Budapest

soupie

Hi Guys

Always seem to end up back here for information.

Just here at the minute and doesnt seem to be the place i was expecting.

Went to the xmas markets last night and it was a collection of about 15 markets in a square selling pretty much nothing. Pretty small for an international market.

Has anyone been here before if so can you suggest any where to go or anything to do. Tourist information office is poor they speak no english its the same with the hotel no one understands a word.

Are there other markets? are they any use and what about shopping we where on the main street but pretty similiar to back home, i know people who have come here before but its nothing like they described maybe I am just going to the wrong places. Any help would be great. I am staying in the Mericure Korona which is central so nothing should be too far.

Thanks in Advance

P. Breathnach

Sorry that you seem a bit disappointed. I'm also surprised that you are having difficulty finding people to deal with you in English: I never had great problems with that.

I'm not into the Christmas market thing, so I can't help you there. Budapest generally does not make the list of the great Christmas markets, so perhaps your hopes were not justified. I just googled it: it's been on the go for only a few years.

You are just up the road from the Central Market, which I like a lot. Ground floor for food for the locals; upstairs gallery for tourists; if you like any of the stuff, bargain a bit and get at least 20% off.

When you say the main street, I suppose you mean Vaci utca. It's very touristy. If you are on a serious shopping expedition, find your way to the West End Shopping Centre -- but that's not really my scene.

Things to do: lots! Have a look at the Budapest pages on my website: www.iol.ie/~draoi for a sample. Visit the House of Terror on Andrassy ut. Try a spa treatment at the Gellert baths or the Szycheni baths. Climb Gellert Hill for exercise and a great view, preferably as it gets dark when the city and the Danube bridges are lit up. Be sure to make at least one trip on line 1 of the metro: it's cute! Visit the Central Coffee House. Take a guided tour of the synagogue.

The quality of the restaurants on Raday utca (restaurant alley, just across the way from you) is mixed. It's worth ranging a little farther afield.

How long more will you be there?

HarryD

what kinda thing you after ?

Yeah the xmas markets here are more local arts/crafts orientated.
And shops on the high street are often more expensive than home.
The Chineese market has cheap stuff but low quality.
Get the 9 bus out of town to Orczy Tér.

Close to Mercure Korona you have the big market hall,
which is mainly for fruit/veg/meat but also has lotsa
touristy things, and cheap..

For clothes you will pick up some bargains along the nagy korut.
From Blaha to Nyugati through Oktogon.
(The 4/6 tram runs along that route)

Overall Budapest is bad for shopping.
Sofia in my experience is good.

Ray.

Crusaderjim

Hi Op,
How long have you left in Budapest? I was there during the summer for a few days and was in the same predictiment as you are. There are lots of things to do but they can be hard to source as the people aren't as friendly or as helpful as the rest of eastern europe.
The baths are well worth a trip if you havent already gone, another poster suggested one and I think that is the one I went to, its the large spa up near the zoo. Really enjoyable, and i'd say good pretty amazing in the freezing weather!
If your into architecture there is plenty to see. We took one of the bus tours which was pretty good, normally wouldnt do one of those things but the city is so big and spread out you get to see the city in comfort and if any of the museums or palaces interest you, you then know where they are if you want to back and visit. Some pretty amazing sights tbh.
Night life is ok, there are a good few open-air clubs down by the river though they could be closed now. There is a good club in Margaret Island, not just rich Hungarians in it, closer to the locals which is always way better and good music. The open-air clubs were full of 20 somethings thinking they were from the OC! Anyway, enjoy the rest of your trip!

moe_sizlak

the only thing that has stood out for me in the 2 trips ive made to budapest is how unfriendly hungarians are , the place done nothing for me as a result
only ive a business interest over there , i wouldnt spend 5 mins in the joint

HarryD

Have to agree, rude/agressive people..
I live here and see it every day..
I think that's why they are the unhappiest nation in the world.

P. Breathnach

I have managed five visits to Budapest, and hope to go again. It's one of my favourite cities.

My experience of Hungarian people is quite different from that of moe_sizlak and HarryD: I found them easy to get on with, and would describe them as affable. I can think of only one exception, the woman in an admissions kiosk at the Szycheni baths, late in the day -- I think she was fed up and just wanted to go home.

soupie

Guys

Thanks for all the feedback unfortunately the internet stopped working in the hotel and I had made my mind up about the place by the 3rd day.

I know it certainly wont cover all hungarians as I'm sure most are nice but the ones we dealt with were really really rude, they dont have much time for you in any pub, restaurant and shop. Even the hotel had a lot of rude people mostly those behind the desk, the cleaners and bar people there where lovely. It really annoyed me how in the hotel the porter and others harrassed us for tips it became very annoying.


This really was the least enjoyable trip we had but maybe if i had of done my homework i would not have had a high expectation. The city really needs education in how to accept and improve tourism, they seem to make no effort at all but I am sure with the right work the city could become a gem, it seems to have a great mixed history. For now though it is a city I would say avoid if you are like us a young couple looking for a cite seeying weekend with a bit of shopping to do. It seems to have a tonne of art etc so maybe it is a city for someone seeking that.

No offence to anyone from there maybe I just didnt find the right places or people. I have been to a lot of cities but I found this a place you need to put i a huge effort to get any sort of enjoyment. Coming home was a relief.

Anyhow thanks for the posts above.

Soupie

jimi_t

The most ignorant race of people we met interrailing, a truely awful experience; just dying to rip you off - epsecially in restaurants in pest. We got to the Buda side about 4 days in and stayed in the Backpackers hostel - which is like a little hippy nation unto itself - otherwise the trip would have been a complete write off.

HarryD

From:
http://www.budapestsun.com/cikk.php?id=14772

"HUNGARY is one of the world's unhappiest countries..."

Perhaps if they were a little more charming it would help them.
I think I'll open a charm school here..
Compulsary atttendance for anyone dealing with the public or tourists..

The Hungarians are always complaining that they don't have enough
money to do this or that... they are so poor...etc..etc
But when I got to a shop/restaurant to offer them my money,
I often end up leaving without spending a forint, as they appear
not to want it..

moe_sizlak

i dont know why there havent the money , budapest is very expensive , in my opinion it would be way more expensive to live on a hungarian salary in budapest then an irish salary in dublin

i once enquired to an irish person living in budapest as to why hungarians were so unfriendly and he simply replied , there a germanic people

i cant stand them myself , awful awful people

missmatty

I was there for the second time last month and I still can't see why people rave about the city. The people are ok but it's the city really, the atmosphere, I'm just not gone on it at all...I don't know why..:o