Budapest

Where to Stay:
• HomePlus Hostel: It’s brand new (just opened in January 2008 or something like that) and super inexpensive (look it up on hostelworld.com). The owner is so nice and helpful, he booked all of our tours and dinners for us, and he speaks very good English.
What to See/Do:
• Take either a guided walking tour or a bus tour so you can see the whole city. The city is divided by a river; one side is “Buda” and the other is “Pest.”
• Terror Museum: Used to be both the Nazi and Communist headquarters. Get headsets because most of it is in Hungarian and it would have been much better to have more explanations. Make sure to go to the bottom basement level.
• Hero’s Square: Area with monuments and museums. There was a protest going on when I was there so watch out!
• Parliament Building
• Castle
• Basilica
• Synagogue: Biggest synagogue in Europe (very cool).
• Danube River: Make sure to walk across the bridge at night for a beautiful view of the city.
• Spas: Budapest is built on hot springs, so visit one of the baths.
• We went to this really nice all you-can-eat/all-you-can-drink restaurant which was so much fun. I’m not sure whether it’s on the Buda or the Pest side, but it’s literally right at the end of the bridge so you can’t miss it. If you stay at HomePlus Hostel, ask him and he’ll know exactly what you’re talking about.
• Studio: Huge euro nightclub!