Why go à BUDAPEST?
The good reasons to go à BUDAPEST
A Danubian pearl
This impressive river, crossed by twelve bridges in Budapest, can flow at up to 3.5 km/h!
A festive city!
Budapest has a lively student population and many bars and clubs.
Bars in ruins
Bars set up in uninhabited, century-old buildings: a very Budapest concept!
A contagious love of music!
In the homeland of Bartók and Liszt, concerts, festivals and operas are legion.
Literary cafés
These cafés, which opened at the end of the 19th century, pay tribute to belles-lettres.
The Sziget Festival
500,000 festival-goers gathered for six days on a 76-hectare island on the Danube!
A flamboyant Art Nouveau
Budapest is a great capital of Art Nouveau often enhanced with folk motifs.
The baths
As well as being curative, spa activities are an art of living and a daily pleasure.
A cheap city
Despite inflation, you can treat yourself without breaking the bank in Budapest!
Gastronomic and wine wealth
A culinary crossroads, Hungary and its 22 wine-growing regions invite you to the table!
Good to know when visiting BUDAPEST
Timetable
Don't be surprised, here most administrations, institutions and small shops close earlier on Friday and Saturday afternoons - in addition to Sunday afternoons - with the exception of Váci Street. Shopping centres are open on Sundays and some supermarkets. On weekdays and Saturdays, they remain open until 20/21h (or more) during the week. Museums and sites are very rarely open at night beyond 5 or 6 pm and they close on most public holidays.
To be booked
It is rare to queue up to buy a ticket for museums in Budapest, except for the popular exhibitions at the National Gallery and even the Museum of Fine Arts, where it is advisable to book online. On the other hand, the guided tour of the Parliament (mandatory) must be booked several days in advance.
Budget & Tips
Visiting Budapest won't break the bank, even if entrance fees have risen considerably in recent years. Most museums are permanently free for children under 6 and over 70. Those under 26 and/or students presenting an ISIC student card are entitled to a reduced rate, and admission is free on the third Saturday of the month at the National Gallery (among others). Over 62s and children under 14 are also entitled to the reduced rate. Family" tickets are available for two parents and two children. The Budapest Card from the tourist office is a good option if you're planning several cultural visits (reduced entrance fees) as well as free public transport. On national holidays (March 15, August 20, October 23), admission to museums is often free.
Main events
Four major municipal festivals punctuate the city's cultural life, in which the capital's most prestigious concert halls participate: the Spring Festival, the Summer Festival, Café Budapest in the fall and the Christmas Market, which has become a real attraction (although it is a bit expensive, you can still find beautiful handicrafts). The Sziget Festival is a must for those who like open-air concerts. The national holiday of August 20 is very popular, the celebrations of March 15 or October 23 are rather political and often give place to demonstrations (for or against the government). There are many concerts during the end of the year celebrations.
Guided tours
The services of a guide are not too much to take in the subtleties of Budapest's history! On foot, by bike, by car... there are several passionate French-speaking guides who offer their services. Many English-speaking guided tours operate on a tip basis, such as the Budapest Free Walking Tours (www.triptobudapest.hu). Several bike rental companies like IbikeBudapest (ibikebudapest.com) or Bike and Relax (www.bike-and-relax.com) offer guided bike tours. A guided tour for 15-20 € can often be arranged if requested in advance in English or French in museums.
Tourist traps
As far as visits are concerned, there are few tourist attractions. It is up to each person to judge the usefulness of the "hop on hop off" tourist buses that criss-cross the city center, clog up the bike paths and pollute the atmosphere. Also avoid using ATMs in the street (which are not attached to banks): their conversion rate to forint is not very advantageous and they sometimes ask for supplements in case of withdrawal.
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Discover BUDAPEST
Majestically criss-crossed by the Danube, Budapest's imperial grandeur and bohemian atmosphere are just as appealing. From the No. 2 streetcar along the river and Parliament to the panoramic view from Mount Gellért, the city unfolds like a succession of tableaux vivants. Its emblematic monuments - St. Stephen's Basilica, Mátyás Church, the Great Synagogue - rub shoulders with the art of bathing, the kert (or ruined bars, alternative bars set up in old courtyards or dilapidated buildings) and the cultural effervescence of winter. Between the Jewish and Gypsy quarters, on Andrássy Avenue or Marguerite Island, Budapest reveals a beauty that is both sumptuous and fragile, deeply authentic. Historic cafés and mythical patisseries recall the golden age of Austro-Hungary, while riverside bars embody its more modern, festive face. A dual identity, elegant and welcoming, that's sure to charm you.
