Frommer's^® Budapest & the Best of Hungary , 4th Edition

by Joseph S. Lieber; Christina Shea

• ISBN13: 9780764565816
• ISBN10: 0764565818
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-04-01
• Publisher: Frommers

Summary

You'll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's. It's like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go--they've done the legwork for you, and they're not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many hotels and restaurants in all price ranges. Every Frommer's Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and nightlife. You'd be lost without us! Budapest, awakened in 1989 after its long slumber behind the Iron Curtain, is one of Europe's hottest destinations. It stands proudly at the center of Eastern Europe's cultural rebirth, and best of all, it still ranks as one of the continent's best bargains. Frommer's Budapest & the Best of Hungary has all the practical details and candid advice you need to plan a successful trip. We've reviewed the very best places to stay and dine, from historic hotels to intimate guesthouses, from grand cafes to atmospheric taverns and pubs. With Frommer's in hand, it's easy to explore the all the city's highlights; our detailed walking tours will introduce you to a wealth of gorgeous architecture and show you the hidden treasures of the city. And of course, we've got all the details on Budapest's exciting nightlife, its vibrant arts scene, and its fabulous thermal baths and spas. Then we'll take you to explore the best of the Hungarian countryside, where you'll discover sunburnt hillside vineyards and deep verdant valleys, lush cherry orchards, the lovely riverside towns along the Danube Bend, the famous caves in Aggletek, and the shores of Lake Balaton. Frommer's puts it all at your fingertips, with a handy glossary of Hungarian phrases and detailed color maps.

Table of Contents

List of Maps	viii
What's New in Budapest & Hungary	1	(4)
The Best of Budapest	5	(7)
Favorite Little Adventures	5	(1)
The Best Places to Enjoy a Sunset	6	(1)
Favorite Off-the-Beaten-Track Museums	6	(2)
Favorite Places to Kill an Hour	8	(1)
Favorite Experiences Outside of Budapest	9	(1)
Best Hotel Bets	9	(1)
Best Dining Bets	10	(2)
Planning Your Trip to Budapest	12	(21)
Visitor Information & Entry Requirements	12	(1)
Money	13	(4)
The Hungarian Forint	15	(1)
What Things Cost in Budapest	16	(1)
When to Go	17	(2)
Hungary Calendar of Events	17	(2)
Health & Insurance	19	(2)
Tips for Travelers with Special Needs	21	(3)
Getting There	24	(5)
What You Can Carry On-And What You Can't	25	(4)
Planning Your Trip Online	29	(2)
Recommended Reading	31	(2)
Getting to Know Budapest	33	(23)
Orientation	33	(6)
Hungarian Address Terms	36	(2)
Neighborhoods in Brief	38	(1)
Getting Around	39	(17)
Fast Facts: Budapest	48	(8)
Where to Stay in Budapest	56	(23)
The Inner City & Central Pest	57	(6)
Central Budapest	63	(4)
The Castle District	67	(1)
Outer Pest	68	(2)
Obuda	70	(1)
The Buda Hills	71	(2)
Margaret Island	73	(1)
Youth Hostels	74	(5)
Staying in Private Rooms	74	(5)
Where to Dine in Budapest	79	(22)
The Check Please: Tips on Tipping	80	(1)
Restaurants by Cuisine	81	(1)
The Inner City & Central Pest	82	(8)
Beyond Central Pest	90	(1)
Central Buda	91	(3)
Snacks on the Run	92	(2)
The Castle District	94	(1)
The Buda Hills	95	(1)
Northern Buda & Obuda	96	(1)
Traditional Coffeehouses	97	(2)
Cafes & Bistros	99	(2)
Our Favorite Sweets	99	(2)
Exploring Budapest	101	(29)
Suggested Itineraries	101	(1)
The Top Attractions	102	(9)
More Museums & Sights	111	(5)
Where Have All the Statues Gone?	112	(3)
Did You Know?	115	(1)
Parks, Gardens & Playgrounds	116	(3)
Especially for Kids	119	(3)
For the Music Lover	122	(1)
Babszinhazak (Puppet Theaters)	122	(1)
Organized Tours	123	(2)
Spa Bathing & Swimming: Budapest's Most Popular Thermal Baths	125	(3)
Outdoor Activities & Sports	128	(2)
Strolling Around Budapest	130	(24)
Pest's Inner City	130	(5)
The Castle District	135	(5)
Leopold Town & Theresa Town	140	(5)
The Jewish District	145	(3)
Taban & Watertown	148	(1)
(Vizivaros)	148	(6)
Budapest Shopping	154	(13)
The Shopping Scene	155	(1)
Shopping A to Z	156	(11)
Budapest After Dark	167	(8)
The Performing Arts	168	(3)
Music on a Summer's Eve	170	(1)
The Club Scene	171	(1)
The Bar Scene	172	(1)
Gay & Lesbian Bars	172	(1)
Hungarian Dance Houses	173	(1)
More Entertainment	173	(2)
The Danube Bend	175	(11)
Exploring the Danube Bend	175	(1)
Szentendre	176	(5)
Visegrad	181	(1)
Esztergom	182	(4)
Primas-sziget: A Bridge over Troubled Waters	183	(3)
The Lake Balaton Region	186	(10)
Exploring the lake Balaton Region	186	(1)
En Route to Lake Balaton: Veszprem	187	(4)
The Tihany Peninsula	191	(1)
Herend: Home of Hungary's Finest Porcelain	191	(1)
Szigliget	192	(1)
Keszthely	193	(2)
An Excursion to the Thermal Lake in Heviz	194	(1)
Lake Balaton's Southern Shore	195	(1)
Northeastern Hungary: Traveling into the Hills	196	(7)
Holloko: A Preserved Paloc Village	196	(1)
Eger	197	(4)
Aggtelek: An Entrance to the Caves	201	(2)
An Excursion to Bukk National Park	201	(2)
Southern Hungary: The Great Plain & the Mecsek Hills	203	(15)
The 2,000-Year-Old City of Pea	203	(6)
Kecskemet	209	(2)
Bugac & the Puszta	211	(1)
Szeged: Hungary's Spice Capital	212	(6)
Appendix A: Budapest, the Heart of Hungary	218	(14)
1 The City Today	218	(1)
Dateline	219	(1)
2 A Look at the Past	219	(10)
3 Paprika, Pastry & Palinka: Hungarian Cuisine	229	(3)
Appendix B: Help with a Tongue	232	(5)
1 Menu Terms	232	(2)
2 Basic Phrases & Vocabulary	234	(3)
Index	237	(1)
General Index	237	(6)
Accommodations Index	243	(1)
Restaurant Index	243	(1)
Coffeehouses & Cafes Index	244