What to do in two-three days in Budapest
 

I will be in Budapest early in June. Staying at the Cornithian Palace. Advise please what to do in a two to three time period. Thank you.

Take a look at the posts here ( do a search for Budapest) and also download the free Fodor's guide under "Destinations". With only two or three days you will not have time for anything outside of the normal well documented tourist historic sites.

Budapest is one of my favorite cities. If you enjoy music and dance you will not be disappointed. Opera, ballet ad concerts are a bargain and easy to find.

I also like to have a meal or drink at Spoon Café and admire the Chain Bridge in the later hours.

Take a walk across the chain bridge,take the funicular up to Castle Hill, hangout up there in the museum, walk to the Matyas templom, go have a pastry at the pastry shop, go wine tasting at the wine hall, that's day one....but there's so much to see and do that one needs to know what you like to do to give you more specifics to do...have fun. It's a great city with tons of things to do...lincasanova is correct in all she's said.

I also highly recommend visiting one of the bath houses. Szechenyi was great or Gellert may be more convenient.

Four of us split the cost of a 5-hour private tour with car and driver. It gave us a great overview of the city, including lots of small things we would have overlooked--guide had suggestions but would take us to whatever we wanted to see and stop for as long as we wanted.

We asked to be dropped off in Szentendre on the Danube--interesting village but fairly tarted up for tourists, then we took a regularly scheduled river bus back to Budapest just as all the city lights were coming on. We booked the service through the Hilton so don't have details.

Be sure to take a walking tour of Buda, with or without guide, and the funicular back down to the river and walk across the chain bridge. Try to fit in: main city covered market, one of the baths, even if you don't use it, a walk down the main pedestrian street in Pest, terror museum (Hungary under Nazi and Soviets), maybe a tour of the opera house.

That's just a taste--it's a great city.

Jack:

Budapest in two days is a large order...but you can certainly fit in the highlights mentioned above. I'll just add to cathie, lina, tuni and greg's recommendations. I have spent a good deal of time in the city during both the Commie days and most recently. It was the gem of the Soviet bloc then...and now, is still one of the most interesting and beautiful cities of Central Europe...I suppose it can be considered as "world class", an overused term for whatever it means.

Are you firm with the Corinthian? We've stayed on both sides of the Danube, but we liked the Hilton, whereas we usually eschew chain hotels...because it's so different...a former army barracks with spectacular views of the river and the gothic Parliament building, and the bridges that are magnicently lit at night. Also, next toached to St. Mathias and Fisherman's bastion...Admittedly, we stayed there a few times when the dollar was at its strongest, and it's casino was quite empty.

I suggest the Gellert, down the Buda hill, for your "bath" venue...the interior is most unusual...you could call the design "Tiffany revisited" (giant photo op)...the sulphur smell is at first overwhelming, but you do get used to it.

Just down the street from the aforementioned Buda Hilton is a "newly" discovered ruins of an ancient Jewish synagogue. On the Pest side, you could viait one of the largest synagogues still in use in Europe...The Great Synagogue...the Jewish museum is in an adjacent building. The famous sculpted memorial tree, a weeping willow design, is in the courtyard which was once the Nazi holding-pen for Jews being "transported to the east"..Tony Curtis' "Emanuel Foundation" donated the funds for the tree in memory of his father, Emanuel Schwartz, as well as sizeable funds in renovating the sanctuary.. The once ghetto-ized area surrounds the synagogue.

On Erzabet Korut, a main street, just a few blocks beyond the synagogue, there is a outstanding example of art deco in what has been called The New Yorker Cafe (also at one time The Hungaria cafe)..I don't know what it has been renamed at this point. But if it's still in business do go in for tea (and great pastries) or lunch...the interior is amazing.
I did quite a chunk of my interviewing here for two of my books. Budapest (c.1904) plays a major role in one of the chapters.

If you wish, Szentendre (St. Andrew) is worth a visit..as Cathie says.."a bit tarted up" (love that description, Cathie!), but nevertheless enjoyable. By auto or bus.

Stroll pedestrian Vaci Utca...touristy, but was Hungary's first pedestrian-only street....if venerable Gerbaud's pastry shop is still open, it's at the far end of the street.

In your limited time, I hope you will enjoy the visit, Jack.

stu t.

We spent 4 days in Budapest on our honeymoon and (although I second what I've read, above) our 3 most memorable things were:
1. Terror Museum
2. trip to Szentendre (bought great glassware for a fraction of the price it sells for in the US) and
3. Vasarely Museum: http://www.vasarely.tvn.hu/
If you don't know Vasarely, he was a pioneer of 20th century optical art. My husband didn't know about him, but he still loved the museum. It's very well presented and an easy, short train ride that takes you to the front door.

hi Jack

one of the highlights of our trip to Budapest was the folk-music evening we went to - booked via our hotel. it takes place at a hall on the Pest side of the river, just and it was really excellent.

also a night at the opera. attending a performance is much more fun than doing a tour and it was very good.

regards, ann

Jack; Post a trip report when you get back. We hope to be in Hungary in early October. Our second visit, but the first visit in the early 90's is a bit 'fuzzy'. iris1745/dick

Get to the top of Gellert Hill for a great view of the Danube and the city, preferably in the evening when things are lit up.

Stu's coffee house is, I think, called the New York Coffee House, and I endorse his recommendation. I don't know how recently he was there. It has been heavily restored (not too much lost, but I preferred it before; it's almost too "cool" now). I don't like Gerbaud's; it's become too much of a tourist trap, trading more on its reputation than on quality.

The Central Market is worth an hour or two. Ground floor: produce; upper level: restaurants and outlets selling stuff of interest to visitors (if you are tempted to buy, be sure to bargain at least 20% of asking prices).

Take a trip on Metro line 1 from Vorosmartry Ter to Heroes' Square and stroll into City Park.

Look for 2-3 more days!

I second the recommendations for Cafe Gerbaud. I had a delicious pastry there in October.

If you like good views, go to the top of Gellert Hill to the Liberation Monument. I took a taxi up to the top, to save time and effort, and then walked down, pausing at the St. Gellert Monument. Another good view is that from the top of St. Istvan's. You can take an elevator part of the way, but I just took the stairs. The view of Pest, the Danube and Buda is fantastic.

I also consider the area around the Castle a must-see. It is fairly compact and easy to see. The streets are charming just to wander. I had the best pastry/dessert of my whole trip (including Prague & Vienna) at Ruszwurm Curaszda on Szentháromság Utca; it was called a Ruszwurm kréme. The views from the Castle and the Fishermen's Bastion are outstanding.

Another vote against Gerbaud - way overpriced. I like the Central, but you have to insist on a machine printed bill, not the hand-written one your waiter may try to palm off on you! I also love the open-faced sandwiches at Duran (www.freeweb.hu/duran/rendeles.html).

Budapest is worth 3 days, at least. It's a beautiful city.

If you decide to relax at a bath, go to the Szechenyi. The Gellart was lovely because it's older but the facilities aren't as good and the water not as hot as the Szechenyi.

The buses are quite easy to learn. We used the one that zips up to the hill and castle area frequently.

I appreciate the input.

I absolutely echo the suggestion about the Great Synagogue; it would be a crime to miss it (and I'm not Jewish). Also recommend Statue Park, outside Budapest and therefore a bit of a time investment so don't know if you can fit it in. Ruszwrum on Castle Hill for strudel. The thing I missed (and I am so bummed) is the shoe monument along the banks of the Danube. So, please go see it for me.

We are going to Budapest next month, and we have 4 full days there. I have come up with a tentative itinerary, which has some free time so you can possibly squeeze my 4-day activity into 3 days.

Make sure you check websites for opening times/days of attractions/museums you want to visit, as many are closed on Mondays. Churches have reduced opening hours on weekends. Synagogue is not open for visit on Saturday. The funicular up Buda Hill is closed every first, third, & fifth Mondays of each month.

Here's my plan:

Friday (May Day)
Museum of Applied Arts
<s>Central Market</s> (likely not open on May Day)
Heroes Sq for May Day celebrations
Museum of Fine Arts
Szechenyi Baths

Saturday (5/2)
Parliament
Szabadsag ter, Bedo Haz
St Stephen's Basilica (closes at 1)
Walk (vaci utca) or House of Terror
Evening Danube cruise

Sunday (5/3)
Morning free
Gresham Palace, Chain Bridge
Funicular up Castle Hill
19:30 concert at Zeneakademia

Monday (5/4)
Synagogue
Central Market
Afternoon free
19:00 La Traviata at Opera House

I don't see the park where the moat is and the fortress? I can't remember the name but it is across from Gundel Restaurant. There are some museums in the park, if I recall. It was a nice place to stroll.

There is a restaurant outside there at left edge called Robinson worth a stop.It is on the water, and has a lovely atmosphere. http://www.robinsonrestaurant.hu/

lincasanova, that's City Park, where Heroes Sq and Szechenyi Baths are.

I would start day 4 at the central market, then go to the Synagogue, then go to the Terror Museum( not on your list, but it's great, get the headphones so it's in English) and then dinner and then the opera, then you're heading in the same direction and aren't going back and forth as much...just an observation...