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Winter in Budapest can be particularly cold with a lack of sunlight, so the spring or summer is by far the best time to go - the warmer weather usually lasts from April through until October. For seven days in August the city plays host to a large open air festival, and the 20th of August is a national holiday, featuring parties, music and fireworks by the Danube.
Bargain hunters will appreciate the deals to be had in Budapest, as prices for most goods and services are cheaper than in the UK, particularly compared with London. Foodies will delight at the high quality cuisine on offer for comparatively low prices - about 1500 HUF for lunch and 300 HUF for a pint of local beer.
There is a wide choice of holiday accommodation available in Budapest, with hostels available for roughly 2500 HUF a night, and three star hotels for 6000 HUF. Taxis are much cheaper than in London, so holidaymakers laden down with heavy luggage may wish to use this method to travel from the airport to their accommodation. Alternatively, an airport transfer is available using the express train to Nyugati Railway Station, which takes about 35 minutes and costs about 620 HUF. Bus 200E takes around 50 minutes for 450 HUF.
Otherwise, getting around is simple and cost effective, with a single ticket on the bus costing about 450 HUF or 1650 HUF for a day travel card. It's also worth investing in a Budapest Card, which offers 24 hours of travel as well as discounts in some major museums for 4500 HUF. Alternatively, Budapest is a fantastic city to explore by bike - rentals are available for about 1800 for half a day. A top tip is to not devote too much time to Váci Street. The city's main tourist trap, the street is worth a visit, but a more authentic Hungarian experience is better had elsewhere in the city, and will likely cost a lot less.