This tips and tricks will help you plan your first trip to Budapest and Prague.
Budapest and Prague are two very different cities in two very different countries in mid and eastern Europe. Somehow, they always seem to be clubbed together specially for first time travelers. It helps that they’re easily connected via road and rail with just a 4-hour commute and hence makes it attractive for tourists. This post is to help you plan your holiday better and maximize the best out of both cities.
BUDAPEST
The capital city of Hungary by the banks of the Danube River is simply put – magnificent. The city is actually split by the river with one half called Buda and the other Pest. Each side holds enough adventure, sightseeing and pretty views to make it a memorable trip where ever you stay.
Tours That Made Budapest Easy To Explore
While most consider this touristy, one of my favourite ways to explore a new city is through the Hop On Hop Off Bus tour and this one in Budapest is perfect as it rides through all the prominent landmarks like St Stephen’s Basilica, the river cruise – although you can book this sperate tour to experience the river cruise at night.
Buda Castle is another fascinating historical landmark that is worth visiting.
A unique way to experience Budapest is by taking a night tour to see a different landscape and scenery. Home to folklore and vampires, this spooky night tour of Budapest highlights trendy spots like Fisherman’s Bastion etc all with an actor in costume regaling folklore and tales from the spookier side of Budapest. Don’t worry it isn’t very scary, but it is great fun.
Free Walking Tours are another great way to experience the city. They’re not always free per say, a small tip is expected at the end. However, if you book on line like I did, the booking fee covers the cost and tip and you get to walk around with a local giving you some excellent insight.
Another unusual sightseeing attraction that is immensely popular in Budapest is the Thermal Baths. Hungarians seem to love lounging this large indoor and outdoor baths and saunas to have a relaxing day and after all that hectic walking it’s a great way to relax and cool off. There are many baths to choose from but the most popular is the Szechenyi Thermal Bath and Swimming Pool which is also the one I went to and would personally recommend. It’s advised to book your slot which I did in advance to avoid crowd and to ensure you get space as sometime on the spot bookings aren’t available specially in high season.
PRAGUE
Prague is an enchanting city in Czech Republic full of history and pretty spots. It is an attractive tourist spot so at almost anytime of the year you can expect large crowds. There are many important sites which shouldn’t be missed like the main old town city center, the famous Astronomical clock and the Jewish quarters.
An easy way to experience Prague is to start with an immersive walking tour around the city center and old town. This particular walking tour is the one I did and helped tremendously to discover most of the important stops in the city. Once again getting the hop on hop off bus is super convenient in Prague and their audio guide is helpful. While the bus will take you to the famous Prague castle, the tickets for that however aren’t included. You will need a separate ticket to enter and also need a little more time to explore the castle.
Prague also has its own city card which can be useful if you’re planning to stay longer. The city card includes free transportation across the city and a one-time free entry into certain museums and attractions. It also includes discounts at shops and restaurants. Personally, I prefer to stick to the hop on hop off bus and walk around. Trams and subways are cheap and in a worse case Uber is convenient so I don’t necessarily think the city makes sense.
Where To Stay In Prague and Budapest
There are many hotels, Airbnb’s and hostels to choose from in Prague. It all depends on how much you’re willing to spend and how close to city attractions you’d like to be. These are the hotels I stayed at in Prague however in Budapest I stayed at this Airbnb.
These are some recommendations for other accommodations.
You can always add on to this itienrary and end your trip in Munich Germany. There’s a lot to explore In Munich and my YouTube video shows you just want to experience. It’s an easy 4 hour train ride away from Prague making it an easy stop.