Tips for Visiting Budapest
Budapest is one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations. For this reason, some might think that there is no need to do much research when visiting such a tourist-friendly destination. However, like with every destination, it is important to learn a few things in advance to avoid any potential problems. Here are a couple of tips you can use:
If you ask people when you should visit Budapest, most will probably advise you to go in the spring or summer. Spring and summer are times for sitting out late nights at cafes, long leisurely evening strolls, and delightful Danube river cruises. Of course, that’s the high season and you’ll stumble across crowds of tourists everywhere, but temperatures in autumn and winter are pretty low and there’s less hours of daylight so you’ll probably get a lot more sightseeing done in the warmer seasons. Tours of Budapest’s famous bridges are extremely popular and you don’t want to spoil all your fun by catching a cold because of the weather, or simply feeling as if your toes are about to freeze off.
Also, if you’re in Budapest for the sightseeing, then you should go and buy the Budapest Card. It offers discounts and free entries to some of Budapest’s biggest museums and art galleries, which is ideal if you’re on a budget. You can visit places such as the Aquincum Museum and Archaeological Park, the Hungarian National Gallery, the Budapest History Museum, and the Museum of High Arts for free, but you can also enjoy special tours of the city and a trip to a medicinal bath free of charge. Also, you won’t have to worry about paying for public transportation.
If you’re worried about getting around in Budapest, it’s best to stick to buses, metros, and trams instead of taxis. Some taxi drivers typically charge you at least 3 times the normal cost to get you to a destination, especially those located near railway stations and airports (where tourists abound). Budapest Airport has a connected taxi company with fixed rates between the airport and the city, so it is best to stick to that when you arrive to avoid spending too much money, though you can easily catch a train for a very small sum. Bus, metro, and tram tickets are also pretty cheap and they can easily take you to the places you want to visit. However, if you still want to stick to taxis, make you pre-book every time to avoid scammers.
Budapest also has many restaurants you can choose, and it’s fairly easy to eat without spending a huge amount of money. Most of them have affordable daily lunch menus you can try out, though you might want to save some extra money if you want to have dinner every evening. Budapest’s tipping culture is also pretty distinctive. Some restaurants include a service bill, while others do not, so make sure you check your bill before tipping. Tips are generally 10% for good service. However, never leave your tip on the table as it is considered to be very rude. Instead, tell the waiter how much you want to pay when you settle the bill.
Also, if you’re interested in trying out new food, Hungarian coffee houses and patisseries are famous for their sweets. Dobos and Esterhazy cakes are some of the country’s traditional desserts. Hungary is also famous for its coffee, so make sure you pair up your cake with a nice hot drink. There are many coffee houses in Budapest, but Gerloczy is one of the most famous.
Finally, if you’re visiting Budapest between May and August, you can get a great view of the city by boarding a commuter ferry. These commuter ferries are a part of the public transport system, and as a result they are really cheap. However, if you want to avoid crowds, then simply go on a sightseeing tour of the Danube. Sightseeing boats are pretty common in Budapest, so you won’t have trouble finding something once you get there.
If you know how to plan ahead and you’re careful with your budget, visiting Budapest can be a piece of cake!
photo credit: Frank Schmidt via photopin cc
