Hungary

European Caravan sites

http://www.europe-camping-guide.com/ 

Hungary Caravan sites

http://www.europe-camping-guide.com/en/list/hungary/

Post Museum Budapest http://www.postamuzeum.hu/indexa.html

A visit to Hungary must include Budapest.

Houses of Parliament, Budapest - © TravelNotes.

Situated on the River Danube, the city of Budapest is split into two natural halves.

Buda

The community of Buda is on the west bank of the Danube and contains many relics of almost 150 years of Turkish occupation. The former royal residence is in the Castle District, with the famous spas below it.

The Castle District is best visited in late afternoon when the Houses of Parliament, across the Danube in Pest, will look better in your photographs or videos.

A drink in the Hilton is pricy, but it is a good place to escape the heat and the crowds. We prefer to order a bottle of Tokai and sit at an outside table; on the ramparts of Fisherman's Bastion, overlooking Pest.

Pest

Apart from the Houses of Parliament, another must see in Pest is Heroes' Square. Here the Arpad generations, and other monarchs are cast in a large arc depicting the history of Hungary.

Vaci Utca is the notorious pedestrian area, a few streets back from the Danube. It is not uncommon for women to approach men and take them to unscrupulous bars were large bills are produced for a few drinks.

It amazes me how some tourists, or businesmen, can fall for such tricks. The girls say that they are students visiting Budapest, but it's all a part of the racket.

There have been a spate of bombings, bank robberies, and daylight shotings in the capital, but on the whole Budapest is as safe as any other city.

Don't walk the streets with all your money in your back-pocket and check the price lists before you order. If there are no price lists, walk away. It will spare your blushes with the heavies later.

The Budapest Sun is the English-language weekly that is sold in most kiosks and distributed free through the major hotels. Get a copy and find out more about where to go and what's going on.

Around Hungary

How much of Hungary you can see on your visit depends on your time restrictions.

Lake Balaton is the largest freshwater lake in Central Europe, and is crowded with bargain-hunting Germans during the summer months.

There are plenty of Zimmer Frei signs, so it's a case of driving around. Prices are often quoted in Euro; the de facto second currency of Hungary.

Without a car, you are restricted to visiting the major towns. The rail network is good and cheap, even in first class.

Hortobágy, the oldest stone bridge in Hungary - © Travel Notes.

The Danube Bend is a good excursion from Budapest.

Szentendre is the compact artists' town of narrow winding cobble-stoned streets and little pastel coloured houses turned into galleries.

Visegrád is where the Romans built fortifications and the Hungarian Kings established a hunting ground in the 250 sq.km. Pilis Forest.

Esztergom was also a royal seat and Hungary's first capital. St. Stephen was born and coronated here, and the famous Basilica is the seat of the Cardinal of the Hungarian Roman Catholic Church. Across the river is Slovakia.

Budapest, Hungary Average Weather

Month	Average Sunlight (hours)	Temperature				Discomfort from heat and humidity	Relative humidity		Average Precipitation (mm)	Wet Days (+0.25 mm)
		Average		Record
		Min	Max	Min	Max		am	pm
Jan	2	-4	1	-23	14	-	85	76	37	13
Feb	3	-2	4	-20	17	-	83	68	44	12
March (expected)	5	2	10	-9	23	-	79	55	38	11
April	7	7	17	-3	29	-	72	48	45	11
May	8	11	22	1	33	-	72	49	72	13
June	9	15	26	4	39	Moderate	72	49	69	13
July	10	16	28	6	38	Medium	71	47	56	10
Aug	9	16	27	8	39	Moderate	74	47	47	9
Sept	7	12	23	2	35	-	79	49	33	7
Oct	5	7	16	-5	32	-	86	60	57	10
Nov	2	3	8	-8	21	-	88	76	70	14
Dec	1	-1	4	-13	15	-	87	81	46	13