Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Plan your schedule accordingly. The city is amazing at night. One of the best places to view the city lights is from Petofi Hid. The 4/6 tram runs across that bridge. It gives you a full view of the Chain Bridge and the Castle. It is truly amazing.

Thanks Shangrila for your hot tips of special spots to view "NIGHT TIME VIEWS!"

We are arriving BOXING DAY in Budapest, so Christmas Eve/Christmas won't be an issue for us.
Our first day will be Boxing day, so we already reserved dinner that day as not to worry about finding restaurants at the last minute.

Hi.. if you scroll down to the bottom part of this page, it gives some good advice of sightseeing, dining and travel tips in BUD.

http://www.caboodle.hu/

We took a bus tour as soon as we arrived in Budapest and found it a great way to get a feel for the city. We also went out to Statue Park. You don't need to plan for a half day. A couple of hours is plenty. We had a budapest card and used it for transportation and entrance to museums. It was great. Be sure to check the Central Market schedule for when it is open. It was closed for a few days because of a national holiday and we missed it. Too bad, but an excuse to go back to one of our favorite cities!!