Just got back from a quick phototrek to Budapest (photos here), Hungary and wanted to share some information and impressions you may find useful.
Frankly, Budapest wasn't my first choice as a destination. I didn't get a chance to visit Portugal the last time I was in Europe, and it was getting really annoying that Portugal wasn't filled in on the map (I don't have a real interest in Switzerland, maybe it's because the Swiss are too neutral).
Background
Anyways, so I wanted to visit Lisbon to ring in 2007, but hesitated and the airline tickets went up too much. Then Budapest sounded interesteding. The Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit makes a stop in Budapest, and organizers of F1 generally know the happening place to hold events. So my expectations were pretty high - a city that rivals Prague in beauty, but is larger, and more cosmopolitan, crazier if you will.
Impressions
Budapest does not rival Prague in pure beauty. Prague is like a hot model whose beauty is inescpable; Budapest is like your girlfriend, pretty in her own right, but definitely no Praha. Maybe it was the foggy weather (I experienced clear, albeit freezing weather in Prague), but Budapest was a bit dark and gloomy. Its beauty is not as evident. You have to look at the dilapidated buildings for a while, then finally the beauty shows. In this sense, it's more real, and not like a museum, as some have described Prague. That said, the view along the banks of the Danube is gorgeous and does rival Prague's river banks.
For being a larger city, I found Budapest less crowded than Prague. This may be becaues I was in Budapest for New Year, and I was told many shops are closed, and many locals are out of town visitng family. I was actually pretty surprised the city wasn't more lively. There was no "buzz" in the air. Even New Year's Eve I found it not a big a celebration as I would expect of a large city. This was echoed when I heard these Americans commenting how it was kind of dead after they left the bar at midnight.
Tips
Don't hail taxis on the street. I read about them overcharging, but I was in a bind to get to the airport. It was impossibe for me to arrange for a taxi ahead of time during the early morning of January 1st so I little choice. Shows how Budapest is still going through some pains as it tries to be a player in the world tourism stage.
Lodging. I stayed at this place called the Boomerang Hostel. It's not really a hostel in the traditional sense, so pass if you're looking for that type of atmosphere. The location is not bad, about a 10 minute walk to the Le Meridien Hotel/Deak/Vaci Utca.
Definitely stroll along the Vaci Utca. The street is not that special, but at either ends are some markets that are very interesting. I particularly like the open air market, where you can see local vendors sell sausages and other Hungarian dishes.
I didn't find Andrassy Avenue that spectacular. Probably because many of the shops were closed for New Year's Eve, but it's just a big street.
Maps
Here is a map of the central area of Budapest.
Here's the large size.
If you walk along the Andrassy to the right on the map you'll end up at Heron's Square and the park. Vaci Utca is the small street parallel to the Danube River that starts at Vigado and ends at Vasarcsarnok.
Ciao.
Comments