Traveling to Hungary: a guide on how not to get bored on vacation by deep immersion in another culture. Hungary is a great country for budget travel

Hungary - original European country interesting for tourists in many aspects. The richest cultural heritage, natural attractions, features of the national temperament are combined for Russians with an economic component that allows them to freely plan budget travel. The main difficulty for Russian tourists is language communication, the Hungarian language (belonging to the Finno-Ugric group) contains practically no familiar words, including when written in Latin. Quite a lot of attendants understand Russian, and the number of Russian-speaking guides is growing.

An example of a typical combined tour would be the eight-day autumn tour "Hungarian Pearls". From the train to Brest, tourists, after passing through customs, transfer to comfortable bus, on which they cross, Slovakia. The excursion program in Hungary begins with Miskolc-Tapolts, a unique cave complex in which thermal baths are built, decorated with light effects. For tourists, excursion time is provided, it is possible to take a health bath in hot springs, for which you need to pay extra.

Many tourists gladly agree to an additional excursion to Vienna, which is 240 kilometers from Budapest. On the way back to the Belarusian border, tourists stop near the numerous castles of Hungary,. There is a stop in Lublin, a tour of the historical center of the city.

Buda Castle;
Cathedral of King Matthias;
Fisherman's Bastion;
basilica of st. Istvan;
Vajdahunyad castle;
the Hungarian Parliament;
Royal Palace;
Heroes Square.

Purpose of travel

Among the resort areas around the huge lake, the town of Siofok stands out. The most popular, comfortable resort has become the center secular life, a place of active youth tourism. The surroundings are decorated with the picturesque river Shio, the beach area is equipped with many well-maintained beaches, cafes, restaurants, nightclubs, discos. From the village of Santod it is easy to move to the uncrowded Tihany Peninsula. Popular entertainments of the aristocratic Santod are horse riding parades, equestrian sports.

For budget tourism expensive city will become Budapest, although here you can find an inexpensive hotel. Of the two thousand, the cheapest booking prices are offered by hotels without an international rating, one-star hotels. In the hostels "Sleepover City", "Pesti szálló", the guest house "Jáde Panzió", the apartments "Artist Residence" you can, with varying degrees of comfort, settle for 1000 - 2000 rubles (in hostels - for one visitor).

For Russian tourists, Austria, Slovakia, Serbia, are the most popular from neighboring countries. Among the developed routes for Russian-speaking guides, a one-day excursion to Vienna is in the first place.

Articles about budget holidays in Hungary:

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Visa difficulties, travel to Hungary

To travel to Hungary you need a Schengen visa. The peculiarities of obtaining a Hungarian visa permit were some additional documents (an extensive questionnaire, a certificate - a referral from a doctor, a confirmed hotel reservation). Independent efforts to fill out documents, visit the embassy can be facilitated by visa centers, travel agencies involved in individual tours. A simplified visa regime will also ensure multiple visits to the Schengen countries.

With the independent processing of documents at the visa center (permanent, long-term visa), tourists themselves can take care of travel to Hungary:

• Most tourists prefer to cross several borders by a two-hour flight to Budapest (1569 km). When ordering a ticket for two weeks, the cost of the ticket will be 20300 - 22800 rubles. If you book early, you can find flights much cheaper.
• If air travel is not possible for health reasons, Budapest can be reached by rail. A direct compartment car to the Moscow-Prague train takes thirty hours to Budapest, the ticket costs 14,184 rubles.
• In terms of prices, the most attractive are combined tours (train to Brest, bus around Europe), which can cost about 26,000 rubles (without the cost of a visa), last-minute tours. The rich program of the combined tour does not provide time for passive, resort holiday subject to daily moves.

An example of a typical combined tour would be the eight-day autumn tour "Hungarian Pearls". From the train to Brest, tourists, after passing through customs, transfer to a comfortable bus, on which they cross Poland, Slovakia. The excursion program in Hungary begins with Miskolc-Tapolts, a unique cave complex in which thermal baths are built, decorated with light effects. For tourists, excursion time is provided, it is possible to take a health bath in hot springs, for which you need to pay extra.

The next stages of the journey are visiting Eger (with a sightseeing bus tour of the city), moving to Budapest. On the way, it is possible to stop in the "Valley of Beauties", lunch in a wine cellar, tasting of collection wines.

A stay in Budapest includes a sightseeing bus and walking tour of the Hungarian capital, optional excursions, a boat trip "Evening Danube", a free day that can be spent on independent walks, shopping, go on an additional excursion to Bratislava (200 km.).

Many tourists gladly agree to an additional excursion to Vienna, which is 240 kilometers from Budapest. On the way back to the Belarusian border, tourists stop near numerous castles in Hungary, Slovakia. There is a stop in Lublin, a tour of the historical center of the city.

A huge plus of such a trip is the constant presence of a bilingual guide. In addition to telling you about the sights, cities, areas included in the program, a good guide will tell you the best shops, cafes, help you choose unfamiliar dishes, communicate with waiters, and service services. Guide recommendations are important when choosing additional excursions, places independent visit, inexpensive souvenirs typical for the region.

Organized tours, selection of the best offers

Most of the offers of tour operators relate to organized tours to Budapest. They are divided by duration, saturation of excursion services. In Moscow, the tour "WEEK-END in Budapest" (4 days) can be bought for 100 euros (without airfare). An eight-day sightseeing tour "Brilliant Budapest" on the same conditions costs 170 euros.

The main objects included in the excursions in Budapest:
Buda Castle;
Cathedral of King Matthias;
Fisherman's Bastion;
basilica of st. Istvan;
Vajdahunyad castle;
the Hungarian Parliament;
Royal Palace;
Heroes Square.

Experienced tourists who have already visited Budapest are interested in other places in Hungary. They can choose an eight-day tour that includes a visit to Budapest, four Hungarian provinces. To the cost of the tour (400 euros) you need to add the price of plane tickets.

Currency exchange, food prices, shopping

The Russian ruble costs about 4 forints (more precisely 4.2-4.3 HUF). Accordingly, for 100 dollars you will receive 28 thousand forints, for 100 euros - 31000. Currency exchange in Hungary does not bring difficulties, but you need to carefully monitor the best rates, commissions, avoid exchange offices at airports, train stations, where rates are overpriced. Almost all hotels and shopping centers accept Visa and MasterCard bank cards. The exception is small shops, sellers in the markets.

In terms of food prices, Hungary can be attributed to the best countries in Europe. In summer and autumn, the prices of fruits and vegetables are much lower than in Moscow. Selected apricots, peaches, pears, apples cost 50-60 cents (per kilogram). At a cost of about a dollar, elite varieties of gourmet table grapes are sold.

Numerous taverns, pubs, cafes, and restaurants are also distinguished by affordable prices. There are many international, Hungarian fast food establishments that are difficult to recommend to gourmets. From fast food, the Hungarian kyurtoskalach is popular. Charcoal fried dough with various toppings costs 600 forints. How much does a big strudel cost? Ice cream is sold in individual balls, 250 forints each.

National Hungarian cuisine, which connoisseurs consider very tasty, prevails in the menu of most cafes and restaurants. The consistently high level of culinary specialists is striking. Even in budget cafes there are no tasteless dishes. The basis of Hungarian cuisine is meat of various varieties (pork, game, poultry). Among the vegetables in the first place are sweet peppers, tomatoes, onions, potatoes. Hungarians treat desserts with restraint, in a typical menu there are two or three simple salads.

Classical dishes of national cuisine combine the first and second. These are the favorite dishes of the Hungarians - goulash, lecho (thick soup made from onions, paprika, tomatoes, boiled smoked pork sausage). Only in Hungary you can taste a real pörkölt - a mixture of several types of meat prepared in a special way. Its ingredients can be veal, rabbit, pork, lamb, wild boar meat. Paprikash is prepared from the same ingredients, stewed in sour cream.

Hungarians love goose liver in all forms (foie gras, medallions). Traditional desserts are "palacsinta" (thin puff pancakes stuffed with sweet stuffing), Dobosh cake.

Huge portions do not allow ordering multiple dishes. Without touching on trendy, expensive restaurants, it must be said that you can dine "to your heart's content" in an average Budapest restaurant for $20. A modest dinner without wine at the famous Gundel restaurant will cost the same amount, where they serve Gendel's signature pike perch, Gundel pancakes known throughout Hungary (“palacsinta” stuffed with nuts, doused with chocolate). In youth restaurants, you can limit yourself to beer, the most expensive dish (goose liver medallions, complemented by a complex side dish). All this costs 2500 forints.

Moving around Budapest is most economical on public transport (metro, bus). One trip costs 350 forints. You need to buy a ticket at a kiosk, the payment to the driver is more expensive - 450 forints. At in large numbers transportation is convenient day (1650 HUF), three-day (4150 HUF) travel. A two-week pass (7000 HUF) is suitable for some intercity buses, trains.

As souvenirs, Russian tourists buy elegant national dolls, marzipan figurines (3 euros), Tokay wines (8 euros), fruit vodka (palinka), delicious Unicum herbal balm (11 euros), ceramics, porcelain vases, figurines (25 -30 euros). Very beautiful embroidered tablecloths, napkins in the national style, which are better to buy in the provinces.

Purpose of travel

The main goals of the trip to Hungary are educational, health, medical, youth tourism. Landlocked, Hungarian tour operators offer extensive beach, resort, wellness holiday at Lake Balaton.

Among the resort areas around the huge lake, the town of Siofok stands out. The most popular, comfortable resort has also become the center of social life, a place of active youth tourism. The surroundings are decorated with the picturesque river Shio, the beach area is equipped with many well-maintained beaches, cafes, restaurants, nightclubs, discos. From the village of Santod it is easy to move to the uncrowded Tihany Peninsula. Popular entertainments of the aristocratic Santod are horse riding parades, equestrian sports.

On the north coast, Balatonfured is popular for families. There are many green areas and healing springs in the city. The nearby Tihany peninsula is notable for its historical architectural monuments. In the towns of Szigliget and Badacsony, you can visit cozy restaurants with fine wines, see the ruins of the Castle Hill fortress.

Many tourists are attracted by the possibilities of effective treatment in Hungary. The country is distinguished by a huge number of mineral springs. Among the resort areas stand out Harkan (treatment of skin diseases), the unique lake Heviz.

The volcanic origin of Lake Heviz allows the water to be constantly renewed (in 28-48 hours). This phenomenon is unique to the same lake in New Zealand. Lake silt contains a natural antibiotic, suitable for mud therapy. It is better to swim in the lake in winter (about 26⁰C), in summer the water is too hot (33-34⁰C).

Heviz sanatoriums are specialized in the treatment of arthritis, gout, rheumatism, gastric diseases, gynecology. Successfully undergoes treatment of skin diseases, endocrine disorders, rehabilitation after operations.

Wine tours in Hungary are popular in all seasons, especially successful in autumn. The center of elite winemaking is Tokaj. Wines "Tokaji", "Bull's blood" are unique in taste. Thanks to the grapes growing on volcanic soil, Badacsony wine, popular in Hungary, stands out with its peculiar taste. Other original Hungarian drinks are sweet raisin wine and apricot vodka.

Best seasons to visit Hungary

The climate of Hungary is quite hot in summer and cold in winter. In winter, the activity of tourists is significantly reduced, only trips to Budapest are relevant. Good weather starts from mid-April, the tourist season ends in the second half of October. From an economic point of view, the beginning and end of the season are beneficial, although the lowest prices in tourist regions occur in winter.

The highest summer prices ( catering, accommodation). This is due to the influx foreign tourists, Hungarian vacationers. Wonderful spring Hungary is preferable for cognitive tourism, when excursions are not tiring, accompanied by the flowering of nature.

In autumn, after the recession of the peak prices, Hungary is open to gastronomic, wine tourism at a minimum cost. In May, October it is easy to find inexpensive accommodation (motels, hostels, campsites, boarding houses), which is problematic in summer.

Independent travel around the country

Rare enthusiasts venture on a long independent road trip to Hungary across several borders, although a small group of tourists can see most of everything by car. Alternative option car rental will become, there are a lot of rental car points in Hungary. Average European rental prices (80 - 100 dollars) make it rational with constant movement (savings in transport), dividing the cost into four participants, a well-thought-out program that reduces the cost of excursion services.

The recognized benefits of road travel are obvious: the freedom to choose a route, the ability to search, select cheap hotels. You will have to spend time at home preparing the route. A thorough study of materials, historical sites, will allow you to include in the route the maximum number of attractions, interesting natural areas, castles located near the main route of the trip.

Gasoline prices in Hungary tend to European ones, A-95 gasoline here costs 1.22 euros (more expensive than in Poland, the Czech Republic), diesel fuel can be bought for € 1.16. In spring and autumn it is easy to find inexpensive motels, campsites where you can spend the night for twenty euros.

Budget accommodation in Hungarian hotels

For budget tourism, Budapest will be the most expensive city, although here you can find an inexpensive hotel. Of the two thousand hotels in Budapest, the cheapest booking prices are offered by hotels without an international rating, one-star hotels. In the hostels "Sleepover City", "Pesti szálló", the guest house "Jáde Panzió", the apartments "Artist Residence" you can, with varying degrees of comfort, settle for 1000 - 2000 rubles (in hostels - for one visitor).

When booking in advance (one month in advance), you can order budget housing in the provincial Balatonfüred, choosing from 136 hotels. Three-star hotels "Park", "Panorama" offer two vacationers to settle in September for 4200 - 4800 rubles. The best prices for accommodation are offered by apartments, private boarding houses. In the provincial Buka, you can book accommodation for September at affordable prices. Janza Apartmanház offers a one-room studio for 1480 rubles, Gerti Haus provides a two-bedroom apartment for 1630 rubles.

Possible excursions to neighboring countries

Bratislava castle, Slovakia

For Russian tourists, Austria, Slovakia, Serbia, Croatia are the most popular from neighboring countries. Among the developed routes for Russian-speaking guides, a one-day excursion to Vienna is in the first place.

The program of an interesting trip includes travel in a minibus, a sightseeing tour of the Austrian capital, an inspection of the buildings of the Parliament, the Town Hall, the Opera. The pedestrian part usually includes the courtyards of the Hofburg, the City Park. Other places to visit are the Belvedere Palace, the Baroque Karlskirche Church, the pavilions of Otto Wagner, the Hundertwasser House, and old Viennese cafes. An individual tour for two or three people costs 300 - 400 euros.

Excursion to Bratislava allows you to see historical Center, go up to Bratislava Castle. Tourists visit new bridge, Cathedral of St. Martin, Fisherman's Gate, National Theater of Slovakia, Old Town Hall. On the way to Bratislava excursion program the old Gyor is usually included. cozy town considered the Hungarian center of the Austrian Baroque. Beautiful churches, palaces, well-groomed parks stand out in urban architecture. Lunch is often included in the cost of an excursion for 50-70 euros.

If you are planning an independent trip to Budapest, you will have an unforgettable trip! This city will pleasantly surprise and delight you with its cultural riches, and architectural grandeur, and excellent cuisine, and a unique atmosphere, and thermal springs .... And so that your impressions of independent travel were pleasant, we have collected useful information that a tourist who goes to Budapest on his own should know. What should be considered when planning a trip? What to pay attention to? What is the best way to organize a trip to Budapest on your own? Look for answers in our article...

Budapest on your own: visa

A Schengen visa is required to visit Hungary. For short-term tourist and business trips, a category C visa is issued - as a rule, it is issued for a period of at least three months. The official provider of visa processing services for Hungary is currently Pony Express.

If renting an apartment in Budapest seems too exotic or inconvenient for you, then look for traditional hotels. Some of the hotels in Budapest are part-time SPA centers and are equipped with baths. This is an ideal option for those who travel to Budapest not only for cultural and sightseeing holidays, but also for wellness procedures. The most famous of these hotels is, of course, the legendary Gellert. In addition, a spa hotel on Margaret Island is popular.

Well, for young, unpretentious and not burdened by wealth travelers who are ready to share a room with other neighbors, there are many hostels and guest houses .

Where to stay in Budapest?

"Tourist's Dream" - the so-called "Inner City", or the city of Leopold. There are many attractions of Budapest concentrated there, and almost all places are easily accessible on foot.

The Eržebetváros area is also convenient for tourists - it is also within walking distance of the most interesting places (St. Stephen's Basilica, the Great Synagogue, the Hungarian Opera House, Heroes' Square, etc.), but at the same time living in it is a little cheaper. Here is the famous Jewish quarter of Budapest.

The three districts we have listed are on the side of Pest, on the right, flat bank of the Danube. If you want to feel the spirit of ancient Buda, consider the options on the legendary Castle Hill, or Buda Hill (Budavar district). This colorful area With richest history located on the left bank of the Danube. From a practical point of view, it is less convenient than the areas on the side of Pest (on the right bank), because. there are all the main stations, and a more developed infrastructure for a comfortable stay (shops, supermarkets, parking lots, a choice of cafes, transport - Pest “wins” in all these positions). However, romantic independent travelers Buda will conquer with its cozy atmosphere, old streets with medieval and renaissance buildings and magnificent views of the plains of Pest.

Currency and money exchange

Despite the fact that the country is a member of the EU, the "native" currency - forints - is also in use here, along with the euro. You can exchange money in numerous exchange offices around the city. We do not advise you to contact the exchange office at the airport - there is far from the most favorable exchange rate. However, you can find a way out! In the airport building, in the arrivals hall, there is a Spar supermarket - buy there some little thing like water, paying euros, and get change in forints at an acceptable rate.

Another tip - keep in mind that most exchange offices do not work on Sunday, and those that are open offer currency at a very unfavorable rate.

Transport in Budapest

How to get from the airport to Budapest

shuttleMiniBUD

These are minibuses for 8-10 people, somewhat reminiscent of minibuses. But they take each passenger to their destination (hotel, home). And although they try to unite passengers so as not to wind around the city, nevertheless, due to the need to bring everyone to different addresses, the trip can be delayed. Especially if you travel the farthest. The undoubted advantage is the comparative (almost twice) cheapness compared to a standard taxi - a shuttle ride costs from 7 euros. You can book a trip in advance on the website (the service is only available in English or Hungarian).

Transfer Kiwi Taxi

The Kiwi Taxi transfer is convenient for those who do not want to deal with the intricacies of public transport, but at the same time do not want to overpay taxi drivers working at the airport. In addition, booking services are available in Russian, which is especially important for tourists who do not speak English or Hungarian.

On the site you can choose a taxi of the required class (from economy to premium), even look for a suitable model. The cost of the trip is from € 32, depending on the size and class of the car. This option will be especially beneficial for those traveling with a small company - in this case, the cost of the trip is divided into all fellow travelers. .

Bus

From the airport to Budapest can be reached by buses 200E and 100E. They run from 4 am to night (200E - until 23.00, 100E - last flight to the airport at 00.30).

A travel card is valid for 200E, without it the price of the trip is 350 forints. The driver's ticket will cost more - 450 forints.

The 100E pass is not valid, the fare here is 900 forints. The ticket is sold by the driver. It is best to take it to the Kőbánya-Kispest metro station, from where you can already move in your direction.

At night, night transport with the emblem of an owl runs around the city. At this time, in addition to a taxi, you can go to the airport by bus 900 route. To get to the center, you will have to make a transfer near the Határ út metro station - transfer to buses 914, 914A, 950 or 950A.

Car rent

If you plan to actively move around Hungary or plan to travel by car also to neighboring countries, you can rent a car. You can do this already at the airport or in Budapest itself - whichever is more convenient for you. When booking a car in Hungary, it is convenient to choose from the offers of several car rental companies at once in order to be able to compare. To do this, you can use special car rental services, for example,.

electric train

Not the most convenient way to get from the airport to Budapest on your own. Suburban train departs from Ferihegy station, which still needs to be reached from terminal 2 by bus. There is a train to Nyugati West Station. There are about 100 trains per day. The fare is 370 forints, there are travel cards, the same as for the bus.

Public transport in Budapest

Public transport in the Hungarian capital is very diverse and works like clockwork. Timetable buses And trolleybuses hangs at every stop and is strictly enforced. At the same time, it is worth knowing that the stop in Hungarian sounds like meg’all’o (megallo) and is often denoted simply by the letter “M”, causing an association with the metro. However, it is difficult to get confused here - each type of transport in Budapest has its own icon and is indicated by its own color: the bus is blue, the trolleybus is red, the tram is yellow. Metros and river buses are marked with black and white logos.

This is interesting

Trolleybuses have numbers starting from the 70th. This is explained quite interestingly - in 1949, when the first Budapest tram was launched, the 70th anniversary of Stalin was celebrated. In honor of this event, the first tram route was named, from which the countdown of all the following routes began.

Tickets must be purchased in advance and validated upon boarding. You can also buy from the driver, but then it will be more expensive. A regular ticket is valid for 60 minutes, with a transfer - 90 minutes, and on the yellow metro line - 30 minutes. Be careful - vigilant controllers work on all lines, and fines are decent here.

Metro Budapest includes only 4 lines, and most of the stations are located on the low bank of the Danube - in Pest.

This is interesting

The Budapest metro is one of the oldest in the world and the oldest on the European continent (except for the dwarf Tunel in Istanbul)! In addition, this is the world's first electric subway. So the Budapest "underground" is not just a transport, but also an old landmark!

Buda funicular Siklo

Climbing Mount Buda, to the Buda Castle. It is small in height - only 95 meters, but it is the oldest operating funicular in the world. In addition, the views from it are wonderful.

Trains HEV

Suburban transport, which makes it easy to get to a distance of 20-50 km from the city. Within the boundaries of the city, a regular ticket is valid, when leaving it at the box office or from the conductor, an additional one is purchased, its cost depends on the distance. With the help of HEV, you can quickly reach popular tourist towns such as Szentendre, or the village of artists, Godolo, where the palace of Empress Sissi is located, and Rackeve with its beautiful Orthodox church.

Rack tram

It has the number 60 and an additional rail in the middle, but not smooth, but notched, which allows it to "climb" the mountains. So it can be called a tram-"alpinist"! Rides up the Buda Hill, runs from 5 am to 11 pm with an interval of 20 minutes. At its final stop at the top of Széchenyi-hegy, you can take another unusual transport - the children's railway - and continue your way up.

Toy railway

Narrow gauge railway built in 1948-1950. Schoolchildren work on it, mastering railway specialties. It is considered the longest in the world of their similar railways, where children work. When you get off at the János-hegy station, you are within walking distance of the upper station of the cable car, which will take you down.

Cable car (Libegő)

Climb up Mount Janos for breathtaking views of Budapest.

River tram

The choice of walks along the Danube in Budapest is very large. We recommend using the river trams related to public transport, or boat service, running on four routes - D11, D12, D13 and D14. On weekdays, you can ride them using a travel card (if available) for free.

Travel cards

To save on transport, you can purchase tickets, for example, for one day - Budapest 24-hour travel card or for three days Budapest 72-hourtravelcard. The start time of such tickets is up to you. There are other options that can be checked at the box office. Do not forget that such a travel card (including for a day) also gives you the right to travel on a cog tram, as well as on a water bus on weekdays.

Healthy

If you plan to actively use public transport during an independent trip to Budapest, you will need a mobile application in which you can clarify routes and plan trips. It is available for the App Store and Google Play.

tourist transport

Like any European capital, Budapest has several types of Hop On Hop Off sightseeing routes at once. Buses run along the main attractions, with one ticket you can get on and off at any stop on the route and, having examined the places, continue the trip on the next bus. The average ticket price is 18-25 euros (depending on the route, the ticket is taken for a day, two or three). Tickets are valid from the moment the first trip starts. There are many options, including: Giraffe Hop On Hop Off City Tour, City Sightseeing Budapest Hop-On Hop-Off Tours. Big Bus Tours, Hop On Hop Off Budapest.

How to eat and what to try in Budapest

Budapest delights tourists with delicious Hungarian cuisine, a large selection of dishes and rather big portions. Food is a separate page on a trip to Hungary, which is famous for its national cuisine. So, what should you definitely try in Budapest?

You should definitely try the traditional hungarian goulash, which is more of a first than a second course - real Hungarian goulash (more precisely, "guiash") resembles a very thick soup.

Hungarian goulash

Another favorite soup among Hungarians is bean soup. Soup Yokai (Jókai), named after the 19th-century novelist Mora Yokai, who was very fond of this dish. Also noteworthy pörkölt- a thick dish of stew with paprika. If you prefer chicken, try paprikash (Paprikas csirke). Also in Budapest you can taste the most popular Hungarian sausage - Salami Pick, or just buy it with you as a souvenir.

Of the Hungarian sweets, do not forget to also try kürtőskalács- fragrant pastries sprinkled with sugar, vanilla and cinnamon. For sweets, we also recommend an airy cake. Rigo Jancsi, and of course Dobosh cake ( Dobostorta) - a real Hungarian classic. Another item on the culinary menu - marzipan, which is probably more in Hungary than anywhere else in the world. It is not only eaten here, but whole museums are dedicated to it, such as the one located in Szentendre, a picturesque town, a haven for artists, sculptors and other artists in the suburbs.

Of the alcoholic drinks in Budapest, you should try the world-famous tokay wine. Prices for it are very democratic - a decent wine costs from 5-10 euros. Another drink that is also considered national is the herbal balm. Unique.

River walk with dinner: combine business with pleasure!

One of the most colorful and romantic ways to get acquainted with the national Hungarian cuisine in Budapest is a walk along the Danube with dinner, accompanied by live music. This option is suitable for discerning and romantic travelers. You can book a walk with dinner.

Thrifty tourists can eat on their own, buying national Hungarian products in supermarkets or even markets. It should be noted that most grocery stores are open from Monday to Friday from 7 am to 6 pm, on Saturday until lunchtime, and on Sunday most of them are closed. Numerous cafes of Budapest remain for hungry guests of the city, among which there are many old ones. And there is where to roam!

Interesting and unusual places in Budapest:

Cafe Zhivago (Café Zsivago) famous for its hot chocolate. And here you will find a recreated atmosphere of an apartment from the times of Austria-Hungary with deep soft armchairs, round tables under carpeted tablecloths, Viennese chairs. Address: Paulay Ede u. 55.

Cafe New York. Considered one of the most beautiful cafes in the world. It is located on the first floor of a five-star hotel, quite expensive, but tourists tend to visit it at least to admire its interiors.

The famous New York cafe in Budapest

ruin bars. They are located in Eržebetváros, the Jewish quarter of Budapest. After the Second World War, this ancient area looked very deplorable. And in subsequent years, more and more dilapidated. This continued until, in the early 2000s, enterprising Budapesters came up with the idea of ​​arranging bars right in abandoned buildings, making their unsightly appearance and poor condition the main “chip” of establishments. Bars appeared literally "among the ruins" and quickly gained such popularity that the area turned from seedy into one of the most fashionable. Today, life here is literally in full swing, both at night and during the day - both locals and tourists arrange bar-surfing through the "ruin bars" of Budapest, moving from one to another.

The pioneer of ruin bars, the Szimpla Kert bar, hosts a farmer's fair on Sundays, one of the most popular in Budapest.

Ruin bar in Budapest

Confectionery in Budapest

The capital of Hungary is deservedly sometimes called the "city of the sweet tooth." To be here and not sit in one of the dozens of small cozy pastry shops is unforgivable.

Deservedly popular is one of the oldest, Ruszvurm (Ruszwurm Cukraszda) on the Buda Hill, not far from the Matthias Church. They say that Empress Sisi herself, a well-known sweet tooth, beauty and people's favorite, went into it. Address: Szentháromság u. 7.

House of Gourmet Samos (Szamos Gourmet Ház)- a confectionery house, known throughout the country. There you will find a cafe, a chocolate boutique and even a chocolatier school where you can learn how to make chocolate yourself. And at the entrance, all guests are met by a marzipan girl (it really took 70 kg of marzipan), copied from the painting “Chocolate Girl” by the artist Jean-Etienne Lyotard (XVIII century). Address: Vaci u. 1.

Another popular confectionery belongs to the same brand - Szamos Marcipan Cukraszda(address: Párizsi u. 3).

Sugar shop "Sugar!"

Sugar is literally everywhere and in a variety of forms. The shop is a real natural antidepressant, the fantasy of its confectioners, who create their sugar masterpieces, is truly limitless. Sweet figurines from here can also be a great souvenir from Hungary. Address: Paulay Ede u. 48.

If you are looking for a wide selection of local Hungarian products, check out two popular markets in Budapest:

Central Market. The oldest, largest and most colorful market in the Hungarian capital. It is not only a paradise for gourmets, but also for lovers of souvenirs. You can eat in the cafe located on the second floor, or you can just have a bite to eat literally on the go, buying sliced ​​\u200b\u200bsausage and fresh bread right next to it.

Feny utcai piac- the market on Fen Street, less touristy, and therefore not so expensive. And the choice here is no worse than in the Central.

Sightseeing in Budapest on your own

What to see

There are many interesting places in Budapest - for every taste! Admire fantastic panoramic views and glimpse into history at Mount Gellert. Walk along Castle Hill breathing in the spirit of centuries of history. Admire the majestic royal palace, look into the gothic Matthias temple, arrange a photo session in Fisherman's Bastion… All this awaits you on the side of Buda, on the left bank of the Danube.

And on the opposite side, where Pest is spread out on the plain, grandiose Parliament, majestic basilica of st. istvana, building Hungarian Opera, Freedom Square, Varosliget Park, elegant Andrássy Avenue.…Here, in the Jewish quarter, is the largest in Europe Central synagogue.

Looking for something different and less touristy? Take a walk along the green, cozy Margaret Island. Or take a look at memento park, where sculptural monuments of the Soviet past of Hungary are collected. Or admire the building Franz Liszt Academy- an art deco masterpiece.

Explore the city with a free offline travel guide foriPhone

Find information about the main attractions of Budapest and plan your trip at mobile application Travelry. Free with offline map and GPS navigation will become an assistant in your journey. And if you want an even more in-depth and exciting exploration of the city, download ours and walk around the city with a personal guide who tells interesting stories about the city and at the same time fits in your pocket!

The Budapest Mobile Guide is currently only available for iPhone, but an Android version is in development.

Save with the Budapest Card

If you plan to actively visit the museums of Budapest, use public transport, organize a rich cultural program, then using the Budapest Card will help you save money. It gives you the right to use public transport for free, get two free walking tours, visit the Lukács Baths for free, and many museums and galleries in Budapest. In addition, there are discounts for visiting many other popular places, including theaters, bathhouses, cafes and restaurants. The card can be purchased for one day (€ 19), two (€ 29) or three (€ 37). Find more detailed information and you can purchase a card online on the official website or through the Ticketbar service.

Things to do in Budapest on your own

Relax in the baths of Budapest

Visiting at least one is an indispensable task for any tourist, because the city literally stands on thermal springs. Among the most popular baths in Budapest - Széchenyi, Gellert, And Lukacs. And at the foot of Mount Gellert, an old colorful Turkish bath lurks. Rudash, known since the 16th century (it has men's and women's days). You can also go to the bath Veli Bay opposite the baths of Lukács - it is rarely visited by tourists, and therefore looks more comfortable and intimate.

Great trip to Hungary. August 2013.
Budapest has attracted me with its architecture since my student years. And so I made up my mind. The base price of the trip was 376 euros + travel to Moscow. In addition, another 105 euros were spent on visiting baths and restaurants. At the time of my trip, the exchange rate was 1 euro = about 300 forints. August - great month for traveling around Europe by bus tour.
Early in the morning, having arrived on the Brest train, we got on the bus and drove around Poland. The road is familiar and very long. But, I knew what I was getting into and therefore, almost resignedly endured the long journey to the first hotel in Slovakia. On the way we made a stop in the beautiful Polish town of Lublin.
After spending the night at the hotel on the way to Miskolc, the most interesting and full of impressions journey began.
It was August 20, and we got to the feast of St. Stephen the Great - this is the first king of the Kingdom of Hungary, the main patron saint of Hungary. This is the most important national holiday in Hungary, which is celebrated with mass celebrations, fireworks and theatrical performances on the theme of national history.
First we were taken to the baths of Miskolc (2500 forints). There we swam in different grottoes and enjoyed the warm thermal waters. We were lucky and we heard professional cheerful drummers who beat the rhythm of joy on 10 drums, which added even more drive to us.
Our journey continued, and we visited a tasting of Tokay wines (7 euros) in a cellar, on the ceiling of which we saw hanging mold in garlands - necessary for the maturation of real Tokay wine. The wine, of course, is amazing, made honestly in compliance with all traditions.
In the evening we arrived in Budapest and rushed to the bridge at a fast pace to watch the fabulous fireworks! We did. I stood spellbound and thought with delight: “This is how Budapest meets us!”
After there was lunch and a tour of Budapest, where we got acquainted with the Buda Castle, the Fisherman's Bastion, the Parliament building, the city's Basilica, the Heroes' Square ensemble with the Museum of Fine Arts.
In the afternoon we were waiting for swimming in Széchenyi (4.100 forints for the whole day). You need to take everything with you: a towel, shampoo, etc.
In the center of the open-air bath is a large swimming pool.
To the left is a swimming pool with water activities. It is divided into 3 parts. In outer ring there are water geysers. On average - a turbulent river with an exciting current. And in the center is a jacuzzi tub. So, water geysers turn on every 20 minutes (at: 00,: 20 and: 40 of each hour), and for 10 minutes everyone standing over such a geyser can feel its power. How to find out where the geyser comes from? Look for large white circles at the bottom, and rise above them before the appointed time (:00,:20 and:40 every hour).
The right (from the entrance) pool is a thermal spring with bromine water. The water here has a temperature of 38 degrees. And it is not recommended to stay in such a pool for more than 20 minutes.
Behind the pool of bromine water, two doors are visible - one of them leads down, the other - up.
We go down the stairs leading down to the door with the inscription "Szauna". This Hungarian word, as you might guess, means sauna.
Another door from the street leads you upstairs. Some may be confused by signs with a painted toilet and shower. There is a complex of thermal pools with water of different temperatures. There are not many people inside the building during the summer, so in some pools it is quite possible to swim.
And at the far end is a wet sauna.
I also managed to visit the Budapest Zoo. I like the sight of animals kept in such "captivity", surrounded by care and attention. I especially liked the pelicans trying to swallow the turtles basking in the sun in the lake and the pavilion with butterflies. The indoor hall, with interactive exhibits for children, awakens curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. Monkeys are the most popular animals in the zoo. Well, they are very similar to us, only without complexes.
Next, another surprise awaited us - a walk along the Danube on a boat at night. Classical music, champagne, the quiet gliding of our boat on the river, the illuminated Parliament Building reflected in the water… A fairy tale! (17 euros)
The night at the hotel in Budapest began in the morning, because the guide Ninochka and I walked around the beautiful Budapest and could not fall asleep with delight!
On the third day of our eventful route, Esztergom-Visegrad-Szentendre were waiting for us.
Breakfast. A trip to the bend of the Danube to the three most beautiful cities of Hungary. We saw the ancient capital of the Hungarian kings - Szentendre. St. Andrew. This small town, located on the left bank of the picturesque bend of the Danube, 20 km northwest of Budapest. The town is very popular among tourists ... a kind of museum and souvenir Mecca (more than 20 operating museums on the territory of 43.88 km2) It turns out almost 1 museum per 1 thousand local population (mostly creative people: artists, ceramics masters, winemakers and shopkeepers) :) But Szentendre is famous not only for this museum. Narrow, cobbled streets, with colorful small houses and various souvenir shops, flock to the main square F & ter - pl. Fe, where the place of honor is occupied by the Plague Cross. While descending from the Belgrade Church, an interesting building caught my eye behind the synagogue ... cultural center"Mill of Arts" (Museum of Contemporary Masters of Painting and Ceramics, Bogdaniy St., 51) ... it was not in vain that we stopped by!
We go down (it should be noted that all city sights are within walking distance from each other) ... to the "Labyrinth", the guide pointed at this building, saying that we could have lunch here. This institution is the Wine Museum. 1st floor - restaurant, basement - tasting room ... 2in1 :)
The Margit Kovacs Museum is located on Vastagh Gy& 1, the street that goes down to the Danube from the Church of the Annunciation.... Margit Kovacs is a talented artist and ceramist. It is believed that Margit was one of the first to use the potter's wheel for the manufacture of figures and entire plastic compositions of large size ... in a word, take a look!
There was also a shop with marzipan figures.
touching cultural heritage Kovacs, we went for a walk along the Danube embankment. Beauty!
I had lunch in a restaurant for 6 euros: vegetable salad, mushroom soup, spaghetti with cream sauce and ham, and of course I took black beer.
Then we were brought to the foot of the mountain on which Esztergom Cathedral stood - the most high building Hungary and the largest church in the country.
Esztergom is one of the oldest cities in Hungary. The first known inhabitants of this settlement were the Celts. In Roman times, there was a fortified settlement called Salvio Mancio.
Esztergom was the first capital of Hungary. In the city fortress, built in 972, the first Hungarian king and founder of the state, Saint Stephen, was born.
Today Esztergom serves as the residence of the head of the Hungarian Catholic Church, the Archbishop of Esztergom.
The symbol of Esztergom is the archbishop's cathedral. It is the largest temple in Hungary. It contains the world's largest altarpiece, written in whole piece canvas.
The unique attraction of the cathedral is the only completely preserved building of the Bakots chapel built of mahogany and marble.
The cathedral treasury holds a gigantic collection of precious Hungarian ecclesiastical objects. Among its exhibits are the most beautiful goblets made of horn, a masterpiece of Gothic art - the Shuka bowl, as well as a unique golden jewel - the crosses of King Matthias. In the lower cathedral there is the tomb of Archbishop Jožev Mindszenty, which serves as a place of pilgrimage for Christians.
Below the basilica is an area with jagged cobblestone pavements leading up the hill, where there are several interesting museums. The Christian Museum, located in the palace of the archbishop of the 19th century, houses the richest collection of Italian paintings of the Middle Ages, tapestries, porcelain and faience. But we did not go there, there was no time.
Further, our path lay in Visegrad - a city in the central part of Hungary. There we climbed a high hill, where we visited an ancient fortress. The view from this hill is amazing. And why am I fascinated by the panoramas from the top of the mountain? The Danube calmly carried its waters, and the white ships proudly and slowly went on their own. I wanted to stay there, but there was still a lot of interesting things ahead of us, so I returned to the bus, which became almost my home.
In the evening we went together to Czardas (27 euros), where there was a lot of music, dancing, wine and delicious Hungarian food. I so wanted to stay longer, but our group was the last one to stay in the hall. The musicians played for us and we danced and sang to the surprise of Italians, Germans and other tourist groups.
The next day, half of the group went to get acquainted with Vienna. I was there and therefore thought out a plan for a free walk around Budapest in advance.
The Gellert Bath was waiting for me (4900 forints for the whole day) The Gellert hydrotherapy bath is a masterpiece of Budapest art nouveau, opened in 1918 at the foot of the hill of the same name on the banks of the Danube. Despite the information on the Internet, I found only 5 reservoirs: an indoor pool (where a cap is required), an outdoor wave pool, 3 thermal pools with different temperatures: 36-40 °. One of which is called "purgatory" because of the high temperature of the water. Luxurious halls and marble look original and unusual. They say that in the 17th century this bath was named Gryaznoyt - from the healing silt deposited at the bottom of the pools. The source that feeds the entire complex has been known for about 2000 years. Water composition: sodium, calcium and magnesium carbonate ions, chlorides, sulfates and a significant amount of fluorine ions. By the way, I got into a funny position there. Once again, returning to the indicated number, I opened the locker to take the camera, I found that it was empty. I am completely confused. There are no Russians there and not a single person from the staff speaks Russian. I stand and wonder, probably 30 seconds. My confused look and, as it turned out later, not only that, the man noticed. He gestured to me that I was in the men's section of the locker room (and the numbers of the cabinets are the same there). I follow the labyrinths of endless corridors, I did not notice a single sign with M and F figures. Everything is on trust, everything is on trust… I don’t suffer from “topographic cretinism”, as you probably thought, but then I went into the men’s department again, because I got lost again, and for no other reason. By chance, of course. By the way, you have to undress right in the corridor, where a person of any gender can accidentally wander. I was not taken aback and the shower room served as a changing cabin for me.
The thermal waters, in which I basked for almost 4 hours, relaxed me, but when I was outside, I decided to continue my journey to the top of Mount Gellert. Having reached the highest point of Budapest, I once again admired my favorite panorama. Then I decided to go along the goat path around the perimeter of this mountain. The view is amazing, but I already wanted to eat a lot. Therefore, I returned to the bazaar I had chosen in the morning, walking along the green bridge to the other side of the Danube. Of course, it was possible to take a tram that was slipping by. But there was no stop in sight. Finally, I sat down in a restaurant, ordered goulash and beer. Having refreshed myself, I went to buy gifts at the market. But it was not there. The Hungarians were curtailing trade because the time was approaching five. I quickly bought a handbag and a wig in souvenir jars, I went on. I wandered into a simple store and bought face creams, hair dye, paprika in a large bag. Then I went to the street, nicknamed "Little Paris", where plane trees grow. There, to my surprise and joy, I got to the concert of the chef's choir of one of the cafes. It was so fun and professional. Then I sat down in a cafe and ordered Mahito. They brought me a huge "vase" and I began to devour a mint-lime cocktail while listening to a violin quartet. The feeling of relaxation and freedom inspired me to new adventures, but getting up from my chair, I realized that it was time to go to the hotel. Legs wobbled. Arriving at the Hungaria Hotel, I met our group of night travelers who again set off on their journey through the night Budapest. And I did not go, which I still regret, but I had to restore my exhausted strength for further travel.
Tomorrow we had a trip to the royal cities: Szekesfehervar - Veszprem - Heviz / Balaton. Szekesfehervar - the first throne city of the Hungarian rulers. For five centuries, the main temple of the country stood here, where 37 kings and 39 queens were crowned. There, at the expense of the inhabitants, a funny clock was built, which shows a performance several times a day. We were lucky to see it at 10.00.
Veszprem - "City of Kings", where the first residence of the bishop of the country was located.
The main attractions of Veszprem are concentrated on the Fortress Hill, in the most ancient part of the city. Among them, it is worth noting the Bishop's Palace, which is located in the center of the Old Town on Holy Trinity Square. It was built in the Baroque style in the late 70s of the XVIII century.
Cathedral of St. Michael.- This is the first cathedral on this site. It was built in 1001 in the Romanesque style, subsequently rebuilt many times. The current appearance of the cathedral took after another restructuring in 1910. Only the crypt altar has been preserved from the original ancient temple. On the north side, the remains of the ancient chapel of St. George, ninth century.
Beautiful ensemble of Ovaros ter square. Ovaros ter Square, located at the foot of the castle hill, is surrounded by beautiful baroque mansions, among which the town hall and the house of the Posa family stand out. In the afternoon, our path led to the warm waters of Lake Heviz and the purple lilies that sheltered its water. On the way there, I dived into the silky water of Lake Balaton.
The Hungarian "sea" Balaton has always been shrouded in a fog of legends. Some say that at the bottom of the lake there is a church in which a girl weeps bitterly. And the more the beauty cries, the more more water the lakes fill with her tears. According to another legend, once on the site of Balaton there was a meadow with lush herbs, on which a shepherd grazed the unprecedented beauty of golden-fleeced sheep. One fine day, he saw an ugly stone in the meadow, preventing the growth of emerald grass. Chuban decided to remove the cobblestone, but as soon as the stone was moved, a spring gushed in its place. This is how Lake Balaton appeared.
Both of these legends are close to the truth: the water of the lake is transparent, like an innocent tear, and the soft sandy bottom south coast Balaton is like a gentle golden fleece. There are ideal conditions for a beach and family vacation. The bottom from this side deepens very smoothly, so many tourists come here with children.
On the northern shore of Lake Balaton there are traces of violent volcanic activity. On the slopes of the mountains and uplands of the dolomite highlands, one can see basalt organs - stone pillars resembling organ pipes in shape. Tiny ones lurk in the gorges mountain villages drowning in vineyards. The composition of the lake water well relieves stress and restores nerves, and the contemplation of the beauties of the surrounding landscape and the smooth, unhurried pace of life are truly peaceful.
Our swim in Lake Heviz was in the rain. (2500 forints). In order for the waters to heal you as much as possible, you need to be vertical in them, so all visitors swim in circles, or rather hang like floats. But we didn’t have them, so we swam all 2 hours ourselves. The depth of the lake is very large, it seems 18 meters. But handrails are dug everywhere, thanks to which you can relax. I swam and inhaled the aroma of beautiful Indian water lilies (the only variety that has taken root here). I want this perfume! The lake itself smells like a swamp, but the natural aroma of nature is still better than urban smog. There are three springs in the lake, two thermal and one mineral. Thermal springs are hot, so in summer the water in the entire lake is about +33 degrees, climbing is very comfortable, in winter, they say, +26. Then we had a delicious lunch and live music in the Hevis restaurant (13 euros).
I didn't have time to implement this recommendation, but it may be useful to you. In Hévíz, visit the Wine Pharmacy. The exact address of Borpatika/Wine Pharmacy is 8380 H& Pet& & 11-13. Tel.: 36-20-344-13-52. Working hours: Monday - Saturday, from 10:00 to 21:00. Sunday is a day off
We spent the night in a hotel in the city of Pecs in southwestern Hungary.
The eighth day of our journey arrived.
The hotel we stayed in was vintage, like in a movie. And the key rings were made of bronze and weighed 300 grams (this is so that they don’t take it with them, probably).
Pécs is the largest city in southern Hungary. This is a city where 2,000-year-old monuments of the Roman Empire coexist with buildings from the Middle Ages. The city center of Pécs with its architectural monuments is under the protection of UNESCO. Pécs is the fifth largest city in Hungary. The early Christian necropolis of Pech is also included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Together with Essen and Istanbul, Pécs was chosen as the European Capital of Culture in 2010. Peter and Paul of the XI century, rebuilt in 1882-91. architect F. Schmidt. Reliefs from the 11th century and a "lower church" from the 11th century have been preserved there. The originality of the architecture is emphasized by four towers at the corners of the cathedral. The parish church of Belvarosh is amazing - the former mosque of Gazi Qasim, of the 16th century. Is located central square city ​​- Széchenyi Square.
Very beautiful Bishop's Palace, built in 1770. The architecture has both Renaissance and Baroque features. On one of the balconies unusual monument F. Liszt - the composer seems to be looking out from the balcony.
The building of the National Theatre, built in 1895 in the Rococo style, has an interesting fountain.
Monastery of the Pauline Order.
We saw and took pictures near the Barbican - a round bastion left from the city fortifications. After a sightseeing tour conducted by the guide Nina, we were given free time
And again we returned to Budapest. Overnight at the IBIC world chain hotel.
On the ninth day, a cozy and beautiful city Hungary baroque town - Eger
We took an exciting tour of medieval fortress XII century. After walking through the labyrinth of streets of the old town, we went to the Valley of Beauties - the famous Eger wine cellars (lunch with goulash and tasting - 11 euros). There we tasted the famous brand of wine "Bull's Blood". I managed to spend a couple of hours in the Eger Baths (1600 forints) and enjoy the hydromassage in the thermal waters, ride the slides, and also swim in the pool, where the bottom is lined with sea pebbles. At this time, diving competitions were held in the bath. It was funny to watch how young people from different countries dive for a while, literally look at the result for 10 seconds and this is where the competition ends for them. At least that's what it looked like from the outside.
As much as I didn't want to, it was time to start on my way back. We were waiting for the move to Slovakia. On the way back we stopped at the same hotel in the lovely European town of Bardejov.
It also has its own sights: the City fortress, the Gothic-Renaissance ensemble of the town hall square, the Church of St. aegis, Mineral springs"Bardejovske Kupele". The farewell dinner, which we arranged for ourselves, was held in a friendly and warm atmosphere. And we swore that we would go somewhere else together. Hope it comes true.
This travel report stirred up memories of the recent summer in my soul. How exciting and interesting it was in the Hungarian trip, organized for us by the tour operator "Old Town"! Thanks to all fellow travelers. You are so nice and funny! I hope for a meeting!

Hungary is in the shadow of its more famous neighbors in Europe - from everywhere you can only hear about trips to Prague, Paris or Vienna. But do not underestimate Budapest, this city can surprise you a lot. It has everything you need for a successful trip: centuries-old history, beautiful architecture, incredibly tasty and satisfying National cuisine, nightlife, tours of castles and fortresses, nearby national reserves and parks and much more - you just have to pick up a good company and hit the road!

Another undoubted advantage of a trip to Hungary is its cheapness. Even in the tourist places of Budapest, prices compare favorably with prices in neighboring countries, and a hotel and a flight will cost, even at the current euro exchange rate, quite budget. In this article, I will detail how to plan your trip to Budapest, buy tickets, book a hotel, and what to do when you are already there.

Visa to Hungary

To begin with, I advise you to read the article on our website "", there is also a list of necessary to receive tourist visa documents. And then go to the official website of the Hungarian Visa Application Center in Moscow or the Hungarian Embassy in the Russian Federation www.mfa.gov.hu ​​to find the missing information you need. There are visa centers of Hungary not only in Moscow, but also in St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg. In some other cities of Russia visa centers of other countries accept applications for a Schengen visa to Hungary. This should be clarified by calling the Consulate General in the Russian Federation.

The cost of a Schengen visa to Hungary is 35 euros, plus the fee of the visa center - 1200 rubles. You must make an appointment to apply for a visa in advance through the website of the visa application center. Then your application will be assigned a personal number, which must be saved somewhere. You can submit an application no earlier than three months before the date of the proposed trip. The official term for consideration of the application is 10 calendar days, but as practice shows, it usually takes no more than a week. You should not count on this, and the sooner you submit your application, the calmer you can then prepare for the trip.

How to buy a ticket to Budapest

By the way, the site, like many others like it, has a number of advantages - whether it is a “Map low prices” or “Low Price Calendar” for those who can’t decide on dates, places of rest, or just want to save money. For those who are thrifty, one more piece of advice - when searching for tickets, it is better to mark "+ -3 days" in order to compare ticket prices for neighboring dates.

So, let's go to Budapest for a week - from April 7 to April 14, 2015. gives us the most budget option - 9000 rubles, the flight is operated by WizzAir - a low-cost company originally from Hungary. The flight lasts two and a half hours, without transfers. Direct flights to reasonable prices can also be found with domestic airlines, but the rest of the cheap options will most often be with transfers in other European cities.

I would like to remind you that the earlier the ticket is bought, the higher the probability that you have made a profitable purchase - after all, as the departure date approaches, the cost of tickets only increases. The exception is various discounts and promotions held by airlines, but specifically waiting until the last minute is a big risk, and you should only take it if you know for sure that this or that special offer for tickets will be carried out by a certain company. And if you still decide to buy a ticket in advance and already calmly wait for the trip, then be aware that many carriers make tickets available for sale no earlier than six months before the date of the flight. So it’s not worth rushing much - find your golden mean.

How to get from Budapest airport to the city

How to book a hotel in Budapest

I will give an example of hotel prices in Budapest for the same dates from April 7 to April 14, 2015 for two guests that I found on the site. In total, the system gave me more than two thousand options available for booking, among which there are both five-star hotels and hostels with shared rooms, as well as less biting prices. So, in all respects, one of the leading positions is occupied by a four-star hotel Starlight Suiten, the price for 7 nights is 33,360 rubles. that is 4700 rubles per day for two. Based on reviews on the Internet, its rating is 9.3 out of 10, and it is located in the very center of the city. Not bad, isn't it? And here is a cheap option for those who come to the hotel only to sleep, and in the morning with renewed vigor to start exploring Budapest: the two-star hotel Marco Polo, which is also located in the center, but offers us a double room already for 6517 rubles for seven nights, that is, less than 1000 rubles per day. Almost nowhere is cheaper. For lovers of chic and luxury service, Budapest has also prepared several hotels, but here the prices are already limited only by your requests.

Currency of Hungary

Changing rubles to forints in Russia is not easy, and it is useless, it is best to exchange rubles for euros here and go to Budapest with European currency. And already in Hungary, at the airport or, even better, in the city, buy forints with euros brought. There are quite a lot of exchange offices and banks in the center of Budapest, so nothing will stop you from spending half an hour looking for the best exchange rate. The main thing is that in no case should you buy forints from your hands, at best it will be unprofitable, and at worst, scammers will leave you without money at all. If, in addition to cash, you plan to take a card with you, then in order to avoid double currency conversion, immediately take a card in euros, unless, of course, you have one. Cards in Budapest are accepted almost everywhere, so there will be no problems with paying for services and goods.

Weather in Budapest

Transport in Budapest

Here are a few options on which it is convenient to move around Budapest and beyond:

1. Metro. There are four subway lines in the city: red, blue, yellow and green. By the way, the yellow metro line is the oldest in the entire continental part of Europe. Trains run at intervals of 2 to 15 minutes, depending on the time of day. Metro tickets can be purchased at the box office at the stations or in special stalls on the streets of the city. The cost of one trip is 350 HUF (valid for 60 minutes from the date of purchase), one trip with a transfer - 530 HUF (valid for 90 minutes from the date of purchase). Transfer tickets, by the way, must be punched twice: during the first landing and during the transfer. There are also travel cards for 1,2,3 days or for a week, which will be beneficial for those who are going to move around the city a lot. Or you can save a little and buy a booklet of 10 one-time tickets for 3000 HUF right away, just remember that you shouldn’t pull tickets out of it, it is only valid in its entirety.
2. Buses, trolleybuses and trams. This type of transport covers almost the whole of Budapest, and also covers all day due to night routes. Tickets can, unlike the subway, be bought directly from the driver (this will be about 100 HUF more expensive).
3. Funicular. The easiest way to get to the Buda Castle, and indeed to the center of Buda, is the funicular. It works from 7:30 to 22:00 and runs every 5-10 minutes. The ticket costs HUF 1000 one way and HUF 1700 return.
4. Intercity and international buses. Since Hungary is located almost in the center of Europe, it is convenient to get to other countries from it, for example, the journey from Budapest to Vienna, the capital of Austria, will take no more than 3 hours. Buses are also convenient for moving around Hungary itself, for example, for a trip to Lake Balaton. These buses depart most often from the bus stations Nepliget, Nepstadion and Elzhbet Square.
5. Electric trains and trains. Trains depart from three main stations in Budapest: East, West and South. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket offices of railway stations or in advance via the Internet on the website of the Hungarian Railways (maximum one week before the trip) www.mav.hu or here elvira.mav-start.hu.
6. Taxi or car rental. Traveling by car makes you independent of public transport schedules, but it will hit your wallet harder. There are several taxi stands and rental offices at the airport and in the city center, and you can also ask for a taxi service at your hotel reception. When renting a car, it is worth remembering that you need to have an international driving license with you, and your age must be at least 21 years old.

The main attractions of Budapest

Parliament

The majestic fortress, the former residence of the Hungarian rulers, still towers over the city from the side of Buda. There is no such tourist who would not have reached the Buda Castle during his entire trip to Budapest - this is a mandatory point of any route around the city. The interest is also added by the fact that today two important museums for the capital are located within the walls of the building - the National Gallery and the Museum of History. They are open from 10:00 to 18:00 every day of the week except Monday.


This is part of the Buda Castle, which, along with the previous sights, is calling card the Hungarian capital. In addition to the fact that the bastion itself is a well-preserved constituent structure, now it is also one of the best viewing platforms in the city. Another nice point is that visiting the Fisherman's Bastion is absolutely free.


Throughout Hungary, and throughout Budapest, there are dozens of thermal baths where people come from all over the continent - someone to improve their health, and someone just to lie in warm water and go for a couple of pleasant procedures. The bottom line is that you need to visit the baths, as this will become one of the most memorable moments of the trip, even if you just decide to relax there for a couple of hours between "raids" on the sights. The Széchenyi bath is also distinguished from others by its architecture - the pools are surrounded by beautiful baroque facades.

This is one of the most relaxing parks in Budapest, which, in addition, can be called a botanical garden. In addition to walking, you can visit the museum, which is located in the Vajdahunyad castle, which is in the park, or walk to the statue of Anonymous, an unknown Hungarian chronicler.

October 2006

In October (11-19) 2006 we went to Hungary for a week. This was our first "semi-self-guided" travel experience. Tickets were booked and issued independently using the Aeroflot-bonus system, only the airport tax had to be paid (~ 3,700 rubles for 2 tickets). Visas and a hotel for 2 days upon arrival and 2 days before departure were ordered through the Voyage Service travel agency (only 270 euros for two for everything). In Budapest, we were met at the airport by friends with whom I studied together at the institute. In addition, a year ago I already went to Hungary on a bus tour, so I already imagined what, where, how much. This time we went with my husband to relax, take a walk slowly ... I will not describe the sights - all the information is described in sufficient detail on the Internet, in Budapest itself at the airport, in hotels at the reseption and in tourist information centers there are a lot of free maps and guides, including in Russian. I will give some information that was useful to us during our independent travels, and maybe it will be useful to someone else.

Metro

There are only three metro lines in Budapest, they differ in number and color. M1 is the oldest yellow line, M2 is the red line and M3 is the blue line. There is only one transfer station Deak Ference ter, located in the center, not far from the Basilica of St. Istvan. We used ticket books for 20 (3125 ft) and 10 (1650 ft) rides. Tickets are valid for all types of transport (metro, buses, tram, funicular), but you cannot tear them off the spine, otherwise they become invalid. The controller must present the entire book. And controllers came across quite often - both at the entrance, and at the transfer, and in the subway car. There is also a Budapest card for 48 and 72 hours, it entitles free travel on all modes of transport and discounts on tickets to museums, but it is quite expensive (if memory does not change, 5600 ft). Since we preferred to walk everywhere on foot, it was not profitable for us. Tickets need to be punched at the entrance in small yellow punches on posts, you won’t immediately notice them, since there are no turnstiles, and the local population uses travel cards and goes straight to the escalator. You also need to punch a ticket when transferring from one line to another. Therefore, at the entrance to the transfer station Deak Ference ter, be careful! The entrance to the metro from the street is marked with the letters M1, M2 or M3 - along the corresponding metro line. And if you entered through the M1 entrance at this station, and went along the M2 line, then you will have to punch the ticket twice - at the entrance and at the transition, although you only entered the M1 line, but did not go along it. The composter punches the line number and you can be fined.

Airport - city

If you know where your hotel is located, then the most cheap way get from the airport to the city - by bus number 200, it departs from the arrivals hall (stop a little to the left of the exit) every 15-20 minutes, on the way it calls into another airport terminal (economical flights across Europe, without feeding, are very popular with youth) and Ending station it is the terminus of the blue metro line.

Hotel

During the trip we lived in two different hotels. First at the Rege 3* hotel, then at the Europa 4* apart-hotel. Both of them are located in the same place on Buda Hill, public parking, connected by a covered glass passage, guests of "Europe" can use the sauna and swimming pool in Rege, but "reception", the price of the room and restaurants, each hotel has its own. Between them there is also a conference center, which hosts various conferences (when we were there, an exhibition of hotels and travel agencies in Hungary was held). The Rege hotel with old furniture is quite consistent with its 3 * - standard rooms with two single beds, telephone, TV (no remote control, channels are switched by a button), a filled minibar refrigerator (if you eat or drink something, the cost of groceries will be included in the bill, the price -sheet is present), no air conditioning, bathroom with shower and liquid soap (no shampoo), towels will be changed if you throw them on the floor. We spent the night there only two nights, the room was asked not to be cleaned. Breakfast is quite decent - by type buffet- Eat as much as you like. And they offer the following: hot sausages and scrambled eggs, cutting 3-4 types of cheeses and sausages, butter, jams, bread, buns, cakes (like muffins), muesli, yogurt, milk, juices (from a large vat), coffee from a machine (cappuccino , black, with milk - select by button), canned pears, no fresh fruit.

Hotel Europa is a very nice apartment hotel. The room we lived in looked like a two-room apartment. At the entrance there is a hallway with a hanger, to the right a corridor into which the doors of the bathroom (with a full bath, not a shower) and the bedroom (one wide double bed, two bedside tables, a chest of drawers and a wardrobe) went out. Directly from the entrance hall there is a small kitchenette with a sink, an electric stove, a microwave oven, a minibar refrigerator and a set of dishes (with its own window), and then a second living room - a double sofa bed, an armchair, a dining table with 3 chairs, a chest of drawers and a TV with remote control. There is more than enough space for two, these rooms are very good for families with 2 children. We lived on the 10th floor, from the window there was a stunning view of Budapest at night - and the Chain Bridge, and the Parliament, and the fortress with the Matthias Church in the night illumination were in full view. Judging by the fire plan, we were lucky - our room is the largest on the floor, in other rooms the rooms are located not at an angle, but side by side, there are also single rooms, but there are not many of them. Breakfast is the same as in Rege, only plus fresh fruit - plums, oranges, bananas, apples, pears.

When we lived at the Rege hotel, we "got on the money" when we decided to swim in the pool at the hotel on the last day before breakfast. It turned out that even for residents it is paid, and the cost of 1800 ft is taken for the whole day and it also includes the use of the sauna (you can go there as many times as you like during the day), and recalculation is not made separately for the pool. As a result, for 20 minutes of swimming in the pool, the two of us were charged 3600 ft upon departure (as for a whole day in the Széchenyi baths!).

From the hotel to the Moskva ter square and the metro of the same name were taken by bus number 22 (terminal). Buses fly like metro trains every 3-5 minutes. A special lane has been allocated for them, so they don’t stand in traffic jams (and they are in the mornings when people go to work), they reached the metro in 15 minutes, then by metro to the center (Deak Ference ter), and then they preferred hike. Almost every day, walking around the sights, we ended up in the baths. It turned out such a "tour of the baths." So baths.

Széchenyi baths

- The biggest. There are two entrances - from the side of the zoo and the front one from the park, we entered from the side of the zoo, tourists are usually brought there. The most expensive tickets are in cabin changing rooms - individual changing cabins. But most tourists undress in a locker - a common locker room for women (to the left of the entrance) or men (to the right) with lockers in the basement. You need to find a free locker, undress, call the attendant - she writes the number of the key on the inside of the door with chalk, locks the locker and gives you a token on a string (the number of the locker and the number of the token do not match, remember the number of the cabinet!). After the end of the "water procedures" you need to find your locker, call the attendant, show the token, she will open the cabinet and check the number of the token with the one written on the inside, if it matches, take your things. Tickets to the locker cost 2100 ft, if you stay less than 3 hours they return 300 ft.

Inside there are several saunas with different air temperatures and a bunch of pools. Of the three outdoor pools, the central one (for swimming, they are only allowed in caps !!!) was no longer working in October, and the other two with warm water and massage jets were functioning and there were a lot of people. There is also a cafe where you can have a bite to eat. It is not allowed to take pictures inside, but with me one man still took pictures with a small "soap box" in the pool in the open air. Usually they take slippers inside with them (they are removed directly from the pools) and bags with a towel, cap, cream, etc.

Baths Gellert

- the most expensive and "chic" in interior decoration. Cabin (3100 ft) and locker tickets are also available. But here the cabin changing rooms are shared - my husband and I took one cabin for two and tickets cost us 5900 ft. If you stay less than 3 hours, you will be refunded 200 ft. The locker room system is like in Széchenyi - you call the attendant, he opens and closes and issues a token.

Inside there is one common large indoor pool with cool water for swimming, next to it is a small pool with warm water, in which people “get wet” sitting, you can go up to the second floor, there are plastic sunbeds and a buffet on the balcony. And if you go from the common pool (girls to the left, boys to the right) through separate men's and women's locker rooms, you will find yourself in departments where there are saunas with different temperatures, massage rooms and two pools each with a water temperature of 36 and 38 degrees. Massage jets include periodically only in the common pool, in the rest of the people just "wet". My husband and I had to "scatter" for half an hour to warm up in the sauna, and then met again in the common pool, which is not very convenient. There are also sun loungers and a large outdoor swimming pool, in summer it is periodically turned on " sea ​​wave", and in October it was possible to swim, but it was already cold to sunbathe, the people lay wrapped in bath towels.

Baths Lukács

– the cheapest (1600 ft cabin). Again, we took one cabin for two and tickets cost 2900 ft. If you stay less than 3 hours, they return 200 ft each, for a total of 2500 ft for two. Inside there are two outdoor swimming pools with a water temperature of 25 and 22 degrees, only caps are allowed in! We did not have them, but you can rent them - the cost is 300 ft + a deposit of 1000 ft, which is then returned. There is one sauna and with it an open-air pool with a warm temperature, everyone was wearing hats there too, but they let us in without them. In this pool, various massage jets are periodically released (from the side, from below, from above) and a whirlpool (when the water itself carries a person in a circle, which is the same in Széchenyi in two pools).

Baths on Lake Heviz

When I was there last year, our bus drove not to the main entrance, but to a separate building, there is a system of locker rooms like in Szechenyi - separately for men and women with lockers, servants and tokens. The ticket then cost 800 ft. This time we entered through the main entrance, the ticket cost 1250 ft, they give out a magnetic token that you put on your hand. With the help of this token, without the help of servants, you yourself are looking for a free wardrobe. To do this, you need to bring the token to the reading system (as in Auchan, when you check the cost of goods by barcode) - the number of the free cabinet will be displayed on the scoreboard. There is a zone of separate locker rooms, and there is a common one - in order to change clothes, you go into a booth, like on a beach, and then you put things in "your" locker and slam it shut. When you need to get dressed - again the token to the reading system - the closet automatically opens. From the locker rooms we pass through the covered passage to the central part of the lake - there are 4 sectors with different water temperatures under the roof. You can go out into the lake itself and go down the stairs from the open veranda with sunbeds, or you can swim out of the central sector through a transitional vestibule with a door, which is very convenient in autumn - the water in the lake is warm, but it’s already cool in the air. Also in the central part under the roof there is a buffet, shower, toilet. Here the payment system is different - if you stay more than 3 hours, you need to pay extra.

We were in Hungary for a week. Since I was already there a year ago with a friend on a bus tour, now I was oriented in Budapest quite well, and my husband and I preferred to walk everywhere. On the first day, after checking into the hotel, we went to Heroes' Square, walked around the city park and the Vajdahunyad fortress, then spent 3 hours in the Széchenyi baths, slowly walked along András Avenue to the Deak Ference ter metro station and went to dinner at our Hungarian friends' home (traditional Hungarian goulash and Tokay for the meeting!).

On the second day, from the same Deak Ference ter, we went through Vaci Street to the Elizabeth Bridge, crossed the Danube, along front staircase We climbed Mount Gellert to the citadel, then from the Liberation Monument on the top of the mountain we went down the other side to the Gellert Hotel and the baths of the same name. The whole mountain is surrounded by footpaths, benches are installed everywhere, from which beautiful views of Budapest open - a very pleasant place to relax. On the way we found the chapel of St. Gellert in the rock, which I did not have time to see on my last visit. The entrance to it is located directly opposite the entrance to the Gellert baths, a little higher on the mountain. Inside the caves there are several beautiful halls and an altar. Free admission. The day ended at the Gellert baths. Returned through green bridge Freedom (Sabadshag).

The next day in the morning we visited the labyrinth of the Buda Castle (~1100 ft). A system of caves runs under the entire fortress, some of them are open to tourists, sometimes there are theatrical performances - artists in medieval clothes play ancient instruments, serve at the tables, or arrange performances for children in the spirit of Indiana Jones adventures. We were there early in the morning and walked through the labyrinth alone. There is something in every nook and cranny - rock art, figures of people, a well, in one of the halls - a column twined with grapes, with four taps, from which red wine is poured in a thin stream, quite pleasant to the taste (stock up on a glass! It is inconvenient to drink from the palm of your hand ). There is also such a joke - in several halls there are "ancient" stones fenced in a chain, on the tablets nearby there is information: a stone made of such and such material, 40 million years old, was found during excavations in such and such a year, etc. And on the stones themselves there are allegedly ancient prints of sneakers, a trace of a car tread, a cell phone, a computer ... The meaning is this: civilizations develop in a circle, when ours reaches its peak, we will again become Neanderthals, and after us, during excavations, such stones will be found.

After lunch, together with Hungarian friends, we drove to the Balaton area in their car (they have a "cottage" there), on the way we stopped in the city of Szekesfehervar, walked around the old part of the city.

On Saturday we went to the small town of Topolce. There is a very pleasant recreation area in the old part of the city - with an old mill, ponds in which ducks swim, cafes. We also visited the caves (ticket ~1000 ft). System natural caves permeates the entire hill on which Topolce stands, most of them are completely filled with groundwater, but some are dry, and some are an underground river that you can ride on a boat. A maximum of 3 people are put into the boat, you row yourself, in some places the vault is so low that you have to bend down and push off the walls with your hands. The water is clean and transparent - at a depth of 3 meters it seems that the bottom is at arm's length. The water temperature is about 20 degrees due to thermal underground sources. You can take pictures!

Then we went to Heviz, spent 2 hours in the baths. Finally visited palace complex in Keszthely. Since it was Saturday, we saw a couple of weddings - marriage ceremonies are held in the palace. We talked with the toastmaster - he was in a genuine old (100 years old) Hungarian outfit.

On Sunday we went by car to the city of Paks (there is a Hungarian nuclear power plant where our friends work). We drove around Lake Balaton with a stop at the Tihany peninsula. There they walked around the abbey, traditionally shouted at the point where the echo is formed - groups of tourists are always brought there, the sound is reflected from the walls of the abbey and an echo occurs. At main church saw a cavalcade of rockers in identical black robes on motorcycles - apparently some club arranged a picnic outing. Then, on the way, we stopped in Balatonfured, walked there, took pictures of swans, had lunch, tasting another traditional Hungarian dish - fish soup.

In Paks itself, I liked a very interesting modern architecture wooden church. Inside, too, everything is made of wood, including the altar. From the light falling from above, the tree glows, there is a feeling of lightness, inside it is cozy and warm. In general, the town is very cozy, located on the banks of the Danube, in new areas where station workers live, low-rise buildings - no more than 5 floors or individual cottages. There is a lot of greenery, in the center there is a large recreation area with everything you need (park, pool, stadium, restaurants, bowling, etc.).

After spending the night in Paks, we set off on our way back to Budapest in a different way - on the ferry, together by car, we crossed to the other side of the Danube and on the way we stopped at the small town of Kapocha, visited the basilica, in which the state of Hungary was proclaimed in 1000 (this is already later the main basilica of the country began to be considered the basilica in Esztergom, and initially the church in Kapocha was considered the main temple of Hungary).

On Tuesday, we slowly walked around the entire fortress - we started from the Matthias Church and the Fisherman's Bastion, then the Royal Palace, through its courtyard we went to the extreme point of the fortress - the Great Southern Rondell and went down along the fortress wall to the lower funicular station and the tunnel under the fortress hill. On the Chain Bridge we crossed to the other side of the Danube and along the embankment we reached the Parliament. On the embankment opposite the Parliament there is an original monument to the Jews who died during the war - iron boots, shoes, children's shoes, installed at the place of execution (fascists forced people to take off their shoes before execution, and then dumped the bodies into the Danube).

On the last day, they wanted to go on an excursion to the Parliament, but due to the demonstration of the opposition, temporary access was stopped there, only organized tourist groups with a guide were allowed in. The protesters themselves were not particularly visible in the morning either. Several laced tents stood on the lawn near the Parliament, about 10 people with posters and curious tourists crowded around. Everything is quiet and peaceful, no speakers, apparently their main action begins in the evenings, after a working day. We went to see the largest synagogue in Europe.

During the day we took a boat ride on the Danube. All guidebooks advertise the route on the ship "Legend" with excursion accompaniment in 30 languages ​​(individual headphones). But in October it only runs twice a day - at 2.30pm and in the evening, and the 3700ft ticket is quite expensive. Nearby on the pier (all boats leave from the bridge of Erzhebet) there are a lot of other stops. We traveled on the ship "Dune", the ticket price is 1800 ft, the excursion accompaniment from the speaker in English, the team serves beer (for a fee). The route past the Parliament, around Margaret Island, takes exactly 1 hour. Sessions every 1.5 hours, we set off at two in the afternoon - there was a breeze on the upper open deck, but sunny weather, good review, beer and few people - buzz! The day ended in the Lukács baths.

A week in Hungary flew by like a fairy tale - on our own, slowly, we saw a lot and did not particularly strain. Of course, a big role in this was played by the fact that in Hungary we were taken care of by friends with whom I studied together at MPEI, for which special thanks to them. I hope that the information given in the story will be useful to someone.

Galina
20/06/2008 15:10

The opinion of tourists may not coincide with the opinion of the editors.