Guidebooks on Hungary
Guidebook writers are often outsiders with little time to get to grips with the finer details of the country, its cuisine and culture. If you want a real insider's guide, written by a Hungarian, try András Török's Budapest: A Critical Guide.
Hungary is changing fast, and some areas are changing faster than others – often, not even the locals can keep up. If you are looking for bars and restaurants, for example, make sure your guidebook is a recent edition, although even the newest guides are a little hit and miss in this area. For recommendations of the best bars and clubs, take a look at www.pestiside.hu before you leave.The Internet is fine for booking a hotel room, but it is not the best source of information on accommodation. You can always rely on your guidebook to provide an impartial view, and help you find the hotel that is right for you, and your wallet.
If you are coming to take in the stunning architecture and wealth of museums, most guidebooks provide all the key information – but aware that they present it in a variety of ways. Some guides to Budapest are structured as walking or cycling tours (Lonely Planet and Budapest: A Critical Guide, for example), which is fine if you have the energy, but not so good if you have specific interests, or you just want to browse through the basics.
Other travellers like to take a more independent approach, and have a good read while they are doing it. They will need a guidebook with a clearly defined structure and comprehensive index. The excellent Bradt Guides are a little more light-hearted, but no less thorough than other guides, and they offer easy-to-find sections and bite-sized information – ideal for dipping into on the train, plane or bus. Their Budapest City Guide also contains a unique nature section. The Hungary Rough Guide is very strong on historical background.
Most guides include maps of some kind, but some are better than others. The Rough Guide is worth checking out, and it has one of the better bar and restaurant sections.
Buy online:
Time out
Lonely Planet
Budapest: A Critical Guide
Rough Guide
Bradt Guide
