Budapest with teen DD

[happylittlebirdy]

Hoping to do a city break with 16 yo DD in June or July to Budapest. So far on my list I have evening Danube cruise, thermal spa and ruin bar. Any other recommendations? Would 2 nights be ok or should be go for 3? And any suggestions of area to stay or specific hotels/apartments would be great. Ideally central with easy travel to sights. Budget is fairly generous after a rough couple of years of cancer treatment with no trips away, so I want to make it special

7 Seasons apartments are very central - you can also get breakfast if you want - but loads of nice cafes nearby. Dd liked the ruin bars, the market and the House of Terror / Memento park - but she's really into history. Fisherman's Bastion for the views. Big wheel. Shoes on the Danube. St Margaret's Island. City park with boating lake and nice cafes. Central market hall. I love Budapest!

www.7seasonsapartments.com/

We stayed at the Kempinski in Budapest the first time we visited, it was gorgeous and very central.
I remember a great steep walk to a castle with views over the city being a good spot, we got chimney cake on the way up too.

Thanks so much for the suggestions!

I'm interested in this too. Off to see f1 in july and have extended our stay to have 2 days in Budapest. Teen dc is interested in history and politics so keen to see the parliament buildings.
Definitely want to do a river cruise.
I think we'll be using the E100 bus as it stops at the end of the road were staying at.

The House of Terror was possible the best museum I've ever been to. I have a visceral memory of the music played in one room.

Definitely thermal spa, take flip flops or you'll have to buy some. Mandatory when walking between rooms.

The shoes by the Danube are very moving. By the Parliament buildings.

Get the funicular up to fisherman's bastion, great views over the river.

The Jewish quarter is interesting, we did a guided tour of the Dohany Synagogue which was fascinating. You have to book for that.

Otherwise just wander by the river and around generally it's a beautiful city. Public transport is very cheap too, you'll boggle compared to UK prices, the trams and underground are very efficient, clean and on time.....

We used that as it stopped outside our air bnb!

The hospital in the mountain is good.

Yes, and the church in the rock.

Here's my thread asking for advice form a couple of years ago

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/holidays/5000599-budapest-this-month-advice-on-what-to-see-please?reply=133044697

My Dd loved Budapest. We stayed for 4 nights a couple of years ago, in a nice Airbnb apartment in the centre of the Pest side. Szechenyi Baths was lots of fun, the outdoor pool has a lazy river and sun loungers. There are also palatial cafés to enjoy - New York Café is stunning, but our favourite was Gerbeaud. Dd also picked up some bits in Bershka that were cheaper than they would have been in the UK. The city’s setting and architecture is stunning, lots to see and do, the local food is tasty and hearty. We all agreed we’d be happy to visit again. It was about 30c when we visited in a unseasonably warm autumn, but we saw a vast open air ice rink being prepared and would like to go back again in winter. It’s a relatively small city, compared to London or Paris, but it feels like a capital.

Absolutely loved Budapest. It exceeded my expectations. Amazing city
we stayed at the Kimpton Bem in Buda right by Margaret island. I’d go again in a heartbeat

The zoo is interesting! It was quite a few years ago that I went so they might have tightened up on their health and safety re stroking monkeys and macaws with walnut cracking beaks! Very attractive buildings, unfortunately not really suitable for most of the animals living in them. I did get to scratch the back of a rhino though.

The market is a good place to eat at lunchtime . It is a very beautiful city, lots of parks and green spaces and the river. Make sure you work out how to pay for transport as they have very frequent ticket checks and take no prisoners.

I stayed at the Gelart which has the most beautiful indoor pool I have ever swum in, it is open to the public, there is also a natural hot spring spa pool ( two, one for men, one for women) they prefer you not to wear a costume which after a few minutes feels fine, I discarded the “ modesty apron” they gave as it felt silly.

We did an e-bike tour and I was pretty nervous about riding in traffic but soon got into the swing of it. Great way to see the whole city.
pack your own towels and flip flops for the spa or you’ll have to buy them there x

I’ve stayed at the Marriott Millenium Court before. Some of the rooms are huge. I was there for work on my own and I had a 2 bedroom apartment with kitchen and living room. Our work policy is not super generous. The hotel was central - close to the river and the big cathedral.

Fantastic - thanks so much for all the ideas! Looks like we’ll need at least 3 nights to fit things in. Getting excited now!!

I'd definitely look at where the things you want to see are, and strategise a plan to see things near each other at once, it really helped me. Enjoy!