Budapest: Disappointing Experience and Harsh Realities

Posted by AxioEstTresMechant@reddit | budapest | View on Reddit | 143 comments

I've been spending some time in Budapest recently, and I wanted to share my honest impressions of the city. This is purely my personal opinion, but I found my experience to be quite disappointing for several reasons.

Firstly, it's hard not to notice the overall state of the buildings and streets. Many of the buildings, even in central areas, seem to be in a degraded, sad condition, with peeling paint and crumbling facades. The streets are often dirty, and tags and graffiti cover a lot of surfaces. It feels like there's no respect for the architecture or public spaces. On top of that, advertisements are plastered everywhere—even over older, more beautiful buildings. It's as if only the worst aspects of capitalism have been embraced, with no regard for preserving or highlighting the city's charm.

Customer service is another point that really stood out to me. It's not uncommon to encounter rude or indifferent attitudes, which left me feeling quite unwelcome. This, coupled with the general atmosphere, gives the impression that tourists aren't particularly liked here. While I understand that tourism can sometimes be overwhelming for locals, it still felt quite different compared to other places I've visited.

High Prices Compared to Salaries

Another issue that stood out to me was the relatively high cost of many things in Budapest. Compared to what I understand of the average salary here, the prices seemed disproportionate. It made me feel that the city doesn't even offer good value for tourists, except perhaps for hotels and accommodation in general, which were reasonably priced.

Then there's the urban layout. I found it quite frustrating at times, almost as if the city grew without any real urban planning. It can be absurdly difficult to navigate; I had to make some long, unnecessary detours just to cross a road or get from point A to point B. It gives the impression of a place that developed haphazardly, without much consideration for ease of movement.

Tourist attractions, too, were disappointing. Many places are under construction, and the work seems to be progressing at a snail's pace. It feels like the city is trying to put its best foot forward for visitors, but the effort just isn't there. The result is that many areas feel incomplete or neglected.

Visual pollution is also a big issue for me—there's an overwhelming number of ugly shop signs, poorly thought-out banners, and cluttered storefronts. It gives the impression of a city without a cohesive vision, where aesthetics have taken a back seat to whatever can be put up quickly and cheaply.

To be fair, there are undeniably beautiful landmarks like the Parliament and the Fisherman's Bastion. These are impressive places, but they were built long ago by people who are no longer with us. Since that era, I feel like little of note has been added to the city. Perhaps it's time for Budapest to stop being overly proud of achievements from centuries past and start looking towards the future. The city has potential, but it needs a vision that goes beyond just resting on the glories of the past.

For the moment, Budapest just feels like a shithole. It needs serious attention and change to live up to its true potential.