Question: London, Budapest, Prague and Amsterdam - Recommendations

[elemmac]

The husband and I are heading to Europe in November. He's playing in a beer league hockey tournament in Prague with some friends, and I'm tagging along for the travel/site seeing. We have a long layover (about 12 hours) in London, then going to Budapest for 2 days, Prague for 4 days, then during our travels home we'll be in Amsterdam for about 24 hours.

I spent a semester in Budapest in 2007, so knew the city pretty well back then, but that was 17 years ago . I've also been to Amsterdam...but as a 21-year-old. So, priorities, interests, and budget have certainly changed since then haha. I've only been to airports in London, so looking forward to the long layover to see a little bit.

Anyone recently travel to any of these cities? Must-see sites, tours, activities? Food...I'm a self-proclaimed foodie...I love to seek out hidden gems and amazing tastes when I travel. My husband and I barely ever do "site-seeing" travel, it's normally travel to bike, ski, snowboard, or some other activity in nature.

Searching for any and all advice you have on these cities....

 

[geargrrl]

Budapest:
There is a restaurant in the Old Jewish Quarter called Ghetto Goulash.... to die for.
We did a walking history tour that was very informative; booked it through Airbnb experiences.
There is an app called Traces of War that identifies all the historical war related monuments from the Stepping Stones to statues and memorials.

 

[elemmac]

There is a restaurant in the Old Jewish Quarter called Ghetto Goulash.... to die for.

Pinned it! I love the Jewish Quarter in Budapest, and we're staying at a hotel right outside of that part of town...I'll definitely check that one out.

Thanks for the rec on Traces of War, I'll check it out.

 

[badger]

Just the fact that you even can ask these questions about your trip has me over-jealous and drooling.

 

[geargrrl]

Pinned it! I love the Jewish Quarter in Budapest, and we're staying at a hotel right outside of that part of town...I'll definitely check that one out.

Thanks for the rec on Traces of War, I'll check it out.

The app I mentioned is good for ...everywhere.... You can either stand in front of something and locate yourself, then it will ID it, or you can search an area to see what's there.
This is how we first learned about the Stepping Stones that you will see in the cobbles all over Europe.

STOLPERSTEINE: HOME

 

[Divegirl]

Sorry long post - I was in Budapest and Prague last September. I've also been to Amsterdam a couple times. Granted I was there in warmer months. Also I am not a museum person - I love walking around the cities and exploring on my own. I found all 3 cities very walkable with a either a print map or google maps and a guide book. All have spectacular architecture. Here's what I did - some on my own some as part of a tour - I tend to ignore the guides and wander off...

Budapest -
Great Market Hall - all sorts of meats, veg, spices, pastries and chocolates - I brought home saffron, sweet paprika and smoked sweet paprika and chocolates. Upper floor is all kinds of non-food stuff. Kind of like Reading Terminal Market in Philly
Fisherman's Bastion - up by Buda castle - awesome views of the city. You can ride a funicular to the top. Also Matthias Church - gorgeous but it was closed for an event. We had lunch at the fortress but it was so hot we didn't try any of the Hungarian dishes just some lovely salads. We did try Chimney cake which more like danish than a cake and very filling.
Budapest along the Danube is lit up at night and is gorgeous. I don't know if any local cruise company does a night cruise on the Danube

Prague
Walk to Old Town and see the Astronomical Clock - Prague's clock strikes on the hour rather than just noon
Walk across the Charles Bridge - famous for all its religious statues - crosses the Vtlava River.
Prague Castle - Walk around the grounds, St Vitus Cathedral is gorgeous - the stained glass windows beautiful. I wasn't as thrilled w the Lobkowicz Palace but they had some wonderful collections. I think I was getting tired.

Amsterdam
A tour of the city by canal boat
I also did a bike tour but the weather in November might be good for a bike ride
Try Stroopwaffels - caramel filled waffle cookies and tosties (Netherlands' version of grilled cheese)

 

[elemmac]

Also I am not a museum person - I love walking around the cities and exploring on my own.

Sounds like we have a very similar travel style.

Thank you for the thoughts on Budapest and Prague. I love the sound of doing a night cruise in the Danube, I’ll look into that option. The Great Market is on my must hit list.

How was the canal cruise in Amsterdam? My husband mentioned he’d really like to do that. Worth it?

 

[Skier31]

Budapest: Go the baths.. Google and find the ones where the locals go. An amazing experience. If you want to go to the parliament, get tickets before you go. I missed going there and wished I would have.

Amsterdam: go to the van Gogh Museum. Get tickets. Get tickets for the opening time. It will be less crowded and it is an amazing experience. Get tickets for the Anne Frank house. That is also an incredible experience.

 

[Divegirl]

@elemmac - we loved the canal tours. The boats are long, narrow and low to the water so they can fit in the canal and go under the bridges. Not much head room - DH couldn't stand up unless the roof was open then again he's 6' 7". They give you a unique perspective as you are looking up at the city. You get a nice look at all the canal boats people still live on. The guides point out buildings and their architecture and significance. There's at least 1 spot where 6 or 7 bridges all line up together as you pass by.

 

[elemmac]

Budapest: Go the baths.. Google and find the ones where the locals go. An amazing experience. If you want to go to the parliament, get tickets before you go. I missed going there and wished I would have.

When I was there, I had gone a handful of times to the picturesque Szchenyeni bath, as it was close to my apartment. At first I was thinking that I wanted to take my husband there, for the nostalgic feeling of going back to places I've been...but I really like the idea of exploring one of the local, lesser-known baths. I'll take a look at others.

Amsterdam: go to the van Gogh Museum. Get tickets. Get tickets for the opening time. It will be less crowded and it is an amazing experience. Get tickets for the Anne Frank house. That is also an incredible experience.

I'll take a look at the hours of the Van Gogh Museum, we may end up missing it due to timing of arrival/departure. I'm not normally a museum goer, but that is one I'd like to see. I had gone to the Anne Frank house the first time I was in Amsterdam...certainly an experience. I think it would be interesting to go back after watching Small Light...mini series from Nat Geo about Miep Gies (the woman how helped hide the Frank family) and understanding more of what the family went through.

 

[Christy]

I'm not sure I considered myself a museum person before going to the Van Gogh Museum, AND renting an audioguide there (it was the first time I'd done that). Turns out when I'm actually learning about the art rather than breezing by it just reading the tiny placards, it's a game changer. Now it's the only way I'd visit a museum.

 

[elemmac]

I'm not sure I considered myself a museum person before going to the Van Gogh Museum, AND renting an audioguide there (it was the first time I'd done that).

Interesting...I don't think I would have considered doing that. But I'm certainly not opposed to trying it.

Looks like the museum is open from 9AM-5PM on the day(s) we'll be there. So might be able to make an afternoon stop to check it out. I think we land around noon and departing around noon the next day...so really not a ton of time. I'm putting this one on the short list

 

[MrsPlow]

I'm assuming you're flying into Heathrow?

If you're not museumed out, you could get the underground from Heathrow to South Kensington and visit one or all of the science, natural history and the Victoria and Albert museums. The buildings alone are worth seeing.

Check that the trains are running beforehand though. There have been strikes over the past few years.

 

[scandium]

London:
Having an afternoon tea is a quintessentially British thing if that's of interest to you; the Kensington Palace Orangery was my favourite for the surrounding environment, and is good for a wander afterwards

 

[MrsPlow]

Prague has a giant metronome and a miniature Eiffel tower, if you fancy something a little different.

 

[elemmac]

I'm assuming you're flying into Heathrow?

Yes, in and out of Heathrow. Good to know about strikes that have gone on…we are planning on using the train to get out of the airport. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[marzNC]

Yes, in and out of Heathrow. Good to know about strikes that have gone on…we are planning on using the train to get out of the airport. Thanks for the heads up.

It's a been quite a while since I flew to Heathrow a few times for business trips. Finding the train was easy as I remember. It helped that a colleague gave me enough UK money to buy the train ticket so I didn't have to change money immediately just for that. The flights arrived early in the morning local time, usually before 8am. These days I would guess a credit card would work in the ticket machine.

 

[elemmac]

It's a been quite a while since I flew to Heathrow a few times for business trips. Finding the train was easy as I remember. It helped that a colleague gave me enough UK money to buy the train ticket so I didn't have to change money immediately just for that. The flights arrived early in the morning local time, usually before 8am. These days I would guess a credit card would work in the ticket machine.

I’ve been through Heathrow, despite being massive it’s been pretty straightforward for where to go. But I’ve never taken the train from there…so good to hear it’s relatively easy to find.

Your story reminds me of my first time flying thru London…and my first time flying internationally. I booked my ticket, Boston to Barcelona. I land at Heathrow, look at my ticket for where I need to go and something wasn’t adding up. My ticket had me going to the “South Terminal” (or something like that) and all I see are signs for numbered terminals. I asked an airport employee where I needed to go…they say “go down the escalator, pickup your checked luggage, follow the signs for ground transportation, and take bus number 9. It’s about a 45 minute ride”. It was at that moment I realized I booked an airline ticket that transferred airports . And yes…they only took cash for the bus (buy your ticket when you’re on it). I found an ATM, but had a new card, and thus a new PIN…I couldn’t remember it. I finally got it on the third try. Such a stressful situation at the time (now I can look back and laugh), but man that day taught me a valuable lesson of rolling with the punches when traveling.

 

[santacruz skier]

Yep watch out for bus transfers or the wrong airport! There are three in London!

 

[mustski]

I'm assuming you're flying into Heathrow?

If you're not museumed out, you could get the underground from Heathrow to South Kensington and visit one or all of the science, natural history and the Victoria and Albert museums. The buildings alone are worth seeing.

Check that the trains are running beforehand though. There have been strikes over the past few years.

Luggage will be the issue during your layover. I've never looked into it but, if there is somewhere to check your luggage, I would highly recommend that instead of lugging it around on the London tube. It can get really crowded on some lines at certain times of day. Unless you are traveling with a piece of luggage you can carry in your lap, it will be a problem. There is also the possibility that it won't be allowed in some museums. I recall having to leave my backpack behind - but that may have just been in Buckingham palace.