Is 6 nights / almost 7 days in Budapest too much for a first visit?
Posted by 100dequeso@reddit | budapest | View on Reddit | 16 comments
Hi! I’ll be in Budapest for a work trip and I’m trying to decide how long to stay.
The idea would be to arrive on Monday afternoon and leave on Sunday night, so around 6 nights / almost 7 days. However, I’ll have two full work days from about 9:00 to 17:00, so I probably won’t be able to do much sightseeing on those days.
For a first visit, does that sound like too much time in Budapest, or is it easy to fill those days without rushing? Would you recommend staying the whole time, or leaving one day earlier and adding that night to another city?
I’m interested in cultural activities, but also nightlife and going out in the evening. I’d also be open to visiting somewhere nearby if it’s really worth it, although I’m already planning to visit Bratislava earlier in the trip.
Thanks!
Blackmore1030@reddit
Way too much. 2 or 3 days are more than enough for everything worth seeing in Budapest. You'll be fed up with the filth, the stink, the homeless and the junkies if you stay for a week.
LeoMehdy@reddit
complete bullshit
faur217@reddit
I would say the minimum is 3 to enjoy everything, the ideal is 4. With 5-6 days you have the chance to discover other cities close to to the city like Visegrád area, or some hills around the city if you like hiking and nature, Lake Balaton etc so you can definitely make the most of that time
Mysterious-Survey270@reddit
You can take a boat to Visegrád: https://mahartpassnave.hu/en/budapest-szentendre-leanyfalu-visegrad
Szentendre is also a nice city and has a skanzen (if you are interested in it): https://skanzen.hu/en
You can take the HÉV (suburban railway) or a boat to get there.
Székesfehérvár: it is worth to take a day trip if you like buildings with history. You can visit Bory Castle as well:
https://turizmus.szekesfehervar.hu/catalog/index/25/lang/en
VszVszVsz@reddit
how much time depends on your interests. we don't know what they are so you need to do some research. start with the 'guide to budapest' that is featured on the right side of this sub if you are using a browser to access reddit. for the average tourist at least 3 days is good, but 5 days can be better with a day trip out to szentendre, the danube bend, visegrád or eger.
sahe7@reddit
Just finished a 5 day trip to Budapest and thought it was amazing! Since you’re working for two full days, that might be a similar time frame. It felt perfect as we got to explore the city, food, and culture, without having to rush. You’ll have a great time :) Highly recommend the walking tours as others mentioned. It was a great way to learn about the country and meet some people!
tescosamoa@reddit
My first visit I spent 21 days in Budapest and I am looking forward to my next visit. If you want a cool day trip Egar has a Beatles Museum and a ton of wineries.
FewSprinkles4359@reddit
Given that you will work almost 2 full days, that 7 days is rather 5 days. There is plenty to do in Budapest for that time period - especially if you don't want to rush. :)
Anyway, if you want to visit something outside/nearby of Budapest, I would recommend Szentendre (and if you have a car, you could add Visegrád into that trip as well) or Esztergom.
I don't really recommend visiting Bratislava, it's the only capital city I've ever been to where I felt bored after half a day, having seen everything interesting lol. If you want to add something major, add Vienna instead.
100dequeso@reddit (OP)
Thanks for your reply. Yes, I'm going to Vienna first because that's where my plane lands; that's actually why I was thinking of spending a day in Bratislava. Salzburg seems quite far from Vienna, doesn't it?
Between Szentendre and Esztergom, which do you recommend more? Can they be visited by public transport?
zekerthedog@reddit
Hi I recently did the day trip out to Szentendre and Visegrad. I’m not sure why the poster above said you need a car for Visegrad, it’s on the same bus route from Szentendre. I really enjoyed the hike up to the Visegrad castle and the view of the bend of the Danube. I didn’t get to Esztergom but I def rec Visegrad.
FewSprinkles4359@reddit
Salzburg is indeed out of the way, I wouldn't recommend going there. I get your reasons, however, I wouldn't recommend bothering with Bratislava either - everything it has to offer, Budapest offers 10 times that. Bratislava is on the same level touristically speaking as some Hungarian cities - what more, cities like Eger probably surpass it's touristic value.
I recommended Szentendre and Esztergom especially because they are both easy to reach from Budapest using public transportation. For the Szentendre trip, you can get there with the suburban railway H5 from Batthány tér (trip time about 40 minutes), and for Esztergom you can board a train in Nyugati railway station (takes about an hour). As for tickets, for Szentendre if you have a Budapest pass you will need an extension ticket for the portion of the route that is outside Budapest, while if you have a monthly Pest county pass you can simply use that, and for Esztergom you will need a train ticket (or monthly country pass, but I don't think you would need that).
If you want to travel further, you can consider destinations suggested in the comments - out of those I would especially recommend a trip to Tihany (lake Balaton/nature/little history and culture) or Eger (much history and bath).
Far_Plastic_8639@reddit
They have similar characteristics and both of them are fairly accessible by public transport. Szentendre is more artsy and hip, Esztergom is historical.
Key-Monk6159@reddit
Time is fine but do make sure not to plan anything for at least a full day to just walk around, use the metro and experience the non touristy parts of the city.
vahokif@reddit
I think you can totally fill a week in Budapest, if you get bored you can always take a day trip to Vienna or Szentendre/Visegrád.
Far_Plastic_8639@reddit
It's not that much time, if 2 days are for working. I'd suggest 2 days just wandering around Budapest, checking out landmarks, architecture, museums. There is a lot of walking tours, I'd also recommend one. Budapest is filled with beautiful architecture so if you enjoy that, just wander out of the usual tourist zones and enjoy the houses. 1 day for chill, walk in the nature at Margit island, Normafa or Varosliget, visit a famous thermal bath, have a nice dinner and relax. For a daytrip I'd recommend Tihany at lake Balaton, Hollókő, Visegrád castle and area. You could also make a longer daytrip, for 2 days 1 night I'd emphasize Eger, Lillafured, Kőszeg too. I'd also suggest using meetup or dating apps to find some company.
AutoModerator@reddit
Welcome to r/Budapest! Please check out our Unnecessarily Long Guide to Budapest for general information and recommendations!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.