Hello
I bought a ticket and i booked an apartment for 5 days in September but i have questions about the safety mainly in the night.What is the most dangerous areas in city?I will stay in Ferencvaros area (vivaldi apartments).

Thank you

violent crimes (not lethal):
http://crimestat.b-m.hu//Krimstat/Krimstat200923/Terkep/eros_intt_mt_Buda_200912.jpg

crimes in streets:
http://crimestat.b-m.hu//Krimstat/Krimstat200923/Terkep/kozt_intt_mt_Buda_200912.jpg

crimes against a property (not violent):
http://crimestat.b-m.hu//Krimstat/Krimstat200923/Terkep/vagy_intt_mt_Buda_200912.jpg

And this is the situation:

A - gypsy ghetto (District 8 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=47132143&postcount=762) and Soroksári ave (http://putripest.fw.hu/dzsumbuj.html)), the North American or French style ethnic getto of the coloured peoples. Totally unsafe, recommended to avoid: all day and night!

B - the worst socialist housing estate (Havanna), recommended to avoid: all night!

C - big socialist housing estates, and rehabilitated ghettos. Safer than a Western European city, but be cautious at night!

The rest of the areas is safe.

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/2050/budapest.jpg

Hello
I bought a ticket and i booked an apartment for 5 days in September but i have questions about the safety mainly in the night.What is the most dangerous areas in city?I will stay in Ferencvaros area (vivaldi apartments).

Thank you

Wikitravel sums it up very well, check it:

http://wikitravel.org/en/Budapest

Thank you very much.
I will stay in ikör utca 2, 09.Ferencváros i think is the area "C".

Oh my gooooood. :D

Why wouldn't you say that WHOLE BUDAPEST is a dangerous place :lol:

Maybe the place covered with letter 'A' is can be dangerous, there are live gypsies.. But i dont think so its as serious as you write..

Its similar as Paris,London or New York.. you can be attack anywhere. I had been in Paris at night, and yepp some people attacked me. ( they didnt robb me, or hit me, but they were attackers..)
Or if you go into a Disco or sth like that in London, you also can be in trouble..

But i dont think so its diffrient from other cities. The best thing when you are with friends, at least 3persons. and there wont be any problem.

Its similar as Paris,London or New York.. you can be attack anywhere. I had been in Paris at night, and yepp some people attacked me. ( they didnt robb me, or hit me, but they were attackers..)

I say this. The "C" area possible safer than an average Western European or North American city. For example violent crimes/100 000 Residents:

Budapest (http://crimestat.b-m.hu//Krimstat/Krimstat200923/Terkep/eros_intt_mt_Buda_200912.jpg): min: 130 --> max: 800
London (http://www.londonprofiler.org/): min: <120 --> max: >1790
Chicago (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chicago_violent_crime_map_2006.png): min: <500 --> max: >4000

Oh my gooooood. :D

Why wouldn't you say that WHOLE BUDAPEST is a dangerous place :lol:

Maybe the place covered with letter 'A' is can be dangerous, there are live gypsies.. But i dont think so its as serious as you write..

Its similar as Paris,London or New York.. you can be attack anywhere. I had been in Paris at night, and yepp some people attacked me. ( they didnt robb me, or hit me, but they were attackers..)
Or if you go into a Disco or sth like that in London, you also can be in trouble..

But i dont think so its diffrient from other cities. The best thing when you are with friends, at least 3persons. and there wont be any problem.

Your listed cities are by far more dangerous than BP.

Vikusz all the cities around in the world have problems not only Budapest.And in Athens we have areas with crimes for example the area south of Omonia Square 400m along is crouwed with africans and asians and is the area must to avoid (Menandrou street and Sofokleous street bellow Athinas street).In additional urbans as Ano Liosia and Aspropirgos have many gypsies.The area in center o Athens as Agios Panteleimonas have many crimes from illegals emigrants.Don't worry not say "Budapest is dangerous" but as a tourist i think is better to know

:)

generally said, budapest is a very safe city. violent crimes, especially against tourists are very rare. with some common sense anyone can avoid getting into dangerous situations. The map shown above is not really useful as there are by far less dangerous spots in the city. Places, one should avoid at night usually are not very appealing for tourists, therefore they would hardly get there anyway. Again, the city itself is very safe, there is no need to be afraid.

The map shown above is not really useful as there are by far less dangerous spots in the city.

Az A zóna egyértelműen az, a B zónában se árt vigyázni. A C terület pedig nagy lakótelepek, ott azért van balhé, kötekedés rendesen. Kőbánya vagy Angyalföld az nem egy Zugló. Békásmegyer se, de az rá se fért a térképre. Ez lehet, hogy egy átlagos londoni közállapothoz képest lóalkatrész, de azért mégiscsak valami.

Places, one should avoid at night usually are not very appealing for tourists, therefore they would hardly get there anyway. Again, the city itself is very safe, there is no need to be afraid.

Ezt se jelenteném ki. Ránézésre miben különbözik a nyolcker (oké, nem annyira kinnt mint az Orczy tér, hanem a közbenső részek a körút és az Orczy közt), mondjuk a hétkertől! Ugyancsak a kicsit romos, kicsit romantikus, nagyon lerohadt, héhol foltokban felújított eklektikus-későmodern halmaz, miközben lakóit és a terület közbiztonságát tekintve a Rákóczi út egy elég durva határvonal. Szal a turista könnyen áttévedhet.

Ezenkívül semmiképp se hazudjunk a turistáknak! Elég ha egyet elkapnak a cigók és máris azzal van kiplakátolva a nyugati bulvársajtó, hogy Budapest egy horrorfőváros, ahol úgy gyakják a turistákat, mintha csak egy szlovákiában játszódó horrort látnánk és akkor szopóágra kerül a turizmusunk, pedig a város tényleg békés, csak vannak ótvaros részei, amit a turistáknak messzire el kell kerülniük, és ez közérdek.

^^ Én az északi C zóna délnyugati sarkában lakom, ami lakótelep, de egyszer sem volt még balhéban vagy köteketésben részem, sem azoknak akiket a környéken ismerek. Igaz, nem lakik etnikum a környéken :D

Csak annyit akartam mondani, hogy a XIII. ker. középső része nem egy súlycsoport pl. a Haller utca környékével, ami szintén C. Szerintem még Zuglónál is kevésbé "rizikós", ha van értelme ilyesmiről beszélni.

A válaszod egyébként maximálisan korrekt :okay:

^^ Én az északi C zóna délnyugati sarkában lakom, ami lakótelep, de egyszer sem volt még balhéban vagy köteketésben részem, sem azoknak akiket a környéken ismerek. Igaz, nem lakik etnikum a környéken :D

Csak annyit akartam mondani, hogy a XIII. ker. középső része nem egy súlycsoport pl. a Haller utca környékével, ami szintén C. Szerintem még Zuglónál is kevésbé "rizikós", ha van értelme ilyesmiről beszélni.

A válaszod egyébként maximálisan korrekt :okay:

Arról az Angyalföldről beszélünk, ahol az ingatlanosok a statisztikát azzal mentegetik, hogy nem kell izgulni, ez csak a turisták ellen elkövetett bűncselekények miatt ilyen magas? (http://www.ingatlan-extra.hu/?tcikk=712)

Na jó, nekünk magyaroknak nem, én fél évig laktam a Kassáknál a Hungária magasságában és tényleg viszonylag normális hely. De azért ne felejtsük el, hogy mégiscsak egy lakótelepkoglomerátumról beszélünk, azok a statisztikák nem véletlenül olyanok, amilyenek. Azonkívül azért a Középső-Ferencváros még/már nem olyan reménytelen mint a Havanna.

Hello
I bought a ticket and i booked an apartment for 5 days in September but i have questions about the safety mainly in the night.What is the most dangerous areas in city?I will stay in Ferencvaros area (vivaldi apartments).

Thank you

I don't want to start something but I can see you're from Athens, that city is FAR FAR FAR FAR FAR more dangerous than any part of the Budapest will ever be, my suggestion would be to avoid this places in the night (but ONLY in the night) Rakoczi Ut stretch from Keleti Palyaudvar to Blaha Lujza Ter, Orsz Vezer Ter and Kerepesi Ut, thats most of it, have a nice trip and enjoy Budapest as much as possible, it's a fascinating city! :cheers:

stormwatchforever sorry but in Athens we have only two areas dangerous near Omonia square (Menandrou street,and Sofokleous street) and Agios Panteleimonas Acharnon below from the red district of Athens Filis street.In additional 3 areas in urbans as Ano Liosia,Zefiri,Aspropirgos,there stay gypsies.If you move in other areas no has problems.For example,i live in Peristeri 8km away to West from Omonia square.Here the crimes are near to 0.We have a famous area with cafeterias and bars "Bournazi" with beutifull ladies!!!We have problems but we are not Somalia,Afganistan or Iraq.

Good morning,

yesterday i saw an open(!) Lamborghini parking in Kazinczy street between Dohány and Rákóczi streets. That should be a safe area, i guess :lol:

:cheers:
WB

Lamborghini in Budapest?I think you are very rich guys!!!!

Just because there are like ~20 Ferraris sold a year in Hungary it doesn't make us rich. Plus you have them Germans coming over with supercars to impress our women ;)

Germans coming over with supercars to impress our women ;)

And you have very beutifulls women i think!:)

And you have very beutifulls women i think!:)

yepp!!! absolutely true! :DD

Ok,September i will go there and i hope don't have problem with photos,my camera and lenses are armed and ready!

:lol:

Ok,September i will go there and i hope don't have problem with photos,my camera and lenses are armed and ready!

:lol:

Don't forget to bring a tripod too! It's worth to take some photos from the Pearl of the Danube at night. :cheers:

I know,for this asked about safety.I wont go to my bed from noon!In additional i will visit the erotica parade!!!!

Ok,September i will go there and i hope don't have problem with photos,my camera and lenses are armed and ready!

:lol:

:D Ahaha.

The positive side of the city:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0wkokaybWA

The negative side:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=47132143&postcount=762

Do you know places where can i go to take pictures from trains except the central station?I prefer cargos trains but i like also passengers train

We have a famous area with cafeterias and bars "Bournazi" with beutifull ladies!!!We have problems but we are not Somalia,Afganistan or Iraq.

Ok, then imagine Budapest 10 times more peaceful and safer.

Just because there are like ~20 Ferraris sold a year in Hungary it doesn't make us rich. Plus you have them Germans coming over with supercars to impress our women ;)

believe me, 95% of those "supercars" with german, swiss, slovak license plates are owned by magyars :lol:

Az A zóna egyértelműen az, a B zónában se árt vigyázni. A C terület pedig nagy lakótelepek, ott azért van balhé, kötekedés rendesen. Kőbánya vagy Angyalföld az nem egy Zugló. Békásmegyer se, de az rá se fért a térképre. Ez lehet, hogy egy átlagos londoni közállapothoz képest lóalkatrész, de azért mégiscsak valami.



Ezt se jelenteném ki. Ránézésre miben különbözik a nyolcker (oké, nem annyira kinnt mint az Orczy tér, hanem a közbenső részek a körút és az Orczy közt), mondjuk a hétkertől! Ugyancsak a kicsit romos, kicsit romantikus, nagyon lerohadt, héhol foltokban felújított eklektikus-későmodern halmaz, miközben lakóit és a terület közbiztonságát tekintve a Rákóczi út egy elég durva határvonal. Szal a turista könnyen áttévedhet.

Ezenkívül semmiképp se hazudjunk a turistáknak! Elég ha egyet elkapnak a cigók és máris azzal van kiplakátolva a nyugati bulvársajtó, hogy Budapest egy horrorfőváros, ahol úgy gyakják a turistákat, mintha csak egy szlovákiában játszódó horrort látnánk és akkor szopóágra kerül a turizmusunk, pedig a város tényleg békés, csak vannak ótvaros részei, amit a turistáknak messzire el kell kerülniük, és ez közérdek.

ne túlozz! budapest egy kifejezetten biztonságos város. nagyon pici józan ésszel szinte minden esetleges veszélyhelyzetet el lehet kerülni.

ne túlozz! budapest egy kifejezetten biztonságos város. nagyon pici józan ésszel szinte minden esetleges veszélyhelyzetet el lehet kerülni.

A pici józan ész, hogy messzire elkerüljük a gettókat.

The negative side:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=47132143&postcount=762

Honestly, I think most of the forum members living in BP have never seen these places - I know I haven't (not the ones on the photos anyway).

What you need to do is the same as in any city - avoid the fishy places (esp. night clubs), check your back at night, avoid confrontation with gangs, keep your valuables in a safe place + don't show off if not necessary.

Honestly, I think most of the forum members living in BP have never seen these places - I know I haven't (not the ones on the photos anyway).

What you need to do is the same as in any city - avoid the fishy places (esp. night clubs), check your back at night, avoid confrontation with gangs, keep your valuables in a safe place + don't show off if not necessary.

Unfortunately you are right...
Even with common sense someone not speaking Hungarian and not looking like a 'local' should avoid this places...

By the way this is the same in London, Barcelona, Sao Paolo, Rio and even in Lausanne as well...

And to be honest, I lived in the VIII district for years, moved around day and night but had no real problem at all... :(

very usefull all the information.
thank you

I couldnt find proper thread so Id like to get some recomendations here. Im lookin for some nice clean, but not expensive :) hotel/family hotel in BP for two nights. I have bad experiences with all those hotel bookin reviews (ussually made by hotel managers or owners). Thanks.

What's your price range? Normally I book hotels on Booking.com and hostels on Hostelbookers.com.

If Ill go with my girl I would prefer hotel up to 70 E for two bed room per day. If my friends will join us, hotel room wont be that important :), so I wont linke to spend more than 40 E per day and hostel might be good enought.

Ahoj Kvietok,

i may recommend you the Anna Hotel in the VIII. district, Gyulai Pál street. I reserved there room for my german guests last week, and a double room coasted 43 €/night, inclusive breakfast.

The quality of the room was very good, and the breakfast was fine too.

The only surprise was for all of us, that the hotel is a jewish hotel, with jewish food, but my friends told it not being disturbing at all.

:cheers:
WB

^^ Kosher food must be of good quality, as they check all ingredients (vegetables, fruits have to be carefully cleaned etc), so normally if the food is kosher, you don't have to worry.

Ahoj Kvietok,

i may recommend you the Anna Hotel in the VIII. district, Gyulai Pál street. I reserved there room for my german guests last week, and a double room coasted 43 €/night, inclusive breakfast.

The quality of the room was very good, and the breakfast was fine too.

The only surprise was for all of us, that the hotel is a jewish hotel, with jewish food, but my friends told it not being disturbing at all.

:cheers:
WB

Köszönöm. I really appriciate your help/review! Photos on their web looks fine.
Ill try to not forget to send some trip report and photos. Szervusztok :) !

Köszönöm. I really appriciate your help/review! Photos on their web looks fine.
Ill try to not forget to send some trip report and photos. Szervusztok :) !

I hope you will enjoy all minutes of your trip ;)
And DONT FORGOT to post some photos! :D

In regards to Blogen's post earlier, I absolutely disagree about the 8th district. Although it is shadier than the rest of Budapest, it is not unsafe to visit as long as your are smart. I am an American living in Budapest and have lived in the heart of the shady part of the 8th district for half a year with absolutely no problems. In fact, I've met some incredibly nice people here. Plus, it's a great contrast to the prim and proper central districts of the city.

Well, I'm actually really into night life and when I can, I travel by taxi... I've had too many troubles with the gipsies, they tried to attack me at Nyugati square, on the 906 bus, at Almássy square, my friends have been robbed too many times... So the best option is the taxi :)
About VIII. district: my girlfriend lives in József street near Mátyás square and never had problem there at night.

This (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5y4jUNePIg) happens every night on the buses...

This might be the correct thread. Can you recommend me some bars or clubs somewhere in central Budapest which are opened long during night in the middle of the week? I'm looking rather for something quite i.e. no disco or dance club. Thanks for replies:cheers:.

Woof, what style you like in bars? My favorite street in BP for bars is Kazinczy in the 7th district.

Woof, what style you like in bars? My favorite street in BP for bars is Kazinczy in the 7th district.

It's actually not for me, but I'm going to visit Budapest too:).

Hello.
Last year i couldn't visit Budapest,but this year i will go.I booked for six days a room athis hotel http://www.hoteltimon.hu and the address is this Üllői út 329, 18. Pestzenlőrinc - Pestzentimre, 1184.This hotel is in safe area or not?I would like to informe before i buy airticket.If is not in safe area i will choose an another hotel.

Thank you.

Hello.
Last year i couldn't visit Budapest,but this year i will go.I booked for six days a room athis hotel http://www.hoteltimon.hu and the address is this Üllői út 329, 18. Pestzenlőrinc - Pestzentimre, 1184.This hotel is in safe area or not?I would like to informe before i buy airticket.If is not in safe area i will choose an another hotel.

Thank you.

This place is very out from the centre of Budapest.
This hotel is in safe area, but the Havanna (Commieblocks) area is near. The Havanna is not safe, but only in night.

Safe? I guess so, but why on earth would you wanted to be so much out of city?

Becouse six days-5 nights-cost only 126 euros.If i could pay more,i will choose in the center.I have two choices 1)Few days,3 or 4 in the center of town and 2)More days out of the centre.

You can opt to one of the excellent hostels of Budapest and be in the centre for even less. That is, if you don't mind sharing the room with others. On the other hand you will get help (guides, maps) and friendly people around you. Also don't forget that it takes time and money to get to the city from this specific hotel...

Before 17 years maybe i choose hostel,but now,noway.I am 37 and i would like to have a room for me with bathroom inside.Anyway,if the ony problem is the havanna district i will avoid to go there.

From the follow districts what is the better?If i will choose hotels from these areas i will stay 4 days.

05. Belváros - Lipótváros
12. Hegyvidék
03. Óbuda
10. Kőbánya
09.Ferencváros

5th, but it's also the most expensive.

Ok.I found an appartment for 5 days with 185 euros.Only 59euros more than hotel timon.I can pay it.

I bought air ticket from Malev with 149 euros round trip!Special price!!!

When I was a teenager my mom and uncle took me to the Grand Prix of Hungary Formula One in 1987, and I will always appreciate and remember the times, sounds and sights of the occasion. We spent the entire day in the bleachers watching the Finals of the 1987 F1 Series ('the traveling circus'). I have very fond memories of hearing the engines roar like a collective hornets' nest, the cars' engines sounded like a high pitched hornet's nest aroused in anger. There were probably 200,000 people there that day, the field and stands were full, people who couldn't get seats were in picknick and brought sandwiches.

I never want the "traveling circus' to leave Central Europe (i.e. Hungary); Hungary is the vanguard of CEntral Europe for Formula One racing. Hungary needs to keep the Formula One races in Hungary in perpetuity and needs to sign a long term 20 year contract with Sir Bernie Eccelstone. It is strategically important for the prestige and health of Hungary's tourist industry and also benefits Formula One economically, it is mutually beneficial.

The races in Budapest are "modestly profitable" and serve as ' regional Continental promotion ' of the sport. Hungary needs to make it more profitable for Formula One, and I'm somewhat a believer in this to keep the races in Hungaryy. More monies makes everybody happy.

Hungary needs to do more to promote the August Formula One races in Hungary. Hungary needs to be stronger in the media, advertising its glorious unrivaled penultimate qualities and arrival in Central Europe when the races come.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XtVC57B4zSE/Tcli4EevH2I/AAAAAAAAAPM/2_9Qi6SB6uw/s1600/formula1.jpg

0wwMrLRr6MM

Hungary hosted the 1936 Grand Prix (Magyar Nagy Dij) World Championships in Budapest between German, Italian, Hungarian, French and other international chauffers. Formula One forefathers would have been proud of this race, it was fiercely contested between European elite drivers in the 1930s. The 1936 Grand Prix was strongly contested between the Axis powers down to the finish.

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/1043/bapomposternepliget.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/820/bapomposternepliget.jpg/)


These are fanthom, now legendary images of that great race in Budapest in 1936 between the world's great racecar drivers:

Mxagt9C36eU

Always endeavor Hungary to celebrate the Hungarian Grand Prix with respect, pomp and flourish, ... blessed be the Hungarian Grand Prix (and you must think so) .... let it prosper as a immortal track like that of Monaco in the due course of time.

I will tell you a very pragmatic economic secret:

" Tourism is free money! "

A simple manuver of ..

~ An Economic Advisor

Hello everyone.

What do you think about this hotel (and the area ofcourse)?
https://www.csaszarhotel.hu/kezdolap/kezdolap/en

^^ The spa area of Buda, where this hotel is located, is one of the best neighbourhoods in the entire area of Budapest. It is safe and from here You may reach any interesting sites with public transport, Margaret Island, Parliament are in walking distance.

Thank you very much.I will be there at 26 August and for five days.I changed the appartement in 5 district with this becouse i planed to change the travel's date but i couldn't change the air ticket and i had cancel the hotel.This is cheaper than previus.

Do you know how will be the weather at the end of the month?What say Hungarian Meteo?

I want dry weather!!!

We too. Sadly, this summer is wet here.

Damnesd...I will have umbrela,but my camera is not waterproof...

Only 12 days!I wish the weather will be good!

If somebody knows places for raill photography please tell me.

^^ If you want to make pictures from standing, arriving trains you should go to the main railway stations in the city.

You will pass Nyugati Pályaudvar (it means west railway station) for sure as its in the center. Also the Margaret bridge is close with the island. If you make a walk in Nyugati you will see Siemens Desiro trains for sure.

The other one is Keleti Pályaudvar (east railway station) where you see all trains arriving from the west. The ÖBB Railjet is also here sometimes!

Our last big station in Budapest is the Déli Pályaudvar (south railway station). Here you see trains like Stadler Flirt or Bombardier Talent.

Right now we have good weather! If you have any questions dont hesitate to ask!

Thank you for the info.


The area around Keleti Station is safe?

Only 7days!!!!

It's not the safest place, but if you just keep an eye on your stuff then nothing will happen. Police are patrolling the area also, but pickpockets are common.

Hi, I've just got back from Budapest after spending 5 days there keeping my mother company as she underwent extensive dental surgery. I have a few thoughts and thought I'd share. First this was not the best week to visit as the weather was grey and overcast, everything was so gloomy and cold, it cut down on my enjoyment of wondering around. In the future I'd definitely leave it till spring at least.

We stayed in Buda near the clinic, the hotel we stayed in was okay, in the future I would not to chose a hotel that was ten minute walk uphill from the tram stop. As the traffic seemed quite free flowing to me I would not be bothered about being so close to the clinic and chosen a hotel on the Pest side.

I thought the public transport was excellent I especially loved the 4/6 tram line. It was like a street level metro line.

The Metro was also good, it seemed strange to not have ticket barriers and to have so many shops. But the trains were very frequent and the escalators seemed fast. For the future, all they really need to is get some new metro trains, new escalators and refurbish some of the stations. The metro system seems to function very well though.
I think some of the surface stations buildings and transport interchanges let down the look of the city. The interchange at Széll Kálmán tér could do with a thorough rebuild. curbs were falling apart some of the tram crossings seemed a bit haphazard and the whole seemed poorly integrated with the surrounding cityscape. There are some lovely grand buildings around there and it feels as if a big hole was scooped out the ground refilled and just left. With grander staircases, proper landscaping and better station buildings it could look very grand.

I hope that all the tram lines get converted to something similar to 4/6 line and it seems a shame that some of the tram lines were cut back when the Metro was built. I assume that's the reason line 49 just ends at Deák Ferenc tér. I think it would be great if it was extended towards the train station. The is so convenient for hopping short distances I think it would be better if more of central Budapest had some tram lines.

Budapest has some great set pieces, such as the Castle and the Parliament building but I feel it's important to preserve the rest of the city centre. I feel it has great potential. First let me just say I am not being excessively critical here, I realise the neglect of decades will take a long time to repair. But I could not help noticing home many buildings in the centre seemed to be derelict or in very poor repair. Even in District V there was a surprisingly high number of dirty and crumbling stucco buildings. Though in the core at least I could see it won't be too long before these are all brushed up to gleam.

The reason I may of noticed this is when I visit a city I like to walk the back streets as well as the boulevards to get a feel of the place and once you are away from the river large areas of central Budapest are in a very sore state.

I'm sure it will just be a matter of time, as building by building is sandblasted and restuccoed, with new windows and doors. Just fight as many attempts as you can for them to demolish and fling up cheap concrete boxes. just because it's on a back street does not mean it does not matter. Once the majority of the buildings are restored and new roads and pavements laid these old neighbourhoods will be very pretty and highly valuable.


The one shame, is the poor state of many of the shops on your main streets, Rakoczi Way seemed the worst, the ring boulevard had a variable mix, with some parts okay and others filled with very low rent uses. Even Vaci Utca seemed very quiet to me. Has it reached a point where that street is only busy during the tourist season?

I wonder if the city has built too many shopping malls. Even the ones in the central city are all on the ring boulevard and not in the centre. Instead of having one critical mass of shopping it is all spread out across the city. The city might have to consider to some limit on new malls and look at ways at revitalising the main streets.

The old buildings could be kept, with their insides rebuilt for modern uses. I wonder if it would help if you developed some proper department stores. From looking at several mall maps there don't seem to be any. There will be a Tesco and several large space users like New Yorker, H&M, C&A, Libri etc, but no big department stores. I wonder if the market will ever develop them in Hungary.

I did enjoy most of the meals I had here. I only had one bad meal and one so so cafe experience, which I consider a very good ratio. I was trying to balance out nice food at a reasonable budget so I did not go in some of the very grand restaurants. I found the places on Vaci Utca seemed quite overpriced for what you got.

Also it was good to see that the streets were slowly being rebuilt. You don't have to do anything fancy for all the street just replace some curbs and resurface some pavement, so there are fewer trip hazards.

The places I enjoyed were mainly on Jokai Ter or Oktober 6 Utca. In fact I had some really nice food in Barrio, Imnio. In fact the wine in imnio was very good, and I spent a happy afternoon sinking into the sofa with a book and some Sauvignon Blanc. The cake with coffee was also good value. But the best meal we had was at Bar Minitaur in Buda on Rozsahegy Utca. It's a limited menu but the chef is very good, chicken liver pate with quince and raspberry mousse was divine and the pork loin wrapped in pancake with dauphinoise potatoes , just brilliant. Never mind discussing the Souffle. Very reasonable just 11,000 florints for two, a bargain. I was unable to properly experience the cities nightlife as my mother was not really up to that sort of thing. But I did not notice any clusters of nice bars other than near Oktogan. If I came back where would you say the nicest (reasonably priced) bars and restaurants were in the city. As I mainly experience the city during the day and was not there at the weekend I could not get a true feel for the place. It seemed there were only loose collections of places no, grand squares surrounded by bars and cafes. Did I miss them? Were would you go if you were in your early thirties and wanted a lively night out, that did not cost a fortune but was not cheap and nasty either?

Overall I thought it a great city with an even greater potential it's just a bit dirty and rundown in places. Try and keep your city centre uses in the city centre, don't let all the retail and offices migrate to the suburbs. preserve as much as you can in centre but if the interior of buildings are not special rip them out and fit modern shops and offices in them. Tourism is very important to the city but don't let it be the only thing that keeps the centre alive.

All you mentioned above, are not unknown for us, unfortunately.

First of all, the state of the buildings are not depend on us. All those impoverished/run downed buildings in the city centers are private properties, where elderly(pensioners) lives (due to socialism). The government gives every year a big amount of money, to spend on the recounstruction of facades, but the process is not as fast as we wish/desire. So it will take several years when the whole city will be furbished.

As for the metros, i have a good news: In 2012 the new Alstom metrocars will be delivered to Budapest. video about the new cars. (http://youtu.be/caR3Ev1YY50)

And about the mall restriction, the goverment recently passed a new law about limiting the construction of new shopping malls in the city.

I hope you will visit Budapest in summer too, because there is huge differences between the two seasons. :)

Inside Luxury Travel:)

"1 Hungary

Varun Shaman arrives at the Castle Hertelendy, 50kms south of Lake Balaton, where he quickly changes for a trip to the riding school. A little"sore" from riding, Varun then heads to the spa where he finds out how the water is heated by natural thermal pools underground. After heading to the town of Pecs, world famous for glove-making, Varun drops into a local winery. Just before leaving the Castle, Varun takes advantage of an offer to learn Olympic Skeet. Back in Budapest, Varun explores the city with his guide, stopping off to visit the Szechenyi Baths; part of what makes Budapest the "Spa Capital of Europe". "

UK
http://www.travelchannel.co.uk/series-info.asp?series=Inside+Luxury+Travel-Varun+Sharma&ID=1473
In Hungary& Central Europe

14 dec at 13:00

15 dec at 07:00

17 dec at 20:00

19 dec at 02:00

Hello.
Salute from Serbia..I need few information about Szeged..if someone can help me please send me a private message?
Thank you...

Hello from Bulgaria!
My dream is to see the Fisherman's Bastion and the Novotel Congress hotel in Budapest.
I've wanted to see them ever since I saw them in that Dire Straits video called "Money For Nothing".
While the first one is a perfect specimen from the classical period, the other one is one of the best-looking hotels built during the Socialist rule. It even looks good today. I saw the prices and I think it's very affordable.

Since it's been renovated it looks quite good yes. Location wise if you want to wander around the center of the city, then it would take you 30+ minutes to get there. The ~$100 per night is more than the average, but if it's your dream, then definitely go for it.

The ~$100 per night is more than the average
I saw that they offer some rooms for ~49 Euro at the Novotel Congress hotel, which is cheaper than or equal to rooms in some Bulgarian hotels, so I think that's a fair price. :cheers:

Yeah, that's very cheap, even for Budapest (for the quality of the hotel).

Hello.
I will drive from Ingolstadt to Timisoara in May, and thought to make it in 2 days.
So a nice place to stop would be Gyor, nice city from what I've seen, worth a quick visit and photo shooting :).
Do you know a good and affordable place to stay the night?
Thanks.

Check out the Fehérhajó Panzió (http://feherhajopanzio.hu/index.php?modul=szobaarak) (Gasthaus Weißer Schiff). I slept already there, it was OK. The price is 6500 HUF/night (some 21,50 €), which is affordable and includes the breakfast.

Check out the Fehérhajó Panzió (http://feherhajopanzio.hu/index.php?modul=szobaarak) (Gasthaus Weißer Schiff). I slept already there, it was OK. The price is 6500 HUF/night (some 21,50 €), which is affordable and includes the breakfast.

Looks OK. I would need a room for two (me and girlfriend).
So I see, it's 45 euors.
Private parking and breakfast is a plus :).
Köszönöm szépen! :cheers2:

http://mandiner.hu/cikk/20120410_zene_epiteszet_kocsmak_ezert_jonnek_a_turistak

Cute video. The guy makes a good point about the spas. People are normally not aware that Budapest is so blessed by thermal water and that there are so many good places to go. You can spend 3-4 days just by trying out different spas. Hope they will put big focus on this when advertising BP, I definitely do when I tell about the city to foreigners.

Lenovo Tablet ad has Budapest at the end
__5DlnyEsy4
(from 0:50)

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1503922&page=2

Dear Hungarian friends, I am taking a vacation in Budapest the coming days and I was wondering if you could recommend a few good (and not so expensive) restaurants/eating places downtown, as well as some good spots to visit. Thanks a lot in advance! :cheers:

^^ It is a pity that i am not there :D

So, i recommend at least Építész Pince (http://www.epiteszpince.hu/) (Architect's Cellar) in the Downtown, behind the National Museum. Nice interior, beautiful garden, good food.

The water tower on the Margitsziget (Margaret Island) was opened today after some renovation. There are exhibitions inside, and the view is nice from the terraces. I think worths a visit:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Budapest_Donauinsel_2.jpg/420px-Budapest_Donauinsel_2.jpg
(from Wikipedia (http://hu.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=F%C3%A1jl:Budapest_Donauinsel_2.jpg&filetimestamp=20041214181320))

http://galeria.index.hu/belfold/2012/05/03/megnyitottak_a_margitszigeti_viztornyot/

Dear Hungarian friends, I am taking a vacation in Budapest the coming days and I was wondering if you could recommend a few good (and not so expensive) restaurants/eating places downtown, as well as some good spots to visit. Thanks a lot in advance! :cheers:

Foreigners tend to love Paprika: http://www.paprikavendeglo.hu/ . The food and service is great (they rank very high on Trip Advisor too). For a Hungarian the interior design is a bit overdone (for Budapest, if it was in the countryside it would be OK), but for you it should be rather interesting. So if you want to try Hungarian dishes, it's a good place. Otherwise there are plenty of good ones in the downtown, depends what type of food you like.

Dear all,

Thank you for all the advice and directions! I'll come back in a few weeks with some photos for you.

Regards,

Le Clerk :cheers:

2 videos I filmed in Gyor.
I stayed over night at Hunyadi Panzio, it was OK.
I also took some pictures, but I'm not sure when I will have time to share them, but I will leave a link here too.

rZwGycNqYto

IMfjYh-zdMo

As promised, here you can find the photo album from Gyor.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27108337@N03/sets/72157629958246420/

I also created a travelogue thread in the Romanian section, but I lack the time to post for now.

^^ Thx for sharing the images. You are a quite talented photographer, you know :D.

I do not know, if you could regognize, but Győr/Raab/Ráb is architecually almost a twin city of Temesvár/Temeschwar/Timisoara. Both have been garrison cities and their main square with the church are almost the same. I wish Temesvár/Temeschwar/Timisoara a quick renovation of old houses, similar to the Győr one. As You see, we keep bi- or trilingual monuments, this is another similarity to Temisoara, since there are similarly trilingual plaques, on the house of Bolyai or Klapka eg. This is quite unique in Romania and shows clearly, that Temesvár is an open city, proud of its history.

Another good example is Szeged. The cities architecture resembles a lot with Timisoara's.
It's known that, after the great flood of 1879, architects came to Timisoara and a lot of the new buildings erected in Szeged after the flood have the same style.

Does anyone know the price for a metro ticket in Budapest? it is necessary to pay in hungarian forint (HUF) or it's possibile to pay in euro? and exactly how to purchase a ticket from Keleti pályaudvar metro station? are there automatic tickets or there are persons who sell tickets?

I'm very stressed. I have to change the trains from Keleti to Deli in a short time

The price is 320 HUF. You'll find plenty of places at Keleti to buy a ticket. There are automatic vendors, ticket offices, but newsstands also sell them. I don't think you can pay with euro, but you can give a try at the newsstands.

If you find the metro station, the first escalator takes you to the place where you can change your money and buy ticket. Also there are some other exchanges around the railway station, but I'd recommend you the one at the metro station. The travel time between the two stations is 12 minutes + the walk is about 10 minutes.

Ezt láttátok?

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/europe/travel-tips-and-articles/15787

http://varosban.blog.hu/2012/12/03/budapestet_ajanlja_telre_a_lonely_planet