Flight to Budapest (BUD) from 1,821 DKK

Flying to Budapest: tips and information for your trip

Straddling the banks of the famous River Danube, Hungary’s capital city is actually the twin cities of Buda and Pest.

Budapest offers exciting nightlife, hipster-chic “ruin bars” and beautiful neo-Gothic and Baroque architecture. There’s loads of things to do and see all year round, with fantastic local and international cuisine, historic attractions and a vibrant contemporary arts scene.

A holiday in Budapest will soothe body and mind, with amazing thermal baths and beautiful parks to explore. Book your flights today with Brussels Airlines!

What to do in Budapest?

1. Buda Castle: Dating back to the 13th century, the Hungarian kings of Budapest used the castle as a palace. The complex also contains the National Gallery and Budapest History Museum.
2. Margaret Island: Located in the middle of the Danube, the island is a large recreational park area with a bird sanctuary, medieval ruins and a musical water fountain.
3. Visit the Baths and Spas: There are baths dotted throughout the city, but the Gellert Bath and Spa is a firm favourite for its Art Nouveau interior and outdoor wave pool.
4. Budapest Parliament: This imposing Gothic-revival building is the third-largest parliament building in the world. Tours are available when the National Assembly is not in session and include a visit to see the Hungarian Crown Jewels.
5. House of Terror: The exhibits here chronicle the history of Hungary for most of the 20th century, under successive Fascist and Communist rule.
6. Jewish quarter: One of the city’s most exciting areas, full of bars, shops, quirky buildings and a vibrant street food scene. It is also home to the largest synagogue in Europe and the Hungarian Jewish Museum.
7. River cruise: Take a river cruise down the “Blue Danube” and take in the views of both Buda and Pest.
8. Fisherman’s Bastion: Located beside St. Matthias church, this neo-Gothic structure forms a platform offering spectacular views across the city.
9. Visit a ruin bar: Started up in the early 2000s as a place for cheap drinks, several derelict spaces in the city centre have been transformed into trendy bars – check out Szimpla Kert, in the Jewish quarter.

Practical information for your trip

• Brussels Airlines lands and departs from Ferenc Liszt International Airport. The official taxi service has a desk inside the terminal building – travel time is approximately 35 minutes. City buses and shuttle buses are also available.
• Currency: Hungarian forint (HUF). There is a bureau de change in the airport and it’s a good idea to have some forints to pay for a taxi from the airport.
• Country code and Wi-Fi access: The dialling code for Hungary is +36. Wi-Fi can be found in cafés and restaurants in the city centre.
• Electric sockets: Hungary operates on a 230 V/50 Hz electrical system. Plug type C and type F (two round pins) are both in use.
• Travel Documents: Most EU/EEA citizens do not require a passport to travel to Budapest as Hungary is part of the Schengen zone. Visitors from other countries will require a valid passport and may require a visa.

Dos and Don’ts in Budapest

• Use public transport. It’s cheap and easy to figure out, with excellent day or multi-day tickets available. Go to a larger station to buy your ticket, as smaller bus or tram stops don’t have ticket offices. Ticket machines are available in English.
• Take the funicular up Castle Hill to the old town of Buda. A listed UNESCO World Heritage Site, it has been in use since 1870.
• For better rates, use ATMs rather than the several, smaller, currency exchange offices in the city centre.
• Leave a tip. Tipping is the norm in Hungary, aim for 15%. You may not be able to add a tip to the total if paying by card, so carry some cash just in case.

Local phrases & essential vocabulary

Hungarian is considered one of the most difficult languages for an English speaker, however, it’s always a good idea to greet the locals with a Helló and Viszontlátásra (goodbye: VIS-ONT-LA-TASH-RA). Starting with Kérem (please: KAY-RAM) when ordering or asking for information and saying Köszönöm (thank you: COS-SOH-NOM) will help you win the locals over.

• Do you speak English: Beszél angolul?
• Yes/No: Igen/Nem
• Excuse me: Elnézést
• Where’s the toilet? Hol van a mosdó?
• Coffee is kávé, wine is bor, and goulash is goulash.

Tip: In Hungarian the -s- sound is pronounced -sh-, which will come in handy when trying to pronounce place names or ordering food.

Cultural events

• Sziget festival: One of the largest multicultural music and arts festivals in Europe, Sziget takes over Obuda island and is held annually at the beginning of August.
• 15th March: Celebrating the 1848 Hungarian Revolution, the 15th March is a public holiday with speeches, military parades, free entrance to many of the city’s historic museums and tours of the Parliament building.
• Budapest Spring Festival: Held from the last week of March to mid-April, the festival is packed with cultural activities, orchestra and jazz concerts, shows and traditional folk arts and crafts exhibitions.
• Christmas markets: Approaching Christmas, city squares throughout Budapest hang lights and decorations and it’s a wonderful time of year to explore the many Christmas markets. You’ll find traditional handmade items, warming winter drinks and local food. The biggest market can be found in Vörösmarty square.
• During wintertime: Go ice skating next to Heroes Square, where part of the City Park is turned into a skating rink from December to February. As an added bonus, the Széchenyi Baths are just a short walk away, if you fancy a post-skating soak.

When to go to Budapest?

Budapest has warm summers and cold winters, with maximum temperatures in July and August averaging at 20ºC. The weather in December and January is around 1ºC on average but can drop as low as -20ºC! The city is quieter in April-May and September-November, however Budapest is also a popular winter city break destination.

What to eat?

• When it comes to food, one thing you’ll see everywhere is paprika. It flavours one of Budapest’s most important dishes, Paprikash. This is similar to Goulash, but thicker, heavier and made with meat, whilst Goulash is traditionally a thinner, hearty soup.
• Duck is extremely popular and the Magyars (people from Budapest) have found numerous delicious ways of cooking it.
• Café culture is very important. Grab a seat, order one of the many specialty coffees and a Dobos cake: several thin layers of sponge filled with chocolate buttercream and topped off with a layer of caramel. Pastries with walnuts, cherries and apricots are also worth trying.
• Try the wine, one of Hungary’s best-kept secrets. There’s a good selection of red and white, and bottles will have descriptions in English, telling you if it’s dry or sweet.