The Christmas markets are great and you will be very near to the one in Vorosmarty Ter. You are also very close to Vaci utca, the tourist shopping street.

The location is VERY central, so you actually aren't far from anything.

This recent conversation has some good suggestions (tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g274887-i263-k1947…) as does (tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g274887-i263-k1667…), including Fatal, which si practically at your doorstep,

Hi Padraig

yes, the buda markets are similar to others across e Europe and are great fun just to wander around with a glass of hot Mulled Wine!!

A couple of other suggestions are :

Ice Skating - there is a huge ice rink behind Heros square, or smaller one behing the Westend Shopping centre. This is one of the largest shopping centers in E.Europe with over 350 shops.

The Labyrinth over in the Buda side is worth a visit and for a more sobering hour or two, the holocust muesum is also very interesting.

We didnt have time to fit in a trip to the Baths but they would be worth a visit if time allows.

Enjoy your trip - we where there for New Years last year and had a great time.

Thanks to you all for your suggestions. I’m not sure if ice-skating at my age would would be tempting fate a little, but the shopping centre will appeal to my wife. We will certainly visit the Labyrinth.

The links I found useful, particularly the article on fast food in Budapest. I also love the idea of browsing round the local markets.

By the way we are both senior citizens – young ones I may add! Are there any concessions? I’ve come across some in Czech and Poland.

I forgot to mention a visit to the opera house is also a good way to pass an hour. This wouldnt normally be my type of thing, but I found I really enjoyed it.

The tours are at 3 & 4pm daily and you need to be there about 10 minutes beforehand to buy your ticket (8 euro I think)

www.opera.hu/index_e.php…

Thanks for that info. I quite enjoy those guided tours. Seems reasonably priced as well.

We went there last December have been to Prague on previous years and loved it. The Market had lots of genuine Artisans makeing there own goods in leater, glass, ceramics, wood, knitting and lots more [Non of your usual Chineese imports]. If you want to eat really cheeply and have really good food go to the main covered food market where you can have a great goulash and a 250ml glass of good red wine for about €4.

Thanks, Mike for your comments. I also found Prague market an interesting one. I expect Buda will be much the same. I'll give the goulash a go!

I'm still trying to find out if there are any travel concessions for senior citizens. Anybody out there have any info?

if you are above 65 year old and EU citizent then the public transport is free.

you can even travel free on domestic bus and train as well.

Thank you for that valuable piece of informatio.

I am over 65 so presumably all I have to do is to produce my Irish senior citizen pass if I am stopped?

Just started to look into a trip to Budapest What are the Christmas markets and when do they start? What is the weather like the end of October?