Budapest is an easy destination to plan yourself: hotels, flights, car rental and activities in one place, no juggling ten different sites. Budapest works well as a base for day trips to nearby towns and scenic routes. The city has an airport, so you can fly in directly. There are currently around 20 places to stay listed in and around Budapest, covering a range of budgets. The catalogue includes 12 vetted activities and tours with real guest ratings. 4 routes to nearby towns are mapped out from Budapest, handy if you're planning side trips beyond the city itself.
Accommodation in Budapest starts at around €62 per night, with a typical rate near €99 across roughly 20 nearby options — handy for budgeting your trip.
Well-reviewed hotels: Hotel Clark Budapest - Adults Only, 5-star, guest rating 10 from 3893 reviews, from €138 per night; Up Hotel Budapest, 4-star, guest rating 9.8 from 8746 reviews, from €87 per night; Hotel Oktogon Haggenmacher by Continental Group, 4-star, guest rating 9.8 from 9336 reviews, from €96 per night; Hotel Moments Budapest by Continental Group, 4-star, guest rating 9.8 from 5476 reviews, from €123 per night; Prestige Hotel Budapest, 4-star, guest rating 9.8 from 3744 reviews, from €129 per night.
Day trips & routes: Oradea (Romania, cross-border) — about 246 km, 3h 2m drive; Vienna (Austria, cross-border) — about 252 km, 3h 0m drive; Timisoara (Romania, cross-border) — about 308 km, 3h 18m drive; Novi Sad (Serbia, cross-border) — about 289 km, 3h 4m drive. 4 of 4 routes cross a border — check the rental company's terms before you go.
Budapest: what to know
Things to see: "3 Hours Budapest Segway Grand City Tour Buda, Margaret and Pest", rated 5 from 319 reviews, from €85; "1 Hour Budapest Segway Tour - Parliament Hightails", rated 5 from 201 reviews, from €39; "Buda & Pest in 2 Hours: Segway Adventure", rated 5 from 143 reviews, from €50; "Shooting Experience HOLLYWOOD Package in Budapest", rated 5 from 136 reviews, from €154; "Private Sightseeing Tour using Electric Tuk Tuk Ride in Budapest", rated 5 from 132 reviews, from €85.
Where to eat: "Retek Bisztro", Hungarian, rated 4.8 (3276 reviews); "Babel Budapest", European/Central European, rated 4.6 (631 reviews); "Final Table Budapest", European/Eastern European, rated 4.9 (842 reviews); "Byblos - Fine Lebanese and Levantine Cuisine"; "Grumpy Budapest". Top-rated: "Final Table Budapest" at 4.9.
Budapest has its own airport, so a direct flight is the fastest way in. Getting around the city and out to the 4 nearby destinations listed above is easiest by car — intercity public transport tends to be slower and less frequent. The median nightly rate in Budapest is around €99, useful for comparing overall trip cost against nearby cities.
To rent a car in Budapest you usually need a passport, a driving licence and a bank card for the deposit hold. With 20 places to stay nearby, it's worth comparing a base near the rental desk against one closer to the sights. Given 4 routes worth driving from here, check the mileage and one-way drop-off terms before you book. When touring Hungary, plan stops in advance: fuel stations and car parks in smaller towns are not always open around the clock.
