Budapest, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, is divided by the Danube into Buda and Pest, the first on the left bank and the second on the right of the river. Buda is very beautiful, quiet and romantic, Pest is more lively and better served by public transport.
Buddha and Pest up to 140 years ago they were two separate cities, each with its own completely different historical, administrative, architectural and cultural life. So we could almost say that there are two historical centers in Budapest, one in the XNUMXst district, the Buda hill and one in the XNUMXth district, the area near the Danube that goes from the Margaret Bridge to the Liberty Bridge.
Budapest is not very big and it only takes a few stops by metro or bus to reach the main places of interest.
To better understand how to orient yourself in Budapest, let's say that there are 4 points of reference:
- the Danube
- Buda Castle
- the Parliament Building
- Margaret Island
On the left side of the Danube is the Buda Castle, opposite on the other side of the river is Pest. In the center of the river is Margaret Island and opposite is the Parliament Building. The passage from one side of the Danube to the other is facilitated by a series of bridges.
Said this the best area to stay in Budapest is the center of Pest.
Il Nerve center of Pest is Belvaros, an elegant district with baroque palaces, which from the banks of the Danube reaches the small street, the Kiskorut.
The area is full of greenery, is dotted with luxury hotels and trendy clubs, with cafes and restaurants and animated by a lively nightlife. The area dedicated to shopping is the pedestrian street of Vaci Ucta where the main commercial activities are concentrated.
As Vaci Utca Vorosmarty ter is also famous as a street of "struscio" and shoppingHowever, in this area the cost of hotels is higher and there is not much entertainment for the evening.
Of course, as I always say, the choice of the area for the overnight stay must be made according to your needs.
Per esempio for the younger ones looking for more evening entertainment, I recommend the university area of Raday Utca or better yet Ocktogon, where movement never fails, both day and night!
If you are looking for one instead elegant, fun, but quiet area where to sleep, then choose the neighborhood of the Basilica of Santo Stefano, where you can also find cheap hotels.
Recommended hotels where to stay in BudapestHotel Parliament
Kalman Imre utca 19, Budapest 1054, Hungary
Price range (per night): € 90 - € 312 - Score: 4.5 / 5 on Tripadvisor
The hotel is very elegant and clean, ideal for a romantic couple's stay. The location is great, close to St. Stephen's Basilica and the Parliament, the area is quiet and close to the main public transport.
The staff are friendly and helpful and speak English very well. Impeccable cleanliness, spacious and quiet rooms. Very good breakfast, served in a nice room with a good choice even for those who are vegan.
The wellness area is fabulous, with jacuzzi and two beds included in the price, where you can relax while sipping tea or a hot herbal tea.
Trendy Deluxe Apartments
Kiraly utca 8-10., Budapest 1061, Hungary
Score: 4.5 / 5 on Tripadvisor
Apartments located in an excellent position, in the center of Pest, a few steps from the metro station Deák Ferenc tér, a hub for public transport.
The location is convenient to reach everything on foot, St. Stephen's Basilica, Vaci Ucta, the pedestrian shopping street, and the Chain Bridge.
Despite being a central and very busy area, the apartments are quiet, as the rooms do not overlook the main street.
The building houses elegant and very quiet apartments and studios, most with balcony, equipped with wide flat screen cable TV with DVD player, WI-FI, kitchen and comfortable dining area. The cleaning of the apartments is impeccable.
K9 Residence
Karoly Korut 9, Budapest 1072, Hungary
Price range (per night): € 35 - € 78 - Score: 4.5 / 5 on Tripadvisor
Centrally located hotel, the main attractions can be reached on foot, near the Synagogue, the Danube, several tram and bus stops and the metro station Deák Ferenc tér, which is less than 500 meters away. In the immediate vicinity there are restaurants, shops and a supermarket right in front of the hotel.
Easy to reach from the airport by public transport, the metro as I explained takes you right to Deak Ferenc te, even the Wizzair transfer will leave you 50 meters from the K9 Residence.
The reception is open 24 hours a day, the staff is friendly and always available for useful advice to make your stay in Budapest even more enjoyable.
The apartments are spacious and have a kitchen or kitchenette with a dining area, a bathroom and a cable TV and free wi-fi.
The street below the Hotel is quite busy, the only flaw is the noises coming from the main street, but the location is really excellent and also the value for money.
Agape Aparthotel
Akacfa utca 12 - 14 | 1st floor 111, Budapest? 1072, Ungheria
Score: 4 / 5 on Tripadvisor
A valid alternative to hotels are apartments, there are many at excellent prices, among these the excellent Agape Aparthotel stands out.
Very good location, a few steps from the Jewish quarter, if you like walking you can reach all the attractions of the city on foot, otherwise you are still close to the red metro (Blaja Lhuza stop). .
The apartments are clean and spacious, all equipped with kitchen, satellite TV and towels and bed linen, replaced every 3 days. The staff always available.
I recommend these apartments for a holiday with friends, both for the value for money and for the presence in the area of pubs and clubs with music, which involves a little more noise until late at night.
Tips, practical information, itineraries, ideas, photos and maps to visit Budapest
Don't leave without Lonely Planet!
Budapest Airport is located approximately 28 km from the city center and can be easily reached by train, bus, taxi and airport shuttle.
TAXI.
The taxis of the various companies are located on the square of the airport, the cost of the transfer to the center varies from 6.500 to 7000 florins. However, it is better to ask for the fare before getting into the taxi.
Airlines shuttles
The companies Wizzair and Ryanair provide shuttles for their passengers, for the transfer from the airport to the center and vice versa. The arrival of the shuttles, however, is only in one point of the city.
Wizzair: cost of the service 4 euros per passenger. Meeting point in the city center: Madách tér (in front of the Regency Suites Hotel)
Ryanair: Cost of the service 5,50 euros per passenger. Meeting point in the center: at number 2 of Andrássy út (a short distance from the intersection with Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út).
PRIVATE SERVICES
Some hotels also offer transfers to and from the airport. Find out if your hotel offers this service and how much it costs.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
The cheapest way to reach the center of Budapest from the Airport it is definitely by public transport. Specifically through the simple bus + metro combination.
As a reference point we choose the stazione metro di Deák Ferenc tér, as it is centrally located and is a crucial hub for urban transport.
I specify that during the 24 hours public transport changes to the route, for example the metro at a certain time no longer works, so let's see the three different options to reach the center of Budapest by public transport.
1. From 4.15 to 22.51: From the airport square, take bus 200E and get off at the "Kobánya-Kispest" terminus (10 stops, 22 minutes). From Kobánya-Kispest take the blue metro and get off at "Deák Ferenc tér" (10 stops, 16 minutes)
2. From 23.06 to 00.21: Since the metro is not active at this time, you have to take two buses. Then take bus 200E and get off at the “Határ út” terminus (at this time change the terminus, 11 stops, about 23 minutes). From Határ út take a bus of your choice between: 914 (towards Káposztásmegyer), 914A (towards Újpest-Központ), 950 (towards Rákospalota), 950A (towards Rákospalota) and get off at "Deák Ferenc tér" (10 stops, 20 minutes)
3. From 00.59 to 03.59: In this case, the 200E bus is not active, but is replaced by a night bus, 900, take it from the airport apron and get off at the “Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út” stop (9 stops, 16 minutes). From Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út take the 950 or 950A (towards Rákospalota) and get off at "Deák Ferenc tér" (27 stops, 36 minutes)
Transportation: Getting around in BudapestUnlike Prague, which can be easily explored on foot, Budapest's tourist attractions are scattered across at least 6 or 7 districts. So it becomes mandatory to move with local transport.
Personally I recommend the BKV transport pass (link to the website http://www.bkv.hu/en/) which allows you to use the metro, bus, tram, trolleybus and HEV, the suburban train.
There are tickets of different durations: 24 or 72 hours, 7 or 14 days and 1 month.
CHANGEAt the airport you will find a small exchange office, but it is not at all favorable, if you need immediate cash, change only the minimum you need to get to the center where you will find cheaper exchange offices.
