Going to Budapest for a week this Christmas.
Do you have any tips or recommendations?
I'm going to stay in a hostel, but I don't know where yet. I'm interested in the nightlife, the Christmas markets, the history, the architecture, everything really. I don't know much about Hungary and it's culture.
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Go to ruin bars
I will definitely check out the ruin bars. Apparently they are in-conspicuous? So I'll find one I like in the day time first and then go back to it at night time when I know how to find it.
I definitely want to stay in a hostel because socializing is half of what makes traveling fun for me. I'll look into ones in the area you mentioned.
Do the baths not provide towels? This trip will extend for weeks after Budapest so I don't know if I want to bring a towel that I will only use a couple times.
We rented a rad 3 bedroom apartment with a hot tub for like $120 a night. It's real easy to be social when you're like "hey, come stay with me for free. I have 2 empty bedrooms and a hot tub."
I'm quite autistic so staying in a hostel is necessary for me since it removes several social barriers, but thank you for the advice.
Christmas markets are cozy as frick. Hostel One always has a good vibe and run crawls from memory, but there are a couple of the hardcore party hostels too. Definitely head to one of the big mega-clubs where they roll several into one. I did Morrison's 2 and it was huge, but I think there's a few. Ruins bars for sure, Szimpla Kurt is a good one but can get a little busy some nights.
Szechenyi for the nice architecture and bath day; its definitely touristy but you'll have a good time if you go with some hostel buddies, and stay until it goes dark. I think there is also the night time party bath session there if you prefer. The whole surrounding park is nice too for ice skating and a few old buildings.
Fisherman's Bastion/the Citadel across the river are pretty nice too, spend a couple of hours wandering around there and the river in general on both sides.
>So I'll find one I like in the day time first and then go back to it at night time when I know how to find it
That's one way, just spend some times wandering around that part of the city and you may find a couple. Szimpla (on weekends?) has a day market and some maybe have other food events set up during the day. You could probably manage to find most with research though.
>Do the baths not provide towels? This trip will extend for weeks after Budapest so I don't know if I want to bring a towel that I will only use a couple times.
You might be able to rent one, but you're better off just buying a cheap Decathalon microfibre towel for hostel showering in general, they take up like no space.
Typically if you get tickets through your hostel for the booze cruise it rolls into a club crawl. It's pretty cool being on the water at night passing the parliament house all lit up.
Thank you thank you, I screenshotted all of this so I won't forget it
Did you go to the ruin bar Instant? That one seemed pretty cool from the research I've done.
Also, this might be stupid, but I'm a little worried about the political situation. I'm American and Hungary has been misbehaving on the international stage (at least from the perspective of America and its allies) for years, and I'm worried that if it gets worse then it will be more difficult to go there.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/hungary-prime-minister-calls-us-adversary-leaked-documents-rcna79367
Do you think this is a legit thing to worry about or should I just not think about it?
>Did you go to the ruin bar Instant? That one seemed pretty cool from the research I've done.
It's the biggest ruin bar complex in the world with a range of music styles to choose from and packed parties almost every night of the week. It's cool if you don't mind crowded spaces, otherwise stay away
>it will be more difficult to go there
God I wish
Okay, I don't think anything will happen but I'll keep an eye on it
Hungary's whole political situation is fricked yes, its bad especially with Orban also challenging the European Union. Although Budapest the capital is controlled by the EMSP (At least the mayor of Budapest is part of the EMSP) which is the Socialist Party, but Orban throwing his weight around isn't unfamiliar but for a foreigner/traveller as long as militarycucks aren't fricked it you'll be alr.jpeg
lol Dude even during Iron Curtain times there was literally no hassle to get into Hungary as a Western tourist. Like none. Did you have to pay more than the locals? Yes. Was it still cheap af compared to the US? Yes. Did anyone speak English at the time? Not really. German was the most popular foreign language, and Russian was somewhat spoken, but that was about it. There are more people who speak English now.
Hungary is not Russia ffs.
If the situation is gonna get any worse for tourists, it's gonna be on Putin, not Orbán. Orbán has zero interest in making it harder for tourists to spend their money. None. Princess Orbán is also the head of the tourism authority or whatever. The royals like tourists, don't worry. And Hungarians know that our government is shit.
Stay in a hostel if you want, but Budapest has really good cheap hotels.
Check which hostel carefully, because illegal immigrants stay in the hostels and steal stuff.
I like the area around the central market hall the for staying. Then you have great access to everything on foot, plus great nightlife and food on your doorstep.
Budapest is just a great place to wander around and explore. Don't forget to pack a towel if you want to go to the baths. I personally like Rudas Baths vs the bigger, more touristy ones like Szechenyi, although it's worth heading over that way to the park and museums.
Ruin pubs are cool, but not what they were thanks to tourist guides and bachelor parties. try and find some that are away from the main tourist areas.
For nightlife, there's a river booze cruise every friday/saturday night. Sparty is a tourist trap. Next day, go to Rudas to cure the hangover
>go to Rudas to cure the hangover
Noted. I might skip the booze cruise since I'd rather explore clubs in the city itself, but thanks for telling me about it
Budapest is the best city in the world for traveling. It will be unlikely that you will be able to mess that up.
The Christmas markets are pretty much the same as you find everywhere else in Europe, nothing memorable. The indoor market near the szechenyi bridge is pretty good though.
>The Christmas markets are pretty much the same as you find everywhere else in Europe, nothing memorable. The
See they would still be special to me because the only European Christmas market I've been to was in Leeds, England. I'll check out the place you mentioned
Don't stay in a party hostel there if you're over 23 or you'll feel like a creepy old man or an Indian. It's a party location for young British chavs and slags. If you go around the ruin pub area you'll hear nothing but British accents.
Stay in a hostel that looks more like it caters to people who can hold their alcohol and you'll still find good people to hang out with and go drink with who can also hold their liquor.
I'll be less than a month over 23 at the time of the trip.
I do want a party atmosphere, or at least I want the hostel to be somewhere where it's very easy to socialize and find people to drink and go out with
Meh, then there's plenty of places that will work. Budapest is the new Prague for lad holidays.
Not OP but I'm going to Budapest as a layover, I have 5-6 hours before I have to go on to my next flight. I've been to the city before, so I'll just revisit some of the sights and wander around a bit. But for the real question:
Where do I find the best blood sausage, or alternatively the best gulash in town? I want to eat something good before my onward flight.