I just landed in Budapest, what can you recommend me to see over the next few days?

October 10, 2012 9:32 AM

I just landed in Budapest, what can you recommend me to see over the next few days?

I've just got to my hotel in Budapest and don't have many concrete plans, what should I definitely see whilst I'm here?

On my list is:
The park of all the old statues
House of terror
Baths
Gelarto rosa cafe

I tried searching metalfilter before posting however I can only find pretty old posts about this and I'm looking for someone who might have first hand experience on cool things to do as opposed to only googling.

Also, any good Italian restaurants!

posted by rinsemedown to travel & transportation (11 answers total)

A few things I remember from my visit a few years ago:

The Castle Hill Funicular. There's a good view and some other stuff to see up top.

The thermal bath in City Park. Huge, and you will see all walks of life there.

And Great Market Hall. Enormous, good food, cool building.
posted by spilon at 9:52 AM on October 10, 2012 [2 favorites]

The old statue park is a long jaunt to the edge of town that will eat up most of a day. It is definitely worth seeing. I also suggest The Victor Vasarely Museum, The Postal Museum, and a boat ride along the Danube.
posted by at the crossroads at 10:03 AM on October 10, 2012

Please have some palacsinta, preferably with chocolate sauce. My visit was 20+ years ago and sadly I don't remember where I had them, but I do know that I had them at two different places. My link goes to a Chowhound discussion.

Even better, report back so that I can enjoy them vicariously.
posted by Currer Belfry at 10:09 AM on October 10, 2012

Seconding the Great Market Hall - it is a beautiful, massive structure, with food downstairs and crafts above. It should not be missed.
posted by marlys at 11:28 AM on October 10, 2012

The Dohány Street Synagogue is worth a visit; it's the largest synagogue in Europe. (It fell into disrepair under Communism but has been completely restored.)

As far as food goes, check out Trófea Grill. It's an all-you-can-eat buffet-style restaurant, but so much better than that makes it sound. You'll get a wider variety of Hungarian food than you'll be likely to find anywhere else, and it's all delicious. Make sure to have some of the fried chicken.
posted by asterix at 12:29 PM on October 10, 2012

There a lots of baths - my friend from Budapest recommended the Széchenyi Medicinal Bath to us, and it was wonderful. It's a massive complex that I could have spent all day in (if I'd had all day). It's quite traditional, but not TOO traditional (men and women can swim together, since everyone wears suits).

He also took us to the Central Cafe, where we had the most delicious Hungarian savory scones.
posted by jb at 12:36 PM on October 10, 2012

I really enjoyed a walk up Gellért Hill to get a birds eye view of the city. It's gorgeous at night with the lit up bridges over the Danube.
posted by valrus at 12:40 PM on October 10, 2012

After visiting the House of Terror (which has amazing exhibit design), or the Szechenyi baths, go for a yummy Hungarian lunch (must try langos) at the retro-70s Menza Restaurant on the pedestrian street Liszt Ferenc Ter, just off of Andrassy ut.

Fausto's for Italian/International fine dining.

A lot fewer Danube cruises this time of year. Might be too cold to be enjoyable. Just criss-cross the bridges on foot!

I was also going to recommend the Hungarian House of Wines, but apparently it's not the wine-sampling free-for-all fun that it used to be.

For a short day-trip outside the city, try the small village of Szentendre. It's all cobblestone and pretty and jammed with artists shops. Somewhat tourist trap-ish, but still very charming.
posted by Kabanos at 1:08 PM on October 10, 2012

Fantastic, thanks everybody, plenty to be getting along with here! Much appreciated!
posted by rinsemedown at 7:03 PM on October 10, 2012

Cycle to Szentendre! The ride isn't super-pretty but it is neat to ride along the Danube and see real, suburban Budapest. You can pop your bike on the suburban train (HEV) back to the city if you only want to ride one way. It's about 18-20 km.
posted by mdonley at 7:42 PM on October 10, 2012

I just moved back to the US after almost 3 years in Budapest, and there are a lot of good suggestions here, especially the Széchenyi baths, Terror Ház, Szoborpark, and walking around the Castle (my preference is to get there late in the afternoon and be there for the sunset - the view of the Danube is spectacularly beautiful at night). I would add the Opera House (don't bother with the tour, just get cheap seats to a concert or opera online at Jegymester), MUPA, Gerbeaud Cafe in Vörösmarty tér (super touristy, but great cakes - my favorites are the Gerbeaud/zserbo and dobos torta). If your schedule allows for a wine tour the tours offered by Taste Hungary are great, but I would encourage you to go to a really nice wine bar such as Doblo or Drop Shop and ask the guys there to set you up with some tastings. You should also try to walk around a neighborhood such as the Jewish Quarter or the XIII district (Újlipótváros, just across from Buda near the Margit Bridge - my old neighborhood!) to get a sense of how people really live in the city.

There aren't many really great Italian restaurants in Budapest (according to my Italian colleagues). Fausto's is really, really expensive for the city. The best Italian I had when I lived in Budapest was Porcellino Grasso in Rozsadomb.

my favorite restaurants: Csalogany 26 and Mandragora in Buda. Klassz (great wine selection, they have a wine store branch in the back), M, Koleves in Pest. The Pozsonyi Kisvendéglő got written up in Lonely Planet and so is impossible to get into for dinner unless you make a reservation, but is a nice lunch if you feel like upping your caloric intake significantly. Cafe Central is also great.

and remember that trams get you everywhere and are often better and easier than the subway - plus the 2 tram which runs down the Danube on the Pest side is like a nice little free tour. buses generally run on schedule, but you never know when you might need to get off and push. :) And be careful of pickpockets!
posted by dropkick queen at 9:45 AM on October 11, 2012