Stopover in Budapest
My husband, children and I will have a 12-hour stopover in Budapest in two weeks’ time. What would you suggest we do in that time? My husband does not like the idea of spas. Also, how do you advise we get around? Nora
Twelve hours will become eight by the time you’ve got yourself out of customs and into town, and then come back in time for a connecting flight. So even if your husband was into the idea of a spot of pampering, you’d be hard pushed to fit this in, unless you missed out on another of the city’s big hitters.
Save Budapest’s wonderful, though not at all girly, spas for another trip and consider leaving him at home. Instead, take a timesaving taxi straight to the Pest side of the Chain Bridge.
Walk across the Danube to Buda, admiring the fine engineering of the crossing, and take the funicular up to the Castle District. Wandering the alleys here and taking in the fine views from Fisherman’s Bastion, followed by lunch, will take up around half your time. It would be remiss of you not to head back to the other side, aiming either for the stunning Parliament building or to the Hungarian National Museum.
If you’re interested, the city’s Keleti train station in one of Europe’s most beautiful. You can nose at the cornucopia of exotic cities served by rail from there before continuing your own journey onwards, content you’ve seen a lot of the city in a day, but not enough to mean you don’t have to come back.
- Tom Hall
