Budapest is one of those iconic cities of the world which is famous for the majestic Great Synagogue as well as being famous as a city that straddles the river Danube with its beautiful historic bridges. The ornate thermal baths are also a must see if you plan to come to this lovely city. Budapest is not all old world and ancient history though, as you will also find some of the best clubs, cafés and restaurants right here in the heart of the Hungarian capital. Budapest gladly accepts Euros but for the traveller carrying dollars this is not a problem as the country still accepts the use of the forint.

Where to Stay in Budapest

There are many lovely hotels to stay in but the Hotel Pest has got to be one of the cheapest and loveliest. It is just two streets away from the ruins of the Rumbach Synagogue and has plenty of spacious double rooms. Another choice of good hotel would be the Hotel Queen Mary. This is a simple hotel which also enjoys a fast internet connection for the client who needs to be online!

Another addition to staying in a hotel is to rent apartments in Budapest. Currently Budapest is enjoying a boom within the apartment rental sector and many people find renting an apartment in Budapest a nice change to the usual hotel rooms tourists know too well when visiting a certain city.

Eating out in Budapest

If you like eating out then this wonderful restaurant should be on your list – Baraka (Andrassy u. 111; 36-1-483-1355) has moved to a new location. Prices are around $33 for a main course but the new weekday special lunches comprising of two courses cost around 3,500 forints ($15). For more traditional food try Kadar (Klauzal ter 9; 36-1-321-3622) which will spoil you with their typical Hungarian stews, roasts and chops for around 1,000 forints ($4.20)

Shopping in Budapest

Budapest‘s Great Market Hall which was designed by the great Gustave Eiffel has been one of the city’s beautiful sights since 1897. Typical things to shop for here are foi gras and the country’s best is here although the farther you go into the market the cheaper it gets. Saffron is also a good buy and you can pick up 10 grams of it for around 500 forints or around 2 dollars!

Saving Money in Budapest

For lovers of classical music Budapest has some free concerts. One of the world’s great music schools, the Franz Liszt Academy of Music (Liszt Ferenc ter 8; 36-1-462-4600) has mid-afternoon concerts, free for the general public, taking place about three times a week. Music CD’s are incredibly cheap in Budapest, too which are also available at the school’s store. Sadly the academy is closed during July and August, and concerts take place irregularly during this summer period, so it is best to call and check ahead of time before planning any day trips to hear concerts.