Budapest Travel Forum

Hi, we are going there in November for 3 nights. Found a good deal for the Alfa Apartment Hotel on Erkel street. Is that a good location? Also, can you give me some advice on things to do in November. I was thinking a boat ride on the Danube, or some walking trips. Also, do you know some good day spas near by so I can do the girl thing and get spoiled?

Location

Never stayed there. My suggestion for a hotel in Budapest is:

Go to Google Earth. Plug in the coordinates 47 29 59.00N 19 03 14.00E and draw a circle around that point with a radius of 500 meters. Find a place to stay within the circle. This generally puts you close to good late afternoon and evening spots and great places just to wander around in (when i really don't want expend any more effort than necessary and still want to enjoy Bp.) AND it's close to public transport to any place you might want to go in the morning and early afternoon. If you are younger, it puts you close to the night clubs, bars, pubs, etc. AND it provides a pretty good mix of Tourist traps and REAL places.

THINGS TO DO

How many days, and What do you like? Culture, Pubs, Dancing, Museums? The dinner cruise on the Danube is not a bad idea. Couple it with one of the Folk Dance shows. Sure - pure "tourist" but still fun and Bp is beautiful at night from the river.

Okay, my suggestion


Day: Take the Funicular up to Buda Castle, Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church. Spend the daylight hours walking around Buda, the shops, museums, etc.
Evening: Belcanto Restaurant
Clubs, Pubs, etc.

NIGHT ONE

Morning: Walk up Andrassy Street to the Terror Museum, Hero’s Square, City Park (lots to see in between these)
Evening Early Dinner (want suggestions?)
Opera or Operetta

NIGHT TWO

Morning Vaci Street to shop and eat.
Parliament Tour
Danube Embankment
Grand Market
Gellert Bath House
Evening Dinner Danube Dinner Cruise - maybe with the Folk Dance Show
Go to Gellert Hill after dark and look down on the city of Budapest

NIGHT THREE

Morning I am guessing you are leaving.

Alfa is at a good location in the city center, in a university and entertainment area (near the Raday utca cafes and clubs of the Kozraktar utca area, the Corvinus Campus, Grand Market Hall and the southern part of Vaci utca). As for boat rides: they are not too common in November and dependent on weather conditions - but that doesn't mean of course that they are not available at all!

Thanks Ossian99. Your ideas sound perfect. We will actually have a third night there....thursday, friday, and saturday evening and then leaving on Sunday. Restaurant tips would be great too.

Thanks a lot.

Then you have time for a trip up the Danube Bend or at least Szentendre. Or maybe see the Palace at Gödöllő. It seems to me that my wife and I once did the dinner cruise thing either in October or November. But you could go to their web site and check.

OH!!! You could use the extra day for the Jewish neighborhood. YOu could easily spend a day there.

The last tip(s). A lot is closed on Monday. The Jewish attractions are closed on Saturday. The Grand Market closes early on the weekend. Buy theater or concert tickets early, And finally, buy a three day pass for public transportation.

You are in luck. The Dinner Cruise is running in Nov.

http://www.budapestinfo.hu/en/sightseeing_programmes/sightseeing_by_boat_and_other_programmes

Thanks everybody! I love this forum. I can't wait to go now. I appreciate all of the tips.