Anyone been to Hungary with teens?

[JudithsDead]

Anyone been to Hungary for a family holiday? 2 boys 15 and 11. ChatGPT suggests 4 nights Budapest, a week or so at Lake Balaton and then a few days in Buk National
Park/Eger. Interested if any one has done any of the above and your feedback, accommodation, restaurant, activity recommendations??
Thanks so much

I went to Budapest over Easter with DD who is 11. We enjoyed Margaret Island pools (even though not many were open), the funicular, lunch in a train carriage, and the huge play park which your older one may actually enjoy too. Also hunting mini statues and the big wheel.
The butterfly house is very small (we have a bigger one near us at home) and probably better for younger children. The castle probably isn't worth going in but the view was good.

Budapest is lovely. Catch a classical concert, the parliament, river cruise at night. All excellent. Pest also worth a visit on the other side of the river too. Castle is great as is the fine arts museum (both Pest). The thermal spas are also meant to be great but didn’t personally do that. Franz Liszt apartment is you’re into classical music. The shoes on Danube river and the great synagogue also well worth a visit.

Forgot to add we had a good time looking at a street market that had lots of old cameras, Soviet memorabilia etc so not just jewellery and Mum stuff. We had also been to Krakow so had "done" synagogues there but it would have been interesting.
We stayed at T62 hotel which was great - very quirky and fun.

Have been to Hungary with teenagers and kids a good few times. Budapest’s brilliant but extremely hot in July/August - it is the time when everyone who can will leave the city. Probably my favourite Hungarian restaurants in Budapest are Paprika (looks like the ultimate tourist trap but food is excellent and Mensza which takes inspiration from traditional canteen food. The thermal baths are great - my kids love rather predictably the szechenyi, I prefer the Lukacs and if it is hot we all love the Palatinus on Margit Island. There are all kinds of museums in Budapest and just so much to see.
The big city park, varosliget is a lovely place for a walk and when in Budapest with kids I also usually try to squeeze a visit to the Hungarian state circus in.
Personally I love Balaton but it can be an acquired taste and there are lot of mosquitoes - also English is not widely spoken outside Budapest. There are numerous campsites (eurocamp type) around the lake. My kids liked the one in Balatonfured which had a lot to do. Plus it was walking distance into the town. It is on the north side of the lake - the south side of the lake can be even more overcrowded. Balaton used to be known as the Mallorca of the East. It still is beloved by most Hungarians and Slovakian’s as well as lots of Germans and Dutch.

My 19 yo has just taken himself to Budapest. Says it’s amazing and we should go back as a family!

Thanks all…. Sounds like Budapest is great! @Madwomanuptheroad29 what do you mean by acquired taste? I was looking at Balatonfured/Tihany, there are some lovely b and b s there. My family really do hate mosquitoes though. We had some lovely holidays by the lakes in Slovenia which is why I thought of a lake.

Are the shoes on the Danube a tourist attraction now? Half my family were murdered there.

My sincere condolences. Not a tourist attraction at all. We viewed it very much as a memorial and there was a very respectful atmosphere. It was not my intention to offend at all.

I know you didn’t mean it like that.. and thank you. I guess it’s history now, just for me it doesn’t feel it.