Getting the most out of Budapest
by Michelle Tanaka
The Hungarian capital is a quirky city filled with hole-in-the-wall shops, bars, and cafes. Getting lost down its twisty streets will inevitably land you in front of something unexpectedly interesting.
Getting there:
Student Agency or Orange Ways buses. When booking online, check that departure time isn’t the arrival time. Around $45 roundtrip; trains more expensive. The bus trip takes around seven hours. Night buses are a great way to save time.
Staying there:
All hostels booked online require a small (10%) deposit, paid online by credit card
Loft Hostel
Veres Palne Utca 19
Tel: +36 1328 0916
24 check-in, no curfew/lock-out, late check-out
Cash
4, 6 or 8 beds per room
Around HUF 4800–5000 (about $20) a night; good location, great staff.
The Groove Hostel
Szent István körút 16
Tel. +36 1786 8038
No Curfew/lock-out
Cash only
Non-smoking rooms
2, 6 or 8 beds per room
Around HUF 4500 HUF (about $20) a night; great setup, good location.
Keleti Hostel
Baross tér 18
No Curfew/lock-out
Cash
8 or 10 beds per room
Around HUF 2050 (about $10) a night; it was okay, far from city center, great staff.
Eating there:
Queen Pizza & Pub
Király út 14 (near Deák Ferenc tér)
Open 10 am to 3 am
Major credit card accepted
Smoking
Great salads and pizza pies, HUF 1000–1900 (about $5–9)
Paprika Csárda
Dózsa György út 72 (near the Széchenyi Baths)
Major credit cards accepted
Smoking
Delicious Hungarian food for HUF 900–3000 (about $4–13)
Alexandra Bookhouse
Andrássy út 39 (between the Oktogon and Opera metro stops)
Open daily 10 a.m.–10 p.m.
Beautiful café and bookstore
Don’t miss:
Balkan Beats
Giant, free monthly party at Gödör Klub. Meet local Hungarians and other foreigners.
Gödör Klub
Erzsébet tér 1051
Open to at least 4 a.m.
Széchenyi Baths
Allatkerti korut 11
Tel. +36 1363 3210
Open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Largest bath complex in the world; saunas and whirlpool included in admission
Admission: HUF 3600. No reservations necessary.
Major credit cards accepted
Szimpla bar
Kazinczy utca 14
Tel. +36 1352 4198
No reservations necessary.
Huge indoor/outdoor bar, fantastic décor/setup.
Skip it:
Margaret Island (Margit-sziget)
The island in the Danube. Basically just a park with a fountain.
Millenium de Pippo
Andrássy út 76
Hailed by TimeOut Budapest as a great Hungarian restaurant, it’s actually just a mediocre Italian restaurant with the worst service.
