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Budapest to Slovakia By Car – Grand European Tour Part 5

SSomewhere — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 13:04:20 +0000

We Return to Budapest Because We Can’t Resist That Goulash!

This is one in a series of blog posts detailing our 10-country trip around Europe on trains, buses, cars and ferries. This one focuses on our visit to Budapest and our drive from Budapest to Slovakia. All the posts highlight what we got up to along with some tips and helpful overviews should you wish to visit the destinations. You can see all the posts from this trip here.

Some years ago, we’d previously spent a week exploring/getting lost in Budapest and its surroundings, so on arrival at the station we were already familiar with the town, and it is one of our favourite capitals in Europe, lively, compact and constantly interesting.

On arriving at the western railway station (Nyugati pályaudvar) we soon located our, rather disappointing accommodation (Mrs A has very particular standards and this particular accommodation simply did not meet them, but it was too late to change options, so we made the best of it), close to transport options, and about a mile walk to the town centre. After stocking up with supplies, we headed off in the direction of the river Danube with no set agenda except to find somewhere to eat, which this evening was to be the Mythos The Greek restaurant a couple of hundred metres from St. Stephen’s Basilica, which wasn’t too busy and the food was very good.

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Goulash, Guiness and The Great Hungarian Downpour!

The following day we awoke to rain showers, the kind that you know are not going anywhere anytime soon. After breakfast we headed off into town by foot to reacquaint ourselves with the city, which before the rain really set in was looking more beautiful than ever.

By lunchtime, the rain had decided it wasn’t going to let up (it was raining stair rods as we say in Yorkshire), so after a stand-up lunch in the Central Market Hall, also known as the Great Market Hall (which was so crowded there was nowhere to sit – we’d forgotten how busy it can get) of traditional goulash (it was worth standing up because we really love that goulash!) and armed with a newly bought umbrella, and the obligatory packets of paprika we braced ourselves, once again, for the deluge.

Feeling somewhat damp and weary by now, we soon sought refuge in the form of the Longford Irish Pub and, obviously, took some solace in a pint of Guinness. Check the best things to do in Budapest later in this article.

Unfortunately on leaving the pub (which was pretty busy, as all the tourists seem to have had the same idea), the rain had not abated so rather than a 30-minute very wet walk we jumped on a 10-minute tube ride back to the western railway station (close to our accommodation) – the transport system in Budapest is cheap and efficient, and nowhere near as crowded as the London Underground.

In the evening (still raining) we had a great meal at the Mosselen Belgian Beer Café close to our digs, this is a great restaurant/pub serving delicious local fare and a great range of beers and wines all in a friendly, authentic atmosphere.

Budapest to Slovakia by Car

The following morning, after checking out of our accommodation (much to Mrs A’s relief), we headed to the northern end of Budapest via the tube (which after a little confusion on our part, actually turned out to be a replacement bus rather than a train, as two local tube stations were being upgraded).

The next part of our journey was Budapest to Slovakia by car to visit family in southern Slovakia (this was a quicker and more straightforward option than taking the train, which would have taken a circuitous 4 to 5 hours as opposed to 2 hours driving. For this we had booked car hire in advance with AutoEurope, and picked it up at a Sixt office, which was a very straightforward process.

In Hungary and in Slovakia you need a vignette to drive, the one for Hungary came with the car, but we knew we would have to stop at the border to buy the one for Slovakia (vignettes are common in a few countries in Europe for driving including Switzerland and Austria, and now are often bought online in advance, or at petrol stations close to borders, or the border itself as we were to do).

Easy Drive to Slovakia

Once out of Budapest, the driving was easy, and it made a change to be back in control of our own wheels. The roads were fairly traffic free, the countryside relatively flat and the rain had finally cleared. We were heading for the Banska Bystrica region of southern Slovakia which is just over the border from Hungary. After a couple of hours driving, we came across the remains of the old border station (now unused, unloved and rather dilapidated), with just a small shop and a non-descript container cabin off to one side where we bought our vignette, and crossed the border into Slovakia.

Go here to read the next instalment of the Grand European Tour.

Or for more tips and insights on Budapest please continue reading below…

Getting to Budapest

By Air: You can get to Budapest International Airport (also known as Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport and commonly known as Ferihegy) easily from the UK, as well as via international flights across Europe. I would recommend using Skyscanner to find flights into Budapest, and, if you are flexible when you go/return using the ‘search by month’ tool to find the most economical flights.

By Train: Budapest is easily accessible from the major towns of Hungary, as well as the rest of Europe. Check out trains to Budapest here.

By Bus: Budapest is also easy to reach by bus, and for this, I would recommend Flixbus, which is a company based in central Europe, serves the vast majority of mainland Europe and offers cost-effective options to get to Budapest.

Budapest: Getting to and From the Airport

If you decide to fly to Budapest, here are a few simple options for getting into the city from the airport (Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport) depending on your budget. They are:

Take the bus: A direct bus (bus 100E ) leaves for the city centre around every 30 minutes from the bus stop between the terminal 2 buildings on the Arrivals level. It usually arrives at Deák Ferenc tér in 45 minutes, depending on the traffic. Tickets can be obtained from the airport ticket booths, automatic vending machines, from the driver inside the bus, or via the BKK mobile app. Please note that the 100E airport bus ticket must be validated on entering the bus.

Take a taxi: Yellow cabs with the “TAXI” sign on their roof and the “Főtaxi” (the official taxi firm used by the airport) sticker at the left front door are available at the airport, and you’ll find them at the official taxi rank located outside the Arrivals area of T2A and T2B. Make sure that you take an official airport cab, and don’t trust individuals or non-official providers as you may get overcharged.

Budapest airport taxis are metered, and it’s best to pay in forints (local currency), as the taxi exchange rate from forints to euros is not always favourable.

Hire a car: Of course, this is also an option for your transfer from Budapest International Airport to the city centre. You’ll find all the usual main providers at the airport, or you can book in advance online.

Getting around Budapest

There are lots of options for getting around the capital of Hungary, and the public transport systems are safe and efficient.

Note that Budapest has an integrated ticketing system which means that a single ticket can be valid for multiple modes of transport (including buses, trams and metro) within a specified time limit. You can purchase tickets at the metro, newsstands and from ticket vending machines. You will have to validate your ticket before starting your journey. Probably the easiest option might be to buy a 24-Hour Travel Card, which is valid for unlimited trips throughout the day, except for boat services (note: this is not the same as the Budapest City Card which is a city tourist pass and gives free public transport, along with discounts/free entrance to many of Budapest’s main attractions).

Walk: Budapest’s city centre is relatively compact with many of the main tourist attractions within walking distance of each other (although not so great in the rain!).

By bicycle: Budapest is becoming more bike-friendly, so why not hire a bike to explore the city? You can rent bicycles from many public bike services such as MOL Bubi, and like many capital cities, there are many pick-up and drop-off points scattered all over the town.

The Metro: Budapest has one of the oldest and most well-developed underground systems in Europe, featuring a network of four lines that offer an efficient way to get around the city.

By Bus: The city has an extensive bus/trolley bus network which compliments the metro and can be more convenient for reaching the more far-flung areas of the city.

Trams: Again, integrated into the transport system, the tram network covers the majority of the city. The popular tram 19 is great for sightseeing on the Buda side of the city, connecting Kelenföld Train Station with Óbuda and taking in some scenic views by the Danube along the way.

By taxi: You can hail taxis or find them at one of the city’s designated taxi stands. Uber is now also available in Budapest, along with its competitor Bolt.

The Top 10 Things to Do in Budapest

Take a free walking tour: This is always our go-to way of getting an initial feel for any city, learning a lot of the local history, and picking up some useful tips along the way. Although free walking tours are indeed free, please tip your guide at the end of your tour – they will be worth it. Just google ‘free walking tours Budapest’.
Cruise the Danube: The Danube defines and divides this great city, and a river cruise will certainly give you a great perspective, especially enchanting in the evening. Here are some options.
Relax like a local at the thermal baths: Budapest is renowned across the world for its thermal baths, the most famous of these is the
Széchenyi Baths, the largest and most popular. At any of the town’s bathhouses, fed by 120 thermal springs, you can enjoy an array of outdoor/indoor pools, therapeutic waters and saunas.
Stroll the promenade: It’s great to walk along the promenade of that Danube taking in a lot of the local sights whilst getting some exercise. We suggest starting at the Elizabeth bridge on the Pest side of the city and walking north for great views across the Danube of the Fisherman’s Bastion and Buda Castle and discover, along the way, the statue of the Little Princess and The Shoes on the Danube, the sobering memorial honouring the Jewish victims shot on the banks of the river during the dark years of World War II. This is definitely one of the best things to do in Budapest while you are here.
Visit Heroes’ Square: No visit to Budapest would be complete without a visit to this enormous square, featuring the heroes of Hungary’s past and an icon of the city – the Millenium Monument.
Visit St. Stephen’s Basilica: This is a grand neoclassical church in honour of the first king of Hungary. Fantastic views of the city from the top. A range of entry tickets can be found here.
The Great Market Hall: Like we did, why not visit the Great Market Hall, fantastic for picking up souvenirs of Budapest, with an especially mind-boggling array of paprika (a staple in many Hungarian dishes). You also find stalls selling anything from sweet pastries to ‘I Love Budapest’ T-shirts. Grab some traditional goulash from one of the stalls up the stairs on the first floor.
The Parliament Building: You’ll find this oddly familiar edifice on the Pest side of Budapest, its main façade overlooking the River Danube, however, the main entrance is reached from the square on the east side of the building.
Visit a Ruin Bar or two: The history of Budapest’s famous Ruin Bars started when run-down buildings, mostly in the Jewish quarter were converted into make-shift bars. Adorned with graffiti, plants and various re-cycled wackiness they are a great place to sample local beers and wines. Some famous ones are Szimpla Kert, Élesztőház and Kőleves to name but a few.
Eat like a local: There are plenty of gastronomic delights to sample while in Budapest, such as traditional goulash, chimney cake (Kürtöskalács), or Langos (deep-fried flatbread).

Top Tips – Budapest

Use Omio to compare buses versus trains, very useful.

For Hotels including self-catering apartments we use Booking.com, where you can filter by review score and many properties have a pay later/late cancellation policy should your plans suddenly change.

Check our resources page for more budget tips and discounts from our days in transit!

Where to stay in Budapest

Here are a few accommodation options for a stay in Budapest.

A couple of hotels worth considering are the 4-star Hotel Vision which is centrally located and with the added bonus of free parking should you hire a car, or located in heart of Castle Hill on the Buda side of the city, the Maison Bistro & Hotel.

A private apartment such as the Blue Ball Apartment, a little further afield, could also be a good option.

Where to eat

Obviously, there are lots of great places to eat in Budapest, and the two we mentioned in our article above, we are particularly happy to recommend. They were the Mythos The Greek restaurant which is more centrally located, and the excellent Mosselen Belgian Beer Café (book a table as it can get busy) which is tucked away in a back street not too far from the western railway station (Nyugati pályaudvar).

RESOURCES – BUDAPEST

Accommodation: Booking.com

Activities: Get Your Guide

Flights: Skyscanner

Trains: Rail Europe

Bus: FlixBus

Car Hire: AutoEurope

Staying Safe

Budapest is generally a safe city. Crimes of violence against visitors are rare, but like many major cities petty theft and pickpocketing can occasionally occur especially in crowded tourist spots or busy public transport. So keep your valuables safe and out of sight.

If you have an emergency, dial 112 for assistance.

Of course, the key thing is to have comprehensive travel insurance coverage to protect against, cancellations, theft, illness etc. For this, we use and recommend using Staysure – specialists in over 50’s travel insurance, as we have always found them fair and easy to deal with.

The post Budapest to Slovakia By Car – Grand European Tour Part 5 appeared first on Destination Someplace.

We Visit Bratislava: Beautiful Capital of Slovakia – Grand European Tour Part 4

SSomewhere — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 15:57:12 +0000

Grand European Tour – Onward to the Slovakian Capital

This is one of a series of blog posts detailing our 10-country trip around Europe on trains, buses, cars and ferries. All the posts highlight what we got up to (hopefully without the boring bits) along with some tips and helpful overviews should you wish to visit the destinations yourself. in this post we visit Bratislava. You can see all the posts from this trip here.

The following morning, rested and refreshed from our overnight in Vienna, we hopped onto one of our shortest journeys of our trip, to the capital of Slovakia, Bratislava. On arriving at the small and rather shabby railway station ‘Hlavna Stanica’ in Bratislava, the bad news was it was starting to snow, the good news is we were in walking distance of our accommodation.

Soon we were ensconced in our new digs for a couple of a nights and we couldn’t wait to explore our new locale (even if the snow had turned to rain!). So we set off roughly in the direction of the centre, only to realise after half a mile we were going in the wrong direction, anyway a quick loop around and we found our main two goals; where to get supplies (at the local Billa supermarket) and where to get coffee. Mission accomplished.

For the evening we nipped back out to eat at a close by oriental-fusion place, EDO-KIN Blumental Pan-Asian restaurant. Good food in a relaxed atmosphere.

RESOURCES – BRATISLAVA

Accommodation: Booking.com

Activities: Viator

Flights: Skyscanner

Trains: Trainline

Bus: FlixBus

Car Hire: AutoEurope

Visit Bratislava – Why walk, Take The Bus – It’s Easy

The following day we decided to hit the town proper, and to save our aching feet a little, we decided to take the bus from outside Hlavna Stanica Train Station, buying a ticket at the ‘Tabac’ in the station. We eventually found our way to the correct stop (the buses drift into the station at a terminus stop and then loop around to a pick up stop, where you actually get on).

Obviously, born and bred in Yorkshire, our Slovakian is poor (i.e. non-existent), so after feeling a little pleased with ourselves for managing to get the right bus we relaxed for a few minutes and sailed half a mile passed the town centre – finally figuring it out that we were on the wrong side of the Danube! No matter, after a 15 minutes walk (so much for saving our feet!) we eventually made our way back to the river, and subconsciously ended up exactly where I really wanted to be – the 95 metre tall UFO tower.

The Bratislava UFO Tower – Okay you can open your eyes now

Mrs A doesn’t like heights (that’s an understatement), but I persuaded her we couldn’t pass up the chance to see some glorious views of the city and surrounding countryside. This is a must-see when you visit Bratislava.

You get to the top by taking a small elevator, which delivers you at the café bar/restaurant offering expensive cappuccino and fantastic views of the city, and complete the journey on a short steel staircase which takes you to the open air viewing platform. Mrs A was very brave and agreed the stunning 360 degree panorama was worth the stress. We bought a one-way ticket for this, but in retrospect we should have bought the combined day/night ticket for a few euros more which would have allowed us to return in the evening and see the city below by night.

More Great Views – Bratislava Castle

Crossing back across the Bridge of the Slovak National Uprising (in Slovakian, Most Slovenského národného povstania, or SNP for short) or commonly known as the UFO Bridge on foot, and separated from the traffic which rumbled above us, we went to seek lunch in the historical centre of Bratislava.

We worked off lunch by climbing up to visit Bratislava castle (this is a must see for anyone planning to visit Bratislava), and enjoyed more excellent views of the city from this castle whose history dates back to the 9^th century – very peaceful and not too many tourists. Well worth a visit, and the climb up is not too challenging if you take it easy.

On descending from the castle we headed back to explore the Old Town and then find a print shop to print of our reservations for the next train (note: some journeys using our interrail pass required we reserve seats, and these reservations always have to be printed off, which is a bit of nuisance, but I’m sure they will sort this out in the future and allow reservations to be shown on a phone).

Bratislava – Wine Not!

In the evening we again went into the centre to explore the town by night and had a meal in the Koliba Kamzík Michalská restaurant (friendly staff and good food) followed by a couple of local wines at the Why Not wine bar, a great place for wine lovers.

The following morning we headed back to Hlava Stanica (railway station) to catch the 9.57 to Budapest.

The next instalment of the Grand European Tour – featuring Budapest is here.

Or for more tips and insights on Bratislava please continue reading below…

Getting to Bratislava

By Air: You can get to Bratislava Airport (also known as M. R. Štefánik Airport) from some of the London, UK airports, as well as via international flights across Europe. I would recommend using Skyscanner to find flights into Bratislava, and, if you are flexible when you go/return using the ‘search by month’ tool to find the most economical flights.

By Train: Bratislava is easily accessible from the major towns of Europe such as Vienna, and you will likely arrive at Bratislava hlavná stanica (Bratislava Main Station) as we did. Check out trains with Trainline.

By Bus: Bratislava is also easy to reach by bus, I would recommend Flixbus, which is a company based in Germany, but serves the vast majority of mainland Europe and offers cost-effective options to get to Bratislava. The main bus station in Bratislava is Mlynské Nivy, located near the city centre.

Bratislava: Getting to and From the Airport

If you decide to fly to Bratislava, there are a few options for getting into the city. They are:

Bus: Bus line number 61 operates between the airport and the main train station (Hlavná stanica), and the journey takes approximately 30 minutes. You can buy tickets from the ticket machines at the airport.

Take a taxi: You can use the airport’s partner taxi services whose prices are shown on info panels located in front of the Arrivals Terminals, this is also where the taxi stands are located.

Hire a car: Of course, if you want the flexibility of your own transport, then you will find the usual car rental counters in public area of the Arrivals terminal, or you can book car rental in advance online.

Getting around Bratislava

If you plan to visit Bratislava there are several options for getting around the capital of Slovakia, depending on your fitness level and budget.

Public Transport: Note that Bratislava has an integrated ticketing system which means that tickets are usually valid for multiple types of transport within the city such as trolleybuses (buses attached to cables overhead), trams and buses. You can purchase online via an app or at ticket machines (these are usually red and/or yellow and found near transport hubs) and newspaper kiosks. Note, you will have to validate your ticket on/before boarding your first form of transport – don’t risk a fine. You cannot buy public transport tickets from the driver.

Walk: Bratislava city centre is compact with many of the main tourist attractions all within walking distance of each other, including St Martin’s Cathedral and the historic Old Town, so it is a great way to explore the city. To get a great cultural overview of the city you could take a guided walking tour.

By bicycle: Bratislava has made recent efforts to become more bike-friendly by improving its cycle path infrastructure. One of the most popular cycling routes follows the south (right) bank of the Danube, and all cycle lanes are marked with a big ‘C’ sign. You can rent bicycles from many bike-rental services in the city.

By taxi: Getting about by taxi offers an alternative to buses and trams. You can hail or find them at one of the city’s designated taxi stands. Uber is now also available in Bratislava, along which its competitor Bolt.

Sightseeing boats and cruises: Of course, a great way to explore this city is to take a sight-seeing bus, or for a completely different perspective, a river cruise down the Danube.

Top Tips – Visit Bratislava

Use Omio to compare buses versus trains, very useful.

Check our resources page for more budget tips and discounts from our days in transit!

Where to stay in Bratislava

Here are a few accommodation options for a stay when you visit Bratislava.

A couple of hotels worth considering are the elegant SKARITZ Hotel & Residence which is very centrally located, or a 15-minute walk from the historic old town the Hotel Saffron.

A private apartment such as the one we used, the Historical Wine Apartment could also be a good option if you want to be near the railway station.

The Top 10 Things to See and Do When You Visit Bratislava

Visit Bratislava Castle: We really enjoyed our walk around the castle, it offers great views of the city, and, when we visited in Spring there wasn’t many tourists, so very peaceful. If you choose to go inside you can visit the historical exhibitions and learn about the castle’s history.
Historical Old Town: In the charming cobblestone streets of Bratislava’s old town you’ll find narrow lanes and Baroque palaces rubbing shoulders with much of the city’s medieval architecture. A great place for a wander around and to get a feel for the town. Look out for the famous Cumil Statue
(The Watcher).
St. Martins Cathedral: This is one of the oldest, and is the largest church in Bratislava. If you are feeling energetic, why not climb this Gothic marvel’s tower for some spectacular views.
Go to the theatre: If you fancy it, you could catch a performance at the Slovak National Theatre, a beautiful building were you can see opera, ballet or a play.
Blue Church: The Blue Church (or more correctly St. Elizabeth’s Church) is one of the city’s most distinctive landmarks, with its intricately detailed, Art Nouveau blue façade it certainly stands out. You’ll find it in the eastern part of the Old Town.
Eat Slovakian: Why not try some traditional Slovak food such as Kapustnica, a Slovakian sauerkraut and sausage soup (popular around Christmas) or Skalický Trdelník, a split cake made from dough that is wrapped around a stick, then baked and topped with sugar and walnut mix. If you ever been to Prague or Budapest you’ve probably had one of these.
Visit the Slavin Memorial: This is a monument and military cemetery honouring the Soviet soldiers who lost their lives liberating Bratislava in World War II.
Visit the UFO Observation Deck: You don’t observe UFOs here, but there is 360 degree view of Bratislava and the surrounding countryside to be had, and it does look like a UFO! You must do this when you visit Bratislava – well worth it.
Devin Castle: A short trip (about 20 minutes by car/public transport) outside of the city you will find the historic ruins of Devin Castle, one of the oldest castles in Slovakia.
Cruise the Danube: For a relaxing time why not cruise the Danube. Especially great on a warm summer day. Perfect.

Staying Safe

Bratislava is a generally safe city with low crime rates. Crimes of violence against visitors are rare, but like many major cities petty theft and pickpocketing do occur especially in crowded tourist spots or busy public transport. So keep your valuables safe and out of sight.

If you have an emergency, dial 112 for assistance.

The post We Visit Bratislava: Beautiful Capital of Slovakia – Grand European Tour Part 4 appeared first on Destination Someplace.