home Resident card Budapest in winter: what to see and try in the Hungarian capital? Holidays in Hungary in winter Is it worth going to Hungary in winter?

Budapest in winter: what to see and try in the Hungarian capital? Holidays in Hungary in winter Is it worth going to Hungary in winter?

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 (baggage, large hand luggage and so on.).

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 at the availability of wireless Internet (to 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 document confirming the relationship (marriage certificate).
We bought a three-day card in advance Budapest map (Budapest card, 4074 rub. for two) [hereinafter referred to as “card"] - when purchased online there was a discount on it. Unfortunately, there are few places with free admission, mostly small discounts, but for the sake of free travel it’s very good to take it (although there is a travel card and 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 very little is known about them. negative reviews(eg 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. The average bill per person when ordering local cuisine and alcohol is 1000 - 1500 rubles.
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. In winter the outside outdoor pool is very small.
- cheaper, but a huge number of 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 - don’t 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 inTurinformpoint, 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) - a cute town with the most famous Marzipan Museum, perhaps 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) - giant cathedral, excellent view of the 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) - beautiful fortress on a hill in the city center, we 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 is clearly not 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 about 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! A 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 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 national dishes there. 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 Holidays in Hungary in winter are considered an excellent time for leisurely walks and a comfortable, quiet holiday. However, young people on tours in Hungary in winter can easily find exciting entertainment for quality active rest, having absorbed to the brim the pleasures of noisy and fun club entertainment.
The exciting excursion programs will introduce you to the uniqueness of historical heritage, which makes holidays in Hungary in winter from Coral Travel the brightest event of this winter. Hungary is beautiful in its own way at every time of the year, and therefore the weather, as a rule, does not interfere with tourists. Of course, there are so many interesting things to do in Hungary that it is impossible to see everything in one trip. Therefore, it would be best to make a list of the most interesting to you on this moment places and follow it. In small shops across the country, shopping lovers find amazing things for every taste and budget, which is another undoubted advantage of visiting small towns and rural settlements. Color your mood on winter holidays in Hungary!

The Hungarians have a crown national food is goulash, and depending on the thickness and ingredients, this dish can be either the first course or the second. The soup is called "Gulyas leves" and is a flavorful stew with a generous amount of melt-in-your-mouth meat, complemented by dumplings (balls of dough), flavored with seasonings and paprika, and served with a slice of wheat bread fresh from the oven. The flavor of this unusual and hearty dish is added by the way it is served - waiters often bring goulash soup in beautiful clay pots. Besides, National cuisine It is also famous for goulash as a second dish, of which there are several varieties. The name of the stew is "Porkolt". As a rule, to prepare goulash, tender meat is taken - beef, pork or lamb, which is fried and stewed in a dressing of onions, tomatoes, paprika and aromatic herbs. Hungarian chefs also paid attention to vegetarians, having come up with something special for them - “Gomba porkolt” - mushroom goulash.

3. Relax on Lake Balaton

Balaton is rightly called the “Hungarian sea”, because millions of vacationers come here as an alternative sea tours. Thanks to the mild climate, abundance of adjacent forests and warm water, a holiday on Lake Balaton is a real sunny paradise for fans of beach activities. In addition to traditional entertainment on the lake, you can do water sports(sailing and surfing), as well as take part in equestrian competitions, go fishing or admire the local wild “residents” - herons, geese and swans. The beach season at Balaton begins with the onset May days and ends in late autumn. However winter lake captivates the eye with its splendor, covering itself with a lace blanket of ice and as if hiding its waters from the winter cold.

4. Climb Mount Gellert

Mount Gellert is one of the most striking attractions of both Budapest and Hungary. The mountain received its name as a sign of respect for Saint Gellert, who was the spiritual mentor of the King of Hungary, Stephen, and also baptized the Hungarian people. However, he was subsequently punished in a terrible way - he was placed in a barrel studded with nails and lowered from the mountain into the waters of the Danube. Therefore, the mountain was named after the bishop, and later, in memory of him, a monument to St. Gellert was built on the slopes. By the way, on the mountain you will find a memorial to Istvan himself, as well as the “Monument of Freedom”. The mountain is dotted with parks and adorned with a waterfall, but that's not all. Tourists all over the world climb observation deck Gellért Mountains to admire the beauty of the capital of Hungary from above. They say that from this place the view of Budapest is simply stunning. Try it too!

5. Ride the oldest metro on the continent and the longest tram on the planet

You may be surprised, but the first metro in Europe opened in Hungary. Moreover, the M1 yellow line stations in Budapest today look exactly the same as they did a hundred years ago, and at Deák tér you have the opportunity to look into the Hungarian Metropolitan Museum - the Millennium Underground. Moreover, you will be amazed that in capital metro tickets are composted.

As for trams, you will need routes no. 6 and no. 4 in Budapest, which reach a length of 54 meters, thereby making them world famous. By the way, these capital trams are not only the longest on the planet, but also the busiest, because tourists, trying to get in touch with the world history of transport, often use the services of hospitable fifty-year-old carriages. Movement along picturesque shores The Danube enhances the impression of the trip.

6. Enjoy real wine

First of all, try the local famous “Tokaj” - its taste is mind-blowing and makes even the most sophisticated winemakers from all over the planet ask for more. Why be surprised? Hungary is the mother of Tokaji wine! Where can you find this wine? Perhaps everywhere - everything wine lists restaurants are decorated with this type of wine, all wine cellars and factories offer tasting and sale of “Tokaj”. Other varieties of wines - Sopron, Villany and Eger - have also proven themselves excellent. The most colorful place for wine tasting is the legendary “Valley of Beauties” in the city of Eger, where more than 200 wine cellars are collected, offering tourists the best wines of Hungary and generously treating travelers with real goulash. Don’t forget about the local “Bull’s Blood”, which is actually equated to the elixir of courage, because after drinking this wine the soldiers defended Eger against the Turks, although the number of enemies was 40 times greater than the defenders.

7. Conquer the Danube by boat

The Danube River is the pride of the Hungarians, as well as the Volga for the Russians. In addition, this is rather an international pride, because the length of the river reaches almost 3000 km and flows or is considered the border of 10 countries, and the Danube drainage basin is present in 9 more countries. Agree, the river is a legend - you just want to come into contact with it! At the service of tourists regular flights local ships of varying comfort and exciting content. You can take a sightseeing evening excursion along the Danube, enjoying a glass of wine, or book a trip with a whole range of entertainment, including a banquet, live music, performances by artists and accompanying animators.

8. Rejuvenate at Lake Heviz

If Balaton is the largest freshwater lake in Europe, then Heviz is the largest warm-water lake. You can swim here at any time - even in the bitter cold, wrapped in delicate clouds of steam above the water. In Heviz, not only the water is healing, but also the multi-meter layer of silt at the bottom of the lake. They say that many people make pilgrimages here, trying to regain youth or stop old age. It should be noted that all visiting vacationers are invariably satisfied with the results and impressions of their holiday on Heviz, because it is incomparable with anything else. Under the lake there is such a powerful thermal source that the water in Heviz changes every 28 hours, and the temperature never (even in winter) drops below +26-28°C. The lush vegetation in the form of the dazzling beauty of tropical lilies on the surface of Heviz adds the final note to the euphoria of being here.

9. Visit the Marzipan Museum

Marzipan is a sweet made from almonds and sugar, but in Hungary the production of this confectionery product was turned into an art form, constructing paintings, figures and other masterpieces from such simple ingredients. There are 5 Marzipan Museums open in Hungary - in Szentendre (the most famous), Budapest, Eger, Keszthely, Pecs. The exhibitions are dazzling, somewhat jewel-like creations. In the halls you can admire full-length figures of celebrities, for example, Michael Jackson, a map of Hungary, the capital's Parliament, characters from films and cartoons and other fascinating sweet exhibits. Each museum has a confectionery shop where you can enjoy the taste of marzipan and purchase your favorite items as gifts for loved ones upon returning home.

10. Visit the Polovtsian village of Holloko

Is it possible to visit the past? In Hungary - yes. The village of Hollokö (translated into Russian as Crow Stone) is a journey into the past, living a calm, measured life until today, despite the millions of prying eyes of tourists. The history of the village dates back to the 13th century; 67 local buildings are considered architectural monuments. Holloko is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and is an ethnographic exhibition under open air living everyday village life. About 400 residents live here, conducting their usual business (wood carving, pottery production, embroidery, animal husbandry, gardening) under the public view of the guests of the settlement, which adds flavor to a visit to this ancient place.

Budapest at night is an unforgettable sight. Illumination immerses the city in a special medieval atmosphere. According to tourists, the most fascinating view of Budapest at night opens from the deck of a boat or a floating bus plying along the Danube. A scattering of skillfully illuminated bridges, outlines majestic buildings, fresh air and the soothing sound of river water - all this immerses guests of the capital in an atmosphere of a magical mood with a feeling of being in the medieval past.

12. Buy colorful local souvenirs

Few people know that Hungary is the birthplace of the Rubik's cube and the ballpoint pen. But these world-famous things were invented by local geniuses - the sculptor Rubik and the journalist Biro. Therefore, as a souvenir from Hungary, you can purchase an unusual wooden pen with painting or a puzzle in national packaging. In addition, Hungary is rich in porcelain, black ceramics, wooden souvenirs and hand-embroidered items. Also, do not forget about the local excellent wines, the miraculous balsam “Unicum”, mesmerizing marzipan and the national seasoning - paprika, which is sold both ground and crushed, and in the form of colorful clusters.

A separate topic is the rich flea markets of Budapest: a real treasure trove of historical monuments and antiques, where you can buy objects and jewelry that breathe antiquity.

Hungary - interesting country with a colorful culture, picturesque beauty, healing natural gifts, fascinating history and rich architectural heritage. The above tips will help you feel the country to its secret depths.

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 it’s impossible to imagine an easier trip? Package tourists They are going 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 housing is free, thanks to airbnb bonuses - you can also take advantage if register using this link .

The situation with our flight

The plan was this: morning flight, two days in Budapest and 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 locked doors passport control and the screams of 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 turned out to be unprepared for an 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 best cities Europe for the development of transport, 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 hotels tourist class in Buda to quite expensive hotels in the city center. 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 check tickets selectively in the carriages?

Lake Heviz– as cool an idea in winter as 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 winter and 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 bike 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 establishments can be either expensive or not so 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 that’s 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, but 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. The occupancy rate of good establishments is 130%. Open areas are open year-round, and in February the occupancy rate is 30% above normal and people 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 the portions are large, tasty food, a good choice drinks, including coffee. Until 20:00 there is live music - local rock bands or duets, 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’s almost impossible to find a free seat there, even at the counter; the alternative is to wait or drink on the go while walking around the location - there’s 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 Royal Palace, philosophical garden and an 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 budget housing, hotels and apartments as it searches all popular booking sites, including Agoda, Booking.com and others

Booking.com– familiar and convenient search and booking of accommodation around the world

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

Many tourists say that they like to visit Hungary in winter. At this time of year, the weather is not as severe as in our northern country, and seeing Budapest painted with New Year's lights is a special pleasure.

Hungarian climate

Thanks to geographical location country (centre of Europe) the climate here is temperate continental. The mountains of the Alps and Carpathians protect the state on all sides from the influence of cold winds.

The hottest days come, of course, in the summer. The temperature reaches +27° C. In spring, these values are slightly lower, but it still warms up much faster here than in Russia.

Autumn differs from ours in less rainfall and pampers residents with moderate warmth. Still going on in September beach season. And only November becomes rainy.

But winter weather is a real gift not only for tourists, but also for all local residents. The temperature in Hungary in winter rarely drops below -1° C. There is little snow, and even if the high humidity begins to feel cold, frequent thaws quickly correct the situation.

Temperatures in Hungary in winter

All this makes the Hungarian winter almost a continuation of autumn and creates favorable conditions for the New Year holidays.

New Year holidays in Hungary

Weather in Hungary on New Year very comfortable. That's why many people spend it outside: skating, walking around the city, meeting friends.

During the New Year holidays, the capital is decorated with festive lights, fairs are held, and holiday discounts are offered in stores. Heart " old Europe"is transformed and amazes with its fabulous atmosphere.

New Year holidays in Hungary they are celebrated according to local traditions. As throughout Catholic Europe, Christmas Eve here falls on January 25th. Christmas trees are decorated with colorful balls and sweets called “salontzukor”. They are sweets in a chocolate shell.

Christmas is traditional family celebration. All relatives gather at the table, the main dish of which is Christmas carp. Several scales removed from this fish are placed in purses. According to local beliefs, they will bring wealth and prosperity to their owner.

The day before New Year's Eve According to the old Hungarian tradition, it is customary to burn straw effigies of goats. This symbolizes getting rid of the problems of the old year.

If you're in Budapest on the night of December 31st, don't miss the fireworks display that takes place around midnight. You can see them from the banks of the Danube or from a ship that cruises along the river that night to give its passengers the opportunity to fully enjoy the luxurious spectacle.

During the winter holidays, be sure to visit the thermal baths, which are located in the center of the Budapest city park. Where else can you swim in winter?

Városliget Park – perfect place for winter holidays. Here you can have a great rest with your children: skating rinks are open, several cozy cafes, Botanical Garden and a zoo.

There are many nearby that acquire special beauty in winter (for example, Vajdahunyad Castle). Nearby is the famous Gundel restaurant, where you can warm up after a walk and try original Hungarian dishes from the most famous chefs in Budapest.

Ski resorts

Although the mountains in Hungary are not very high, tourists still come here with pleasure to ride alpine skiing.

Popular ski resorts Hungary are Mátra, Magas Hill, Bükk and Nograd. The last track is the only place where international competitions are held. And the Matra slopes (146 m high) will delight children with a specially equipped sled run.