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Originally Posted by Kristie  aaaaahhh gotcha!
we could definitely use some pointers on what to see/do in the city!! hopefully, i get my passport back in time to go with!  |
There's a lot to see in Budapest, but since you'll probably be in the inner city anyway you really can't go wrong. The city is split into 2 by the Danube river, Buda being on the west side and Pest on the east side. Buda is hilly, Pest is flat.
On the Pest side is Vaci ut, a walking street full of stores more geared for tourists, thus watch out for ripoffs, but it is a nice walk anyway. From there you can jog left over to the river and walk along there, crossing the river at the Chain Bridge ("Lanchid") over to the Buda side, where you can either walk up or take the finicular up to the Royal Palace/Castle Hill area from where you have great views of the whole city. Up there there are quaint streets, Fisherman's Bastion and Matias cathedral to see. But again, prices will be high as they target tourists.
In the evening for pub stuff, back on the Pest side (remember that the city is pretty compact and distances aren't that far), near / on Deak square (Deak ter) toward the Basilica (you can't miss it) and Andrassy street are a nice collection of bars and pubs, usually with nice people. I can recommend "Box Utca" with food and drinks as well as Champs Sports Bar (on Dohany Street).
But you can't go wrong with just winging it and seeing what else you find.
I wonder if you'll have time to go try the Szechenyi Thermal Baths? If you do -- it's a lot of fun. But if you try to challenge some of the old guys there at chess (chess boards are built into the baths) you will not win!!
The main things are to check out the view from the Buda side, walking across the bridge and if you want to, walking over to the Parliament building (picture attached). Don't forget to go back to the river at night, when everything is lit up! You'll get some great pictures. And during the day pop into one of the many coffee houses around town for a "palacsinta" snack -- Hungarin crepes.
Have fun!