The Witcher is the name of a brand new Netflix series that many believe can turn into the next Game of Thrones (when it comes to popularity). The series never managed to enchant us, but still, it is amazing to recognize lots of Hungarian locations as you watch the series on Netflix.
Henry Cavill is the biggest star of The Witcher, and he plays the role of a fighter who fights against trolls, magical creatures, and then takes a nice reward for doing so. There is much more to the story than this, but that is the main object of his life as we meet him in the first episodes of the show. But, there will of course be romance, action, wars, battles and so much more as you stream The Witcher on Netflix.
But, what is the very interesting thing about the show? A whole lot of scenes and parts of The Witcher are recorded in Hungary, and some of them even in Budapest. As a result, you might actually recognize some of the spots if you have a sharp eye. But, it isn’t easy, because often they have added effects to the pictures making it harder to discover the similarity, even if you have actually been to the place.
Some places used for the recording of The Witcher in Hungary
A fantastic place to visit when in Hungary is the Turul bird, raging over the city of Tatabanya along the highway connecting Vienna and Bratislava with Budapest. And, not far from this mythic bird, you can find the Szelim caves. And guess what, this is the home of a big dragon in The Witcher. In real life, the cave looks something like this.
From the Szelim caves in Tatabanya
But, in The Witcher, this is the home of a dragon, and there are at least a couple of scenes that have been recorded at this location. And it is not the only example.
Not far from Tatabanya, you can find the beautiful city of Tata. It has a magnificent lake which is perfect for a stroll (7,5km to walk around the lake), and by the lake, you can also find an old castle which has been used in the series on Netflix. This is a must-see place in Hungary, so make sure to visit Tata and the castle during your stay in Hungary.
The Tata Castle can be seen in The Witcher
And, once you are in the area, make sure to travel on to Komarom. Here you can find an old fortified area, and the main gate of this fortress has also been used in The Witcher and can be seen in the final episode of season 1 on Netflix.
These are just some examples. Besides this, there is also a location called the “Fake castle of Eger”. This is located not far outside Budapest, and this has also been used in the recording process. Here you will see a big battle taking place, and even though it is hard to recognize, you might do so if you have actually been there and see it in real life.
Another location is the Jaki chapel. This is located in Budapest, as a part of the Vajdahunyad castle. This might be the easiest location to visit, and you can see it as The Witcher goes to talk with Stregobor in the first episode of season 1. Another close location is the Skanzen outside Szentendre. This is a open-air museum showing how Hungarians lived and what they did earlier. This has also been used for the recording!
Look around in the Budapest Guide for inspiration, cool programs, interesting tours, and so much more!
Can I watch The Witcher only on Netflix?
Maybe you have been to Hungary already, but you haven’t seen The Witcher yet. Where can you stream it? This is a Netflix original show, and the only place to stream it (legally) is on Netflix. So, you will need a Netflix subscription, and then you can stream it all across the world. There is no need for changing your Netflix region nor anything like that, because this is an original series that can be streamed in every single Netflix region out there.
Is it worth it? Is it better than Game of Thrones? To be honest, I am not the person to tell. I am not a big fan of The Witcher nor of Game of Thrones. But, if you liked one of them, there is a big chance that you will like the other one as well.
If you have comments or questions about The Witcher, the locations used for recording all around Hungary, or maybe you have discovered even more places in use, write a comment and let us know about it!
When will the famous Budapest Wine Festival be arranged in 2020? We have received the question several times already, and here is the answer!
Picture from the wine festival in 2018 – Zsolt Szigetvary
The annual Wine Festival arranged in the courtyard of the Royal Palace on the castle hill might be the most popular of all festivals in Budapest every year (if we do not include the Sziget festival). Here you can taste thousands of different wines made by large and small wineries in Hungary, and it is a fantastic place to learn more about the Hungarian wine culture. Would you like to check it out in 2019?
Budapest Airport enjoyed a very good year in 2019. They have a higher rate of growth than most other airports in Europe, and it was the first year ever they passed more than 16 million passengers in one single year.
The total amount of passengers arriving and departing Budapest Airport was 16 173 489. The most popular destination from which people arrive and to which people fly is London, but it is also a fact that people arrive at Budapest Airport from all across Europe in large numbers. But, one of the biggest expansions in 2019 happened towards the Asian market, and there are now direct flights between Budapest and Asian cities such as Shanghai, Soul, Chengdu, Chongqing, and Sanya.
More than 30 new flights were launched in 2019, and the total number of landings and takeoffs exceeded 122 000. If you divide that with 365 days a year, the average daily number of landings and takeoffs were around 330 in the number.
Look around here in our Budapest Guide for even more information and news about Budapest, pictures from the Hungarian capital, recommendations of restaurants and hotels, and so much more!
Visegrad is a very popular destination among tourists coming to Hungary. Not only because of its delightful location along the Danube River but also because of the mighty castle on the top of the hill giving an even more stunning view towards the countryside and the Danube.
Lots of larger tourist groups join in on daily excursions from Budapest taking them to the city of Szentendre, to Visegrad, and to Esztergom. But, if you decide to visit Visegrad and want to grab something to eat, where should you go? Is Don Vite Ristorante a place worth visiting?
Don Vito Ristorante is an Italian restaurant in Visegrad. While most of the other restaurants in town are all about traditional Hungarian courses, this is one of the restaurants suitable for those who want to eat pizza and other Italian courses. But, what is the quality like?
Don Vito Ristorante Visegrad – Pictures and thoughts
The price level of Don Vito in Visegrad is nice. The pizzas cost around 2000 HUF (6 Euro), while the other main courses cost between 2000-4000 HUF (6-12 Euro). The service is quick and good, and we got our food served within 25 minutes from the time we ordered.
Not only do they serve big portions of Italian food, but they also have children’s menus available, something that comes in handy if you arrive with smaller kids. Above you can see a picture of the traditional Hungarian Wiener schnitzel served together with friend and ketchup. Normally, there wouldn’t be any ketchup for this, but since it is a children’s menu, they serve it with this as a sauce.
As an Italian restaurant, they need to have lasagne on the menu, and so we decided to test the Don Vito lasagne as well. It was actually quite good, and it was a nice portion of food. We wouldn’t travel to Visegrad to eat this lasagne, but if we first visit the village and eat in Don Vito, then this isn’t a bad choice at all.
We had to taste some pizzas as well in Don Vito. They had quite a lot of different pizzas on the menu, and the price level is fair. The size of the pizzas is 32cm, which is the traditional pizza size in Hungary. Just like with the lasagne, the pizzas were absolutely fine. They were nothing special worth visiting Visegrad for, but if you are first there, this is a great and cheap option for a good meal.
Don Vito Ristorante is a good option for a meal in Visegrad. If you reside in Budapest, do not forget to read about all the restaurants in Budapest featured in our guide. We can also offer wine dinners and wine tasting options, and even a brewery visit with lots of food in Budapest.
Would you rather enjoy a meal in traditional restaurants such as Sir Lancelot, Aszu restaurant, or maybe a steak in La Pampa Budapest? Click the links for more information and the chance to reserve a table in these restaurants.
Have you been to Don Vito in Visegrad? Write a comment and let us know how you enjoyed your stay!
Where are you going to stay in Budapest during your trip to the city in 2020? Which is the best five star hotel in Budapest? Which hotel has the best panorama towards the Danube? Which is the best three star hotel in Budapest with a great location and cheap prices? The Budapest Guide presents to you the Ten Best Hotels in Budapest in 2020.
If you have read the introduction, you probably understand that we do not aim at listing the ten best hotels in Budapest, because then they would all be five-star hotels. Instead, we try to list the ten best hotels in Budapest that all are best within their very own category. Maybe you want to live in a super luxury hotel, but do not care so much about its location? Or maybe you want to live with splendor and luxury in the heart of the city? We have the best hotels for both of you.
Would you rather live in a great hotel that only has three or four stars, but still located in the city center? Or would you rather find a cheaper hotel that will give you great value for your money, and instead spend a few minutes every day using public transportation to get to the city center? Read on and find our recommendations!
Ten Best Hotels in Budapest in 2020
Here you have ten recommended hotels in Budapest. We hope you will find one suit exactly your needs and your travel desires.
Four Seasons Hotel Gresham – If all you want is luxury in Budapest
Is your only desire to live in the most luxurious hotel of them all in Budapest? You don’t care about price, nor location, but you just want gold and glory, and maybe even the chance to bump into Hollywood stars currently in Budapest working on a movie production (or something like that)?
The view from one of the nicest rooms in Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Budapest.
The hotel you should stay in is the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham. This is located in the heart of the city, close to the Danube and with a splendid view towards the Chain Bridge. It is a glamorous hotel, and one of the most expensive places to stay in Budapest.
Danubius Health Spa Resort Margaret Island – If you want quietness, thermal water (SPA), and no noise
The next hotel we want to recommend is located at the Margaret Island in Budapest. It is important to notice that this isn’t a hotel ideal for those who come to discover Budapest. It is way too far from the city center (30-45 minutes on foot), and it is located on an island in the middle of the Danube. The island itself is gorgeous, and it is one of the nicest (if not THE nicest) recreational areas in all of Budapest. Here you can walk in a green area, lie down in the grass to relax, go for a nice walk (or enjoy a jogging trip around the island on the 5km track), or just lie in the SPA of the hotel enjoying real thermal water (with high temperatures) and some of the other indoor activities available at the hotel.
A nice room in the Health Spa Resort hotel on the Margaret Island
Again, this is the number one recreational hotel in Budapest if your goal is to relax. But, if you are on a city-trip, go somewhere else.
Erzsebet City Center – if you want to enjoy a three-star hotel in the heart of the city with good prices
Would you like to live in the heart of Budapest in a quiet street, but still close to the walking street and the Danube? Don’t care so much about the number of stars, but you still want to live in a nice hotel where you can enjoy a clean room, nice surroundings, and everything you require of a hotel room and a hotel building in itself? Hotel Erzsebet City Center is without a doubt a great place to stay.
Erzsebet City Center in Budapest – nice and cheap with three stars
The prices are much lower than those of most other hotels nearby, but you get high quality and a centrally located hotel in return. One of the best choices if you want location and quality at a low cost.
Mercure Korona – If you come with a large bus and want to park a bus next to the hotel
If you do not live in Budapest, you might not understand this, but if you do – you will! It is often a nightmare for groups who arrive with large buses from the airport (or from their own country and city) to park next to their hotel. Often they will find themselves dropped off a 5-minute walk from the hotel (or more), and that isn’t very ideal if you carry a lot of luggage, if it is raining, or so on. If it is important to you to live in a hotel that can have a bus park just next to it (and also pick you up on the same location), Mercure Korona is the number one hotel to pick for you.
Mercure Korona – a hotel ideal for larger groups
It is centrally located, only 3-4 minutes on foot from the Grand Market Hall and the shopping street Vaci utca. You will find lots of amazing restaurants in the vicinity of the hotel, and it is also extremely easy to reach from the airport, making sure that you do not have to spend lots of unnecessary time in traffic before you arrive to the hotel. And, it will also save you quite a lot of minutes as you depart from your hotel in order to get back to the airport. The hotel has four stars!
Aria Hotel – One of the most complete hotel experiences in Budapest
Would you like to visit a hotel that has a rooftop bar with a beautiful view over Budapest, freshly pressed juice for breakfast, floors, and rooms with classical music style and named after famous composers and just one of the nicest hotel experiences available in all of Budapest? Hotel Aria the hotel to pick.
An amazing view and a fantastic interior at the Aria Hotel in Budapest
Hotel Aria is located next to the St. Stephen’s Basilica, one of the nicest areas in Budapest and very centrally located. From here you can reach all central locations in a short time, while enjoying a stay in one of the most praised hotels in all of Budapest.
7Seasons Apartments – If you want an apartment with space for more people together
It is always nice to stay together with friends and family in an apartment as you come to Budapest. Not only do you have more space to live in, but you can also cook your own food, make your own breakfast, and save quite a lot of money compared to living in a hotel. But, which apartment should you choose?
If you want to live in an apartment in Budapest, 7Seasons is the answer
There are lots of apartments available in Budapest, but if you want to go for one of the safest bets with a central location in Budapest, go for 7Seasons Apartments. It has a beautiful reception, and it almost feels like a hotel, but at the same time you will get very nice prices and big rooms with space for the entire family at the same time.
Mercure City Center – If you want four stars in the shopping street with good prices
For those who want to live in the shopping street of Budapest in a nice four-star hotel, Mercure City Center might be what you are looking for. The hotel is super central, and normally they have very good rates available. Once you leave the building you can walk around in the shopping street of Budapest, and you can also eat in a very nice Italian restaurant located next to the entrance of the building.
Leave the hotel and walk in the shopping street if you stay in Mercure City Center.
It is easy to get to the hotel with smaller cars (ideal for smaller groups), while larger groups might have trouble parking just next to the hotel.
This is still a perfect solution for those who want to live in the very heart of the best part of the shopping street in a four star hotel with nice prices.
Hotel Marriott – Five stars with a view towards the Danube
This is one of our favorite hotels in Budapest, at least if you want to live in a hotel where all rooms look in the direction of the Danube River. Here you can enjoy the view towards the Castle Hill, the Chain Bridge, the Gellert Hill, the Elisabeth Bridge, and see all the nice and romantic boats on the River Danube from the window of your room. The hotel also has an amazing fitness room which will let you enjoy this stunning view while doing your daily amount of exercise.
Marriott is the hotel to stay in if you want a magnificent panorama towards the Danube.
Hotel Marriott is a nice five-star hotel and they also have a parking lot next to the hotel where you might be lucky enough to park with a big bus as well, making this an ideal hotel for those who want to live in luxury by the Danube in Budapest, or for groups who want to stay centrally in Budapest for their conference or trip to Budapest.
Hilton Buda – If you like retro and the Hilton brand
We normally don’t recommend the Hilton Buda hotel, simply because it is located on the Buda side and most people spend 85% of their time on the Pest side as they visit Budapest. But, if you want to live in one of the most interesting hotels in Budapest, Hilton Buda still might be the number one place to go.
This hotel is built on the ruins of an old monastery, making it a tourist attraction in itself. Here you can taste wine in an old wine cellar, enjoy a panorama view towards the Danube, and dine in a restaurant with view towards the Hungarian Parliament and other sights. Few hotels are located in such beautiful surroundings in Budapest, and as you can see on the picture beneath, it is located next to the Matthias Church and the Fishermen’s Bastion.
Hilton Buda is located at one of the most beautiful locations in all of Budapest.
The district itself is peaceful, especially early in the morning and in the evening as most tourists leave the area to return to the Pest side.
Hotel Gozsdu Court – If you want a nice, modern, three-star hotel in the heart of the busy seventh district
The seventh district of Budapest is well known for its amazing life. Here you can find some of the most popular ruin pubs in Budapest, and here you will have things happening all around you from early morning till early morning (again). The Gozsdu Court is an amazing area, and here you can find lots of restaurants and street-food, small stores, and one of the busiest areas of the town for those who want to enjoy life, eat delicious food and have a good time.
Hotel Gozsdu Court is perfect for those who want an apartment/hotel in the busy seventh district of Budapest.
The area is very close to the heart of the city, so it is only 5-6 minutes of walk from the hotel to get to the shopping street and, in a few more minutes, be by the River Danube. This place is ideal for families and larger groups as they have apartments available with as much as three bedrooms available.
As you might have noticed, almost all the hotels on this list are located on the Pest side. That is simply due to the fact that most people spend 85% of their time in Budapest on the Pest side. An average visitor will visit the Buda side to visit the Gellert Hill and the Castle area, but they will spend most of their time eating, drinking and doing their shopping on the Pest side. For that reason, we normally recommend our visitors to live on the Pest side, and rather just get across the Danube to visit the Buda-side whenever that is needed.
More programs worth checking out in Budapest
When you come to Budapest, it is important to stay in a nice hotel. But, it is just as important to book a table in the best restaurants and to make reservations for the important programs that you want to enjoy while in the city.
Did you know that we can help you out with several awesome programs in Budapest? We can, for example, help you out with some of these programs.
These are just some of the services we can help you with as you come to Budapest. Make sure to read more about the activities you are interested in, and contact us if we can help you out with any of the selected activities and programs.
If you have any further comments or questions about hotels in Budapest, use the comment field beneath and we will do our best to assist you with answers and help!
If you run a Windows computer, you might see different pictures from all across the world whenever your computer starts up. Yesterday, a picture from Budapest suddenly showed up, portraying the amazing Fishermen’s bastion.
The Windows opening picture as of December 11th, 2019
The text in the picture says as follows:
Why this building is called a bastion, no one really knows – it never actually defended the great city below. It’s probably just a fish story.
Windows startup picture, December 11th – 2019
It is a great joy to see Budapest getting some attention from Microsoft and the world, and maybe this will attract some more visitors to Budapest.
But, what is the truth behind the Fishermen’s Bastion? Well, the name comes because of the look. It is true that is has never actually defended the city, but it was built as an attraction and was named after the fishermen who guarded that part of the wall surrounding the castle several hundred years ago.
In other words, there is no big mystery related to the actual Fishermen’s Bastion. So, come and check it out for yourself and enjoy Budapest with all its magnificent attractions, amazing food, and interesting programs.
Are you coming to Budapest to visit the Christmas markets this year? Or are you sad that you cannot visit the Christmas markets in 2019? Take a look at these pictures from the Christmas markets and get a taste of the atmosphere.
The Christmas markets will remain open until January 1st. The market at the Vörösmarty square is amazing, and so is the market in front of the Stephen’s Basilica.
Are you getting eager to visit the Christmas markets yourself? That is easy to understand.
Do not forget to plan your stay in Budapest! There are lots of tourists coming, meaning that many restaurants are fully booked, and we are doing more guided tours in December than any other month of the year. In other words, if you want to enjoy a guided tour, an airport transfer, a winetasting, or maybe a dinner in a brewery, book it as quickly as possible!
November 8th was the opening day for the Christmas market at Vorosmarty square in Budapest in 2019. We were there on the opening day to take some pictures, and here you can take a look at them.
They weren’t completely finished with the preparations yet as we visited the Christmas market on November 8th.
The Christmas market at the Vorosmarty square is the most famous in Budapest. In 2019, it seems to be a bit smaller than it normally is, due to works currently happening at the square. In the last years, all the food establishments have been located in the middle of the square, and this area has been surrounded by places where you can buy all sorts of products. This year, the food stalls are located on one side of the square, and on the other side of the square, you can purchase all sorts of products and handmade art. In other words, by the time of the opening of the Christmas market, it was only half the amount of normal stalls from which you can purchase products compared to the previous years. However, the quality of the products available was very high, so you have a lot to look forward to, no matter what!
Shopping at the Christmas market in Budapest
You probably know that the annual Christmas markets are about eating just as much as shopping. So, there will be a lot of delicious food waiting for you as you visit the Christmas market in Budapest at the Vorosmarty square. Beneath, you can see a picture showing the traditional Langos, one of the finest meals in Hungary, at least at festivals and at markets like this one.
You can eat Langos at the Christmas market on the Vorosmarty square.
Do not miss out on the Fashion Street
When you visit the Christmas market at the Vorosmarty square, make sure to walk along the Fashion street as well. This is a very nicely decorated street, and in the end (as you reach the Deak square), you will find one more market (much smaller) that is still worth visiting.
A picture from the Fashion street in Budapest
I guess you need no more proof… Budapest is beautiful before Christmas, and you have plenty of reasons to visit the city in 2019.
If you want more information about airport transfers in Budapest, book a wine dinner, or maybe arrange with a river cruise in Budapest before your arrival, read on here in the Budapest Guide at www.hungarybudapestguide.com.
Are you eager to taste some Hungarian goose liver while in Budapest? You don’t have to run to a gourmet restaurant and spend lots of money. Instead, you can simply visit a local McDonald’s restaurant and order a new burger, the Goosey Gustav burger.
It is important to know that the Goosey Gustav burger is a temporary burger, meaning that it cannot be found on the permanent menu. As a result, you will most likely not find this if you come to Budapest in a year or more. However, those who will visit Budapest in the coming months will have the chance to enjoy this “gourmet-burger” in McDonald’s.
Goosey Gustav in McDonald’s… burger with real Hungarian goose liver.
The price of the Goosey Gustav sandwich is 2000 HUF (6 Euro). If you want to buy it in a menu, the price is 2700 HUF, which then includes fries and a drink as well.
What is the Goosey Gustav judgment?
If you want a gourmet meal in Budapest, don’t go to McDonald’s (I guess that doesn’t come as a shock). But, if you want to simply taste some goose liver and go home and brag about how you ate goose liver in Hungary, this can actually get the job done.
The taste of the burger is nice, and it is easy to enjoy, even for those who are skeptic about the taste of goose liver. The dressing is nice, and the meat used is also tasty. Some will complain and say that the authentic goose liver taste has been liquidated (meaning that it doesn’t have a strong enough taste), but many people will enjoy this burger exactly for that reason.
You can buy the Goosey Gustav with sweet fries.
You can decide to purchase the Goosey Gustav with sweet fries instead of traditional fries. It costs you more, but it is absolutely worth it. If you haven’t tasted the sweet potato fries yet, this is a great chance. If you have tasted it, you probably understand why we recommend it so warmly!
Have you tasted the goose liver burger in McDonald’s? How did you like it? Want to know more about the price of a Big Mac in Budapest? Or would you rather enjoy a wine dinner in Budapest with Hungarian wines and delicious meals?
Look around in our Budapest Guide for more information and inspiration!
During the summer of 2019, a terrible accident happened on the river Danube as a ship with more than 20 passengers sank after a collision with another boat. This leads many people to ask whether or not it is actually safe to do a river cruise in Budapest? Here you will find the answers and the information you need!
If you have ever seen a picture of Budapest, you have most likely seen the beautiful Danube as well. It is amazing as it divides the city of Budapest into Buda and Pest, and it can be crossed on one of many bridges. The most famous of the bridges is the Chain Bridge, the first bridge that was built. It was finished in 1849. But, do you know why it took such a long time for a bridge to be constructed at all? Because of the current! There is so much water floating down the river at all seconds, making it a much harder river to control than, for example, the Charles Bridge in Prague (a bridge that was built more than 500 years earlier).
River cruise in Budapest – is it safe?
There is a lot of water passing by at any second, and the normal rate is somewhere between 2500-3000 m3 per second. But, in times of flooding (which it was during the time of the accident), the amount of water can increase to around 6000 m3 per second. The most extreme amount ever measured was more than 10,000 m3 per second.
Swimming in the Danube
The quality of the water in the Danube has improved lately, and at some locations, people do swim in the Danube. But, that is not in the main river, but at smaller extensions of the river without the strong current. There is an annual competition in Budapest where one can swim across the Danube by the Liberty Bridge, but every single participant is followed by a boat in order to be able to pick them up in case they do not manage. In other words, if you do not have great swimming skills, the Danube can be a really scary river.
If you are a great swimmer, it can still be dangerous, especially close to the bridges where underwater currents can pull you down towards the bottom before you are pressed towards the surface once again. During normal circumstances, the deepest parts of the Danube within the borders of Budapest is around 6 meters deep. But, when the river floods, it can easily reach 10 meters and more.
The conclusion is: Do not swim in the Danube when in Budapest, do not even try to swim, and warn any others that even consider getting close to the river.
What about a river cruise in Budapest?
There are many river cruises available in Budapest, and lots of companies working with providing awesome tours that give tourists fantastic memories. You never hear much about them, simply because they get no attention, and because there are no accidents. The only time you hear about them is when something happens. Luckily, that is very seldom, and that is why you never heard about it before the accident on May 29th in 2019.
As long as you stay on the ship (and not in the water), there is no problem and no need to worry before you board a river cruise in Budapest. The ships are also well equipped, meaning there are safety vests available for all passengers. During the accident on May 29th, things went so fast that they didn’t have time to get any such equipment. The accident was caused by human error, something that might just as well happen on a bus, in a taxi, or in an airplane.
The conclusion is: You shouldn’t worry at all about taking a river cruise in Budapest. It is very safe, the boats are controlled and well-equipped, and it will give you a memory for a lifetime as you enjoy the view and the food/drinks served on board.
Maybe it sounds dangerous considering the strong current. Of course, it does. But, doesn’t it sound dangerous to sit in a box of metal at 10,000 meters? Wouldn’t be fund to fall out from there either, would it? In other words, stay on the plane and stay on the boat, and you will be safe and have an enjoyable time!
What are your thoughts/questions?
These are some pure facts and thoughts related to whether or not it is safe to go on a river cruise in Budapest. Do you have some experience that you would like to share? Or do you have a question related to the river Danube or some specific river cruise in Budapest? Write your question or comment in beneath!
