Where to go in Hungary in winter. Budapest in winter on your own, review. Useful links when planning your travels

Hungary is located in a temperate climate zone, so you can choose absolutely any period when you go to Hungary. Basically, it depends on your hobbies and the immediate purpose of the trip. The high tourist season in Hungary begins in May and ends closer to September. The main influx of tourists is observed in July–August.

The low tourist season in Hungary begins immediately after New Year's holidays. The influx of tourists is decreasing not only due to the fact that all the mass celebrations are taking place, but also due to the deterioration weather conditions. In addition to the low temperature, walking down the street is not comfortable due to high humidity and fog.

Holidays in Hungary in spring

If you want to make your trip unforgettable and romantic, find out when is the best time to vacation in Hungary. Experienced tourists know that for this purpose it is better to go to Hungary in the spring. Holidays in Hungary in the spring are characterized by a period of flowering, nature comes to life, and prices for holidays remain at the same level as in winter.

Despite the general enthusiasm for spring break, remember that the weather in Hungary in spring can be quite changeable. May is considered one of the rainiest of the year.

Features of summer holidays in Hungary

If you are interested in the weather in Hungary in summer, then from June the sultry heat sets in throughout the country. Only occasionally can a meteorological report show bad weather and slight cold snaps. Due to the fact that the average air temperature remains at +26°C, huge flows of tourists flock to Hungary on vacation in the summer.

The summer months are considered to be the best time to travel to Hungary for active recreation. Indeed, during this period, a large number of local festivals take place throughout the country.

What to do in winter in Budapest, accommodation, transport, prices, helpful information and a review of your trip to Budapest on your own. I won’t bore you with the sights, just a review with fresh, useful information.

It’s strange to see the word “do it yourself” in the title of a review on this site. Because on this site everything is just on your own. What's the point of buying a tour to Budapest when easier travel can't think of it anymore? Package tourists go to Egypt in winter, but our paths unexpectedly crossed with them at the Kiev Zhulyany airport.

We say the phrase “maybe to Prague this year” and buy ticket to Budapest. Once again. Strange? It would be strange to stay in Kyiv, because it is dreary here in winter. And Budapest is fun, atmospheric and cool. It would be inexpensive if you bought a ticket in advance. Two days before departure it turned out as it happened. But the accommodation is free, thank you airbnb bonuses- you can also use it if register using this link .

The situation with our flight

The plan was this: a morning flight, two days in Budapest and a morning flight home. But sometimes a clear and understandable plan is influenced by external factors. This is the second time with Budapest. I wrote about what happened a year ago in some detail; the Poles distinguished themselves there.

This time, Belarusian tourists who were flying on a cheap package tour to Sharm El Sheikh from Kyiv interfered with our plan. Many people love cheap tours and everyone expects that no troubles will happen to them. And the following happened. Bravo Avia company, which performed chartered flight, apparently messed up and didn’t fly out on time. On time - it's 2 o'clock in the morning. As a result, we saw blocked passport control doors and screams from passengers on the other side who did not like the flight delay.

As a result, a delay of 3.5 hours our flight to Budapest and unintelligible actions Zhulyany airport workers who were not ready for emergency situation and fussily made decisions regarding our landing. But the state border!

Lovers of free Egyptian tours We were able to fly closer to 11 am, after sitting at the airport for almost a day. It’s unlikely that fans of Egypt are reading me, but if so, at least ask who operates the flight, read the reviews and never fly with crummy airlines in the hope of chance.

TO Wizz Air no questions asked, the crew even stood with the passengers for a while and stoically watched the drama unfold on the other side of passport control.

Transfer from Liszt Ferenc Airport to Budapest

In general, in our situation it would have been possible to save an hour of time, but out of habit we stomped on the bus.

Budapest– one of the best cities in Europe in terms of transport development, fast, on schedule, cheap and convenient in terms of connections various types transport.

WITH July 2017 from Budapest airport to the city center there is a direct bus number 100E, which goes to the city center, to Deak Ferenz Square, where all the metro lines converge. Travel time is 40-45 minutes and only a couple of intermediate stops.

Almost all the arriving passengers crowd around the ticket machine near the bus stop. A little life hack from me - buy a ticket in the arrivals hall, to the left of the exit to the hall, on Information desk. You can pay by card. Ticket price by bus No. 100E – 900 forints (3 Euro)

Cool excursions from locals

If you want some zest on your trip, don’t want to do the preparation, or just want fresh communication in your native language, we take a tour from local residents, it’s been proven that there are no dissatisfied people.

Choosing accommodation in Budapest

We tried more than a dozen accommodation options in Budapest, from budget tourist-class hotels in Buda to quite expensive hotels downtown. We have been booking apartments through Booking or Airbnb.

I came to the conclusion that if you are traveling together and come for only two days, then the best option- hotel with breakfast, save time and money. In the case of a group of friends and when there are at least three days - an apartment or a hotel, if more than three days - an apartment is definitely better.

Prices in Budapest

Among the most beautiful cities Europe Budapest there are no competitors in price. Although the cost of some attractions is not very clear, for example the funicular, which costs 4 Euros for a couple of minutes ride.

Metro travel costs 350 forints for a one-time trip and 300 forints (1 Euro) if you buy 10 tickets. If you are going to be in the city for 3 days or more, it is worth buying a Budapest card, you will save on baths and some attractions.

To go up by funicular - 4 euros for 2 minutes of ascent, because it’s historical, but the Hungarians still gave a damn, the alternative is a 15-minute walk up.

Baths– 15-18 Euro – Széchenyi and Gelert, 12 Euro – Rudas, 8 Euro – Lukasz. IN Lukash it's possible for free if you bought it budapest card, good baths - I recommend.

Eat in a tourist cafe, for example, in a popular Menza on Franz Liszt Square (Octagon metro station) or in the Bistro (typical canteen) next to the royal palace - 10 Euros per person, 0.5 beer in a cafe or pub - 700-900 forints (2.5-3 Euros). Lunch (dinner) at a restaurant in beautiful place with wine – 20-30 Euro per person. Online Trofea Grill unlimited lunch will cost 22 Euros on weekends and 20 Euros on weekdays. Format – eat as much as you want and as much as you can for a fixed price, there are no restrictions on time and volume of food.

Toilets are paid - from 100 to 150 forints (0.5 Euro). You won’t be able to go to McDonald’s or similar places to go to the toilet for free; you’ll have to pay.

Oddities of Budapest, weather and climate

There are a lot of homeless people in the city; they usually live in passages, sleep on mattresses, covered with blankets. Naturally, in the central part of the city. A homeless person can help you, don’t be afraid - they are peaceful and help in anticipation of a reward.

I know how to use the subway ticket machines, but while I was looking for where to switch the language from Hungarian to English, a homeless man appeared and offered to help. I show that I’m going to pay for the fare with a card, but that didn’t stop the homeless man. Of course, he received a reward that he no longer expected. Some homeless people are a little reminiscent of Parisians, although the comparison is still incorrect.

Another oddity of Budapest is the gloomy ticket inspectors at the entrance to the metro. With such a developed and modern transport network, why not install automatic access control or selectively check tickets in carriages?

Lake Heviz- just as much cool idea in winter, just like Budapest itself. It is very easy to combine with the capital of Hungary in one trip. More details - Thermal lake Heviz, why go and what to treat, personal experience

Many residents of Budapest dress lightly even in winter; sometimes they go without outerwear. A scarf, hat, warm winter jacket, and especially a fur coat are not the most popular wardrobe items here. At first like this appearance The locals were amused, now they’re used to it, but it’s still strange to see lightly dressed people at temperatures around zero. It doesn't get colder than -3 in Budapest.

The climate is dry, despite the Danube. Snow is a rarity; in four winter seasons in Budapest, snow was seen once and then in the air; on the ground it melted within a minute. The temperature in winter is about zero, comfortable for walking if you have enough clothing. And you shouldn’t be guided by how the locals are dressed - they seem to have a different heat exchange. Last year on February 14 the air temperature reached +10 and it was sunny, this year it was sunny until the end, then it was dim and cloudy.

Tourists in Budapest in winter

Just a few years ago in the winter and in early spring there were no more tourists than leaves on the trees at this time of year. That is, of course there were tourists, but not in such numbers as now, there were no queues anywhere. Now, even in the unpopular February, there is a queue in Szechenyi from 11:00 in the morning; you can’t get into popular cafes and restaurants at lunchtime and in the evening - you have to wait from 10 to 40 minutes. The solution is to look for new locations and come at unusual times. To the baths - in the morning, to pubs early at least by 16:00, or make a reservation in the morning.

The tourist scene is international; young people from all over Europe come for the weekend to drink, take a walk, and go to interesting places. Because it's fun and because it's cheap. In addition, in Budapest the authorities adhere to the principle that there is never enough entertainment. Almost all attractions operate year-round, even pleasure boats and amphibians on the Danube.

Do you need a credit card everywhere?

I advise you to have at least 50 Euro equivalent in cash if you are traveling together. Many places only accept cash. In some cafes and pubs, such as our favorite For Sale and some ruin bars, you will also have to pay cash for entry to St. Stephen's Basilica, as well as for going to the toilet. You can change money at exchange offices - there are plenty of them everywhere, some charge a commission for the exchange. The Euro exchange rate is 305-310 forints, the US dollar exchange rate is 250-255 forints, which has not changed over the past year.

Cafes, bars, restaurants in Budapest

A lot of them. So many that all the establishments in Lviv or Odessa can fit in a couple of small blocks of huge Budapest.

If you decide to quit drinking - Budapest not your place. Otherwise, you will have to fight the temptations - rent a bicycle and ride all day along the Danube, looking at the drinking tourists on boats. The baths won't help - they also pour water there, though only in the evenings.

All establishments are divided into popular and not very popular. Not very popular, which means they’re just not popular yet or there’s something wrong with them. Popular places They may or may not be very expensive.

Attendance establishments in Budapest has nothing to do with the price of food and drinks.

In dear historical New York cafe, in which the eyes ripple with gold, and the ears ring with hubbub Chinese tourists the queue is the same as in simple cafe with cats. For about 30-40 minutes, this is in February. In summer you will have to wait even longer. Moreover, in Cat Cafe You will also have to pay for admission, apparently to feed these same cats.

For super thrifty tourists Asian kebab shops and similar establishments are provided. Strange place for food in Budapest, in my subjective opinion, of course. Despite this, there are also a lot of kebabs. There are no queues there and this is not strange at all.

Large portions in Europe are as much a myth as low prices. The prices are different, the portions are also different, and for low prices come to us in Kyiv. The same goulash in the popular among tourists Menza(Ferenc Liszt Square) and in the mega popular For Sale(across the road from the central market) - they cost about the same, but the sizes differ by three times, and not in favor Menza. It is worth asking the waiter before serving if in doubt.

Everyone is cool and popular places full of people even in the morning or in the middle of the day. Occupancy good establishments 130%. Open areas They work all year round, and in February the occupancy rate is 30% above normal and they mostly sit local residents. There is practically no chance of getting to popular places without waiting, even on weekdays and regardless of the time of year or time of day.

The solution is to search for new places that will be popular in a year or two. One of these establishments this time was a small cafe-bar Blue Bird(Blue bird) - passage from Dob utca,16, near the Octagon station and the Ferris wheel, they found a small neighborhood with restaurants, cafes and wine bars. There are no birds in Blue Bird in any form, including fried, but large portions, delicious food, a good choice drinks, including coffee. plays until 20:00 live music– local rock bands or duos, then the bar turns into karaoke. I don’t know what is happening there at this time, at least there is a change in the audience. Lovers of rock and roll, whiskey and beer moving to ruin pubs .

About ruin pubs I can add that after 19:00 it is almost impossible to take a free seat there, even at the counter; the alternative is to wait or drink on the go while walking around the location - there is a lot to see there. What's happened ruin pubs and which ones are the coolest I already wrote it, there is nothing to add.

About the baths of Budapest

I have already written in detail about baths of Budapest and features of pastime in them. I will briefly mention my favorites:

Szechenyi because it’s beautiful in outdoor pools
Lukash– the cheapest plus a rich history
Rudas– because there is night swimming from Friday to Saturday and many locals
Gelert– in winter, not so much, because many outdoor pools are closed, but in summer it’s a cool place.

What to do in winter in Budapest

It’s difficult to write briefly about this, but I’ll try in one paragraph about what you need to see and do in Budapest and not only in winter.

The most primitive and free thing is walking around the city. Baths, ruin bars and other hot spots, a Ferris wheel, walks along the Danube, including on an amphibious bus, roof bars and an observation deck at St. Stephen’s Cathedral - a must visit, shopping - unreal discounts in February, as well as an ice skating rink in Varosliget Park, there are a couple of skating rinks on the roofs, a zoo - it is very cozy and cute, dozens of museums, including a transport museum and the oldest meter line in continental Europe. Of course, Parliament, the Royal Palace, the Philosophical Garden and the observation deck on the Fisherman's Bastion and the longest and most beautiful panoramic tram route in Europe. This is just the bare minimum, enough for three or four days. There is also Margaret Island, but there better in spring or in summer, as well as several interesting places outside the central part of the city - a new theater and cable car, For example. This is at least a four day program if you have fast legs.

How to buy cheap tickets to Budapest

IN Budapest from Kyiv low-cost Wizzair flies; you can buy tickets directly on their website. I still select a ticket on a search engine aviasales– it offers absolutely all flight options, including low-cost ones, all you have to do is choose the one that suits you in terms of time and price.

Useful links when planning your travels

Aviasales- low-cost air tickets around the world

HotelsCombined(RoomGuru)– allows you to save even more when searching for budget accommodation, hotels and apartments as it searches across all popular booking sites, including Agoda, Booking.com and others

Booking.com- habitual and convenient search and booking accommodation around the world

Rentalcars– car rental all over the world with the possibility of free cancellation

And it’s completely unfair, because this city is distinguished by its magnificent architecture, original and special atmosphere, which is difficult to find anywhere else. What is especially surprising is that Budapest is especially beautiful in winter, in the cold, before Christmas.

Therefore, when thinking about where to go on your winter holiday, be sure to consider visiting the Hungarian capital.

During the snowy months the city becomes even more beautiful than usual. As numerous reviews about Budapest say, in winter, beautiful views begin from the airport itself. The fact is that the Hungarians only clear the runways. Everything else is covered with puffy snow caps, so the only things visible through the terminal windows are planes taking off from a sea of snowdrifts. All this looks fantastically beautiful and puts you in a festive mood. Another attraction that Budapest can be proud of in winter is the Danube River. It freezes very, very rarely; on the contrary, it is from December to February that the water here becomes especially stormy. Small crusts of ice, light frost and the entire embankment, shining with cleanliness and freshness - all this is definitely worth seeing. In summer the river looks completely different. Another must-see place is the fairs. Central Market the capital is good at any time of the year. The famous seasonal fairs before Christmas help you find the New Year's mood and feel the holiday before it arrives.

Stroll through the aisles with all kinds of goods, try traditional pastries, buy Christmas tree decorations and handmade souvenirs - this is what you should go to Budapest for in winter.

New Year in the capital of Hungary

The Christmas holidays are the center of the entire winter season. New Year and Christmas can transform any city, and Budapest is no exception. Therefore, planning a vacation just in time for the holidays will be very, very useful. Both wide avenues and small streets are decorated with lights, and sales begin in stores. And after long walks, you can treat yourself to something pleasant by going to the famous baths, the water of which comes directly from the Warm Pond under

The open winter sky will be remembered for a lifetime. So you can visit Budapest in winter at least for a visit to the bathhouse. IN New Year's Eve residents gather in the main squares with glasses of champagne, tourists and locals party until the early hours of the morning at parties in bars and restaurants. The hotels also have festive dinner programs, so even those who prefer quiet evenings will be able to find an option to their liking. Be sure to try the national cuisine. Delicious goulash or thick soup with paprika, hot wine and delicious sweets with marzipan are ideal for cold weather. Therefore, Budapest in winter will certainly not disappoint even the pickiest gourmet. Marzipan candies are also good as a souvenir, so don’t forget to buy them for your loved ones when going home from vacation.

Target: spend a vacation in Europe, but not expensively (without euros); see parliament.

Travel time: February 1-13, 2015. We didn’t regret that we went in winter - the weather was good, the grass was green, there were a lot of sunny days.

Flight cost : very cheap if you book in advance (RUB 16,738 for two round-trip) with wizz air - cheap airline, where you have to pay extra for everything (luggage, large hand luggage, etc.).

Accommodation: for 12 days 17100 rub. (RUR 1,175 per day plus site fee). The apartment was booked on airbnb - the site has been checked more than once, the apartment has reviews. While choosing, we noticed that it is fashionable for them to have a bed on the second level - under the ceiling. We decided to see what it was like. We also looked for availability wireless internet(communicate with home, plan routes for the next day) and seating besides the bed. We took an apartment closer to the center, but it turned out that the terrain was also important. The city is located on a river and one of the banks (Buda) is high - we took an apartment there, and it turned out that we often walked uphill, which could have been avoided if we had taken an apartment in the lower part of the city (Pest).

Honey. insurance: 1321 rub. for two at Tinkoff. We took it online and simply printed out the papers - it was fine for a visa.

Visa: 35 euros per person plus 2600 rub. for the visa service fee. I had to go to Moscow. All documents can be given by one relative, but it is necessary to have the original (and a copy) of the relationship document (marriage certificate).
Bought a three-day card in advance Budapest map (Budapest card, 4074 rub. for two) [hereinafter referred to as “card"] - there was a discount on it when purchasing online. Unfortunately, there are few places with it free visit, mostly small discounts, but for the sake of free travel it’s very good to take it (although there is a travel card separately).

Car rental: 8500 rub. for 4 days plus 35.56 euros for driving on motorways ( toll roads). 900 euros were blocked for the duration of the rental, but were returned on time. The car was booked with Enterprise. There are also local car rental companies there, but they have very negative reviews (for example, they charge extra money for minor scratches). Gasoline cost 85 rubles at that time. liter and 1200 km. we spent approximately 7000 rubles.
Business lunches - about 300 rub. Average bill per person when ordering a dish local cuisine and alcohol 1000 - 1500 rub.
In the end it didn't work out cheap. Tickets to museums and excursions - from 500 rubles.
But we were very pleased because Budapest is beautiful European city, with good weather, helpful people who speak English. And plus a great bonus - THERMAL SPRINGS.

There is a free tour in Budapest , however, in English. More details:http://www.triptobudapest.hu/v2/tours/the-original-tour/ . We recommend going! We learned a lot about the history of the city and the country, and also got our bearings in the city. At the end of the tour, the guide asks if we would like to give some money. The guides are excellent, so you can give them. According to the map there are two separate free excursions- in Buda and Pest.

Website public transport - specify the addresses of the place of departure and arrival and the route is drawn on the map indicating transport, final and intermediate stops:http://www.bkk.hu/en/timetables/ . The cost of 1 journey is 80 rubles. But all the main attractions are within walking distance - we recommend walking. For trips, it is better to take passes for a day or a couple of days.

Briefly about the sights and our impressions of them:

Fisherman's Bastion - very beautiful building and SUPER view of the city day and night!

Historical Museum - free with a map, nothing special, but the palace in Buda, where this museum is located, is worth a stroll.

Hungarian National Gallery - this is a must for art lovers! Located in the same palace as the Historical Museum in Buda.

Matthias Cathedral - It’s very beautiful from the outside, but we haven’t been inside.

Labyrinth - it's worth going, but take a flashlight!

Funicular - expensive and no card discount.

Parliament - there are 2 daily excursions in Russian - it’s worth going, although it’s expensive - 1000 rubles. per person.

St. Stephen's Basilica - it’s worth coming in, walking around, looking. We also went to an organ concert - nothing special.

Opera theatre - you can go inside and see how beautiful it is for free.

Great Synagogue - we entered the territory for free, looked in, but did not go inside - there is a fee there.

Adrashi Street - you can take a walk.

Miniversum (mini layout Railway and towns "from Hungary to Austria") - we really liked it, it was interesting for both adults and children

House of Terror - it didn’t touch us, and without an audio guide (for an additional fee) there’s nothing to do there - there are very few worthwhile exhibits.

Heroes Square - interesting, if with history and explanation (on excursions they take you there on a map and tell you about it).

Városliget - beauty! Inside is the Museum of Agriculture - the entrance is expensive.

Gul Baba's grave - a unique structure, and there are very picturesque residential neighborhoods around. You can look there on the way to the Baths of St. Lucas, which is free with a map.

Margaret Island - nothing special, not worth your time.

Mount Gellert - stunning views, but it’s not worth going to the Citadel. It’s worth climbing the mountain only if you have extra time.

Cave church in Mount Gellert - funny, but expensive.

Statue Park - few statues, not very picturesque and far to get to.

Vintage car museum - Yes Yes Yes! A huge number of luxury American cars! You can take pictures. Far from the center.

Oceanarium and tripicarium - small and nothing special. Far from the center.

Samlekhedi and Palveldi caves - very picturesque caves, worth a visit! If you buy a ticket to visit both at once, it will be cheaper, and between them it will be a 20-minute walk.

Cafe with cats (Budapest, Damjanich utca 38, 1071) - you can stop by after visiting the Szechenyi Baths. An anti-cafe type cafe - you pay to be there and get tea and a piece of pie. Just four lazy but helpful cats.

BATHING IN BUDAPEST
A great bonus for a traveler. We highly recommend going at least two. 2 hours is enough for a visit, but you will get more than enough relaxation and pleasure. Bring a swimsuit, flip-flops, a towel, a cap (for some pools it is required, but you can do without it) and a robe, preferably in the cold season.
- expensive and very beautiful inside and out, clean and nice. External in winter open pool very small.
- cheaper, but great amount swimming pools and a huge outdoor pool. We highly recommend it, but the thermal indoor pools closed at 7:00 p.m. - it’s not clear how to plan this in advance; there was no information on the website. Advice - do not put off your visit until later.
Bath of St. Lucas - free with card. There are few thermal pools and a lot of people - the impression is negative. The external pools are cold and a cap is required.
Royal Bath - dirty and small, creepy SCOOP. There is no external pool (there was a barrel of water for 4 people), an internal one - one large and one small.
All baths have saunas.
Hairdryers are everywhere.

Trip around Hungary
We rented a car and went to 4 directions. We left in the morning and returned to Budapest in the evening. You can park your car near the house for free from 18:00 to 8:00 (this is not everywhere, check with the locals), there were also free places on the river embankment.
Having a navigator, enter the address there “tourinform” of the corresponding city, come there. You pay for parking your car - all parking is paid and the fine for violation is large! Come toTurinformpoint, ask for any information in Russian/English (maps, brochures), ask what to visit in the city and after 10 minutes you have a clear plan where to go!
We highly recommend visiting the following cities:

North of Budapest:

Szentendre (tourinform address: 2000 Szentendre, Dumtsa Jenő u. 22) - nice town The most famous Marzipan Museum is probably worth a visit!

Visegrad (tourinform address: 2025 Visegrád, Fő Street 81) - a picturesque but small castle high on the mountain. Very beautiful view to the Danube River and the surrounding area from the castle walls.

Esztergom (Basilica address: 2500, Esztergom, Szent István tér 1) - a giant cathedral, great view on beautiful city and the river, to the bridge-border with Slovakia. And also to the Slovak city. The border is open, you can cross.

East of Budapest:

Eger (addresstourinform: 3300, Eger, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Endre 9) - a beautiful fortress on a hill in the city center, walked along the walls. On the outskirts of the city, the Valley of Beautiful Women (Kulacs Csárda Panzió), a place where representatives of wineries come to sell their products, we tasted and bought Hungarian wine (sold by the glass).

Miskolc (addresstourinform: 3525 Miskolc, Városház tér 13) - the city itself is not very interesting, but the Barlangfürdő bathhouse in the suburb of Miskolc-Tapolca (http://www.thermal.hu/miskolc-tapolca/ ) is very worth a visit! It's a cave bath!

This area east of Budapest - Tokaj district- the birthplace of wine and the main development of the wine industry. You can also go to the town of Tokaj, but one day will clearly not be enough to do everything. Driving with even a low blood alcohol level is prohibited in Hungary, so it’s worth traveling to these places for at least a couple of days.

West of Budapest (towards Lake Balaton):

Tapolca (addresstourinform: 8300, Tapolca, Fő tér 17) - a city with a lake underground - you can go boating (http://www.tavasbarlang.hu/index.php/en ) - unforgettable experience! Before that, you really have to go around the museum (a la local history) - good museum, and the film is shown in 3D, but the visiting time in total increases to an hour (of which 20 minutes by boat). Still in the same city beautiful lake with an old water mill.

Keszthely (addresstourinform: 8360, Keszthely, Kossuth Lajos u. 30) - a city on the shore of Lake Balaton, where it is most convenient to approach the shore and touch the water, admire the lake and ducks.

Heviz (addresstourinform: 8380, Hévíz, Rákóczi utca 2) - town and swimming lake! Small thermal lake, where in winter the water temperature is 24C. On the shore of the lake there was an indoor swimming pool and a park - very beautiful!

What other cities have we been to, but we didn’t like it:

Gyor (addresstourinform: 9021, Győr, Baross Gábor út 21) is just a city where all the sights can be visited in 1 hour.

Sopron (addresstourinform: 9400, Sopron, Liszt Ferenc utca 1) - you can climb onto the old fire station observation tower and admire the charming old town. You can walk along the old fortress walls. Nice, but nothing special.

What to try in Hungary (national dishes of Hungarian cuisine)

Goulash soup ( Gulyas leves- they read “guyash”) - delicious meat soup, a lot of meat, large portions

Goulash

Fish soup ( Halasz leves) - usually brought in a pot and with a ladle, you serve it yourself, very tasty

Fried goose liver ( Rantott libamajszeletek, Libamaj) - a la foie gras, tasty, but expensive

Pancakes ( Palacsinta) - they are pancakes in Africa too

Lecho ( Lesco) - without meat, there is often a lot of meat in this dish, and very tasty

Langos - their “fast food” is a dough fried in oil with a diameter of 20 cm and a thickness of 1.5 cm on which they put the filling as desired - we recommend just sprinkling with cheese!

Pleskavica be sure to drink

Tokaj ( Tokaji) - buy in any stores, try, very tasty wine.

Cafes and restaurants in Budapest:
We can recommend
Horgásztanya Étterem - Budapest, Fő u. 27.1011 - there are national dishes, delicious food, good service
WinstonS Kft. (Kiado Kocsma) - Budapest, Jókai tér 3, 1061 - we saw a recommendation for this cafe on the Internet, they say there is a large selection of dishes there national cuisine. But we weren’t able to visit; on a weekday evening there were so many people there that there was a line. Everything in the neighboring cafes was free - that says something!
But we don’t recommend going to the next restaurant, they learned to deceive our brotherJ. If you go (and there are national dishes and a large selection of Pleskavica), ask for a receipt and check everything: Vigadó Restaurant- Budapest, Markovits Ivan u. 4, 1011

Hungary is original European country, interesting for tourists in many aspects. Richest cultural heritage, natural attractions, and features of the national temperament are combined for Russians with an economic component that allows them to plan without hindrance budget travel. The main difficulty for Russian tourists is language communication; the Hungarian language (belonging to the Finno-Ugric group) contains practically no familiar words, including when written in Latin. Quite a lot of service personnel understand Russian, the number is growing Russian speaking guides.

An example of a typical combined tour maybe an eight-day autumn excursion “Hungarian Pearls”. From the train to Brest, tourists, after going through customs, transfer to a comfortable bus, on which they cross Slovakia. The excursion program in Hungary begins with Miskolc-Tapolc, a unique cave complex in which thermal baths are built, decorated with lighting effects. Tourists are provided with excursion time and possibly a healthy swim in the hot springs, for which you need to pay extra.

Many tourists gladly agree to an additional excursion to Vienna, which needs to travel 240 kilometers from Budapest. On the way back to the Belarusian border, tourists stop near the numerous castles of Hungary. There will be a stop in Lublin and a tour of the historical center of the city.

Buda Castle;
King Matthias Cathedral;
Fisherman's Bastion;
basilica of st. Istvan;
Vajdahunyad Castle;
Hungarian Parliament;
Royal Palace;
Heroes Square.

Travel goals

Among the resort areas around the huge lake, the town of Siófok stands out. The most popular, comfortable resort has also become the center of social life, a place of active youth tourism. The surrounding area is decorated with the picturesque Shio River, the beach area is equipped with many well-maintained beaches, cafes, restaurants, nightclubs, and discos. From the village of Santod it is easy to move to the sparsely populated Tihany Peninsula. Popular entertainment of the aristocratic Santod are horse riding parades and equestrian sports.

For budget tourism the most expensive city will become Budapest, although here you can find inexpensive hotel. Of the two thousand, the cheapest booking prices are offered by hotels without an international rating and one-star hotels. In the hostels “Sleepover City”, “Pesti szálló”, guest house"Jáde Panzió", in the "Artist Residence" apartments, you can stay, with varying degrees of comfort, for 1000 - 2000 rubles (in hostels - for one visitor).

Bratislava castle, Slovakia

For Russian tourists the most popular neighboring countries are Austria, Slovakia, Serbia, . Among the proven routes for Russian-speaking guides, the first place is one day excursion to Vienna.

Articles about budget holidays in Hungary:

";s:8:"cat_comm";i:3304;s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:8:"keywords ";s:0:"";s:8:"descrtop";s:38842:"Hungary is a distinctive European country, interesting for tourists in many aspects. The richest cultural heritage, natural attractions, and national characteristics are combined for Russians with an economic component that allows them to easily plan a budget trip. The main difficulty for Russian tourists is language communication; the Hungarian language (belonging to the Finno-Ugric group) contains practically no familiar words, including when written in Latin. Quite a lot of service personnel understand Russian, and the number of Russian-speaking guides is growing.

Visa difficulties, travel to Hungary

To travel to Hungary you need a Schengen visa. The peculiarities of obtaining a Hungarian visa permit were some additional documents (an extensive questionnaire, a certificate - a referral from a doctor, a confirmed hotel reservation). The independent hassle of filling out documents and visiting the embassy can be facilitated by visa centers and travel agencies that deal with individual tours. A simplified visa regime will also ensure multiple visits to the Schengen countries.

At independent registration documents in visa center(permanent, long-term visa), tourists themselves can take care of travel to Hungary:

Most tourists prefer a two-hour flight to Budapest (1,569 km) to crossing several borders. When ordering a ticket two weeks in advance, the cost of the ticket will be 20,300 - 22,800 rubles. If you book early, you can find flights much cheaper.
If air travel is not possible due to health reasons, you can get to Budapest by rail. Thro compartment carriage the Moscow-Prague train takes thirty hours to Budapest, the ticket costs 14,184 rubles.
In terms of prices, the most attractive are combined tours (train to Brest, bus around Europe), which can cost about 26,000 rubles (excluding visa costs), last minute tours. The intense program of the combined tour does not provide time for passive, resort holiday, subject to daily travel.

An example of a typical combined tour would be the eight-day autumn Hungarian Pearls excursion. From the train to Brest, tourists, after going through customs, transfer to a comfortable bus, on which they cross Poland and Slovakia. The excursion program in Hungary begins with Miskolc-Tapolc, a unique cave complex in which thermal baths are built, decorated with lighting effects. Tourists are provided with excursion time and possibly a healthy swim in the hot springs, for which you need to pay extra.

The next stages of the trip are a visit to Eger (with a sightseeing bus tour around the city), moving to Budapest. On the way, you can stop at the “Valley of Beauties,” have lunch in a wine cellar, and taste vintage wines.

A stay in Budapest includes a sightseeing bus and walking tour of the Hungarian capital, optional excursions, a trip on the Evening Danube motor ship, a free day that can be spent on independent walks, shopping, and going on an additional excursion to Bratislava (200 km).

Many tourists gladly agree to an additional excursion to Vienna, which needs to travel 240 kilometers from Budapest. On the way back to the Belarusian border, tourists stop near numerous castles in Hungary and Slovakia. There will be a stop in Lublin and a tour of the historical center of the city.

A huge advantage of such a trip is the constant presence of a bilingual guide. In addition to the story about the sights, cities, places included in the program, good guide will suggest the best shops, cafes, help in choosing unfamiliar dishes, communicating with waiters and service departments. The guide's recommendations are important when choosing additional excursions, places independent visit, inexpensive souvenirs typical of the region.

Organized tours, selection of the best offers

Most tour operator offers relate to organized tours to Budapest. They are divided by duration and intensity of excursion services. In Moscow, the “WEEK-END in Budapest” tour (4 days) can be purchased for 100 euros (excluding flight costs). Eight days sightseeing tour“Brilliant Budapest” costs 170 euros under the same conditions.

The main objects included in excursions in Budapest:
Buda Castle;
King Matthias Cathedral;
Fisherman's Bastion;
basilica of st. Istvan;
Vajdahunyad Castle;
Hungarian Parliament;
Royal Palace;
Heroes Square.

Experienced tourists who have already visited Budapest are interested in other places in Hungary. They can choose an eight-day tour that includes visits to Budapest and four Hungarian provinces. To the cost of the tour (400 euros) you need to add the price of plane tickets.

Currency exchange, food prices, shopping

The Russian ruble costs about 4 forints (more precisely 4.2-4.3 HUF). Accordingly, for 100 dollars you will receive 28 thousand forints, for 100 euros - 31,000. Currency exchange in Hungary does not bring difficulties, but you need to carefully monitor best courses, commissions, avoid exchange offices at airports, at train stations, where rates are inflated. Almost all hotels shopping centers accept bank cards Visa, MasterCard. The exceptions are small shops and market sellers.

In terms of product prices, Hungary can be classified as the best countries Europe. In summer and autumn, prices for fruits and vegetables are much lower than in Moscow. Selected apricots, peaches, pears, and apples cost 50-60 cents (per kilogram). Elite varieties of gourmet table grapes are sold for about a dollar.

Numerous taverns, pubs, cafes, and restaurants also have affordable prices. There are many international, Hungarian fast food enterprises that are difficult to recommend to gourmets. The Hungarian kurtoskalács is a popular fast food option. Dough with various toppings, roasted on coals, costs 600 forints. A large strudel costs the same. Ice cream is sold in individual scoops for 250 forints.

National Hungarian cuisine, which experts consider very tasty, prevails on the menu of most cafes and restaurants. The consistently high level of culinary experts is amazing. Even in budget cafes there are no tasteless dishes. The basis of Hungarian cuisine is various types of meat (pork, game, poultry). Among the vegetables, sweet peppers, tomatoes, onions, and potatoes come first. Hungarians are reserved when it comes to desserts; a typical menu includes two or three simple salads.

Classic dishes of national cuisine combine the first and second. These are the favorite dishes of Hungarians - goulash, lecso (thick soup made from onions, paprika, tomatoes, boiled smoked pork sausage). Only in Hungary can you try real pörkölt – a mixture of several types of meat prepared in a special way. Its ingredients can be veal, rabbit, pork, lamb, wild boar meat. Paprikash is prepared from the same ingredients, stewed in sour cream.

Hungarians are very fond of goose liver in all forms (foie gras, medallions). Traditional desserts include “palacsinta” (thin puff pastry pancakes stuffed with sweet filling) and Dobos cake.

Huge portions do not allow ordering several dishes. Without mentioning trendy, expensive restaurants, it must be said that you can have a full dinner in an average Budapest restaurant for $20. The same price will cost a modest dinner without wine at the famous Gundel restaurant, where they serve signature pike perch in Handel’s style and Gundel’s pancakes (“palacsinta” stuffed with nuts and dipped in chocolate, famous throughout Hungary). In youth restaurants, you can limit yourself to beer, the most expensive dish (goose liver medallions, complemented by a complex side dish). All this costs 2500 forints.

Traveling around Budapest is most economical using public transport (metro, bus). One trip costs 350 forints. You need to buy a ticket at a kiosk, the payment to the driver is more expensive - 450 forints. At large quantities A daily (1650 HUF) or three-day (4150 HUF) pass is convenient for travel. A two-week pass (7,000 HUF) is suitable for some intercity buses, trains.

As souvenirs, Russian tourists buy elegant national dolls, marzipan figurines (3 euros), Tokaj wines (8 euros), fruit vodka (palinka), delicious herbal balm "Unicum" (11 euros), ceramics, porcelain vases, figurines (25 -30 euros). The embroidered tablecloths and napkins are very beautiful national style, which are better to buy in the provinces.

Travel goals

The main goals of a trip to Hungary are educational, health, medical, and youth tourism. Landlocked, Hungarian tour operators offer extensive programs of beach, resort, health-improving holiday on Lake Balaton.

Among the resort areas around the huge lake, the town of Siófok stands out. The most popular, comfortable resort has also become the center of social life, a place of active youth tourism. The surrounding area is decorated with the picturesque Shio River, the beach area is equipped with many well-maintained beaches, cafes, restaurants, nightclubs, and discos. From the village of Santod it is easy to move to the sparsely populated Tihany Peninsula. Popular entertainments of the aristocratic Santod are horse riding parades and equestrian sports.

On the north coast for family vacation Balatonfured is popular. The city has many green areas and healing springs. Close peninsula Tihany is notable for its historical architectural monuments. In the towns of Szigliget and Badacsony you can visit cozy restaurants with fine wines and explore the ruins of the Castle Hill fortress.

Many tourists are attracted by the possibilities of effective treatment in Hungary. The country is different huge number mineral springs. Among the resort areas, Harkany (treatment of skin diseases), unique lake Heviz.

The volcanic origin of Lake Heviz allows the water to be constantly renewed (every 28-48 hours). This phenomenon is unique to the same lake in New Zealand. Lake sludge contains a natural antibiotic and is suitable for mud therapy. Swim in a lake better in winter(about 26⁰C), in summer the water is too hot (33-34⁰C).

Heviz sanatoriums are specialized in the treatment of arthritis, gout, rheumatism, gastric diseases, and gynecology. Successfully undergoes treatment of skin diseases, endocrine disorders, rehabilitation after operations.

Popular at all times of the year wine tours in Hungary, especially successful in the fall. Tokaj is considered the center of elite winemaking. The Tokaji and Oxblood wines are unique in taste. Thanks to grapes growing on volcanic soil, Badacsony wine, popular in Hungary, has a unique taste. Other original Hungarian drinks include sweet raisin wine and apricot vodka.

Best seasons to travel to Hungary

The climate of Hungary is characterized by rather hot summers and cold winters. In winter, tourist activity decreases significantly; only trips to Budapest are relevant. Good weather begins in mid-April, the tourist season ends in the second half of October. From an economic point of view, the beginning and end of the season are profitable, although the lowest prices are in tourist regions fall in the winter.

Summer prices are highest (catering, accommodation). This is due to the influx of foreign tourists and Hungarian holidaymakers. Wonderful spring Hungary is preferable for educational tourism, when the excursions are not tiring, they are accompanied by the blossoming of nature.

In the fall, after the peak of prices has subsided, Hungary is open to gastronomic and wine tourism at a minimal cost. In May and October it is easy to find inexpensive accommodation (motels, hostels, campsites, boarding houses), which is problematic in the summer.

Independent trip around the country

Few enthusiasts dare to take a long independent road trip to Hungary across several borders, although a small group of tourists can see the most by car. An alternative option would be to rent a car; there are quite a lot of “rent car” points in Hungary. Average European rental prices (80 - 100 dollars) make it rational for constant movement (saving on transport), dividing costs among four participants, and a well-thought-out program that reduces the cost of excursion services.

Recognized benefits car travel obvious: freedom to choose a route, the ability to search and select inexpensive hotels. You will have to spend time at home preparing the route. Careful study of materials historical places, will allow you to include in your route the maximum number of attractions, interesting natural areas, castles located near the main route of the trip.

Gasoline prices in Hungary tend to be European, A-95 gasoline costs 1.22 euros here (more expensive than in Poland and the Czech Republic), diesel fuel can be purchased for 1.16 euros. In spring and autumn it is easy to find inexpensive motels and campsites where you can spend the night for twenty euros.

Budget accommodation in Hungarian hotels

For budget tourism, the most expensive city will be Budapest, although you can also find inexpensive hotels here. Of the two thousand hotels in Budapest, the cheapest booking prices are offered by hotels without an international rating, one-star hotels. In hostels “Sleepover City”, “Pesti szálló”, guest house “Jáde Panzió”, apartments “Artist Residence” you can stay, with varying degrees of comfort, for 1000 – 2000 rubles (in hostels - one visitor).

If you book in advance (a month in advance), you can book budget accommodation in provincial Balatonfüred, choosing from 136 hotels. Three star hotels“Park”, “Panorama” offer two vacationers to stay in September for 4200 – 4800 rubles. The best prices for accommodation are offered by apartments and private boarding houses. In provincial Buk you can book accommodation for September at affordable prices. Apartments "Janza Apartmanház" offer a one-room studio for 1,480 rubles, "Gerti Haus" provides apartments with two bedrooms for 1,630 rubles.

Possible excursions to neighboring countries

Bratislava castle, Slovakia

For Russian tourists, the most popular neighboring countries are Austria, Slovakia, Serbia, and Croatia. Among the proven routes for Russian-speaking guides, the first place is a one-day excursion to Vienna.

To the program have an interesting trip includes travel in a minibus, sightseeing tour around the Austrian capital, visiting the buildings of Parliament, Town Hall, and Opera. The pedestrian part usually includes the courtyards of the Hofburg and the City Park. Other places to visit are the Belvedere Palace, the Baroque Karlskirche Church, Otto Wagner's pavilions, the Hundertwasser House, and ancient Viennese cafes. Individual tour for two or three people it costs 300 – 400 euros.

An excursion to Bratislava allows you to see historical Center, go up to Bratislava Castle. Tourists visit the New Bridge, St. Martin's Cathedral, Fisherman's Gate, National Theater Slovakia, Old Town Hall. On the way to Bratislava excursion program usually the ancient Gyor is included. The cozy town is considered the Hungarian center of the Austrian Baroque. In urban architecture there are beautiful churches, palaces, well-groomed parks. The price of the excursion for 50-70 euros often includes lunch.