Budapest

I went in 1984 so I don't spose my recollections will help much

Many thanks for the advice everyone...... will be booking hotel this weekend

I went there for New Years' eve about 3 years ago and stayed for a few days - it's a great city. We rented an apartment just behind the museum in Pest, it was pretty basic but very cheap!

Like others have said, when looking for food / drink, look for the places where the locals are going. We found the touristy restaurants around the Castle area in Buda to be overpriced and the food quite average. There are plenty of restaurants to be found in Pest though and all the food we had there was excellent! I wish I could remember the names of any of them...

The public transport works realy wel too so yo can get around realy easily in the city - you buy tickets from news stands etc and the same tickets were valid for bus, subway or the metro trams. We never had to use the taxis once cos the trams run a sort of circular route right around the city and the cross the river too.

Lots of amazing buildings to see, if youre into sightseeing.

I can't wait to go back sometime.

i went last november. we stayed at the marriott hotel right on the riverside. it was reasonable in price for such a great location and the views of gellert hill and the chain bridge from the room were amazing.

budapest itself was great - the castle is nice, the parliament tour is a little pointless. make sure you eat at gundel and request that their violinist plays enter sandman.

xx

Originally Posted by El Saxo

I can't wait to go back sometime.

That's what I said in 1984. And guess what...

[quote=jambo;1482407] "The only bad meal we ate was a place recommended by the lonely planet guide"

Totally concur - bin the Lonely Planet Guide and enjoy the adventure. Else you tend to end up in expensive rotten restaurants with grubby backpackers .
Only time I got crook in Cambodia was in a place Lonely Planet recommended Bayon II, Siam Riep, go there at your peril!

Nice restaurants by the river in the shadow of the Maria bridge at Estergom... I found the tripe soup very restorative.

Beware the goulash/soup, its gorgeous. Very 'hearty' and full 'o beans etc.. Then they bring the main course and you're stuffed!

Forget Hungary.

Romania is *the* place to visit in Europe....!

Originally Posted by El Saxo

I went there for New Years' eve about 3 years ago and stayed for a few days

No way - so did I! one of the most insane new years eve's ever. Everyone just took to the streets drinking fizzy wine for about 50p a bottle. They sell fireworks. Lots of fireworks. From about 7 in the evening, there were bangers going off every couple of seconds , people lighting rockets and then letting them go out of their hands. In one of the squares, some locals were setting off the big mushroom cloud-esqe fireworks right behind us - like 15 feet! Then when the clock hit twelve, all hell broke loose! The fireworks got bigger and badder and then everyone started throwing their bottles into the centre of the square- hundreds!

Woke up the next morning and the place was immaculate again- I guess they are prepared for it. I would highly recommend it

Dirk - buy a map! Better than GPS, you can write on them, people can look at them and help you. The Scottish Bar in Brasov is fun.