Budapest Vacations

Bathing in Budapest's many thermal baths and swimming pools - some of which are as beautiful as palaces - is not a luxury but a way of life, a necessity for one's sanity. If you need to work up a sweat for this indulgence, cycling, rowing or caving should do the trick.

Budapest is a cultural mecca and has a long tradition of celebrating its chequered history; each of the four seasons has its own festivals. Budapest Búcsú (June) is a fervent rock and pop festival held at several open-air venues around Budapest and celebrates the last Russian soldiers' departure from Hungary in 1991. September's International Wine and Champagne Festival is held in the Castle District. The Budafest Summer Opera & Ballet Festival provides the opportunity to see some of the world's finest high culture in Budapest's amazing Opera House at very affordable prices. Not to be missed.

If the classics are not your thing, join the frenzied throng on Óbuda Island - an old disused shipyard - at the Pepsi Island Music Festival, where you'll find central Europe's highest concentration of the 'mullet' hairstyle and a crowd moshing and doofing with the best of the West. Hungary's premier sporting event is the Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix, held in mid-August each year.

Budapest's Ferihegy airport has thankfully emerged from the 1970s brown-veneered chaos of its old terminal, and its shiny new terminal is serviced by over three dozen international airlines. The national carrier Malév Hungarian Airlines operates nonstop flights between Budapest and North America, the Middle East and most European centres. There is no schedule for domestic flights. The bus is also a popular means of getting to Budapest. There are three main stations, with all international buses and some domestic ones to/from Hungary's south and west arriving at and departing from Népliget bus station. Buses to/from destinations in Hungary east of the capital, leave from the Népstadion bus station. Buses to the Danube bend and parts of the Northern Uplands arrive and leave from bus station Árpád híd. Some of the journeys are long, so take a cushion and avoid flat bottom syndrome. The Hungarian State Railway (MÁV) links to the European rail network, with different stations handling various destinations. Most international trains arrive at and leave from Keleti station, but always check the station when making bookings. Hungarian trains are clean and punctual but hardly luxurious, so bring along snacks and drinks for longer voyages. For the extravagant traveller, a hydrofoil along the Danube to Vienna is a luxurious possibility.

Budapest's luxury hotels are located in the heart of the city. Many hotels can be found near bustling tourist regions and are within proximity to many attractions, such as the Opera House, the Danube River, and shopping.

Enjoy an Budapest vacation package at the top luxury hotels!
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