10 Best Travelling Tips to Budapest

When planning a trip to Budapest, it's not just a question of what to see and do in Budapest. Its tourist infrastructure has improved a lot in recent years, making it much easier to get around to see attractions such as the Parliament or the Buda Castle, find a place to eat or have a guide explain what you are seeing.

However, no matter how well you prepare your stay, there is always a small chance that something may come up or that you will have to face some unforeseen decision. For that reason, here are some basic tips for travelling to Budapest that you can take into account so that nothing goes wrong and you get the most out of your time.

A good way to start your stay in the city is to take a guided tour of Budapest's must-see sights. This way, not only will you have a first contact with the city, but you will also learn something of its history that can be very useful for later visits.

If you are sporty, you can book a bike tour in Budapest, although you can also opt for a walking tour of the city centre.

Another great option for touring the city in comfort is to buy a ticket for the Budapest sightseeing bus, whose characteristics make it more recommendable than in some other cities.

The price (either the 24 or 48-hour option) is very affordable and the route passes many of the tourist attractions you'll want to see: St Stephen's Basilica, the Chain Bridge, the Millennium Monument and the Synagogue, to name just a few.

With this means of transport, with its free stops to get on and off, you'll also enjoy the commentary on board to learn about the city you're visiting.

Although Hungary is a member of the European Union, it still has its own currency, the Hungarian forint, and as in all countries where this is the case, it is necessary to find the best places to change money. As in all countries where this is the case, it is necessary to look for the best places to change money.

Unless you need it urgently, my advice is to avoid changing money at the airport, as the exchange rate is usually not favourable. Instead, look for money exchange offices in the city centre and compare several of them before you make up your mind. Normally, they should give you around 330 guilders to the euro, but it's always a good idea to check the rate before you travel.

Another increasingly popular option is the debit or credit card. On the one hand, you will be able to use it to pay in most restaurants, shops and monuments, and on the other hand, you can withdraw money from the many ATMs in the city.

In both cases, I recommend that you check beforehand the possible fees that your bank may charge you. In my experience, it is usually more practical to pay with your card than to use it to withdraw money.

Get used to guilders

Although in all countries it is advisable to get used to the new coins and banknotes, in Budapest I advise you to keep the** 1,000 and 10,000 banknotes** separately. Although the colour is a little different, it's not difficult to confuse them and end up overpaying in places with little light.

Trying new dishes and learning all about food is, in my opinion, a part of any trip. Even more so when you travel to a place whose gastronomy is not well known. For this reason, I recommend that you dare to discover the interesting culinary offerings of Budapest,

. Those who prefer to be accompanied in this discovery can hire one of the gastronomic tours offered in the Hungarian capital and, in many cases, also include getting to know its wine production.

Among the dishes that you can't miss are some that we can classify as fast food and others that are more elaborate. The most interesting are the following:

• Goulash: Hungarian goulash is possibly the country's most international dish. It is a meat soup or stew with vegetables seasoned with paprika.
• Lángos: a kind of fried bread served with sour cream, garlic sauce or cheese.
• Chicken stew with paprika: Csirke paprikás is another of the country's most popular dishes.
• Halászlé: fish soup with paprika and some vegetables...

In addition to the food, your trip should not be complete without a glass of palinka, preferably in one of the ruin bars in the Jewish quarter.

Do you tip in Budapest?

When you go to a restaurant in Budapest, it is customary to tip around 10% of the total bill. In some places, however, this amount is already included in the bill as "service charge".

Like other cities, Budapest also has a tourist card that offers discounts to enter some of its museums, monuments and attractions. The Budapest Card, the name of this card, can be a good way to save money during your trip, but my advice is to check beforehand if you are really interested.

This card is sold in various formats depending on its validity. It ranges from 24 hours to five days, with an approximate price of between €23 and €62 depending on your choice.

It is important to check the discounted monuments included in the card that you plan to visit and to calculate the price of the tickets if you buy them directly. Don't forget to also include savings on public transport, as the Budapest Card allows you unlimited use of public transport.

The number of tourists to Budapest has been growing steadily in recent years. Until not so long ago, most visitors came to the city as part of a tour that included Vienna and Prague, but now more and more people are spending more and more days in the Hungarian capital, making it necessary to buy tickets to some places in advance. This makes it necessary to buy tickets for some places in advance.

This anticipation when buying tickets is even greater when it comes to the Parliament, one of the most spectacular buildings in the city. The outside of the building is worth taking the time to see it in detail, but it is the inside that is most attractive.

Parliament can only be visited with a guided tour, as explained in this article on tickets.

Although it is possible to buy them at the ticket office, after waiting in a long queue, it is best to buy them online at the Parliament website or, better still, book a city tour that includes a guided tour of the interior.

Please note that security regulations require you to arrive at least 20 minutes before the scheduled time of your visit.

With the exception of the City Park (which you can't miss), Budapest doesn't have too many green spaces in which to relax or even sit for a while while you have a bite to eat. However, in the middle of the Danube there is one large space worth visiting: Margaret Island.

More than 2,500 metres long, this large park is equipped with leisure and relaxation areas for all visitors. In fact, it is a regular meeting point for families in Budapest on public holidays.

Inside the island you can also see the ruins of the former St. Margaret's Convent, as well as a small church, a zoo, a swimming pool with water slides and an old water reservoir that today serves as a lookout point.

One of the best ways to get around the island is by renting a bicycle, although it's not a bad idea to just walk around. To get to the island, the best option is to take the tram, lines 4 and 6, to the Margaret Bridge.

Joaquin's Traveller Tip

If you are a student, don't forget to bring your student card, as it will give you access to discounts in many monuments and museums.

While there is no doubt about the beauty of the city in the daylight, the night in Budapest and the lighting at night, makes it look unique and almost more impressive. My advice is to start walking along both banks of the river first and see the Chain Bridge, Buda Castle or the Parliament from there.

If you have time you should also walk up to the castle quarter to get closer to the Fisherman's Bastion, where you have some of the best views of the illuminated city. Of course, you can also book a night tour of the city to be accompanied by a guide.

When you travel to Budapest you have in mind to visit places like the Buda Castle, the Parliament, its main churches or the Central Market. However, if you have enough time, I encourage you to go off the beaten track and discover some lesser-known but interesting places:

• Go on the hunt for street art: Budapest is full of giant murals or tiny figures on the walls. Go in search of this street art, as it will not leave you indifferent.
• A drink on a boat: this is not one of those great evening dinner cruises. In this case, the pub is on an old Ukrainian cargo ship on the Danube.
• Pinball Museum: If you miss the old pinball machines, Budapest has an entire museum dedicated to them. Of course, you can also play a game or two.
• Communist Statue Cemetery: click here for a large number of the communist statues that once dotted the city.
• The underground hospital and bunker: in the Buda area you will be able to visit a former underground hospital that was transformed into a nuclear bunker after World War II.

Most of your Budapest sightseeing will be on foot. However, you may need to use public transport at some point, either to get back to your hotel or to get to a monument you don't feel like walking to.

Budapest has a good transport network, consisting of trams, buses, a funicular railway and the metro, the fourth oldest in the world and the jewel in the crown in this respect. The latter is probably the one you'll use the most.

Although you can buy tickets for single journeys, priced at just over €1.10, if you're going to use it frequently I recommend you buy one of the day passes available. You can find all the information about the different types here.

To buy tickets or passes, just go to a metro station, newsagents or newsagents.

One tip you shouldn't overlook is that ticket inspectors have a reputation for being pretty tough, especially with tourists. Don't try to use any public transport without a ticket, as the fines are steep.

Travelling with children is a real challenge for many people. In general, they get tired of museums and hiking and, unsurprisingly, prefer places where they can have fun.

Fortunately, Budapest offers plenty of places and activities for the little ones to enjoy themselves:

• Aquaworld water park
• Take them on a ride through the hills of Budapest on the so-called children' s train.
• Go on an excursion to nearby Lake Balaton
• In Heroes' Square you will find attractions they will enjoy.
• If you take them to the Széchenyi Spa, you can be sure they will have a great time.