Budapest, Hungary

Money – FT is currency, approx 175ft = 1USD as of Nov 2007. When tipping: typically 10% expected. Cabs expect 10%.

Transportation

• Taxis – 10% tip. Call ahead. Check for meters and agree on price
• Metro – extremely easy, stamp pass everytime or risk fines (frequently check tourists)
• Rail Europe recommends 3 day transport pass if you are heavy into tourism

Orientation - Buda west of river, Pest east of River(Danube) Everything is in zones (roman numerals) similar to Paris. When looking at a map, Budapest looks huge. If you are centrally located just about everything is walkable (weather permitting). The metro is pretty easy to get around.

Lodging: stay in Pest (close to the river). Near the main train station - less then ideal.

• Leo Panzio - Panzio - recommended from a fellow traveler - approx $100/night - good location and cozy inside.
• Le Meridien Hotel - great location, expensive
  
• Kempinski Hotel - great location, but expensive
  

Attractions

• Tours
  
• Absolute Walking Tours 10:30 Deak Ter (4000ft), also have a food and wine tour 4pm on Sat (7000ft)
• Yellow Zebra bike tour - is recommended or you can rent bikes 2000ft same day return, 3000 for 24hr

Buda

• Castle Hill and labyrinths – take time to walk around here. The labyrinths were not worth going in and spending the money. Take a second to walk down to the entrance, you'll get the gist without paying for it.
  
• Royal Palace - great views of Pest from here
  
• Matthias Church 600ft - very old interesting architecture, lots of history here.
• Gallert Hill – Liberation Monument
  
• Gellert Baths (single sex rooms) 3ooo ft entrance, 2400 ft massage - keep receipt for deposit refund
  
• Citadela 300 ft, great views of city, especially at dark
• Faust Wine Cellar – 16-23daily 13^th C Domin. Cloisters w/ wine by glass
• Fortuna Passage - Cave Church (free)

Pest

• Opera House - (3pm, 4pm Eng tours) 2500ft, can get cheap tix for show from box office
  
• Parliament (go early) and check hours with hotel approx 2300ft
• Szechenyi Baths - Hungarian tradition, 2000ft, keep receipt for your deposit.
  
• Great Synagogue 600ft - largest synagogue in Europe.
• St Stephens Basilica - free and panorama tower 500ft - only go up on a clear day. You'll find better views from the top of Buda.
  
• House of Terror (WW2) check hours, approximately 1500ft, long audioguide but each room will have printouts of the exhibit. This is an excellent museum despite the subject matter.
• City Park - head north from centrum on Andrassy ut

Food – spicy, paprika is major spice here and worth trying and picking up. Grab a Budapest Menu from your hotel (free) for locations and other ideas then below.

• Menza - great restaurant in trendy area (Liszt Ferenc Ter), outdoor seating available weather permitting.
  
• Iguana - TexMex restaurant packed with ex-pats and you'll see why after tasting the food here. In Pest near the TV headquarters close to Parliament.
  
• Fatal (Pest) – large portions
• Nagyi Palacsintazoja (Buda) crepes
  
• Gundel (City Park – Pest)
• Ezustponty - XII
• Firkasz XIII
• Kacsa Veneglo -
  
• Pink Cadillac - good pizza spot, free wireless (IX - Raday 22)
  
• Cafes are a big part of the scene:
• Cha Cha Cha (Kalvin Ter Pest) free wifi,
• Gerbeaud (Zone V Pest) cake and ice cream - old institution in Budapest (Vorgemarty Ter)
• Augustuszt (Feny St.), Muvesz Kavehaz (near opera) Ruszwon Cukrazda (castle)
• Central Kavehaz (v Karolyi Mihaly) - great spot for breakfast or a coffee. Lots of history here.
• Bars
• Fat Mos Music Club (Sun nite jazz reservation may be required)
• Trafo - (XI) - supposed to be an old power station
  
• Old Man’s - in VIII

Shopping

• Grand Market Hall - CLOSED SUN - Opens at 6am, closes various hours throughout the week. Locals shop for food here. Pick up local produce/meat or souvenirs hear
  
• Vaci Utca – very touristy, pricy, don’t eat here. Good peoplewatching and arch. – look for courtyards and galleries around here (Parisi Udvar)
• Other shopping regions: Castle district, Kossuth Lajos utca, Vali Folklor, Zsolnay Markabolt @ Duno Plaza), Kozponti Vasresarnok
• Known for Porcelain (Herend and Zsolnay brands)
• Herend - this is one of the two major porcelain brands in Hungary. You can find a store in three spots you'll likely pass throughout your travels - Andrassy Ut 16, Vaci Utca or the Airport.
  
• Folkart Centrum - you'll find this on the touristy Vaci Utca strip, but it had good local products (crafts, embroidery, cloth, etc) inside of it.