http://www.tinou.com/budapest.jsp

hth

How long are you there for? You can get a ‘Budapest card’ for 48 or 72 hours which gives you free travel and discounted entry to musuems etc and discounts in some restaurants. We found this very useful mainly for the convenience of the travel.

Then you can take the nos 4 (or 6), 2,18, 19 and 61 trams for a ride around the town and to see where you may like to visit and get an overview of the sights.

Goulash soup seems to be on most menus. Very filling and almost a meal in itself with lots of bread.

I’m sure you will enjoy the city.

I kept a blog during my semester there at http://www.calvin.edu/~enk3/hungary/ — you might find it helpful.

Definitely get a Budapest card. My list of must see places:

- The Citadel on the hill.

- Visit the caves. There is even a cave winery which is a nice refresher for the hot days where you can sip wine in the coolness of the cave.

- Take a tour of the Parliament building.

- Walk the park along the Danube.

- Go to the Gellért Bath.

- Bring home some Hungarian Paprika and saffron from the street vendors. You will never find it that cheap again.

- Go shopping in the cobblestone area shops in the business district. There are wonderful cafes in this section too.

A few tips.

I went 8 years ago when bottled water was impossible to find. Perhaps it’s changes. But if you can find bottled water when you land, buy a few bottles before you leave the airport.

Most people within the city speak English, but once you get to the outskirts and the poorer areas, you’re down to hand gestures. I got lost and had to wave my way through a map at a few people to get back.

The people were wonderful and generous. Enjoy!

There’s a huge cemetery in the southeastern part of Pest that’s worth a visit.

Also, I wanted to visit a park where they have all the giant statues from the communist era on display but I never made it.

Definitely get the pass for traveling on the trains. I got on one thinking that I could ride it to a bigger station and buy a pass there, but the transit cops asked me for a ticket and gave me a fine for not having one.

I liked the Palace in Buda and the Chain Bridge.

Also, I’ve heard that you can take cruises on the Danube (Danau) but I never got the chance to do that either.

Have fun!!

By the way, if you enjoy traveling, you might also enjoy Geocaching.

Check it out at geocaching.com , there are many geocaches throughout Budapest.

To add something absolutely great to this list I would add the following:

-Széchenyi bath, http://spasbudapest.com/furdo.php?idx=14

-House of Hungarian wines, http://www.magyarborokhaza.hu/index.php?selectlang=EN

-Chinese market, http://www.budapestindex.com/shopping/markets/chinesemarket

Cheers,

Tommi

If you go during the summer, and you like swimming, go to Szigliget! it’s near the Balaton (sp?), thats a lake where you can swim at! its amazing!