[Carla B]

You will love Budapest! We just returned from there in June. We spent one night at the end of a river cruise plus four nights on our own. The weather was perfect that week but I hear it can get hot. The drivers stop for pedestrians, although bikers do not.

The prices are not high like western Europe. Although Hungary is a member of the E.U., they use their own currency. We bought tickets for various venues from our hotel and they requested payment in HUF. Moderate to higher end tourist restaurants accept credit cards. Tipping (10-20%) is part of the culture, unlike many other countries in Western Europe, where a service charge is added to the bill.

As for cash expenses, we spent a total of 115,000 HUF ($400+). Our hotel included breakfast and we mostly ate on the cheap the rest of the time. We walked most places in Pest or took Tram 22 along the Danube. We did buy a HopOn HopOff pass good for two days, mainly to get across to Buda. There are several bus companies hawking their line in Deak Square and they all approach tourists with their "deal." We couldn't find the official Tourist Info office so bought tickets for 4,000 ea. for two days on the Green/Pink line, mainly to get to the sights in Buda. If you do that I'd recommend the "Big Bus" or the "official" Hop On Hop Off red/yellow bus or even the metro. Our bus dumped us in the middle of the last run and we had to walk a long way. We never used a taxi except for the ride to the airport which our hotel arranged for 9,000 HUF + tip.

Fortunately, most young people speak English. Hungarian is a very difficult language, unlike any other. We got a handout from the cruise ship and it didn't help a bit. But we had no trouble communicating wherever we went on the tourist circuit and the people were very gracious.

Here are some sample prices for various venues per ticket: Parliament, 5,200 (get this from your hotel or from jegymeister.hu, before you go, as the entrance is timed.) It's magnificent. Danube Symphony and Hungarian Folk Dance, both at Duna Palota are great bargains at 6,600, St. Stephen's Basilica organ concerts, 2,500. Tickets for the organ concerts are sold during the day at the door. It is free to just look in St. Stephens and it is spectacular.

At Heroes' Square we heard a talk about the Hungarian Revolt in 1956 by a local who experienced it, but this was part of our river cruise. We toured the House of Terror, mainly about the Soviet occupation and the Hungarian State Opera, both on Andrassy Ave. "Shoes on the Danube" commemorating the Nazi shooting of the Jews is on the walk back to city center from the Parliament.

In Buda, the main attraction is Fisherman's Bastion and Matthias Church. We also visited the Budapest History Museum in the castle complex (no fee for seniors) which contains antiquities dating from before Christ.

The river cruise ship gave us a tour of the Danube after dark with the city lit up but if you don't arrive by cruise ship you will want to buy tickets for that tour.

We loved the Covered Market, a few minutes ride from city center on Tram 22. There is an Aldi in the basement with great prices. They sell good Hungarian white wine there for $2. If the label says "Szaraz" it is dry (our preference).

If you have limited time, I agree, a local guide would be in order. Even in five days we missed a lot. Nevertheless, I am certain you will certainly enjoy Budapest.