In a world of restricted travel and abundant non-trivial travel guides, a regular returner tries to give

you ideas for a visit to Budapest, from backpacker and parent with children to quality culture freaks
(with a little look-out for luxury).

When Klaudia asked me to write about tips to visit Budapest off the beaten path, one of my first
interpreting experiences came to my mind. I was already an experienced guide for groups when I was
tasked to accompany a British travel journalist who wanted to write an article about the city. First
day I started from the centre of the town the usual sightseeing circuit. He immediately clarified that
he was here once already and had visited all the standard sights in the usual travel books and is now
keen to see something else – entertainment. A university student with moderate means, this was a
challenge. Now I also know that I could show him things he did not get the opportunity to see during
his standard trips – some of them we discovered together as I was lucky enough to be able to show
him more than just bars and restaurants.

How to get there? Ryanair promised to re-start direct flights from Luxembourg to Budapest while
Luxair has some fair priced alternatives this summer. Even the autumn prices of the Luxembourgish
airline are cheaper than regular flights with change in Zurich, Frankfurt or Munich used to be. Once
Flibco starts again, Charleroi-Budapest is served by Ryanair and Wizzair. A 1200 km drive is
something one can survive. This distance is not ideal by bus, however.

Where to stay? For budget tourists, there are a number of hostels but my favourite is Bed and
Breakfast (B&B) hotel (http://www.bedbreakfast.hu/index_en.html). The reservation link on their
website leads to an external portal, it does not always work, so call them or e-mail them or use
https://www.booking.com/hotel/hu/bbhotel.hu.html. A walk to the “Roman shore” – Rómaipart in
Hungarian (an open air spa is on the way).

Where to eat? Once you are close to Romai, take “Kiscsillag” (little star).

Office buildings have nice restaurants, not too expensive (Kapás street) Éden – vegan

Market – Main market hall vs “Lehel” (nothing to do with the Munich Lehel district)

Beer bars –

Bauhaus

“Only good beer” – and another market hall

Liszt Ferenc square vs. Naygmző utca theatres, Hofi, Music academy (13.30), Bajcsy

Where to relax?