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Rick Steves Budapest
You can count on Rick Steves to tell you what you really need to know when traveling in Budapest.
Following this book's self-guided walks, you'll explore Europe's most underrated city. Soak with Hungarians in a thermal bath, sample paprika at the Great Market Hall, and take a romantic twilight cruise on the Danube. Wander through the opulence of Budapest's late-19th-century Golden Age. View relics of the bygone communist era at Memento Park. For a break, head into the countryside for Habsburg palaces and Hungarian folk villages.
Rick's candid, humorous advice will guide you to good-value hotels and restaurants. He'll help you plan where to go and what to see, depending on the length of your trip. You'll learn which sights are worth your time and money and how to get around like a local. More than just reviews and directions, a Rick Steves guidebook is a tour guide in your pocket.
Following this book's self-guided walks, you'll explore Europe's most underrated city. Soak with Hungarians in a thermal bath, sample paprika at the Great Market Hall, and take a romantic twilight cruise on the Danube. Wander through the opulence of Budapest's late-19th-century Golden Age. View relics of the bygone communist era at Memento Park. For a break, head into the countryside for Habsburg palaces and Hungarian folk villages.
Rick's candid, humorous advice will guide you to good-value hotels and restaurants. He'll help you plan where to go and what to see, depending on the length of your trip. You'll learn which sights are worth your time and money and how to get around like a local. More than just reviews and directions, a Rick Steves guidebook is a tour guide in your pocket.
502 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2009
About the author
Rick Steves
600 books764 followersRick Steves is an American travel writer, television personality, and activist known for encouraging meaningful travel that emphasizes cultural immersion and thoughtful global citizenship. Born in California and raised in Edmonds, Washington, he began traveling in his teens, inspired by a family trip to Europe. After graduating from the University of Washington with a degree in European history and business, Steves started teaching travel classes, which led to his first guidebook, Europe Through the Back Door, self-published in 1980.
Steves built his Edmonds-based travel company on the idea that travelers should explore less-touristy areas and engage with local cultures. He gained national prominence as host and producer of Rick Steves' Europe, which has aired on public television since 2000. He also hosts a weekly public radio show, Travel with Rick Steves, and has authored dozens of popular guidebooks, including bestselling titles on Italy and Europe at large.
Beyond travel, Steves is an outspoken advocate for drug policy reform, environmental sustainability, and social justice. He supports marijuana legalization and chairs the board of NORML. He has funded housing for homeless families and donates to anti-hunger and arts organizations. In 2019, he pledged $1 million annually to offset the carbon emissions of his tour groups.
Steves is a practicing Lutheran with Norwegian ancestry and continues to live in Edmonds. He has two adult children and is in a relationship with Reverend Shelley Bryan Wee. Despite health challenges, including a prostate cancer diagnosis in 2024, Steves remains committed to his mission of helping Americans travel with greater purpose, empathy, and understanding of the world. His work reflects a belief that travel, done right, can be both transformative and a force for peace.
Steves built his Edmonds-based travel company on the idea that travelers should explore less-touristy areas and engage with local cultures. He gained national prominence as host and producer of Rick Steves' Europe, which has aired on public television since 2000. He also hosts a weekly public radio show, Travel with Rick Steves, and has authored dozens of popular guidebooks, including bestselling titles on Italy and Europe at large.
Beyond travel, Steves is an outspoken advocate for drug policy reform, environmental sustainability, and social justice. He supports marijuana legalization and chairs the board of NORML. He has funded housing for homeless families and donates to anti-hunger and arts organizations. In 2019, he pledged $1 million annually to offset the carbon emissions of his tour groups.
Steves is a practicing Lutheran with Norwegian ancestry and continues to live in Edmonds. He has two adult children and is in a relationship with Reverend Shelley Bryan Wee. Despite health challenges, including a prostate cancer diagnosis in 2024, Steves remains committed to his mission of helping Americans travel with greater purpose, empathy, and understanding of the world. His work reflects a belief that travel, done right, can be both transformative and a force for peace.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 7, 2025
anticipating a cruise up the Danube from Bucharest ! Budapest is one of the stops.
The usual Rick Steves’ good info provided with his charm, which of course helps if you’ve seen his tv show as you can imagine his smiley mug talking to you. From things to see to how to get around, local customs, foods, dealing with money etc
Sometimes not wanting to seem too touristy he goes a little far on the cheap end of things, kind of in the old ‘Europe on $5 a day’, for example, he’ll tell you to just walk in the park instead of going to the famous museum, which is all good if I’m in Europe 5 times a year, but for most of it’s a big trip and ya want to see what you —just gotta see!
The usual Rick Steves’ good info provided with his charm, which of course helps if you’ve seen his tv show as you can imagine his smiley mug talking to you. From things to see to how to get around, local customs, foods, dealing with money etc
Sometimes not wanting to seem too touristy he goes a little far on the cheap end of things, kind of in the old ‘Europe on $5 a day’, for example, he’ll tell you to just walk in the park instead of going to the famous museum, which is all good if I’m in Europe 5 times a year, but for most of it’s a big trip and ya want to see what you —just gotta see!
January 15, 2018
Rick Steves books are the best for orientation to a new city and insider tips for hassle-free trips to museums, galleries, shops, and restaurants. I visited Budapest just after Christmas this year, and his explanation of how to visit the thermal baths made our visit easy and fun. We knew just what to do when we arrived at the potentially confusing bath house. Thanks to his tips, we had a fantastic time and understand what was going on around us without being intimidated by the totally new experience.
As always, his self-guided walking tours are excellent, providing turn-by-turn directions and enough historical and cultural context to understand what we were seeing, without bogging down in too many details. The detailed instructions for how to find the metro ticket machines in the main train station were also invaluable.
We booked a hotel recommended in the book—the Gerloczy Cafe and Rooms DeLux—and it was gorgeous, comfy, friendly, and 100% awesome. His tips for cake-and-coffee cafes are also spot-on.
As always, his self-guided walking tours are excellent, providing turn-by-turn directions and enough historical and cultural context to understand what we were seeing, without bogging down in too many details. The detailed instructions for how to find the metro ticket machines in the main train station were also invaluable.
We booked a hotel recommended in the book—the Gerloczy Cafe and Rooms DeLux—and it was gorgeous, comfy, friendly, and 100% awesome. His tips for cake-and-coffee cafes are also spot-on.
October 21, 2017
Very informative and easy read.
September 9, 2018
Well written but we were only in Budapest for about 6 hours so it wasn't that helpful to us... but if you're travelling there get the book.
September 30, 2015
Fantastic guide book- my wife and I used it for our honeymoon in Hungary. I would definitely recommend skimming through the guide before you book your stay. Buda and Pest are very different from each other and having a good idea of what the different districts are like is definitely key to having a good vacation.
My only very specific quibble is that the House of Terror, Budapest's museum commemorating the victims of Hungary's secret police doing both the fascist and Cold War eras, should be taken with a grain of salt. Rick Steve highly suggests this museum and it is definitely worth visiting but as some locals will let you know it has a very distinctive view of history that favors the political party currently in power.
I would also suggest however that you purchase the most recent edition of the guide (the newest one available as of this posting was published in May 2015) as parts of the city are under heavy construction.
My only very specific quibble is that the House of Terror, Budapest's museum commemorating the victims of Hungary's secret police doing both the fascist and Cold War eras, should be taken with a grain of salt. Rick Steve highly suggests this museum and it is definitely worth visiting but as some locals will let you know it has a very distinctive view of history that favors the political party currently in power.
I would also suggest however that you purchase the most recent edition of the guide (the newest one available as of this posting was published in May 2015) as parts of the city are under heavy construction.
January 24, 2015
This was my first time utilizing a Kindle version of a travel book. Definite pros and cons. Pros: lightweight, portable, easy to look up a particular statue, square, city, etc. Cons: Because I didn't read it cover to cover, I wasn't aware of everything that was in the book. Friends on the tour with hard copies cued me occasionally and made me aware of info I hadn't stumbled onto. Another con was that the Paperwhite Kindle was useless at showing maps and illustrations. I had to carry the (heavier and clumsier) iPad to get access to the illustrations.
June 8, 2015
I actually had the 2014 version of this book. While i appreciate Steves' books for their good judgement of attractions and the incredible amount of historical and cultural information, i did not like how this book was organized. Unlike many of Steeves' travel books, his suggested itineraries and guided walks were less useful in this book than in some of the books for other destinations.
August 9, 2016
Always wonderful, detailed, with lots of off the beaten track recommendations; was really impressed by the amount of B&Bs he offers, as well as families he's stayed with who rent out a room for a super-authentic experience.
April 8, 2009
Getting ready for my trip in November!
I will always recommend Rick Steves guidebooks.
I will always recommend Rick Steves guidebooks.
October 14, 2010
A good reference guidebook about Budapest.
July 5, 2011
This book provided everything we needed. And it was nice that it was focused on just Budapest and its primary day trips.
March 3, 2012
Helped us plan what we wanted to see. We even used some of the included walks in the book, with our own added ramblings. A useful tool.
April 7, 2013
Attractions are still spot on, but names of streets & metro lines have been renames, therefore rendering the maps of this edition useless.
May 31, 2013
Like all of Rick Steves guidebooks, this one is excellent!
October 29, 2013
Rick Steves...you are amazing. We have combed this book over and over and each time discover a new gem to try. We lend it to those who visit us, too, and it never leads them astray. Love.
February 3, 2014
Rick Steves always help us in our travels in Europe.
January 22, 2016
This book was so helpful there especially when I went to the public baths!
February 1, 2016
Practical tips and recommendations for travel in Budapest and surrounding area.
March 10, 2018
Very helpful! I especially like when he outlines practical details such as navigating the confusing Szechenyi Baths!
May 19, 2019
Rick’s books would be even more valuable if he wrapped modern day gps and technology into what he does.
March 14, 2020
We’re so excited to start our honeymoon in Budapest, and this book gave us so many great ideas for food, souvenirs, and activities. It also provided us with a very comprehensive history of Budapest and gave impressions of its current political climate. Rick Steves is awesome!
January 24, 2022
I just love Rick Steves books. This was so very informative and I learned so much about the history of Budapest. We hope to be there later this year if all goes well. Really looking forward to seeing this city.
July 17, 2020
liked all the restaurant and travel information. Just needs more gardens!
June 28, 2019
I have always found his guide books great, they give you ideas on how to see the whole city without backtracking. He also give ideas of places to stop to eat of interest.
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January 3, 2017Concluded Danube cruise in Budapest--fantastic city. HIGHLY recommend.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews