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Are the Christmas markets in Budapest expensive?

Posted on November 19, 2024November 19, 2024 by Budapest Guide

Hungarians like to feel sorry for themselves and they often complain about the prices in grocery stores, restaurants, and most of all, at the Christmas markets in Budapest. But, are the prices at the Christmas markets really that awful, or is the complaining just about being true to your genetics and the culture of the people? We have taken a look at the prices at the biggest Christmas markets in the center of Budapest, and this is what we discovered.

If you want to learn more about the Christmas markets in Budapest, where they are located, what you should buy, and all sorts of other practical information, take a look at our article about the Christmas markets in Budapest.

How much does a glass of hot wine cost at a Budapest Christmas market?

The most important thing you want to drink at the Christmas markets in Budapest is the hot wine. This has a special smell and taste, and on a cold December day, nothing tastes as good as a cup with this special drink. In 2024, you will normally be able to buy 3dl of this special drink at a price of 1450 HUF, which equals €3,5. That isn’t really a bad price, and if you would go to any restaurant elsewhere in the city center, you would for sure have to pay just as much. But, luckily a price cap has been set on this product, meaning that those selling hot wine at the Christmas markets are not allowed to sell it at a higher price than this. Of course, if you ask for things added to the drink, or a bigger amount, then the price will differ. But, the basic price of hot wine should be 1450 HUF in 2024.

Are you really cold? Would you like to buy something with a higher alcohol percentage than the hot wine? You can buy a can of beer at about €3,5, while 4cl of the traditional Hungarian palinka (fruit spirit) will cost you approximately €7. Of course, the prices will vary between the different stands, but these are just examples so you know approximately what to expect.

I feel hungry… what do I have to pay for food at the Christmas markets?

One of the most popular things to eat at festivals and markets in Hungary is the “lángos”. This is a dough fried in oil, and then they add all sorts of ingredients on top afterward. The price for a standard lángos in 2024 is 2300 HUF at the big Christmas market at the Vörösmarty square.. BUT, and yes, there is a big BUT right here. That is the price of the basic version which comes empty or with garlic butter on top (which is my favorite). If you want to buy one that looks more extreme, maybe with cheese and sour cream (the favorite of most people), or one with meat, or with smoked cheese, then the price can easily increase with between 50%-100%. So, you better watch out and be careful to avoid surprises as you pay for the product you are about to order.

Of course, these prices are quite extreme compared to what it would cost to prepare one at home, or maybe the price if you would buy it from a stand during the summer elsewhere. But, if you compare the prices with downtown Budapest, and also take into consideration how expensive it is to actually rent a place where you can sell products at the Christmas markets, it isn’t really that bad.

Would you like something smelling even better? You can buy some BBQ pork ribs for around €13, while you can buy the traditional Hungarian beef stew in bread at around €15. Would you like a full plate with a duck leg, potatoes, and some cabbage in addition? The price for this is around €23 at some of the stands, but that is also a full meal with delicious taste and a magic smell.

Watch out for this!

Would you like to eat out, but you don’t want to spend a lot of money? You should look at the food stands for the daily menus. Many places have daily menus in which you can get a plate with food for approximately €5. You will not always be able to find them, but if you see them, then just check the price and if both the price and the meal sounds good, then that is something you should give a try.

What is the conclusion? Are the Christmas markets in Budapest expensive?

The answer greatly depends on what you compare it with. Most locals never go to a restaurant downtown Budapest, meaning that they don’t know how much a goose leg with cabbage and potatoes would cost at a restaurant downtown Budapest. To such a person, the Christmas market prices will feel like a robbery, but that is because they don’t compare it with the right places.

Another Hungarian might buy a lángos at a shopping mall or at a local market somewhere, and the price will then be less than half of what you pay at the Christmas market. But, then again, those places are around all year around, and they probably pay less in rental fee for an entire year compared to the fees paid by those selling the similar products at the Christmas markets.

All in all, it is a costly adventure to go shopping at the Christmas markets, but if you compare it with dining in restaurants in the vicinity of the Christmas markets downtown Budapest, you will not see a big difference. If you also include the atmosphere and the joy of eating a delightful meal surrounded by lots of people, beautiful Christmas lights, and the smells you experience at the Christmas markets, our conclusion is that the prices aren’t really that bad!

But, if you come to Budapest thinking that it will be extremely cheap to shop at the Christmas markets, then you are wrong. If you compare the prices to the more wealthy city of Vienna, you will quickly realize that the prices at the Christmas markets in Vienna are very similar to those in Budapest.

What is your experience? Have you visited the Christmas markets in Budapest? What did you buy at the Christmas markets? Were you satisfied with the quality and the price? We would love to hear about your experience and thoughts on this interesting topic!

Boat trips on the Danube in Budapest are available again!

Posted on September 25, 2024September 25, 2024 by Budapest Guide

Have you been to Budapest recently, or are you planning to come in the near future? Then you have probably paid attention to the news about the Danube (and other rivers in Europe) flooding and create big trouble. The Danube caused lots of trouble in Hungary as well, and even though Budapest protected itself in a great way, it still effected many people. For example, there haven’t been any boat trips on the Danube in the last week because of the strong current and high water (making it hard for boats to cross under the bridges).

But, the good news is that the peak was reached this weekend (Danube was almost 8,5 meters higher than it is on a normal day), and now the water levels are going down. As a result, from September 25, most boat trips on the Danube are returning to normal, meaning that you can eat your dinner on the Danube, enjoy folklore performances on the Danube, or just go on a sightseeing trip in which you learn more about the city while listening to a guide on a loudspeaker or with an ear-plug.

It is still a lot of water in the Danube, so anyone walking nearby should still be extremely careful (due to the strong current).

If you want to read more about other cool activities, or interesting attractions in Budapest, look around here in our Budapest Guide.

Flood in Budapest

Posted on September 16, 2024September 16, 2024 by Budapest Guide

You have probably heard the news that the Danube and other rivers in Europe are flooding at the moment. In what way might this influence your visit to Budapest? Will it cause any trouble that Danube is carrying so much water at the moment?

For most tourists the fact that the Danube is flooding will not influence your stay very much. Life goes on as normal for most people, of course with some exceptions. As the Danube is flooding, it is causing quite a lot of trouble both north and south of Budapest as basements are filled with water and they do not have a well-built protection against floods. But, Budapest is a city prepared for floods, which means that you don’t really have a lot to worry about, unless you are driving a car.

What’s on with the Danube flooding in 2024?

The Danube is expected to reach 8,50 meters above normal water level around September 21. This is actually a very high level, so even though it shouldn’t cause trouble for you as a tourist in Budapest, it will for sure be lots of locals down by the Danube making photos, and you might even see sandbags used for protection here and there.

*Projected floods levels for Danube in Budapest in 2024.*

Things might change, but it has been many, many years since the Danube was flooding in a similar way in Budapest.

It is expected that tram line number two will stop riding as normal from September 17, and the Margaret Island will also be closed to pedestrians in the coming days. Approximately 800,000 bags of sand will be used to protect the Margaret Island during the flood.

General information about flood in Budapest.

Because of the high water levels the road on both the Pest and the Buda side next to the Danube is standing under water. This will require all drivers to choose other roads, which again will lead to increased traffic and lots of jams in areas and on roads near the Danube. If possible, use public transportation instead.

Also depending on how high the water will get, it might cause trouble for river cruises, especially for the large boats. As the water levels get higher, it might cause trouble for the largest boats to drive below the bridges. But, this is only when the water gets really high, and that happens very seldom in Budapest, so most likely, it shouldn’t cause much trouble now either.

Budapest and flooding of the Danube — Pictures from a flood in Budapest in 2010.

Chainbridge under water. — Pictures from a flood in Budapest in 2010.

If the water should reach 8-9 meters above normal, then hotel guests at the Margaret Island are moved to other hotels, because the idyllic island in the middle of the Danube is very threatened by the flood. But once again, that normally doesn’t happen, and if you have booked a hotel at this location, then you will get information from the hotel and all the help needed.

The lower road along the Danube is under water in 2023. — From a flood in Budapest in 2023.

As you can see from the pictures above, life goes on as normal in Budapest, also during floods. As long as the water stays around 6 meters above normal level, it only causes traffic jams, but not much trouble besides that. Of course, the increased amount of water means that the Danube current is much stronger, so as always, you should be very careful because the Danube is a dangerous river.

What is causing the Danube to flood in Budapest (and elsewhere)?

The Danube River is flooding Budapest due to several factors. The most common reason is heavy rainful, and also melting snow. Whenever this takes place, then there is a danger of the river flooding, something that you can easily see in Budapest and elsewhere (as illustrated in the pictures above). When this increased amount of water comes, the drainage systems are unable to handle all the extra water, which again leads to flooding.

Do I need to worry about visiting Budapest during a flood?

You do not have any reason to worry about visiting Budapest, even though the Danube is flooding. It might cause trouble for some of the boat trips on the Danube, and especially the larger cruise ships might suffer from this. As a result, they are not capable of transporting passengers from Vienna to Bratislava to Budapest, but instead, the guests are placed on buses that transport them between the cities.

Most boats traveling on the Danube within the borders of Budapest can travel on the Danube with no limitations, even during heavy floods.

Besides this, life goes on as normal, and you can eat your delicious Goulash soup and drink some Tokaj wine without worrying about anything!

Exploring Budapest and Surroundings by Car: All you must know!

Posted on August 30, 2024September 3, 2024 by Budapest Guide

Many people who come to Hungary have heard about Budapest and somehow believe that the Hungarian capital is all the country has to offer. That is a big mistake, and in this article, we would like to give you some great tips that will help you not only explore the surroundings of Budapest by car but also discover the entire city of Budapest in ways that would be much harder unless you sit behind the steering wheel of a car.

The city of Budapest covers an area of 525 square kilometers, while the country of Hungary has a size of 93,030 square kilometers (similar to a country such as Portugal). Budapest is in the center of the country, which means that you can get to almost anywhere in the country within 2 1/2 hours of driving, making it easy to explore, even the most hidden spots and locations where tourists seldom place their feet.

Budapest has always been a big and important city, which means that it has big and wide streets, and it is fairly easy to drive in the city by car. The biggest problem at times might be finding a free parking lot, but there are more and more parking houses, and also several locations at which you can park your car at a very low cost near the center of Budapest. In this article, we want to share information that you will find useful as you explore Budapest and Hungary by car, some advice on the process of renting a car, and lots of tips on where you should go once you have a car available for use.

Important tips if you want to use a rental car in Budapest and Hungary.

There are several things you need to watch out for and pay attention to in the process of renting a car. The most important is that you will often get better prices if you plan ahead. Do your price research and always use car rental comparison websites, as they provide plenty of choices. Discover Cars is one we highly recommend. In addition to offering a great selection of car rental options in Budapest, the website is user-friendly and provides all the necessary information upfront. As you book your rental car early, it is also important to use a service that allows you to cancel your reservation (without you losing money) as closely as possible to the actual booking date. Even if you have heard about one special brand, keep your eyes open, compare the prices of several companies, and read reviews written by other users.

It is crucial to use a service that gives you easy access to the car. If you arrive at Budapest Airport, you should be able to pick up the car directly in the terminal building, or have a shuttle bus provided by the car rental company that will take you the short distance to where the rental car is located. You will get all the information you need to get access to your car quickly during the booking process, meaning there shouldn’t be any reason to worry!

Are you going to stay in a hotel in Budapest? Do not forget to find a hotel where you can park your car! Not all hotels offer such services, especially in the inner districts, and that might give you lots of stress and a big mess as you need to pay for parking in the street, renew your parking ticket throughout the day, and it will cost you a lot of additional money. In other words, find a hotel that offers car parking at a good price, or a hotel outside the city center where you can park your car for free. As you leave Budapest, most hotels offer parking free parking or at a very low cost.

Driving on the roads of Hungary.

Hungary has very nice highways that take you quickly in the direction of big cities such as Székesfehérvár, Györ, Debrecen, Szeged, Pécs, and Eger. If you drive even further, you can even visit the capitals of neighboring countries such as Vienna (Austria), Bratislava (Slovakia), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Zagreb (Croatia), and Belgrade (Serbia) within two to four hours. But, do not forget that you need to pay a highway fee in Hungary which you can buy for either 1 day, 10 days, 1 month, or 1 year. If you rent your car, do not forget to check if the car already has a highway vignette, or if you need to buy one yourself for the time of your car rental.

You can buy your e-vignette and check the prices at https://ematrica.nemzetiutdij.hu/en/vignette-purchase.

Like most of the countries in Europe, the steering wheel is on the left side in Hungarian cars, and you drive on the right side of the way. There are gas stations located frequently along highways and in cities, so it is easy to fill gas on the car if it is about to get empty. The prices are always in Hungarian Forint, and as you pay, it is always wise to pay with the local currency, because most gas stations use a very bad conversion rate for those eager to pay with Euro instead of the Hungarian Forint.

The highways of Hungary have a maximum speed limit of 130km/h, but even though you drive at this speed, you should keep to the right, as many drivers come faster and they will start blinking and drive into your “butt” if you keep left and don’t keep right to make way for those eager to drive faster in the left lane.

*Bory castle in Székesfehérvár is a fantastic place to visit if you have a car available during your stay in Hungary.*

Where to go with a car in Hungary?

You are sitting in your car ready to explore Budapest and Hungary… what next?

Some places worth visiting outside the city center of Budapest.

If you don’t feel like leaving the borders of Budapest at once, type Zugliget Chairlift into your GPS and drive to the popular chairlift in a beautiful green area of Budapest. Here you can walk for hours and enjoy a splendid view, and it also offers lots of places where you can park your car.

*If you travel with the chairlift, and then walk some more, you can enjoy this splendid view!*

Would you like to shop like the locals? Then you can drive to Budaörs, a popular area where you find Decathlon, Ikea, Auchan, Tesco, Aldi, Intersport, and many other stores. This will give you the chance to shop like a local on the outskirts of the city, instead of shopping like a tourist in the popular pedestrian street Váci utca. Do not forget that you need a vignette to visit this area if you approach it using the main highway (if you don’t have a vignette, you can tell your GPS to lead you to this location without using the highway).

This area also has some minor mountains, so if you’d rather enjoy a splendid view and some hills, then enter “Odvashegy utca” into your GPS and drive until you see a place to park your car on the right side (close to Rudolf király emlékpark). There you can leave your car and start climbing upwards immediately.

Cities and areas you should visit outside Budapest.

If you want to make a photo like the one you see below, you should enter “Nyakas kő alatti parkoló” into your GPS. It only takes 25-30 minutes to get there from the city center of Budapest, and it is a short walk of 15 minutes from the parking lot to the top of the cliff. You should be careful if it is raining and wet as it can be slippery, but besides that, this is a fantastic program opportunity.

nyakas kö — *Nyakas kö, a beautiful place not far from Budapest.*

Want to see even more of the beautiful nature and special sights and programs of Hungary? Travel to Egerszalok to see the famous Salt Hills. Not only is it fantastic to look at, but the area is full of SPA hotels, and hot springs, and it gives you an amazing opportunity to explore the countryside and enjoy a recreational location at the same time. If you first visit this area, drive to Eger, the city where the proud women of Hungary protected the city’s castle against the Turkish invaders in the 16th century.

Did you know that one of the most famous sweet white wines in the world is produced in Hungary, in the scenic Tokaj region? Why don’t you drive to this area, taste a lot of wine (while remembering that Hungary has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to driving and alcohol), and visit the Hungarian “Jesus statue” a visit at its location in Tarcal?

Another option if you want to explore areas not so far from Budapest is to do a day trip in which you combine the three cities Szentendre, Visegrád, and Esztergom. This is a very popular route along the Danube in which you can see the biggest church in Hungary (Esztergom), a beautiful castle and a location where Dracula was imprisoned in the 15th century (Visegrad), and do some shopping and enjoy a walk in the pedestrian street of Szentendre. If you go to Esztergom and decide to walk across the Mária Valéria Bridge, you will suddenly discover that you are in the city of Štúrovo in Slovakia. Isn’t that cool?

As you probably understand, there are lots of places you can and should visit as you explore Budapest and Hungary by car. We hope this article has given you some good ideas, and if you have further recommendations of comments on this topic, please use the comment field below to share what is on your mind.

What are the prices like in Budapest?

Posted on July 31, 2024July 31, 2024 by Budapest Guide

Most of us try to find out approximately how much money you will use as you come to Budapest before you arrive. How much does it cost to eat in a restaurant? What is the price of a beer in a pub? What do I need to pay for bread in a grocery store? What is the cost if I want to visit the Hungarian Parliament or pay the entrance fee to the Matthias Church or the Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest? We have written lots of articles about the currency in Budapest and whether or not Budapest is an expensive city before, but this article is yet another attempt at helping those coming to Budapest shortly plan better.

It is important to know that the prices in Hungary have increased a lot since 2020. As a result, many people who visited the city 5-6 years ago are shocked by the prices they see and pay as they eat in restaurants, drink coffee and eat cakes at confectioneries, or pay the entrance fees to museums and attractions in Budapest. Instead of just writing words in general about the prices in Budapest, let us take a closer look at some prices for some of the most popular objects and places that you might be interested in.

Read more about shopping in Budapest here.

Price examples that will help you prepare for your trip to Budapest.

Prices from a grocery store

Let us first imagine that you enter a grocery store in Budapest. Here are examples of prices for popular products and articles. These are just examples meaning that you might find similar products at a lower price, but you can also find similar objects at a much higher price.

(these prices origin from August 2024)

1 liter milk: 1 Euro
1/2 bread: 1,5 Euro (this is normal white bread)
1/2 liter beer: 0,75 Euro
1 1/2 liter Coca Cola: 1,5 Euro
1 kg apples: 1,5 Euro
1 1/2 liter water: 0,5 Euro

These are just some examples from a local grocery store in Budapest. Let us enter a pub to have a drink.

Prices as you enter a local pub.

1/2 liter local beer: 2,5 Euro
1/2 liter Guinness: 5 Euro
0,25 liter Pepsi: 1,5 Euro
0,1 liter wine: 1,25 Euro
Cappuccino: 2 Euro
Jim Bean (0,4 CL): 3 Euro
Pizza (30cm): 9 Euro

Would you like to visit one of the favorite confectionaries instead?

Prices as you enter one of the famous confectionaries of Budapest.

Hungarian classics (three cakes + vanilla ice): 15 Euro (Gerbeaud)
Gerbeaud Pancake: 12 Euro (Gerbeaud)
Espresso: 4 Euro (Gerbeaud)
Cappuccino: 6 Euro (Gerbeaud)
Coca Cola (0,25 liter): 4 Euro (Gerbeaud)
0,5 liter beer 7,5 Euro (Gerbeaud)
New York Chocolate Cake: 11 Euro (New York)
Ham and Cheese toast: 14 Euro (New York)
New York Burger: 22 Euro (New York)
Cappuccino: 10 Euro (New York)
San Pellegrino water (0,75 liter): 11 Euro (New York)
Beer (0,33 liter): 6 Euro (New York)

*Hungarian Classics at Gerbeaud in Budapest.*

As you can see, New York is a very expensive place and most likely among the most expensive in all of Budapest. But, it is a beautiful place so if you don’t mind paying extra, it is worth the experience.

Prices if you want to enter museums and attractions in Budapest.

Would you like to learn more about certain aspects of the history of Hungary, or maybe you want to see a beautiful building from the inside? Here you have examples of how much you have to pay to visit popular museums, attractions, and buildings in Budapest.

The prices are based on the full-price entrance fee for an adult.

Hungarian National Museum: 9 Euro
St. Stephen’s Basilica: 6 Euro (basic ticket)
Matthias Church: 8 Euro (basic ticket)
Hungarian Parliament: 15 Euro (for EU members) – 30 Euro (for non-EU members)
Szechenyi Thermal Bath: from 28 Euro
Museum of Fine Arts: 13 Euro
Budapest Zoo: 13 Euro
Tropicarium: 13 Euro
Madame Tussauds: 31 Euro

These are some examples of prices for popular attractions and locations in Budapest. Are you getting hungry? How much do you pay for popular meals at restaurants in Budapest?

Prices if you want to eat at a nice restaurant in Budapest.

Pizza (32 cm): 10 Euro (this is a very average price)
Basic Hamburger: 10 Euro (may vary a lot in both directions)
Goulash Soup: 8-10 Euro
Chocolate Souffle: 5-7 Euro
Caesar Salad: 9-10 Euro
Big Mac and Whopper? Check this article for more information.

These are very average prices, and the nicer the restaurant, the more expensive it becomes. In general, you can calculate the prices of starters moving between 5 and 15 Euro, main courses between 8 and 30 Euro, and desserts between 4 and 10 Euro.

We hope this short article has given you some more information about the prices in Budapest. If you have questions about other prices or a comment that you would like to share, use the comment field below!

Is a Brunch Cruise on the Danube a good idea?

Posted on July 5, 2024July 5, 2024 by Budapest Guide

A few months ago, one of the companies arranging boat trips on the Danube in Budapest launched a new trip called a “Brunch Cruise.” On this trip, you can enjoy a brunch on the boat while enjoying the views of Budapest from inside the boat, or from the terraces on the boat. Is it a good idea? Should you consider a boat trip on the Danube with brunch as you come to Budapest?

How does it work? How long does the boat trip last? What can you eat? Are drinks included? You might have many questions, and here we will share what we have learned about the trip based on our own experience.

What is the brunch trip on the Danube like?

The trip takes place on a very traditional and elegant boat on the Danube. It is a big boat, so you will have plenty of space, and the interior makes you feel like you are on an old-fashioned boat, while keeping it elegant and nice. All tables have easy access to the windows, and there are also seats outside on both sides of the boat which makes it ideal to sit outside in the sun or to go out to make photos of popular sights such as the Hungarian Parliament, the beautiful bridges of Budapest, the castle, and all the other sights you will see during the trip.

This might change in the future, but currently you can arrive at the boat from 10:30. You will then be escorted to a table, and you can immediately start serving yourself from the brunch buffet. The boat stays by the pier until 12:00, meaning that if you arrive at 11:45, you can still get onboard and eat from the buffet. At 12:00, the boat leaves the pier and you can enjoy the beautiful attractions along the Danube for approximately one hour before you arrive back and the trip is finished at 13:00.

It is recommended to arrive early, because then you will mostly be finished with your eating before the boat trip starts, and you can feel more relaxed and simply enjoy the spectacular view as the boat leaves the pier.

What’s included in the program?

Everyone gets a welcome drink upon arrival, either a glass of champagne or a glass of orange/apple juice. You will later get one more drink served at the table. Beyond this, there is a bar in the boat where you can order whatever drink you might be interested in during the rest of the trip. There is also an option in which you include unlimited Prosecco, so if you feel really thirsty, then that is an option worth considering.

You can eat as much as you want from the brunch buffet throughout the entire trip (from 10:30-13:00). In the buffet you will find eggs in many variations (scrambled eggs, boiled eggs, sunny-side-up eggs, and more), there are traditional Hungarian creams made of cottage cheese, all sorts of jams, vegetables, chicken liver paté, a wide selection of cheeses, ham, salami, fruits, and sweet pastries, and even including pancakes.

The pictures above should give you a slight feeling about what you can choose from, but there are even more things you can eat during the brunch cruise and there might be changes from time to time, so these should just give you an idea of what you can expect if you decide to try a boat trip trip on the Danube with brunch once.

They also try to make the trip more entertaining for children by having a pirate onboard. He doesn’t do a lot, but sometimes he walks around, speaks with the kids, and it is possible to make pictures together with the pirate and more.

What will I see from the boat during this trip?

The boat starts from the Chain Bridge (very close to the bridge) and travels towards the Margaret Bridge first. You will then get a fantastic view of the Parliament, the Margaret Bridge, and also the Castle, the Matthias Church, the Fishermen’s Bastion and more along the way. As you reach the Margaret Bridge the boat turns around and travel to the most southern bridge in Budapest. Along the way you will pass under beautiful bridges, you will see the Gellert Hill, the Grand Market Hall, the Gellert hotel, the Technical University, the National Theatre, the Palace of Arts, the athletics arena (where the World Championships was arranged in 2023), and much more.

Above you can see some pictures we made during our brunch trip on the Danube in May 2024.

Can we recommend a boat trip on the Danube with brunch?

We tried this trip and came with fairly high expectations. It is easy to be disappointed when you come with high expectations, but mostly, the trip was one we can warmly recommend. There is plenty of food to choose from, and they are constantly refilling the buffet as something gets empty. In other words, it might be that you will have to wait for some minutes for some scrambled eggs if you are unlucky, but you don’t have to worry, because more is coming throughout the trip.

The selection of sweet pastry is ideal for those who want an easier breakfast (or kids), and the pancakes were a big hit.

The weather was beautiful (as always in beautiful), and even though we have been on lots of trips on the Danube, the city never fails to impress. The city is beautiful, so anyone coming to Budapest should go on a boat trip on the Danube. But, it isn’t enough to travel on the Danube once. It is recommended to do it once during daytime and once during nighttime. And as a daytime cruise, the option in which you combine breakfast and lunch while enjoying the splendors of Budapest is a great idea!

How much does it cost? Where can I buy my ticket?

The price for adults for such a trip is approximately €55, while the children price is €39. Children under the age of 6 can travel for free. You can book the trip through our booking page, or you can also use pages such as GetYourGuide to book the trip through them.

If you consider the fact that you get a very nice combination of breakfast and lunch and a stunning view of Budapest at the same time, this is a program worth the money. It is also a bonus that the boat is elegant and has lots of space, something boosting the experience even more.

If you have comments, questions, or any feedback, please use the comment field below and let us hear from you!

Coldplay is coming to Budapest very soon!

Posted on June 10, 2024June 10, 2024 by Budapest Guide

In six days, Coldplay will be at the stage in Puskas Arena to play in front of nearly 60,000 fans in Budapest. This isn’t going to happen only once, but three times. We know that there will be thousands of people coming to Budapest from abroad for this event, and that isn’t strange, seeing that there will be extremely few Coldplay concerts in Europe this summer.

Before coming to Budapest, Coldplay is performing twice in Bucharest in Romania, and after they finish their concerts in Budapest, the band will take a break before they will travel to Rome where the band will have five concerts at the Olympic Stadium. When the band is finished in Rome, they will travel to Dusseldorf in Germany, Helsinki in Finland, Munich in Germany, and then to Vienna in Austria, before the band says goodbye and will leave Europe.

If you want to be there at Puskas Arena, then you can find more information about the concert at our page about the upcoming Coldplay concerts in Budapest.

We have a fantastic summer coming up, and later Ed Sheeran will come to the Hungarian capital as well. Taylor Swift is also out touring Europe, but unfortunately, she will not come to Budapest. But if you are eager to see her live, then you can see her live at Ernst-Happel Stadium in Vienna, a location that can be reached in only 2 1/2 hours if you drive from Budapest.

You can read more about all sorts of concerts in Budapest right here.

An easy way to watch Euro 2024 online for free (and maybe learn some words in Hungarian)!

Posted on June 3, 2024June 3, 2024 by Budapest Guide

We are getting closer to the European Championship in football, and it is gonna be a fantastic event! Players, coaches, and fans are preparing for the event which is arranged in Germany, and the kick-off for the first match will be in the evening on June 14. Do you have a favorite country that you cheer for? Are you looking for a way to watch the different matches from the tournament online on the Internet, and possibly, for free? Welcome to Hungary!

Hungary is a nation known for lots of things! The country has beautiful nature, even more fantastic buildings, interesting politics, and a mighty river flowing through the country and making Budapest one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is also a country that has produced some fantastic football players, and the most famous of them all is Ferenc Puskas who is considered one of the best footballers of all time.

Hungary is one of the 24 teams participating in Euro 2024, and they will play against Germany, Scotland, and Switzerland in the group stage. Would you like to cheer for the Hungarian national team, or maybe you’d rather see Ronaldo win one more tournament with Portugal? Or are you a fan of Harry Kane and England? How can you watch every single match from the European Championship in football online without paying a lot? Hungary has the solution to the problem!

An easy way to watch the European Championship in football online!

This method is a popular one worldwide, and it is frequently used among people who want to watch the Champions League online and other big sports events, such as the Summer Olympics, FIFA World Cups, and much more.

Hungary’s Prime Minister loves sports, and he loves football. As a result, it is important to make sports available to everyone, and that is why the national TV broadcasts such events for free in Hungary. As a result, you can stream every single match from the European Championship in football on M4 in Hungary, a free sports-channel.

You can find the live stream at www.mediaklikk.hu. Click the purple “play” button in the upper right corner and choose M4 Sport from the menu. You will then be taken to the M4 Sport live stream where you can stream every single match from the European Championship online.

m4 sport online — *Click the purple “screen” and choose M4 Sport from the menu.*

That’s it. But, like with lots of other things in life, things aren’t always completely free, even though they are. What do we mean?

M4 Sport in Hungary is only available to people in Hungary. As a result, the website will check your IP address to see if you are located in Hungary or not. If you are located elsewhere in the world, you will see an error message telling you that M4 Sport is only available to people in Hungary.

*Do you see this message telling you that the content is only available in Hungary?*

The message above tells you that the content is only available if you are in Hungary. Now you have two options… either you get on a plane and come to Budapest (which is a beautiful city with lots of places where you can watch the European Championship in football on screens outdoor throughout the city), or you use the VPN services of PureVPN to give you a Hungarian IP address even though you are located elsewhere in the world.

The first is the best solution, but the second is way cheaper and faster (you can be ready to watch the European Championship in football online in less than 5 minutes).

How to stream the European Championship in football online for free using PureVPN.

The first thing you need is to visit the PureVPN website. You must buy a subscription, but it is the cheapest VPN available online, so it will not cost a lot. The service comes with a 31-day money-back guarantee, so if you don’t like it, ask for a refund and you will get all your money in return.

PureVPN website.

PureVPN has several packages available, but to watch M4 Sport online worldwide, the “standard” package is more than enough (you do not need the password manager etc). You can also switch between subscriptions for one month, one year, two years, or five years. The longer the subscription, the cheaper the monthly fee. No matter which package you choose, you are always protected by the money-back guarantee which is valid for 31 days. And yes, you can use the same subscription to watch the Summer Olympics online, Champions League football, and lots of other sports throughout the year.

When you have bought your subscription, download and install the PureVPN application on your computer, telephone, tablet, or install it in your browser. It is very easy, and afterward, you can log in using your user credentials. Now you only need to connect to a server in Hungary which will give you a Hungarian IP address, and you are ready to watch the European Championship in football.

*I am connected to a server in Hungary, and I can now watch the European Championship in football on M4 Sport worldwide.*

Since we are writing this article before the European Championship in football, the screenshot above is from the Europa Confederations League final between Olympiakos and Fiorentina.

That’s it. You can now watch the European Championship in football on M4 Sport in Hungary, and you can later watch the Summer Olympics, and also Champions League football online using the same method.

You might have trouble understanding the language of the commentators, considering that Hungarian is one of the hardest languages in the world. But, if you like what you hear, come to Budapest and you can meet Hungarians and even practice whatever words and sentences you learn by speaking to locals. If you have already started to plan your trip, use the information found in our Budapest Guide to learn more about the attractions, activities, museums, and other programs in the city.

Some of the highlights from the group stage of the European Championship in football.

If you cheer for Hungary, the highlights will be the three matches of Hungary. The first match is at 15:00 on June 15 against Switzerland, followed by a second match against Germany on June 19 at 18:00 against Germany, and the third group stage match will be against Scotland at 21:00 on June 23 in Stuttgart. But, besides these matches, which are some of the most interesting matches during the group-stage of the European Championship in football?

Spain – Croatia, June 15, 18:00.
Who said we had to wait for a long time for great matches? The opening match between Germany and Scotland on June 14 is interesting, but when Spain plays against Croatia on June 15, both teams are considered to be among the best teams in the tournament. Knowing that Italy is in the same group, both Spain and Croatia know for sure that this is a match they do not want to lose! Spain has some of the best keepers in the tournament (David Raya and Unai Simon), and recent Champions League champions such as Dani Carvajal and Joselu in the squad. Is that enough to cause trouble for Joško Gvardiol, Mateo Kovačić, Luka Modrić, Andrej Kramarić, and Bruno Petković?
England – Serbia, June 16, 21:00.
England is one of the biggest favorites to win the tournament, but Serbia is a much tougher opponent than many people think. They have fantastic players such as Dusan Tadic, Filip Kostic, Aleksandar Mitrovic, and Dusan Vlahovic. In other words, England might get a much tougher start on the tournament than many people expect! But, if we look at the English squad with names such as Jude Bellingham, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Declan Rice, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Jack Grealish, Cole Palmer, and Harry Kane, it is no wonder why many believe England is among the biggest favorite to win Euro 2024.
Spain – Italy, June 20, 21:00.
The match between Spain and Italy on June 20th might mean goodbye to one of the teams, depending on the results of Italy’s first match against Albania, and the result of Spain’s opening match against Croatia. No matter what, this is gonna be a fantastic match. It is also important to remember that few people expected Italy to win the European Championship in football in 2021, but they still Did. Few people believe Italy will win in 2024, but who knows? Do you think Gigi Donnarumma, Jorginho, Lorenzo Pellegrini, and Stephan El Shaarawy can do miracles? It is also interesting to see that Italy has a squad consisting where more than 90% of the players play in Italian Serie A, with Jorginho in Arsenal and Donnarumma in PSG as the exceptions.
France – Netherlands, June 21, 21:00.
France is the biggest favorite of them all to win the European Championship in football. They will play against Austria, the Netherlands, and Poland during the group stage. Neither team should be good enough to steal points from France, but we also know that the Netherlands can cause trouble on a good day. Will June 21 be such a day? Can Nathan Ake, Virgil van Dijk, Stefan de Vrij, Jeremie Frimpong, Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong, Teun Koopmeiners, Steven Bergwijn, Memphis Depay, and Cody Gakpo cause trouble for Ferland Mendy, William Saliba, Eduardo Camavinga, Antoine Griezmann, Kingsley Coman, Ousmane Dembele, and Kylian Mbappe? What do you think?

These are just four of many matches that will be incredibly interesting during the group stage of the European Championship in football. You can watch these and all the rest of the matches online at M4 Sport in Hungary by following the instructions above.

If you have any comments or questions, please use the comment field below and we will do our best to help!

Hungary’s first Primark store opens in Arena Plaza!

Posted on May 29, 2024May 29, 2024 by Budapest Guide

Primark opened its first store in Hungary on May 28, 2024. The Irish brand is extremely popular, and many people have been waiting for the first store to open in Hungary for a long time. Now the opening is history, and people are already speaking about when the second store will open.

The Primark store in Arena Plaza is located on the first floor of the mall, next to SportsDirect. It is open between 10.00 and 20.00, with the exception of Sundays on which is closes at 19.00.

The brand is know for cheap prices, and that is true also in Budapest. It is possible to find jeans for less than €15, and you can find t-shirts, sweaters, and other stuff around €5.

On the opening day, people showed up hours before opening to be among the first people to enter the new store. Even hours after the grand opening the shop was crowded and people stood in line to enter the store. This will, most likely, calm down quickly, but it is still a big moment for those who want cheap shopping in Budapest.

You can read more about Arena Plaza here. If you’d rather read general information about shopping in Budapest, look at this article.

Pizza Cruise on the Danube in Budapest – Should you buy a ticket?

Posted on May 21, 2024May 21, 2024 by Budapest Guide

There are many fantastic boat trips available on the Danube in Budapest. The river is fantastic and the view is even more awesome. Can you imagine watching the beautiful attractions of Budapest illuminated in the evening while eating the best food on earth… pizza? That sure sounds nice, doesn’t it? It is no wonder so many people are interested in buying tickets for the popular pizza boat trip on the Danube. But, is it worth it?

Recently, we published an article about a Dinner Cruise with Live Music on the Danube. In the article, we wrote that even though we are located in Budapest and help book tickets for different boat trips on the Danube in Budapest, we do not necessarily say that all trips are equally good. In fact, if there are boat trips we think you should skip, then we will tell you. So, what is the reality when it comes to the Pizza Boat Trip on the Danube arranged by Silverline in Budapest?

Our experience eating pizza on the Danube in Budapest.

The trip we are discussing is the one you can book tickets for above using the GetYourGuide widget. If you visit the page, you can see several positive and some negative reviews. Here are our thoughts!

The trip itself is great. The Danube is beautiful, and the service on the ship is good. You can drink as much as you want which is ideal if you are thirsty, meaning you can get unlimited soft-drinks, ice-tea and some other drinks.

But, why do you buy tickets for a boat trip on the Danube where they serve you pizza? Because you love pizza. And if you love pizza, then you want the pizza to be good. Unfortunately, that was not so on this ship.

We attended the boat trip with a group of six persons, and you can choose from four different pizzas (that must be done upon booking). We tasted three of the four pizzas (we skipped the Hawaii pizza as none of us appreciate pineapple on pizza).

The pizzas were served, and we were looking very much forward to eating pizza while enjoying the view.

The pizzas came and upon first look we felt disappointed. It looked like the cheese and the ham and the ingredients were the cheapest of the cheapest at the nearest super market. Unfortunately, the taste didn’t tell us otherwise. We were then having serious discussions about whether we were actually served a frozen pizza with a basic tomato sauce, and then they just added toppings according to the orders, but we didn’t really come to a conclusion (even though I still believe it was a basic frozen pizza with some toppings added before added on the ship).

We traveled with kids, so our kids had a wonderful time on the Danube, one of my son even makes jokes about this being the best pizza he has ever eaten, but I guess that says more about his attitude than the pizza.

All in all, we will remember the trip, and we had a good time. But, if the goal is to combine a trip on the beautiful Danube in Budapest with a delightful pizza, then you should bring the pizza yourself and not eat the one you are served onboard.

What are your thoughts? Do you have any questions?

This is our experience, but we know from reviews on GetYourGuide that many people have truly enjoyed the trip. Would you like to share your thoughts about the trip? Or do you have any questions?

Please use the comment field below and let us hear from you!