Where to Stay, What to Eat

Neighbourhoods

• Castle District (District I) Romantic and quiet at night, but hilly and further from restaurants.
• Belváros / Inner City (District V) Central, walkable and close to the river. Best for a first visit.
• Jewish Quarter (District VII) Street art, cafes and the famous “ruin bars” set in old courtyards. Lively (and noisy) at night.
• Andrássy Avenue area (District VI) Elegant, near the Opera, with good metro links.

Dishes to try

• Gulyás (goulash) a paprika beef soup, not a stew.
• Csirkepaprikás chicken in paprika-sour cream sauce with little dumplings.
• Lángos deep-fried dough with sour cream and cheese.
• Kürtőskalács (chimney cake) sweet spiral pastry baked over coals.
• Dobos torte layered sponge with a caramel top.
• To drink: Tokaji dessert wine, Egri Bikavér red, and fiery fruit pálinka.

Grand cafés

Budapest’s coffee houses are an institution. Expect gilded ceilings, fine cakes and tourist-level prices at the most famous ones.