"Only 3 Days in Budapest - I needed an... " a Budapest Travel Page by Audrey118

We arrived Vienna Terminal One, and I asked Information Desk about bus ride to Budapest. Nobody seems to know.
Goodness - i have 7 frens with me - many were ignorant - did no research - I luckily had jotted down some notes. Outside Terminal 2 - no signage, was a bus stand - and I decided to some locals about it
There was a couple of ladies - still busrting with energy despite the long haul flight, and phew - they were Hungarians also waiting for the same bus. The bus arrived promplty - apparently having picked up passengers from Wien city centre.
The bus driver is also the ticket man. Once on board you buy ticket from him. His spoken English was not very good - so we were lucky that there were fellow passengers who did some translations for us. There was no discount for return tickets. The bus ride took 3 hours; we pass through some industrial zone, many windmills, and also yellow coloured flowering plants...it was a bed of yellow !!!. Very scenic ride indeed.

The bus arrives Népliget station - once we got out, collect our bags, across the road is M sign (in red) for metro and we managed to change for some Hungarian florint at the terminal. But the rates really not the best - although it is commission free.

We bought 3 days pass - cost us 2500 HUF and you can hop in and out of bus, train and trams. It was super convenient for us, rather than buying a book of tickets and having to stamp it often. A fren of ours bought the 7 days pass, for that you must write you name on the pass - it is an offence otherwise. There are regular checks from uniformed officers and obviosuly a drama enfolded as our fren did not post her name on the pass!!!

We also took the inctercity train to Krakow from Budapest - it takes off from Budapest Keleti station. It is a huge, messy station, and not much English is spoken. Knowing a few words is essential to look at boards etc.

With 3 days in Budapest, i managed to cover much of Budapest...but I really suspect another added day with allow me to take things easier. We stayed at the touristy Vaci Utica - and it is really bustling there. You feel very safe, central to food, transport and shopping as well. And the metro station is Deli palyaudvar aka Deli pu which is great for changing lines!!! Outside the station is also the Tourist Information Office.

These words came in handy :
Indul means "departure" érkezik means "arrival."

Honnan (from where)
hova (to where)
vágány (platform),
munkanap (weekdays),
hétvége (weekend),
ünnepnap (holiday),
gyors (fast train) -- stops only at major cities, as posted,
IC (inter city) -- stops only once or twice en route;

To buy tickets -
jegy (ticket),
oda (one-way),
oda-vissza (round-trip), - buying round trip tickets give you 40pct savings.

helyjegy (reservation) - is essential if you want to have sleepers berth called as couchettes.

elso osztály (first class) - not necessary
másodosztály (second class),

nem dohányzó (nonsmoking) - all trains are non smoking cabins with exception for one cabin.... there are specific areas for smoking (dohányzó) - so if you are a smoker you have to make reservation for such cabins - which can be popular.

I was a little concern that I was travelling without an European pass; but becos I wastravelling for such a short trip, and also central European local train tickets seems much more affordable, I did not purchase any passes. The tickets for us to get from Budapest to Krakow and then to Budapest onwards to Vienna cost us less than 90,000 HUF.

If at all times, taxi service is needed, avoid flagging down one, or even ride on one which is parked on the kerb...they are really expensive. Instead call for one... and according to local VTers - Taxi2000, you can call them on +36 1 200 0000, they get there in 5 minutes.

On our first day, we jump into trams that circled around the city in attempts to get our bearings. It was indeed very very scenic, both Pest and Buda sides. On another day, I walked for 11 hours, to see as much as I could. One afternoon we spent some leisurely time at Szentendre on the Danube Bend (you can reach there on the local train HEV from Batthany metro station).

Moving Around The Touristy Vaci Utca :
On one end, is the famous bit with a lovely square (near deak ferenc) called Vörösmarty tér, a really lovely square... which has a number of attractions. There is the statue of the great Romantic poet Mihály Vörösmarty, author of "The Appeal," Hungary's "second national anthem."
around the area is also a large cafe, famous for the pastry. At Vörösmarty tér 7the legendary Gerbaud coffeehous which was founded in 1858 and has been at this site since 1870. The decor and the furnishings are classic turn of the century, and the pastries really one of the best I tried.... in the region - and perhaps in the world. We sat outside to catch some sun, and enjoyed the strudels gyümölcs rétes - which is so refine...and of course with a generous scoop of ice cream... however service was obnoxious!!!!.

If you are walking on Vaci Utca (which is closed to traffic) from this end to the other end, there are plenty of kiosk selling souveniers, one too many souveniers shops, folkart stores.... you be spoilt for choices. At at the end (southern) of the street , we had dinner in a popular restaurant, called Fatal - 1056 Budapest, Vaci utca 67 (+36 1 266 2607). The place is sardine pack with tourist - but it was quite an experience. We enjoyed the roast pork leg very much - also the mushroom soup - it is a good place to have a hearty meal - servings are huge - so make sure to share.

On another day, I walked along the beautiful Erzsébet Bridge on the Pest side to the Buda side. On the Buda side of the bridge is the Gellert Hill, you can see the statue of bishop. I read that the Italian Bishop Gellert had a horrible death - he tried to convert pagans rolled him to his death in a barrel to the river.
The Clark Ádám tér is very very scenic; the square named after the
Scottish engineer who supervised the building of Chain Bridge in 1848 and 1849. And then i walked passed the tunnel - there was a joke that the tunnel was built to house the expensive precious bridge when it rained!!! I took the funicular ride up to the Buda Palace.

The Castle Hill, is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site - has the Royal Palace and many museums. There is a huge eagle perched on a column, looking out over the Danube. There are so many museums, an art gallery to checkout. On the opposite side, there will be quiant shops and small cafes, and suddenly a suare called Holy Trinity Square with an odd columns. The beautiful must see Matthias Church (Mátyás templom)
officially called the Church of Our Lady is across. Inside the church has lots of beautiful murals. Next door is the Hilton Hotel - which muted well with the surrounding Next to it is the Fisherman's Bastion (Halászbástya)
with a nice view over the Danube to the Pest.

Shopping is great in Budapest - if you like folkart - decorative stuff.
At the end of Vaci Utca, passing the Ferenceik ter (square), on the right sidem, just before the famous green coloured steel bridge is a shoppers galore. The Central Market Hall aka to the locals as Központi Vásárcsarnok is really quite big.
I love the colourful ceramics tiled roof, and as soon as you enter you will feast your eyes with amazing assortment of things to buy. Here you can buy even fresh meat! and vegetables, fruits, and when i was there, there was a small exhibit of Canadian produce - i bought some Canadian maple lollies and also some cranberriers. And of course there are lots of dried fruits, and paprika to be bought. lots of cold cuts, salamis hanging everywhere. Upstairs is huge array of souveniers. Some look atrocious kitsch but if you have plenty of time, you can pick up some nice quality craft. Prices vary very little from store to store, but if you trot down the stores several times, you will get a picture of what are good selection.
And many of these stores are related - could be mother's store on this end, and daughter's store round the end!!!
Handsomely prized HANDMADE embroided tableclothes (unlike the Chinese machine made) and Halasi laces are hanging in every corner. I thot they were really beautiful - but geez - they were terribly expensive...so I only ended up buying some reasonable quality Russian dolls (cannot beat those I bot in St Petersburg - but they were OK enough for my nieces), and also some decorative eggs. To the Hungarians - eggs have lots of meaning. I see egg souvenier everywhere - and could be made of wood, procelain or even real duck or ostrich eggs with intricate geometrical or stylized floral designs.

The giving of egg probly started by Christians in Hungary - usually given by the godparents to their godchildren during easter season.
Little girls also seal their friendship with a bride's plate which contains a bottle of wine and a large pretzel, surrounded by decorated eggs. A group of girls, usually about eight, accompany the plate. The bride will take a few eggs, placed down several of her own, before sending the plate back.
On Easter Monday - Ducking Day boys will surprise girls by dousing them with buckets of water..... reciting rhyme of
Good day, good day, my lily, I water you to keep you from wither-ing, or Water for your health, water for your home, water for your land, here's water, water! Don't shriek and cry and run away: It's good for you on Dyngus day. It was expected that the girls accept this all good-naturedly and reward the boys with decorated eggs.
As for me, I bot a HUGE decorated OSTRICH egg home!!!!