Ultimate Travel Guide for the Hungarian Grand Prix & Budapest
Guest post by Megan Haley (+ photo captions by Lynne)
After binge-watching Drive to Survive with my partner Gareth a couple of years ago, we were quickly hooked on Formula One. From cozying up for races to choosing F1-themed Halloween costumes, we became die-hard petrolheads. We admired the athleticism, the logistics, the politics, and the incredible feats of engineering that led us to find ourselves at the edge of our seats watching finals most weekends.
My favorite part about this picture is not only did Megan and Gareth opt for F1-themed Halloween costumes, they were so happy about it, too.
The natural next step was to experience a Grand Prix in person, so two tickets to Formula One Hungaroring made for the perfect Christmas present from my partner in 2022. We planned a trip to Germany, Hungary, and Austria around the Grand Prix events, and loved the experience of combining a favorite pastime with travel!
One thing I love about Megan is that she’s always got snacks
That said, with over 300,000 attendees, the logistics can be tricky, so I wanted to share what we learned along the way to help you plan a smooth and budget-friendly adventure to the Hungarian Grand Prix.
In this guide, you'll find everything you need to know – from tickets to transportation, to food and drinks, and tips for fully enjoying F1 in Budapest. Since I'm a hearing care professional, I'll also give some bonus tips on ear protection for the events.
👇 HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX 👇
Quick Facts:
The 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix is set for July 19-21 and repeats yearly until 2032.
With a record-breaking 303,000 attendees at the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix, it continues to be hailed as one of the greatest on the European Circuit.
This Grand Prix is recognized as one of the most budget-friendly races on the circuit, alongside Baku and select others.
Located just 45 minutes from Budapest, in the quaint village of Mogyoród, the Hungaroring offers a convenient and beautiful Hungarian countryside setting.
The back of Gareth’s head takes centre stage ahead of a race at the Hungaroring
💰 Budgeting for the Hungarian Grand Prix: What We Spent & How To Save
Believe it or not, we were able to keep this trip under $5000 CAD (~ $3700 USD/€3400) total for two people. This includes the Grand Prix experience with our 9-day trip exploring Germany, Hungary, and Austria.
Maybe the most surprising thing is that – despite living in Ontario, Canada – we wouldn’t have been able to do the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal (just 208 km away) for cheaper. The Grand Prix day passes in Montreal are more expensive than a full weekend pass in Budapest, and lodging costs in Montreal can be astronomical. With cheaper tickets, accommodations, and food – plus clever use of flight points – we were able to travel 6,820 km to Hungary for cheaper!
Our savings come largely from clever use of credit card points and benefits, however, we also saved throughout our trip by opting for public transit and generally making relatively economical choices.
Our biggest expense was on the Formula One Silver Full Weekend Passes and airfare. The biggest surprise was the many discrepancies on the Budapest Pass during the F1 weekend. Otherwise, we felt things were relatively fairly priced, especially groceries and food in restaurants.
This screenshot shows the exact breakdown of what we spent on this trip:
Megan always did love a spreadsheet
With credit card churning and loyalty points accumulation, attending a Grand Prix and enjoying an 18-day European vacation became achievable and we managed to keep our overall expenses under $5000 CAD for two people.
👩💻 Getting Tickets to the Hungarian Grand Prix
The popularity of the Hungarian Grand Prix is partly due to its budget-friendly nature, so it's important to get tickets as soon as you can as this event sells out every year.
Where to buy tickets
My partner joined several online boards and newsletters to be notified when the Hungarian Grand Prix tickets would become available and quickly purchased them in October 2022. We ended up paying $850 CAD (~ $625 USD/ €576) for two 3-day passes in the Silver 6 grandstands.
There are a few places to purchase tickets or packages for the Grand Prix. Grand Prix Tickets is the supplier we used to purchase our Silver 6 Weekend Passes.
Using F1 Tickets or F1 Experiences allows you to find single tickets, multi-day passes, or create an experience package to customize your Formula 1 pass.
Making the most of General Admission (GA)
If you are opting for General Admission (GA), my advice is to get there early and find your spot! GA areas close to the race track, amenities, and shade fill up quickly and can become quite cozy.
Many GA ticket holders opted to hike up the rolling hills to get a better view of the whole track.
There are plenty of viewing options for the Grand Prix, and if you want the experience without the price tag or the crowds, purchasing tickets to Friday or Saturday for practice and/or qualifiers will do the trick!
Megan taking her sun protection very seriously as she wait for the race to start. As Captain Safety, I fully approve.
😴 Where to Stay in Budapest
Budapest is a relatively safe city, with many hotels, Airbnbs, hostels, and rooms in apartments available to sublet during your travels. Buda and Pest form the two halves of Hungary’s capital, linked by the famous Szechenyi Chain Bridge over the Danube River since 1849.
Okayyy there, hello charming Budapest by night! Those golden parliament hues are so good.
We stayed in the Jósefváros neighborhood (District 8), a quaint pre-war suburb that is entwined with cobblestone side streets and large palazzos with cafes and a collection of bars and restaurants.
Airbnbs
Renting an Airbnb for 5 nights cost us roughly $50 CAD (~ $36 USD/ €34) per night and gave us the flexibility to have our own space in between race events to decompress, do laundry, and enjoy a few home-cooked meals. Local corner markets had everything we needed for breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and libations.
We loved that we were always able to find Lime or Tier scooters within a couple of blocks to zip to the nearest transit station.
The total cost for our 5-night Airbnb accommodations in Budapest came to just $550 CAD (~ $405 USD/ €373).
Hotels
Like any major sporting event, the hosting cities' hotels see an influx of bookings and often fill up quickly.
There are a wide variety of hotels in Budapest and outside of the city to choose from, at varying price points. We like the flexibility to cook our own meals or dine out when we feel like it, which is why we opted for an Airbnb instead.
✈️ Flying to Budapest
While there are many ways you could plan a memorable Hungarian Grand Prix trip, we opted to start our trip in Germany by flying directly from Toronto (YYZ) to Munich (MUC).
After enjoying 5 days in Bavaria, we then flew to Budapest on a quick 1-hour Lufthansa flight from Munich Franz Josef Strauss Airport to Budapest's Liszt Ferenc International Airport (BUD).
Flight Cost
Before Covid-19, we were dreaming of our first transatlantic trip together and where we would go. Despite years of travel restrictions, this gave us ample time to churn credit card points and save up loyalty rewards points to put towards our trip.
On average flights to Europe cost around $1,550–1,950 CAD (~ $1141 USD/ €1051).
With careful timing and flight selection, you can find deals with online tools like Google Flights and Rome to Rio to help you plan your journey and stay within budget.
We opted to use Aeroplan points, part of the Star Alliance network, giving us flexibility on which carriers we could fly with.
We chose a round-trip multi-city route which enabled us to fly YYZ-MUC and return via VIE-YYZ for 91,950 points per person. We paid for a separate one-way flight with Aeroplan from MUC-BUD for 18,000 points per person.
MEG’S TRAVELYNNE TIPS
Multi-city routes are often slightly more expensive but offer a lot more flexibility when you are traveling to multiple countries. We felt it was worth the extra points to be able to depart from our final destination rather than return to Munich.
Turn on flight tracking Google Flights to get notified of price drops.
For the best pricing, start looking for flights within 8-12 weeks of your departure date.
If you are planning to use loyalty points be aware that point redemption flight options are often limited and can sell out sooner.
🚎 How to Get from Budapest Airport to the City
On the ground at Budapest's airport, transportation options to the city were rife: private taxis, coaches, or public transit. I'll share info on your options here:
By Shuttle Bus
We went for the most cost-effective option using city transit – the Budapesti Közlekedési Központ (BKK) — taking the designated public airport shuttle bus: 100E Airport Express.
It operates 24/7 between Liszt Ferenc International Airport (BUD) and Deák Ferenc tér, one of Budapest’s major transit stations.
Where to buy tickets
You can purchase a ticket at the BKK kiosk near the arrivals doors or download a mobile ticket using the BudapestGO App. Airport Shuttle Bus tickets cost 2200 Ft (HUF) (~ $8.25 CAD / $6.09 USD / €5.59).
100E Airport Express Schedule
every 6-10 minutes during the day (with more frequency on Mondays and Fridays)
every 10-15 in the mornings and evenings
every 30-40 minutes on average at night
By Train
If you take the train, you will likely arrive at Budapest Keleti station which is the main international and inter-city railway terminal in Budapest.
When we ended our trip, we took the train to Vienna, Austria using MÁV-csoport, Hungary’s domestic and international rail company. Tickets are very affordable and offer a variety of schedules and potential destinations, such as:
Vienna – Budapest: 2h 37m
Prague – Budapest: 6h 44m
Munich – Budapest: 6h 56m
Bratislava – Budapest: 2h 23m
Taxi / Ridesharing
Popular ride-sharing services like Uber were banned in Budapest in 2016 due to taxi drivers’ concerns that it was damaging their livelihood.
Instead, opt for one of the popular local rideshare companies like Taxi Bolt, or traditional taxi companies like City Taxi or Főtaxi. I recommend downloading their respective apps for convenience.
A taxi from Budapest’s Liszt Ferenc International Airport (BUD) to the city center will cost you approximately 9000 HUF (~ $37 CAD/ $27 USD / €25 EUR) depending on traffic conditions and your exact destination.
Taxi fares in Budapest are officially regulated and are generally affordable. At the time of writing, the base fare when entering a taxi is 1000 HUF (~ $3.78 CAD / $2.79 USD / €2.90), with an additional 400 HUF (~ $1.51 CAD / $1.11 USD / €1.15) charged per kilometer. They also charge a waiting rate of 100 HUF (~ $0.44 CAD / $0.33 USD / €0.30) per minute.
🚆 How to get to Hungarian Grand Prix: From Budapest to Mogyoród
The Hungaroring is located approximately 20 km from Budapest, so you'll have different options for getting there depending on where you choose to stay in Budapest or surrounding areas.
By Train
For a more affordable and laid-back experience, public trains are available. In my opinion, this option heightens the Grand Prix experience as you are part of a crowd of thousands migrating to the race course. Depending on where you're starting from, expect travel times of approximately 60-90 minutes each way.
There are two options for buying your train tickets to the Hungaroring. In both cases, we strongly recommend buying in advance to avoid large queues on the day. (If you can’t tell, I avoid all lines and queues at any cost!)
Option 1: Budapest Card
The more expensive (and flexible) option is to buy a Budapest Card for your stay. The card also provides discounted entry to various attractions around the city.
Again, despite what the Budapest Card terms state on their webpage, it was made clear to us that the suburban train system, called HEV (Helyiérdekű Vasút), was going to take our money despite having a valid pass. It didn’t make for the greatest experience as I felt I was getting ripped off, but there was really no way around it.
Option 2: MÁV App
A cheaper option is to purchase tickets for only the MÁV train from Örs vezér tere to the circuit.
These can be bought online via the MÁV app under “area and city tickets” or in-person at BKK ticket offices in Budapest. Temporary ticket offices were also located at the stations near the track on race weekend, but again, lines tend to be long, so be prepared.
Instructions: How to Take the Train to the Hungaroring
Here's a step-by-step guide to getting there via public transit, based on my experience in 2023:
Take the Budapest Metro to Örs vezér tere, which is the final station stop on the red metro line (M2). Hold onto your ticket for proof of payment – during race weekend there will be a sea of transit officials validating your passes to exit the terminal.
Once at Örs vezér tere, exit the station and cross to the opposite corner of the intersection (via an underground tunnel), where you will find a small suburban train stop. When in doubt, follow the massive crowds of F1 fans.
We were able to hop on any train going in the direction of Gödöllő, Kerepes or Mogyoród. Note: There is no AC on these cars, and they will become very crammed! I recommend exercising patience and waiting for the next train to arrive, as you’ll be able to get a seat, and they typically depart within 5-10 minute intervals.
Get off at the Kerepes HÉV station to use a free shuttle bus to Gate 3 at the Hungaroring. There will be a constant steady supply of these shuttle buses, so don’t panic if you miss the first cohort. Be patient and enjoy the experience. These shuttles are air-conditioned and offer coach-style seating.
Some call it a crowd, some call it a party.
MEG’S TRAVELYNNE TIPS
Don't make this common mistake: Your BKK transit pass will NOT work for HEV. You will likely be asked to pay a cash rate anywhere from 600-1000 Ft (HUF) (~ $ 2.27–$3.78 CAD / $1.67–$2.78 USD / €1.54–2.56).
Each day the prices changed, seemingly at the officials' discretion, and we couldn’t get a straight answer as to how the pricing worked. So, just go with the flow.
It was rumored that the BKK and HEV would work together to create an F1 weekend pass, which would certainly make things easier for the hundreds of thousands of people making their way to the racetrack.
When riding public transportation, always keep your Proof of Payment (PoP) handy.
The HÉV suburban railway (Helyiérdekű Vasút) trains range in age, some of them dating back to 45 years old! It makes for a very neat experience!
By Uber or Taxi
Opting for a taxi or rideshare would cost you around 15,900 HUF (~ $60 CAD / $44 USD / €40) each way. If you can pair up with other Grand Prix goers, you can split the cost. However, expect long taxi lines to enter and exit the Hungaroring.
Driving to the Hungaroring
People traveling via car from the North or East should take the M3 toward Budapest. Take exit 23 to reach the Hungaroring and follow signs to the track.
If you are coming from the South, you can take the M5, M6 or M7 to Budapest and exit onto the M3. Once on the M3 drive for approximately 8km, and take the Hungaroring exit and follow signs to the track.
Parking at the Hungaroring
Parking at the Hungaroring is free and first-come first-serve! There are also many locals that rent their properties to F1 goers as temporary parking lots and camping accommodations.
You can also book Super Gold parking for around $177 CAD (~ $130 USD / €120 EUR) at the Hungarian Grand Prix, which offers a fast-track route to the circuit.
Leaving Hungaroring Back to Budapest
There was a change to the system for leaving the track in 2023 which will likely be extended for the years to come. The free shuttle buses will still depart the track from near Gate 3 but will travel to Gödöllő Railway Station instead of Kerepes station where you initially arrived.
The lines to get the shuttle can take several hours (expect 1.5-3 hours) before you get on.
It’s the guy on the right with the t-shirt on his head for me.
If you don’t mind a walk (and want to avoid standing in massive wandering lines for the shuttle buses at the end of the day), you can make your way on foot to one of the HÉV train stations Szilasliget, Hungaroring or Mogyoród stops and take the train back to Örs vezér tere.
On practice days we opted for the shuttle, but due to the crowds and lines on race day, we chose to take our time, fill out water bottles, and take a hillside nap before we embarked on a 45-minute walk along a farming road to the town of Mogyoród.
🎟 Admissions at the Hungarian Grand Prix
When we arrived via shuttle we were dropped off at Gate 3. For those taxiing, you will arrive via the main gates, and commuters or those trekking on foot can enter from any of the entry gates (Main, Gate 2, Gate 3, Gate 6, Gate 7, or Gate 8).
Admissions were smooth, having our tickets scanned and put through a minimally invasive bag check. This compared to North American standards for entering large events, was a breeze. We experienced no push back on any of our items and were asked to keep moving into the race grounds.
All 3 days were full sun with the race day being the hottest and sunniest during our visit. The bleachers weren't shaded so we sought refuge underneath our bleachers a few times in-between events. Umbrellas are not permitted due to obstructing others’ views of the race course.
🚰🚻 Food, Drink & Washrooms at the Hungaroring
There are numerous food and drink vendors across the grounds at the Hungaroring, including but not limited to Langos (Hungarian fried bread), gyros, pizza, enormous hot dogs, and burgers.
I recommend walking around the grounds on practice days to get familiar with what is available. The lines on race day will be the longest and you’ll wonder if you’ve ever seen so many people moving in opposite directions.
We were personally underwhelmed by food choices and preferred to bring sandwiches and snacks.
The F1 guide you receive with your tickets suggests each attendee may bring two sandwich-sized snacks and one empty 0.5L water bottle. My suggestion is to bring what you can since the water and food lines will be long. Plus, while water refill stations are free, the food and alcoholic beverages are quite pricey.
Expect to pay around 2700 — 4000 Ft (~ $10-$15 CAD) for most meals at the venue. A 500ml beer costs around 1400 Ft (~ $5 CAD).
Washrooms
There are plenty of washrooms around the grounds at the Hungaroring. I always opted to use the walled stalls instead of the porta potties since I found they were cleaner, more ventilated, and the lines moved faster.
MEG’S TRAVELYNNE TIPS
You are allowed to bring in 2 sandwich-sized meals per person and a 0.5L water bottle.
We brought beer, wine, frozen water bottles to keep things cool and lots of food and didn't experience any issues with security.
While waiting for the free shuttle buses, there is a small grocery store down the way that sells beer, water, fresh baked goods, and snacks. You can stock up here before you head in.
Don’t bother purchasing extra-large (1.5L+) bottles of water. Although tempting, I saw a lot of these get disposed of at the security gate.
Freeze one of your water bottles the night before to have a constant supply of cool fresh water.
Hungary has a zero-tolerance policy for drinking and driving.
HUNGARORING PACKING LIST
Wondering what to bring to the Hungaroring? I’ve got you covered:
Day bag(s) (we really love the packable Decathalon Forclaz 10L Day Bag)
Brimmed hat
Travel towel or light blanket (to cover your skin or seating area)
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
0.5L bottles (there are water refill stations)
Food & snacks
Alternate entertainment for wait times/breaks (we brought our e-readers)
Raincoats or ponchos
T-shirt to change on hot days (optional)
Hearing protection (I highly recommend this — learn more here)
🍑 Megan’s not-so-secret secret chill out spot during the Hungarian Grand Prix: share under the bleachers.
🎧 Hearing Protection at the Grand Prix
Besides being a lover of the outdoors, sports, and F1, I work as a hearing care professional for a hearing aid company in Canada. So I thought I would share some advice to help you take care of your hearing at the Grand Prix.
When sitting or standing trackside, Formula One cars have been measured producing sounds of a wildly loud 140dB. For reference, the following chart shows the amount of time it is safe to be in an environment without doing some irreversible damage to your hearing:
Restaurant (85dB):
8 hours
Band practice (90dB):
2 hours
Power tools (100dB):
15 minutes
Using earbuds at High Volume (105dB):
5 minutes
Sports stadium (108dB):
3 minutes
Chainsaw and/or rock concert (110dB):
1.5 minutes
Emergency services siren (120dB):
9 seconds
Firearms, jet engines & F1 cars:
immediate damage is possible
For this reason, I strongly recommend wearing hearing protection during race events while attending the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Types of Hearing Protection to Consider
Foam Disposable
As the most cost-effective option, purchasing a pair of foam earplugs from a pharmacy will run you less than $5 CAD. Foam earplugs can provide approximately 28 dB of protection from noise. However, proper insertion is very important in order to receive this amount of protection.
Price under $5 CAD
Silicon Reusable Earplugs
Silicon reusable earplugs are the next cost-effective option that offers slightly more comfort and convenience when it comes to insertion. Brands like Mack's Silicon Ear Plugs offer attenuation of 22 dB and help to protect your hearing from loud noises.
These multi-use earplugs are made of non-toxic, non-allergenic, and waterproof silicon. Great for sleeping, swimming, studying, bathing, travel, loud events, flying discomfort, etc.
Price $10-15 CAD for a pack
Headphones
You want to look for headphones that completely cover and go over each ear. There are many brands out there for adults, children, and infants. You want to look for headphones that provide an attenuation of 25-27 dB.
Price $30-$70 CAD a pair
Custom Solid Noise Plugs
These solid noise plugs offer the most hearing protection in our range, providing a maximum of 28dB of attenuation. They are typically made of silicone material and offer far more comfort versus foam plugs
They are available in a wide range of colors and we can add cords or clips to help keep them in place.
Price $200 CAD for a pair
For the best level of protection, I recommend the use of both earplugs and headphones. However, any protection is better than none! There were many families and young children in attendance and I was pleased to see their hearing was being protected. Most children find the over-the-ear headphones to be more comfortable and less invasive.
🏁 F1 Experiences and Souvenirs
At the Hungaroring
The Fanzone at the Hungaroring is located behind the Super Gold grandstand on the pit straight, while a newer Fanzone (with a stage for appearances) is located behind the Silver 5 & 6 grandstands near Turn 12.
In the Fanzones, you’ll find a good selection of food and drink vendors, plus merchandise shops and static/interactive F1 displays.
In Budapest
Fashion Street is a popular street in downtown Budapest that is known for its luxurious shops and hotels. It’s popular with F1 fans – try and spot some of the famous faces from the pit wall!
Ritz Carlton is where the Mercedes F1 Team stays and showcases their cars to the public on race weekend, just outside the hotel entrance. If you ever want to get up close to an F1 car, this is one of the greatest opportunities you will get – and it's free!
Vroom vroom
While the typical merchandise such as team shirts or hats can be found around the race course and on Fashion Street in Budapest, they also have a couple of Grand Prix pop-up shops. Gareth purchased a Red Bull racing hat after much deliberation.
While these official souvenirs will cost a pretty penny, for a more affordable option many post-race track rushers, including myself, opted to pick up burnt tire marbles. Yet a more abnormal souvenir was to start tearing off the main sponsor guard rail wrapping… but I still don’t understand what people planned on doing with their sticky balled-up Q from Qatar Airways.
One of the stranger souvenirs to take home… some fans opt to take the sponsor banners home. In this economy, who can argue.
Storming the Track for the Podium Ceremony
Last but certainly not least, if you’re okay amongst crowds and want to experience running down the track to the podium for the official ceremony, it’s an experience you’ll never forget. There is a gate near the Silver 5 & 6 grandstands near Turn 12.
You’ll want to start heading down there with about 5-7 laps to go so you can start queuing.
If you’re into tight crowds and loud noises, definitely try storming the track! Vroom vroom
🛴 Getting Around in Budapest
Navigating Budapest is relatively simple and quite accessible, with various transportation options like the BKK public transit, Sight-Seeing Tour Buses, River Cruises and e-bikes/ scooters at your disposal.
Taxis
There are many official taxi companies including Bolt Taxi and City Taxi characterized by bright yellow wrapping and official signs on their taxis.
Yellow taxis vroom vroom throughout Budapest
Public Transport
The Budapest metro is a great way to get around the city, and there are also street cars, trolleys and regular buses. If you are planning on using a lot of public transport when you are in town, it makes sense to purchase a travel card which is valid for either 24, 48 or 72 hours. More information on this below.
Travel Cards
There are two main options for transportation cards in Budapest:
The Budapest Travelcard acts as a Budapest City Pass which offers unlimited travel on all BKK public transportation within the city limits for either 24 hours (2,500 HUF / $9.37 CAD) or 72 hours (5,500 HUF / $20.61 CAD).
On the other hand, the Budapest Card offers the same travel benefits as the Travelcard, along with additional perks such as complimentary entry and/or discounts to various places in Budapest.
The Budapest Card is available for:
24 hours (11,990 HUF / $44.59 CAD)
48 hours (17,990 HUF / $67.40 CAD)
72 hours (22,990 HUF / $86.14 CAD)
96 hours (28,990 HUF / $108.62 CAD)
120 hours (33,990 HUF / $127.35 CAD
MEG’S TRAVELYNNE TIPS
Download the BudapestGO app for seamless travel pass access. This will also give you the option to pay for the Airport 100E bus and purchase the Budapest travelcard or the Budapest card
I cannot stress this one enough: while the Budapest Cards with a duration of at least 72 hours state that includes travel to and from the Hungaroring via train or shuttle bus, you will likely be told otherwise when you travel transfer from the BKK to HEV and asked to pay a nominal fee to obtain a ticket.
Remember to validate your tickets!
E-Scooters and Bikes
E-scooters have risen in popularity in recent years as well, making them incredibly economical and greenways to sightsee. There are numerous different e-scooter companies all with their own apps and pricing schemes.
Lime and Tier were the most popular during our Eurotrip and oftentimes they offer new customers free credits before purchasing additional time credits. After reflecting on some of our previous trips, I realized using public transit often limits your view of a city to a few key routes.
This time we opted to exclusively travel using e-scooters and bikes, or by foot while in the city to maximize seeing all the different sites, boroughs, and the narrow alleys to fully explore Budapest and its charm.
Gareth vroom vrooms with a forced smile throughout beautiful Budapest
MEG’S TRAVELYNNE TIPS
Be mindful of the red zones in Budapest. There are distinct areas in the city where e-scooters are not permitted. Your scooter will promptly notify you by beeping and turning off the motor. These e-scooters are heavy, so if you don’t want to manually scoot around the red zone, consider parking up, ending your trip and/ or going around the red zone.
Utilize bike lanes or the road, don’t use sidewalks, and share the road.
🏰 Must-Do Activities in Budapest
While the Hungarian Grand Prix steals the spotlight, Budapest offers a variety of attractions to explore. For example:
Fisherman's Bastion (Halaszbastya) is the panoramic viewing terrace. The Bastion was purpose-built as a viewing terrace with lookout towers on the base of a stretch of the castle walls. The intention was to present the locals with a communal panorama terrace.
Parliament is a breathtaking feat of architecture both in the day and amplified at night when it’s beautifully illuminated showing its reflection on the Danube.
Thermal Baths were one of the main highlights of our time in Europe. The sheer number of pools, temperatures, and lounging areas to enjoy was a real treat. My favorite pool was the Thalassotherapy Pool where you could be whisked away in a current in a lazy river, or get massaged with a jet or fountain. We opted for the 2-hour pass and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The inner child in me would have loved to check out the waterslide park, but we’ll save that for next time!
You’ll also want to check out the Citadella and Buda Castle!
After a weekend in the massive Hungarian Grand Prix crowds, it’s time to strip down and sun bathe together.
It’s Buda Castle but all I’m seeing are upside down ice cream cones…
Hungarian Cuisine
My only knowledge of Hungarian cuisine before visiting was Goulash, a warm soup or stew with meat and veg. However, I was surprised to find a lot of heavy comfort food such as Langos, Goulash, and various iterations of Paprikash. I encourage you to eat all of them, despite the temperature. Hungarian cuisine favors paprika, sour cream-based sauces, and warm feel-good meals. One of my favorite dishes was Túrós Csusza which is simply an egg noodle dish made of cottage cheese, bacon, and pepper.
We enjoyed one fancier meal out while in Budapest at VakVarju Etterem (which means Blind Crow Restaurant in Hungarian) and like the Blind Crow, we enjoyed both of the blind-tasting menus paired with the wine-tasting menus. It was a real birthday treat!
🛤 Day Trips from Budapest
Day Trip to Lake Balaton
After several days amongst hundreds of thousands of people, I was eager to get out of the city. We planned knowing we’d likely enjoy a few days' refuge in a quaint Hungarian lakeside town, and decided on Lake Balaton, about 3 hours southwest of Budapest.
Lake Balaton is the largest freshwater lake in Central Europe and it’s surrounded by quaint waterfront towns. The lake itself is a warm, shallow, and calming sandy teal blue, lined with family vacation resorts, lakeside restaurants, and other attractions.
We opted to rent a car and drive, but we were amazed to realize that the entire lake was surrounded by the train line, enabling you to train directly from Budapest to whichever Lake Balaton-adjacent town you desire.
We stayed in a cute attic located in the town of Balatonföldvár. A 10-minute walk to the lakefront where we were greeted by a coincidental weekend beer festival and chess tournament.
Megan thinking about her next spreadsheet
Day Trip to Vienna
After we concluded this leg of our trip we took the MAV train from Budapest to Vienna, for a day trip where we fully embraced cafe culture, balked at the impressive Baroque-style architecture and palaces, and picnicked at the Vienna Film Festival grounds sipping on Aperol Spritz and enjoying global culinary delights from various food stalls.
🔐 Is Budapest Safe to Travel To?
Yes, Budapest, and Hungary on a larger scale, are very safe. Exercise normal tourist precautions and be mindful and aware of your surroundings and personal belongings. Most locals that live within downtown Budapest are able to speak English making it easier to communicate as you navigate around the city.
Some common scams we noticed were:
Cup and Ball Game (this one, this one, this one), typically located at famous tourist sites like the Citadella)
Signing a petition
Being given random gifts on the street like a bracelet which you are then expected to pay for.
Pickpockets
Budapest is one of the most beautiful historic European cities I’ve been to. I didn’t quite know what to expect, as Hungary had never been on my travel radar. I remember as a child when my mom told me there were countries in the world such as Turkey and Hungary and I thought she was pulling my leg. However, I am truly glad for the experience and will continue to recommend traveling to Hungary to my friends going forward.
👯 About the Author
Megan Haley is a Hearing Care Professional located in Ontario, Canada. She lives with her partner Gareth and their fearless cat, Rebel. She is the former roommate and private chef to Lynne Lessard (aka Travelynne), and the first-ever guest contributor for Travelynne! 👏
She enjoys traveling on a budget, road trips, yoga, cooking, and maximizing loyalty rewards and credit card points through credit card churning. Not only is she a wonderful friend, she is my foremost expert on frugality, and I love her for it!
Destinations Megan has traveled to with Travelynne:
✅ Girls’ weekend in New York City, NY, USA
✅ Yoga retreat in the jungle near San Pancho, Nayarit, Mexico
✅ Roadtrip for girls’ weekend in Worcester, MA, USA
✅ Day trip to Niagara Falls, US & Canadian sides
Upcoming:
🔜 Bali, Indonesia
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