HOW TO SAVE MONEY IN BUDAPEST? BUDGET TIPS

(about Budapest, Hungary, added on Aug 25, 2009)

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Budapest is the best and one of the cheapest places in Central Europe, if you know where to go and what to do..

Getting from the Airport or Train Station to your hostel

From Terminal 2. : Use the airport bus N: 200E to the Kobanya-Kispest Terminal then switch to the M3 blue metro line. Make sure you bought a ticket at the airport or on the airport bus latest and validated it immediately. 300 Ft/single ticket

From Terminal 1: Use the new rail link to Nyugati (Western Railway Station) access to the M3 blue metro line. Fare: 300 Ft. Journey Time 25 minutes. Ticket can be purchased at the Tourism Office at the airport. From the

Train Stations: Use the metro to get to the inner city.

Getting Around Budapest

Almost everything is within walking distance in Budapest.  Buy 1-day travel card (1550 Ft)- which is valid for 24 hours from the indicated date and time (month, day, hour, minute) for an unlimited number of trips on buses, trams, trolleybuses, on metro, Millennium Underground, cogwheel-railway on the whole length of the line but on suburban railway (HEV only within the administrative boundaries of Budapest-if you use the public transport more than 5 times that day. 3 day passes are also available. The best deal if you walk a lot but stay longer to buy a 10 pieces discount coupon book for 2700 Ft.

Where to Stay

I am not a promoter of any hostels in Budapest!  Use a hostel booking site then a search engine to find the hostels website as it may provide little more information and photoes too. You can save money with the central location and the free things offered.

Where to Eat

Look for market halls, self-service worker's restaurants (onkiszolgalo, kifozde) and bucther stores (hentes) for cheap authentic Hungarian lunch. During the school year go to a university canteen. Food in Hungary is more than just Gulyas and Paprika chicken..

What To See

Join the informative and entertaining Free Budapest Walking Tour daily at 10.30. a.m at the Vorosmarty square (M1 metro stop outside the Gerbeaud cafe at the fountain) around the best sights Buda and Pest has to offer including all academically relevant and practically inevitable information that tourist could not find out on their own without the eyes of a local. Guides work for tips only.

Hints to Save Money in Budapest

Use the all-night buses instead of taking cabs.

Spend less than 2 hours at the thermal bath houses for repayment.

Go to second hand clothing stores and buy Marks & Spencer, Gap and Next etc for 5-10 Euro.

Go to historical café houses to read free newspapers and journals in English and German languages.

Look for free city views from the Gellert hill and the Castle hill in the inner city.

Enjoy the loveliest free organ music at the St. Stephen's Cathedral during the Sunday masses.

Join the Free Communist Walking Tour Mon, Wed, Fri 3.30 p.m. at Vorosmarty square M1 metro stop (in front of Gerbeaud café at the fountain), instead of going to the Memento Statue Park, unless you have enough information and knowledge about the Communism. During the tour guides tell you everything about the everydaiy life, brainwash process, social conditions, human rights, secret agents, the cult of the party bosses and the chronology of the key events, other data and names.Guides work for tips only.

Join the Free Jewish Quarter and the Best Pubs Walking Tour, Tue, Ths, Sat, at 3.30 p.m. at Vorosmarty square M1 metro stop (in front of Gerbeaud caféat the fountain), if you want to find the hidden Jewish treasures of the neigborhood and the most authentic Hungarian free pubs with live DJ music and cheap beer.Guides work for tips only.