Now that you’re here in Budapest, and you’ve taken care of the necessary preparations – with the aid of chapters 1, 2, and 3 of our current series - , it’s time to really start living. Check out part two of our more-than-useful tips on starting things off in the B and the P.

Go on a date with Budapest!

Once you’re sure that you won’t get lost in Budapest, it's time to discover the magic hidden in the streets of this beautiful city. Put together your very own, personalized tour, and get to know the sights and nightlife spectacles you’ve been reading about for so long. Regardless, it’s not always good to have a plan, the best experiences are mostly unscripted, thus going on an urban adventure will have many rewards. One of the better trips in Budapest is walking along Margit híd (Margaret Bridge) to the Buda side, and climbing the stairs leading up to Mansfeld Péter park, where you’ll be amazed by one of the city’s best views. As we’ve said, the most memorable experiences are unscripted, so we won’t be pushy with a plethora of walking routes, you’ll have to write your own script by strolling along beautiful Budapest.

Be one of them!

Most of the Budapestian youth speaks English, and there’s a huge international community, but learning a few words and expressions in Hungarian will be of great help in some everyday situations. Keep your eyes open, practice, and don’t give up. Below are the most basicelements of Hungarian.

  • Hello and goodbye: Szia (if it's just one person) Sziasztok (if it's two or more). You can also say Helló.
  • Sorry and please: Bocsánat.
  • Thank you is Köszönöm! but you'll hear Köszi a lot, too!
  • OK: igen (and they like to say this so many times: igen, igen, igen!).

But if you really want to learn Hungarian, it won't be difficult to find quality lectures. Here’s some food for thought!

Find a good café!

If you're a coffee lover, you must know how important it is to find cozy coffee shops where you can grab a coffee and enjoy it while reading a book, staring out the window and wrestling with heavy thoughts, working, or just walking around the city. The best coffee shops make you feel at home, so consider yourself lucky, because Budapest boasts an enviable collection of caffeine-sipping venues. The proof comes in the form of an article of ours, click, read, then choose as you will!

Make friends!

The urge to belong is deeply rooted in human nature, getting by and remaining sane without friends is nearly impossible. Fortunately, Budapest is full of people from all around the world, so you won’t experience any hardships making new buddies. There’s an International Meeting Point event every week, and Couchsurfing also does the same, and you can always write on their Facebook wall if you’re eager to get good company. Talking of Facebook, it’s never a bad idea to look for international communities and students groups, there’s always someone who’s willing to grab a beer with you.

Try Hungarian flavours!

Missing out on local cuisine is seldom a good idea, and this is especially true in the case of Budapest: goulash, lángos, lecsó, and dozens of meaty delicacies are all worth giving up your diet for. The best lángos (a deep fried flat bread with various toppings, usually served with grated cheese and sour cream on the top) is located in Óbuda, in the underpass at Flórián tér, while other local specialties can be tasted, for instance, on the second floor of the Great Market Hall, and the best Hungarian bistro in the business, Pesti Disznó.

Go to Citadella!

Be amazed by the view! Cross the Danube on Szabadság híd (Liberty Bridge), and start walking up on the path starting right next to Gellért fürdő (Gellért Baths). Relax, tune out the noise of the city and your thoughts, enjoy the gifts of Mother Nature, then snap a few photos when you get to the top.

Have a beer! Or six. Beer is sold everywhere in Budapest: ruin pubs, cheap pubs, restaurants, cafés, coffee shops, clubs, concert venues, and even schools - don’t worry, that was nothing more than a bad joke. On a more serious note, there are craft beer pubs such as Léhűtő and Élesztő, where beer masterpieces from all over the world can be tasted. These are a bit more expensive, but the cheap pubs which can very well be found in downtown Budapest offer wallet friendly prices (around 300 HUF per mug).

Go on a romantic venture after nightfall!

Let the lights of the Budapestian night awake the poet slumbering deep inside your soul. Walk through Margit híd (Margaret Bridge) to the Buda side, walk along the promenade until you get to Lánchíd (Chain Bridge). At that point, you’ll be at a crossroads: you can either go back to the Pest side and take a ride with tram 2 to Fővám tér, or you can walk up to Buda Castle by using the stairs starting at the side of the tunnel. Whichever you choose, it’ll be beautiful.

Don’t forget to check out the top 10 Budapestian must-dos, and the secrets that not even locals know about, because when it comes to Budapest, too much is never enough.