Many tourists say that they like to visit Hungary in winter. At this time of the year, the weather is not as severe as in our northern country, and seeing Budapest, painted with New Year's lights, is a special pleasure.

Hungarian climate

Thanks to geographical location countries (center of Europe) the climate here is temperate continental. The mountains of the Alps and the Carpathians protect the state from all sides from the influence of cold winds.

The hottest days come, of course, in the summer. The temperature reaches +27°C. In spring, these values ​​are slightly lower, but still it gets warmer here much faster than in Russia.

Autumn differs from ours in less rainfall and indulges residents with moderate warmth. The beach season is still in September. And only November becomes rainy.

But the winter weather is a real gift not only for tourists, but also for all local residents. The temperature in Hungary rarely drops below -1°C in winter. Little snow falls, and even if the high humidity starts to feel cold, frequent thaws quickly correct the situation.

Temperature in Hungary in winter

All this makes the Hungarian winter almost a continuation of autumn and creates favorable conditions for new year holidays.

New Year holidays in Hungary

The weather in Hungary for the New Year is very comfortable. Therefore, many spend it on the street: skating, walking around the city, meeting with friends.

During the New Year holidays, the capital is decorated with festive lights, fairs are held, and holiday discounts are offered in shops. A heart " old Europe» is transformed and impresses with its fabulous atmosphere.

New Year holidays in Hungary are celebrated according to local traditions. As in all Catholic Europe, Christmas Eve here falls on January 25th. Christmas trees are decorated with colorful balls and sweets called "salontsukor". They are chocolate-covered sweets.

Christmas is traditionally a family holiday. All relatives gather at the table, the main dish of which is Christmas carp. A few scales, peeled from this fish, are put in wallets. According to local beliefs, they will bring wealth and prosperity to their owner.

the day before new year's eve according to an old Hungarian tradition, it is customary to burn straw effigies of a goat. This symbolizes getting rid of the problems of the old year.

If you are in Budapest on the night of December 31st, don't miss the fireworks and fireworks that take place closer to midnight. You can see them from the banks of the Danube or from a ship that cruises along the river that night to give its passengers the opportunity to enjoy the magnificent spectacle to the fullest.

On winter holidays, be sure to visit the thermal baths, which are located in the center of the Budapest City Park. Where else can you swim in winter?

Varosliget Park is a great place to spend winter holidays. Here you can have a great rest with your children: skating rinks, several cozy cafes, Botanical Garden and a zoo.

Nearby there are many that acquire special beauty in winter (for example, Vajdahunyad Castle). Nearby is the famous restaurant Gundel, where you can warm up after a walk and try original Hungarian dishes from the famous chefs of Budapest.

Ski resorts

Although the mountains in Hungary are not very high, tourists still come here with pleasure to ride skiing.

popular ski resorts Hungary are Matra, Magas Hill, Bükk and Nograd. The last track is the only place where international competitions are held. And the slopes of Matra (146 m high) will delight children with a specially equipped descent for sleds.

Hungary is an original European country, interesting for tourists in many aspects. The richest cultural heritage, natural attractions, features of the national temperament are combined for Russians with an economic component that allows them to freely plan budget travel. The main difficulty for Russian tourists is language communication, the Hungarian language (belonging to the Finno-Ugric group) contains practically no familiar words, including when written in Latin. Quite a lot of service personnel understand Russian, a growing number Russian speaking guides.

An example of a typical combined tour maybe an eight-day autumn tour "Hungarian Pearls". From the train to Brest, tourists, after passing through customs, transfer to a convenient bus, on which they cross Slovakia. The excursion program in Hungary begins with Miskolc-Tapolts, a unique cave complex in which thermal baths are built, decorated with light effects. For tourists, excursion time is provided, it is possible to take a health bath in hot springs, for which you need to pay extra.

Many tourists gladly agree to an additional excursion to Vienna, which is 240 kilometers from Budapest. On the way back to the Belarusian border, tourists stop near the numerous castles of Hungary,. There is a stop in Lublin, a tour of the historical center of the city.

Buda Castle;
Cathedral of King Matthias;
Fisherman's Bastion;
basilica of st. Istvan;
Vajdahunyad castle;
the Hungarian Parliament;
Royal Palace;
Heroes Square.

Purpose of travel

Among the resort areas around the huge lake, the town of Siofok stands out. The most popular, comfortable resort has also become the center of social life, a place of active youth tourism. The surroundings are decorated with the picturesque river Shio, the beach area is equipped with many well-maintained beaches, cafes, restaurants, nightclubs, discos. From the village of Santod it is easy to move to the uncrowded Tihany Peninsula. Popular entertainments of the aristocratic Santod are horse riding parades, equestrian sports.

For budget tourism, Budapest will be the most expensive city, although here you can find an inexpensive hotel. Of the two thousand, the cheapest booking prices are offered by hotels without an international rating, one-star hotels. In hostels "Sleepover City", "Pesti szálló", guest house"Jáde Panzió", apartments "Artist Residence" can, with varying degrees of comfort, settle for 1000 - 2000 rubles (in hostels - one visitor).

Bratislava castle, Slovakia

For Russian tourists the most popular from neighboring countries are Austria, Slovakia, Serbia,. Among the developed routes for Russian-speaking guides, a one-day excursion to Vienna is in the first place.

Articles about budget holidays in Hungary:

";s:8:"cat_comm";i:3304;s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:8:"keywords »;s:0:»»;s:8:»descrtop»;s:38842:»Hungary is an original European country, interesting for tourists in many aspects. The richest cultural heritage, natural attractions, features of the national temperament are combined for Russians with an economic component that allows them to easily plan a budget trip. The main difficulty for Russian tourists is language communication, the Hungarian language (belonging to the Finno-Ugric group) contains practically no familiar words, including when written in Latin. Quite a lot of attendants understand Russian, and the number of Russian-speaking guides is growing.

Visa difficulties, travel to Hungary

To travel to Hungary you need a Schengen visa. The peculiarities of obtaining a Hungarian visa permit were some additional documents (an extensive questionnaire, a certificate - a referral from a doctor, a confirmed hotel reservation). Independent efforts to fill out documents, visit the embassy can be facilitated by visa centers, travel agencies involved in individual tours. A simplified visa regime will also ensure multiple visits to the Schengen countries.

With the independent processing of documents at the visa center (permanent, long-term visa), tourists themselves can take care of travel to Hungary:

• Most tourists prefer to cross several borders by a two-hour flight to Budapest (1569 km). When ordering a ticket for two weeks, the cost of the ticket will be 20300 - 22800 rubles. If you book early, you can find flights much cheaper.
• If air travel is not possible for health reasons, Budapest can be reached by rail. A direct compartment car to the Moscow-Prague train takes thirty hours to Budapest, the ticket costs 14,184 rubles.
• In terms of prices, the most attractive are combined tours (train to Brest, bus around Europe), which can cost about 26,000 rubles (without the cost of a visa), last-minute tours. The rich program of the combined tour does not provide time for a passive, resort holiday, subject to daily transfers.

An example of a typical combined tour would be the eight-day autumn tour "Hungarian Pearls". From the train to Brest, tourists, after passing through customs, transfer to a comfortable bus, on which they cross Poland, Slovakia. The excursion program in Hungary begins with Miskolc-Tapolts, a unique cave complex in which thermal baths are built, decorated with light effects. For tourists, excursion time is provided, it is possible to take a health bath in hot springs, for which you need to pay extra.

The next stages of the journey are a visit to Eger (with an overview bus tour around the city), moving to Budapest. On the way, it is possible to stop in the "Valley of Beauties", lunch in a wine cellar, tasting of collection wines.

A stay in Budapest includes a sightseeing bus and walking tour of the Hungarian capital, optional excursions, a boat trip "Evening Danube", a free day that can be spent on independent walks, shopping, go on an additional excursion to Bratislava (200 km.).

Many tourists gladly agree to an additional excursion to Vienna, which is 240 kilometers from Budapest. On the way back to the Belarusian border, tourists stop near numerous castles in Hungary, Slovakia. There is a stop in Lublin, a tour of the historical center of the city.

A huge plus of such a trip is the constant presence of a bilingual guide. In addition to telling you about the sights, cities, areas included in the program, a good guide will tell you the best shops, cafes, help you choose unfamiliar dishes, communicate with waiters, and service services. The recommendations of the guide are important when choosing additional excursions, places independent visit, inexpensive souvenirs typical for the region.

Organized tours, selection of the best offers

Most of the offers of tour operators concern organized tours to Budapest. They are divided by duration, saturation of excursion services. In Moscow, the tour "WEEK-END in Budapest" (4 days) can be bought for 100 euros (excluding airfare). Eight day sightseeing tour"Brilliant Budapest" on the same terms costs 170 euros.

The main objects included in the excursions in Budapest:
Buda Castle;
Cathedral of King Matthias;
Fisherman's Bastion;
basilica of st. Istvan;
Vajdahunyad castle;
the Hungarian Parliament;
Royal Palace;
Heroes Square.

Experienced tourists who have already visited Budapest are interested in other places in Hungary. They can choose an eight-day tour that includes a visit to Budapest, four Hungarian provinces. To the cost of the tour (400 euros) you need to add the price of plane tickets.

Currency exchange, food prices, shopping

The Russian ruble costs about 4 forints (more precisely 4.2-4.3 HUF). Accordingly, for 100 dollars you will receive 28 thousand forints, for 100 euros - 31000. Currency exchange in Hungary does not bring difficulties, but you need to carefully monitor the best rates, commissions, avoid exchange offices at airports, train stations, where rates are overpriced. Almost all hotels shopping centers accept Visa, MasterCard bank cards. The exception is small shops, sellers in the markets.

In terms of product prices, Hungary can be classified as best countries Europe. In summer and autumn, the prices of fruits and vegetables are much lower than in Moscow. Selected apricots, peaches, pears, apples cost 50-60 cents (per kilogram). At a cost of about a dollar, elite varieties of gourmet table grapes are sold.

Numerous taverns, pubs, cafes, and restaurants are also distinguished by affordable prices. There are many international, Hungarian fast food establishments that are difficult to recommend to gourmets. From fast food, the Hungarian kyurtoskalach is popular. Charcoal fried dough with various toppings costs 600 forints. How much does a big strudel cost? Ice cream is sold in individual balls, 250 forints each.

National Hungarian cuisine, which connoisseurs consider very tasty, prevails in the menu of most cafes and restaurants. The consistently high level of culinary specialists is striking. Even in budget cafes there are no tasteless dishes. The basis of Hungarian cuisine is meat of various varieties (pork, game, poultry). Among the vegetables in the first place are sweet peppers, tomatoes, onions, potatoes. Hungarians treat desserts with restraint, in a typical menu there are two or three simple salads.

classic dishes national cuisine combine the first and second. These are the favorite dishes of the Hungarians - goulash, lecho (thick soup made from onions, paprika, tomatoes, boiled smoked pork sausage). Only in Hungary you can taste a real pörkölt - a mixture of several types of meat prepared in a special way. Its ingredients can be veal, rabbit, pork, lamb, wild boar meat. Paprikash is prepared from the same ingredients, stewed in sour cream.

Hungarians love goose liver in all forms (foie gras, medallions). Traditional desserts are "palacsinta" (thin puff pancakes stuffed with sweet stuffing), Dobosh cake.

Huge portions do not allow ordering multiple dishes. Without touching on trendy, expensive restaurants, it must be said that you can dine "to your heart's content" in an average Budapest restaurant for $20. A modest dinner without wine will cost the same amount in the famous Gundel restaurant, which serves Handel's signature pike perch, Gundel pancakes known throughout Hungary (“palacsinta” stuffed with nuts, doused with chocolate). In youth restaurants, you can limit yourself to beer, the most expensive dish (goose liver medallions, complemented by a complex side dish). All this costs 2500 forints.

Moving around Budapest is most economical on public transport (metro, bus). One trip costs 350 forints. You need to buy a ticket at a kiosk, the payment to the driver is more expensive - 450 forints. With a large number of movements, a daily (1650 HUF), three-day (4150 HUF) travel pass is convenient. A two-week pass (7000 HUF) is suitable for some intercity buses, trains.

As souvenirs, Russian tourists buy elegant national dolls, marzipan figurines (3 euros), Tokay wines (8 euros), fruit vodka (palinka), delicious Unicum herbal balm (11 euros), ceramics, porcelain vases, figurines (25 -30 euros). Very beautiful embroidered tablecloths, napkins in the national style, which are better to buy in the provinces.

Purpose of travel

The main goals of the trip to Hungary are educational, health, medical, youth tourism. Having no access to the sea, Hungarian tour operators offer extensive programs of beach, resort, recreational holidays on Lake Balaton.

Among the resort areas around the huge lake, the town of Siofok stands out. The most popular, comfortable resort has also become the center of social life, a place of active youth tourism. The surroundings are decorated with the picturesque river Shio, the beach area is equipped with many well-maintained beaches, cafes, restaurants, nightclubs, discos. From the village of Santod it is easy to move to the uncrowded Tihany Peninsula. Popular entertainments of the aristocratic Santod are horse riding parades, equestrian sports.

On the north coast for family vacation popular Balatonfured. There are many green areas and healing springs in the city. The nearby Tihany peninsula is notable for its historical architectural monuments. In the towns of Szigliget and Badacsony you can visit cozy restaurants with fine wines, see the ruins of the Castle Hill fortress.

Many tourists are attracted by the possibilities of effective treatment in Hungary. The country has a huge number mineral springs. Among the resort areas stand out Harkany (treatment of skin diseases), unique lake Heviz.

The volcanic origin of Lake Heviz allows the water to be constantly renewed (in 28-48 hours). This phenomenon is unique to the same lake in New Zealand. Lake silt contains a natural antibiotic, suitable for mud therapy. It is better to swim in the lake in winter (about 26⁰C), in summer the water is too hot (33-34⁰C).

Heviz sanatoriums are specialized in the treatment of arthritis, gout, rheumatism, gastric diseases, gynecology. Successfully undergoes treatment of skin diseases, endocrine disorders, rehabilitation after operations.

Wine tours in Hungary are popular in all seasons, especially successful in autumn. The center of elite winemaking is Tokaj. Wines "Tokaji", "Bull's blood" are unique in taste. Thanks to the grapes growing on volcanic soil, Badacsony wine, popular in Hungary, stands out with its peculiar taste. Other original Hungarian drinks are sweet raisin wine and apricot vodka.

Best seasons to visit Hungary

The climate of Hungary is quite hot in summer and cold in winter. In winter, the activity of tourists is significantly reduced, only trips to Budapest are relevant. Good weather starts from mid-April, the tourist season ends in the second half of October. From an economic point of view, the beginning and end of the season are advantageous, although the lowest prices in tourist regions occur in winter.

Summer prices are highest (public catering, accommodation). This is due to the influx of foreign tourists, Hungarian vacationers. Wonderful spring Hungary is preferable for cognitive tourism, when excursions are not tiring, accompanied by the flowering of nature.

In autumn, after the recession of the peak prices, Hungary is open to gastronomic, wine tourism at a minimum cost. In May, October it is easy to find inexpensive accommodation (motels, hostels, campsites, boarding houses), which is problematic in summer.

Independent travel around the country

Rare enthusiasts venture on a long independent road trip to Hungary across several borders, although a small group of tourists can see the most by car. An alternative option would be to rent a car, there are a lot of rental car points in Hungary. Average European rental prices (80 - 100 dollars) make it rational with constant movement (savings in transport), dividing the cost into four participants, a well-thought-out program that reduces the cost of excursion services.

Recognized Benefits car travel obvious: freedom of choice of route, the ability to search, select cheap hotels. You will have to spend time at home preparing the route. Careful study of materials, historical sites, will allow you to include in the route the maximum number of attractions, interesting natural areas, castles located near the main route of the trip.

Gasoline prices in Hungary tend to European ones, A-95 gasoline here costs 1.22 euros (more expensive than in Poland, the Czech Republic), diesel fuel can be bought for € 1.16. In spring and autumn it is easy to find inexpensive motels, campsites where you can spend the night for twenty euros.

Budget accommodation in Hungarian hotels

For budget tourism, Budapest will be the most expensive city, although here you can find an inexpensive hotel. Of the two thousand hotels in Budapest, the cheapest booking prices are offered by hotels without an international rating, one-star hotels. In the hostels "Sleepover City", "Pesti szálló", the guest house "Jáde Panzió", the apartments "Artist Residence" you can, with varying degrees of comfort, settle for 1000 - 2000 rubles (in hostels - for one visitor).

When booking in advance (one month in advance), you can order budget housing in the provincial Balatonfüred, choosing from 136 hotels. Three-star hotels "Park", "Panorama" offer two vacationers to settle in September for 4200 - 4800 rubles. The best prices for accommodation are offered by apartments, private boarding houses. In the provincial Buka, you can book accommodation for September at affordable prices. Janza Apartmanház offers a one-room studio for 1480 rubles, Gerti Haus provides a two-bedroom apartment for 1630 rubles.

Possible excursions to neighboring countries

Bratislava castle, Slovakia

For Russian tourists, Austria, Slovakia, Serbia, Croatia are the most popular from neighboring countries. Among the developed routes for Russian-speaking guides, a one-day excursion to Vienna is in the first place.

To the program interesting trip includes travel in a minibus, sightseeing tour in the Austrian capital, inspection of the buildings of the Parliament, the Town Hall, the Opera. The pedestrian part usually includes the courtyards of the Hofburg, the City Park. Other places to visit are the Belvedere Palace, the Baroque Karlskirche Church, the pavilions of Otto Wagner, the Hundertwasser House, and old Viennese cafes. An individual tour for two or three people costs 300 - 400 euros.

Excursion to Bratislava allows you to see historical Center, go up to Bratislava Castle. Tourists visit the New Bridge, St. Martin's Cathedral, the Fisherman's Gate, the National Theater of Slovakia, old town hall. On the way to Bratislava, the excursion program usually includes the ancient Gyor. cozy town considered the Hungarian center of the Austrian Baroque. Beautiful churches, palaces, well-groomed parks stand out in urban architecture. Lunch is often included in the cost of an excursion for 50-70 euros.

In winter, before Catholic Christmas, heading to fabulous Prague We also visited Budapest.
Budapest is the capital of Hungary, and, according to travelers, is considered one of the most beautiful cities Europe. Let's check if this is the case 🙂

Flight to Budapest

We were lucky: we managed to find tickets to Budapest for our dates for truly low prices. As always, we booked tickets on the Aviasales website - a convenient interface, you can subscribe to the mailing list about price changes. The most important thing is that you can immediately see what luggage is included in the price. If you are flying with a low-cost airline, this is important 🙂

We took off from Larnaca on an evening flight with Wizz Air. It is worth paying attention to Wizz Air's hand luggage requirements in advance. and print your boarding pass, as excess baggage and ticket printing at the airport cost a decent amount of money. There is no food on board.

Airport transfer to Budapest

How to get from Budapest airport to city center? From international airport named after Franz Liszt (Ferihegy Airport) you can get to Budapest by bus, taxi or choose a group shuttle transfer

We flew to Budapest closer to night, and booked hotel located in the center of Budapest. So we pre-booked and paid group transfer from Budapest airport to the city center.

How to book an airport transfer to Budapest?
Transfer from Budapest Airport to the hotel is easy to book.

• On the MiniBud website, you need to select the date and flight, as well as your hotel in Budapest. For us, the cost for two was 4900 forints.
• Upon arrival, go to the MiniBud counter, show the printed confirmation, in return you will be given a boarding pass.
• Next, you are looking for a bus :)
  This is the fun part! Once every 5-10 minutes, a driver runs into the waiting room and collects customers according to the list. Each bus goes in a certain direction, that is, each driver goes to a specific area of ​​the city. We waited for almost half an hour: a driver approached us, who had our hotel on the list. The journey from Budapest Airport to the city center takes about 20 minutes.

How to find a hotel in Budapest

Budapest is a favorite of tourists of all ages and nationalities. There are a lot of hotels for every taste and budget in the city. We liked the Thai-style hotel 🙂 Why not?

Andrassy Thai Hotel located next to the Basilica of St. Stephen on Andrássy Avenue:

Photo from booking.com

What is absolutely incredible - the Andrassy Thai Hotel occupies part of the building of the palace of the XIX century! The walls breathe history. Some rooms are decorated in Thai style, some in Hungarian style. I can unequivocally say that we did not fail with the choice of a hotel in Budapest. Cool place!

On the first morning in Hungary, a free sightseeing tour of Budapest was scheduled.

Free winter tour of Budapest

Did you know that in many cities of the world you can order free tour in the city?

Free tour format we fell in love with . Such excursions pay off with donations at the end of the excursion. When everyone leaves how much money they want, if they want at all. Guides are interested in the success of the business, so the tours are usually fun and interesting. Free tours are almost always walking tours.

For some reason, this format does not attract Russian-speaking tourists - for three excursions we have never seen compatriots. As a rule, British, Americans, Canadians, Asians sign up for free tours. Tours are in English.
Our tour was led by a cheerful Hungarian Angie 🙂

Angie took us through the sights of winter Budapest. We started from the waterfront.

Tram route number 2 goes through the most touristic places in Pest - from the Parliament and along the Danube embankment to the central market and beyond. They say that on Christmas the tram is somehow specially decorated, but we didn’t see anything like that. A tram is like a tram.

Bronze statue on the Danube embankment in Budapest. And no, this is not a clown boy, as you might think, but a princess girl (Kiskirálylány) 🙂

In general, the Hungarian language (or Magyar) is just tin. It is unlike anything else: continuous hissing abrupt sounds. Langosh, Goulash, Paprikash, Kyoosyonyoom, Indulaash, Shegichen and thousands more terrible and incomprehensible words...
The guide told us that there is a version about the Asian origin of the language and taught us a few words in Hungarian.

We make our way through the Christmas market at the Basilica of St. Stephen:

From everywhere comes the smell of fried sausages and mulled wine, Christmas songs. Outside on December 23rd. So many Christmas songs, as in Budapest and Prague these days, we have not heard anywhere else.

Hungarians are very fond of unusual sculptures - they can be found all over Budapest.

As in many countries of Eastern Europe, in the 20th century, communists left a legacy in Hungary. In addition to various things that led to hostility to this regime today, the communists gave the Hungarians a dish of langos - a flatbread with garlic and sour cream sauce. True, Wikipedia says that langos came to Hungarian cuisine from the Turks 🙂

And here is another example of Hungarian street food with an unpronounceable name. Among neighboring Czechs, such a tube is called a trdelnik.

Going chain bridge, we find ourselves on the side of Buda, at zero kilometer and funicular.
Funicular queue:

Climbing the mountain to the Royal Palace of Budapest will take about two minutes, but the line to the funicular takes about 10 minutes.
View from the Royal Palace to the Danube, Sechensky (Chain) bridge and Pest:

On the left is the building of the Hungarian Parliament, lost in the fog on this winter day.

In fact, this kind of weather is quite typical for Budapest in winter. Above zero, but dank and humid, cloudy, no sun. In December-January in Budapest, almost all days are like this. Bright sunny days in Budapest in winter are rare.

From here we moved on to our next point in Budapest, Fishermen's Bastion. From the hill along the road you can see one of the fashionable quarters of Budapest. Angie said that ordinary people in Budapest call the rich residents of this area lucky bastards 🙂

Church of St. Matthias, located on the Buda Hill next to the Fisherman's Bastion:

The white church was built in the Gothic style.

Fisherman's bastion and seven conical towers, which symbolize the seven tribes that founded the Hungarian state:

And again hungarian parliament floating in the winter mist:

🔥 So, link to a free tour of Budapest! 🔥
You can book a free tour of the city on this website.

From the Széchenyi bridge, you can walk to the main market of Budapest in 20 minutes. It's simple: pass two bridges to the south and you are there. On the way, it is worth taking a walk pedestrian street Vaci.

It is located in a building that looks like a train station. There was no authentic or Christmas atmosphere, just a noisy indoor market.
On the ground floor, shopping malls with products:

A lot of rows with fresh meat. The sight is not for the faint of heart. Either a dead pig will be dumped on the counter, or a flayed goat's head with dark glasses pulled on to attract attention. A couple of photos:

In one of the guides, preparing for a trip to Budapest, I read that “in the central market of Budapest, you can eat just walking from stall to stall” and tasting all sorts of goodies. So, this is not true 🙂 You won’t be given anything to try in the Budapest market, and there’s really nothing to try. In addition to stalls with frozen meat, the market has fruit stalls, paprika products (all in packages), a couple of bakery stalls (buns and pies). There are also sausage counters, here you can try a slice of sausage, but they are unlikely to get enough to eat.
On the second floor of the market in Budapest - souvenirs and a food court.

Tip: there is no point in going to the Budapest market. Eat somewhere else. Prices in the Budapest market are high, but there is nowhere to sit down: you have to eat while standing in front of people scurrying back and forth. We bought two goulash, a small bottle of water and a fried sausage with paprika, and it cost us about 25 euros. For this money in Budapest it was possible to have a tasty and tolerable lunch even on tourist street Vaci, in a warm cafe with Wi-Fi and comfortable chairs, not in a cold market 🙂
All in all, Budapest's central market was a waste of time.

It is better to have a bite somewhere on the streets of Budapest. Fortunately, there are many interesting establishments in the city 🙂 I wanted to go to the Icebar, but we were too cold to sit on ice chairs.

From the market we head to the Hungarian Parliament. Both of these places are located on the Pest embankment, which means that you can get there by tram number 2.
Buying a ticket:

Hungarian parliament building(in Hungarian Országház) is the hallmark of Budapest. This is the same huge white neo-Gothic building with a crimson roof that looks at you from all the postcards.

Near the parliament building in Budapest there is another monument, unusual and sad.

This is shoes on the Danube- Monument to the victims of the Holocaust. Budapest had one of the largest Jewish communities, which suffered greatly during the Nazi occupation in 1944-1945. At this place, on the banks of the Danube, the Nazis shot the unfortunate. They put several dozen people in a row, forced them to take off their shoes (a scarce product, the shoes were then sold or for the needs of the Nazis themselves), fettered people with one chain and put a bullet into one of them. A man fell into the water, dragging the others with him ...

From the embankment we went to the hotel, as we were pretty cold. On the way, we again looked at the fair at the Basilica of St. Stephen. Evening lights are already lit here:

In general, our itinerary in Budapest that day looked like this:

By the way, on the streets of Budapest, especially in the central part, there are a lot of homeless people and beggars. At night they sleep right on the sidewalks. They can come up and pull on clothes.

After walking around the winter Budapest, it's time to go to the baths for which this city is famous. Let's go to the famous Széchenyi baths.

The Szechenyi Baths in Budapest are beautiful and old, open until 22 and have outdoor pools with hot water. You must have seen them in photos when you were planning a trip to Budapest.

We came to the baths at 7 pm (it was Friday) and bought an evening ticket with a separate booth, one for two. The cost of visiting the Széchenyi baths in total was about 10,000 forints for two.
The schedule of the Széchenyi baths and the cost of visiting can be checked on the official website of the baths.

The Szechenyi Baths in Budapest are located at the Hősök tere metro station next to the zoo. When approaching the baths, you notice billowing clouds of steam from behind the building:

Having changed, the first thing we did was to explore the outdoor pools of the Széchenyi baths.
There are three of them in total: warm water and centrifugal flow, hot water pool (38 degrees) and swimming pool.

Széchenyi baths in winter- it's extraordinary! Take the time to visit them if you find yourself in Budapest.

You sit in hot water, and steam swirls around you. In the fog, silhouettes of people around 🙂 It seems to be warm, but the top of the head is cold. After serving the prescribed number of minutes (each pool has a sign with recommendations for visiting), you need to get out into the cold, put your feet in icy wet slippers and quickly run to the next pool or inside the bath.
The stones around the pool are icy and slippery, you have to be careful. If you want to visit the outdoor pools of Széchenyi in winter, try not to catch a cold.

💙 To visit the Sechensky baths in Budapest you will need: swimsuit, slippers and towel. Can be bought or rented. We took towels from the hotel and disposable hotel slippers. Of course, plastic slippers are more convenient. The cap is only needed for the swimming pool. At the swimming pool in the booth, an employee looks after the vacationers.

💙 Which cabin to take? When visiting the Széchenyi baths, you can take a private cabin. We paid for one private cabin for two and changed there in turn. They did not take valuable things (camera, etc.). The cabin closes with an electronic bracelet like in a water park. We left towels in the cabin. Some took towels and a bathrobe with them and wrapped themselves in them when running from one pool to another. But keep in mind that terry things get wet quickly and become icy in winter, so the towel in this case will be disposable 🙂 They won’t be able to wipe themselves off.

💙 Money and payment. You pay for the changing cabin along with the ticket. With the help of a bracelet in the Széchenyi baths, you cannot pay, as, for example, in water parks. It serves only to close the cabin. The outdoor pools have a buffet, and you will have to go back to the locker room for money.

In indoor areas of the Széchenyi baths, we liked the large sauna, the pool with ice water to plunge after the sauna, like in an ice-hole, and also slides of snow inside for rubbing. Very good!
Sauna worked after 7 pm.
The water in the Széchenyi baths comes from thermal springs over 1200 meters deep!

The next morning we were scheduled to leave for Prague.

Report on a trip to Prague in winter:

If you have any questions about a free free tour in Budapest or about visiting the Széchenyi baths, ask them in the comments below.

Holidays in Hungary in winter are considered an excellent time for leisurely walks and comfortable quiet rest. However, young people on tours in Hungary in winter can easily find driving entertainment for high-quality outdoor activities, having absorbed the pleasures of noisy and cheerful club entertainment to the brim.
The fascination of the excursion programs will introduce you to the uniqueness of the historical heritage, which makes a holiday in Hungary in the winter from Coral Travel the highlight of this winter. Hungary is beautiful in its own way in every season, and therefore the weather, as a rule, does not interfere with tourists. Of course, there are so many interesting things in Hungary that it is impossible to see everything in one trip. Therefore, it will be best to make a list of places that are most interesting to you at the moment and follow it. In small shops across the country, shoppers find amazing things for every taste and budget, which is another undoubted plus of visiting small towns and rural settlements. Color your mood winter holidays in Hungary!

Hungary is located in a temperate climate zone, so you can choose absolutely any period when you go to Hungary. Basically, it depends on your hobbies and the immediate purpose of the trip. Tall tourist season in Hungary it starts in May and ends closer to September. The main influx of tourists is observed in July-August.

The low tourist season in Hungary is set immediately after the New Year holidays. The influx of tourists is declining not only due to the fact that all mass celebrations are taking place, but also due to the deterioration weather conditions. In addition to the low temperature, walking along the street is not comfortable due to high humidity and fog.

Holidays in Hungary in the spring

If you want to make your trip unforgettable and romantic, ask when is the best time to relax in Hungary. Experienced tourists know that for this purpose it is better to go to Hungary in the spring. For holidays in Hungary, spring is characterized by a flowering period, nature comes to life, and prices for holidays remain at the same level as in winter.

Despite the general enthusiasm for spring holiday, remember that the weather in Hungary in spring can be quite changeable. May is considered one of the rainiest of the year.

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Features of summer holidays in Hungary

If you are interested in the weather in Hungary in the summer, then from June a sultry heat sets in throughout the country. Only occasionally can a meteorological report show bad weather and slight cooling. Due to the fact that the average air temperature is around +26°С, huge flows of tourists flock to Hungary in the summer.

The summer months are considered to be the best time to travel to Hungary for outdoor activities. After all, during this period in the country passes a large number of local festivals.