Budapest tomorrow at 40+ degrees

[OddSocksAreCool]

We're arriving in Budapest tomorrow and it's going to be record breakingly hot. They're in the middle of a crisis right now with energy and water. We're there until Saturday. We have AC in the flat but I'm feeling pretty anxious about 2 kids in 40+ degrees in a city. Any tips please?

Hi Op
Only advice I can give is try and stay out of sun during the hottest periods of the day perhaps up early for sight seeing/activities or late evening.
Drink plenty of water and take plenty of breaks in the apartment with AC.
High factor suncream, hats sunglasses and if not too late see if you can grab a few hand held fans for when you are outside.

Maybe look up which spas allow children in? I know not all do, but hopefully some will.

I’d not do (well, couldn't) any sightseeing in those temperatures. Maybe go to a lido/Aquapark type of place?

When we were in Budapest we got the chairlift up to the hill and had a walk in the woods to the railway. That might be a bit cooler than the inner city.

Margaret Island has lots of trees and some fountains. It would probably be nice out of the middle of the day.

I’m in Vienna with young kids and similar temperatures. Look up the Hungarian for water play park, children’s pool or similar. Do that first thing, sitting in a shady area, with a picnic lunch. Then home to the hotel to chill / nap / watch TV in the middle of the day. Then a local playground in the evening. Lots of ice creams.

I know very well that this is not what you want to hear @OddSocksAreCool , and I'm sorry, but I wouldn't go. Hungary has a single nuclear power plant and they are currently facing the prospect of having to close it down because the dangerously low levels of water in the Danube mean it cannot be cooled. If they shut it down there are no guarantees you will have aircon or indeed any power at all and no guarantees anything else will have either, so attractions, places to eat, and transport could all be functioning below par at best, not at all at worst.
40 degrees isn't just a bit hot it's life threatening.
To me this is like choosing to go ahead and take a holiday in a country where a war has just broken out.
You're putting yourself and your children at risk of having a miserable time or even actually getting ill or suffering other consequences.

Obviously I understand this is shit for you and I'm really sorry. It's much more shit for people living there though.
I hate being the person to say this but I really would not go. When exactly is it ok to admit that a thing is impossible and plans need to change?
I hope if you do go you suffer no ill effects though. What has the heatwave been like for you here? What temperatures have you been dealing with?
Best wishes. Sorry. 💐

@TemporarilyCantDoMyself I fully agree with you.
OP, far better to stay home this time - it’s a beautiful & fascinating city so it is worth the journey, just not now.

Gosh - I used to live there but hadn’t seen the news until this thread. I remember the low water levels of 2018 and this is significantly worse.

if rescheduling is not an option then the best 2 pools for children that are more lido-style than thermal baths are Palatinus strand on Margaret island or Dagaly furdo which is a little further out and I would recommend as the former will be packed with tourists. You can get to both on the number 26 bus very easily (it stops at the door of palatinus and for dagaly you get off at end of bridge then go down some steps and short walk along) Transport is really well connected best to get a pass for the length of your stay than faff around remembering to validate single tickets.

for playgrounds, Olimpia park is brilliant with lots of shade and water fountains/spray mist that the kids can cool down in. Szabadsag ter (liberty square) also has lots of little fountains that kids play in and some playgrounds. Sad to see they’ve turned off the Margaret island musical fountain to save energy it’s so lovely.

40C isn’t that unusual in the summers but clearly this length of heatwave without respite and the drought is new, if electricity becomes limited and you can’t use aircon it will be quite uncomfortable.

Hope you are still able to enjoy the beautiful city.

I was there mid May in my coat in bitter wind and rain, the weather is crazy this year! The Danube was already low then.

If you do go, another vote for Margeret Island, lots to do for kids and nice and shady. The spa has a kids bit with slides. Look at Lake Balaton too, its around an hour away.

https://www.politico.eu/article/hungary-shuts-down-paks-nuclear-plant-danube-drought-intensifies-energy-crisis/

The energy situation does look serious, if you go you may need to be flexible about plans.

Over tourism is a major problem in central Budapest. Tourists consume far more water than locals for pools, hotels, and golf courses, causing severe shortages during peak dry seasons.

I wouldn't go. A city trip in those temperatures and with a looming energy crisis is too risky.

We were in Budapest last week (we’re interrailing) and it was ‘only’ 37c and exceptionally unpleasant. Our apartment also had AC, but trying to do anything outside was a major ordeal. We did have a day at a water park and thermal spa place, and that was nice, though still incredibly hot. I really wouldn’t recommend it in this weather. We’ve been in Salzburg the last few days, and we’d assumed the mountains would be cooler, but it’s been 35+ every day and sightseeing has been tough.

OP, another risk is that the airport may be impacted by electrical failure. No idea of the likelihood but the significance could be massive.

40+ degrees is unliveable heat. I wouldn't go either.

How are you doing @OddSocksAreCool?
Are you there?

Yeah we're here now. It was far too late to cancel and couldn't anyway with travel insurance. It's very hot, unpleasant and everyone is in a shitty mood.

Check opening hours of museums etc with aircon, not sure if the spas allow kids but if they do and are open after 4pm into the evening they are lovely

So sorry to hear that.
How old are the 2 dcs?
Bless you I hope it gets better and you get some rest and some way to restore everyone's mood and energy. 💐

We have just left Budapest… not sure how old your kids are but a couple of suggestions we enjoyed in the heat.. We went on a Segway tour (we started at 9am) which was fab as you got to see sights without walking and there is a lovely breeze on them, we made chimney cakes (in AC kitchen), Margaret island for the day. It is much cooler first thing in the morning so we started early, then had a late relaxed breakfast. The evenings don’t really cool down so we had dinner inside in AC.

oh, and if you don’t have them you can buy neck micro towels which are great for helping to keep cool. They last about 40 mins in v hot heat but you can re wet them in fountains etc. Would really recommend.

Go on a cruise down the river?
Go to a shopping mall - they might still have AC
Take the funicular up to Fisherman’s Point or go to the market.

Anything that involves an ordeal and survival is not really the kind of holiday I’d want to have personally.

Give it a swerve and use the spending money to do some lovely things at home.

Sorry - just saw that you’re already there. I hope you still manage to have some fun OP.

I’d also say it’s ok to go home early!

There are lots of cooling things to do - visit the cave hospital, the cave church, as PP said Margrit island with fountains, trees etc - all of these are central.

Or get the brilliant children's railway up into the mountains and walk there - probably a bit cooler, and shady in the woods.