Budapest in one day

💡Tram 2 is the best viewpoint in the city and costs one fare

It runs right along the Danube on the Pest side, with the Parliament and the castle opposite. One single ticket, twenty minutes, and you see in one go what others pay for by boat.

💡The tap water is fine and there are fountains everywhere

Don't buy bottles: Budapest's water is good and there are drinking fountains in the parks and stations. In restaurants you have to ask for it, because they'll bring bottled by default.

💡Take flip-flops to the baths — you'll want them

Swimsuit, flip-flops and towel: renting a towel there costs almost as much as the ticket. Buy the entry online to skip the queue, and go first thing or after seven in the evening.

💡Here you pay in forints, not euros

Plenty of places take euros and charge you a terrible rate for the privilege. Pay by card in forints and, if the terminal offers to charge you in euros, say no: that always works out worse.

💡Don't clink glasses when toasting with beer

It goes back to 1849 and is half a joke now, but it still grates on older Hungarians. With wine or pálinka, clink all you like; with beer, you just raise the glass.