Tips for visiting Budapest

• Budapest Card — Supposedly gets you into attractions at reduced price (even free). Some of the major attractions, though, are missing (i.e., Parliament, which costs a fortune). It saved us enough money to pay for itself, but just barely — and with conscious effort, too.
• Make an effort to be there on 20 August. The height of tourist season, but the fireworks show that evening will be beyond anything in your wildest imagination.
• If you're planning an August trip, leave the jeans and long-sleeve shirts behind. "But what if it get's cold?" You'll only wish it did.
• Go swimming in the Gellért Hotel's pools. Pricey, but you'll never get another chance to swim in a pool like that . . .
• The History of Budapest museum on castle hill — skip it. The exhibits are a little dry, to be honest.
• Go to the ethnographic museum across from the Parliament Even if you don't get any further than main hall, it will be worth the 500 Forent admission fee.
• Learn a little German before going. Honestly, forget Hungarian because you'll need a year's course just to manage the pronunciation. Most folks speak English (especially in shops and restaurants), but there were a few cases where German would have helped.
• Make a day-trip to Szentedre, a small city about twenty kilometers to the north. You can get there by public transportation, or rent a bike and ride there on a "bike path." But be forewarned: the bike path is poorly marked in some sections and difficult or impossible to follow. And it's very bumpy.
• If you're going to go to the Gellért Hotel's pool, take a real swim cap with you. Otherwise, you'll be issued a blue "cap" that will make you feel more like a lunch lady than a tourist.
• Check to see if the museum requires photo tickets. If not, it's probably a crappy museum.
• Try the traditional Hungarian fish soup, but if you're with a friend, share a single serving. It's worth it for the experience, but not the tastiest thing I've ever had.