Riga vs Budapest

[Keith009]

Not been to Riga, but Budapest was lovely. Great coffee, friendly people (unlike those in Vienna ), delicious and cheap beer, and decent shopping.

[drron]

Not been to Riga, but Budapest was lovely. Great coffee, friendly people (unlike those in Vienna ), delicious and cheap beer, and decent shopping.

Fully agree.Yesterday was cold wet and windy so we put off sightseeing until today-nice blue sky this morning.We walked the area around the LM.Really nice and the shopping is good and cheap-even I have a new pair of shoes.Mrsdrron got a pair that she had coveted in Germany last year-they were $250-but here on sale $55.
City market was interesting and last night dinner was fantastic.Just picked a restaurant as we walked around.Both of us had Foie Gras,food was really good,service excellent.Plus a bottle of Sav Blanc and still the bill was less than $100.Gave the young woman a 1000HUF($A5) tip and her eyes lit up-was worth it just for that.
We are already planning our return.

[medhead]

One thing I did do in Budapest was the children's railway. Entertaining. Poor little school kids would absolutely no english getting confronted by me trying to buy 3 tickets.

Not that this is a recommendation as it is a bit out of the way to get to the railway, half a day all up. And not something to do unless your really into trains. So just a recollection of my time there along the lines of the people are great.

[kpc]

Thanks to all the replies so far....seems more have been to Budapest than Riga...I have only read (very) +ve things about Budapest to date so at this point I'll have to lean towards Budapest (until someone gives a glowing report on Riga). Best way to get to Budapest on Oneworld from Sydney? via Lhr or Fra??

[haydensydney]

I lived in Hungary when I was 17/18, so obviously my recommendation is for Budapest. Very cultural & more "authentic".

[drron]

Thanks to all the replies so far....seems more have been to Budapest than Riga...I have only read (very) +ve things about Budapest to date so at this point I'll have to lean towards Budapest (until someone gives a glowing report on Riga). Best way to get to Budapest on Oneworld from Sydney? via Lhr or Fra??

Or via HEL and BKK.
After our 2 days in Budapest we definitely like it and will return.

[medhead]

A couple of tips on budapest. I found the Budapest card to be good value. Free public transport for a couple of days. Also had a little booklet of attractions which was useful for finding things to do. I found the Budapest Aviation museum. It was very interesting, certainly no edward space center or smithsonian or whatever, very down market. But had some interesting soviet era light aircraft and also maybe an insight into communist hungary. The nearby Szechenyi baths were rather fun as well, just don't go up onto the roof if you do go there. I did to get photos and there were lots of old man working of their tans.

Budapest Tourism Office - Aviation Museum - Museums - Things to see.

Aviation Museum - Google Maps

[RB]

I can suggest the red group apartments if looking for an apartment in Riga. They have choices for Tallin, Riga & Vilnius. When we used them for Tallin they were great (already booked with others for Riga & Vilnius by the time we came across them).