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This is one of the questions about Budapest that is asked very often. Yes, Budapest is a very safe city, especially in districts 5, 6, and 7, where tourists mostly congregate. Crime rates are generally very low, but you should be cautious and apply common sense, like you should everywhere.

Budapest has a lot to offer. It’s a gorgeous city with many things going on, culturally very rich. To get a feel of the place you need three days, to fully appreciate it stay at least for a week.

Yes, credit cards are accepted almost everywhere. However, it’s good to have a little bit of cash for small local vendors and markets. Cash is also good if you want to bargain about the price. Hungary is part of the EU but doesn’t use the euro yet. Most shops will accept payment in euros but have bad exchange rates, so you should always pay in forints (Hungarian currency). You could buy forints before you arrive in Hungary, but you risk getting old, expired banknotes. To avoid the hassle of going to the bank to exchange those, it’s better to do it when you arrive (but, like everywhere else, don’t change cash at the airport or the train station because the exchange rates are bad).

There are two main sights to consider if you want to go inside: the Parliament and the Great Synagogue. The Parliament is the most important building in Hungary and is as beautiful inside as it is outside. The Great Synagogue is unique and very beautiful as well. Both sights offer tours,  well-organized and informative. Tickets for the Parliament tour should be purchased well in advance because they’re very busy and often sold out.

Parizsi Udvar and New York Cafe are great places to grab a coffee and enjoy incredible interiors. If you want to visit New York Cafe, be ready to wait in line; it’s an insanely popular place. If you love opera, the Budapest Opera House is a must. You could take a tour, but go and check out a performance if you can get a ticket.

Budapest has a very efficient public transportation system consisting of buses, trams, metro, and even ferries (not in the winter). The best places to buy physical tickets are metro stations. You can get single tickets (you need a different ticket for every ride, even in the metro-be sure to validate a ticket before you enter any means of transportation!) or passes of different lengths, which you can use for unlimited rides during a certain time period. There is also the app Budapest Go that you can download and purchase tickets.

On the other hand, Budapest is a very walkable city. Bike sharing with MOL Bubi is a convenient option, as well as scooters.

Be sure to try goulash (a hearty soup/stew), lángos (deep-fried dough topped with different things), and chimney cake (a sweet pastry). Don’t forget to sample Hungarian wines and pálinka (fruit brandy).

Almost all restaurants in Budapest have a service charge between 12 and 15 percent. Keep that in mind when you are looking at prices and check the exact amount. If you want to tip after that, you can.

Other places, like bars or cafes, include a service charge less often. It’s always good to check that. If there is no service charge, tipping between 10 and 15 percent is customary for a good service.

Most shops in Budapest are open from around 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with some larger stores staying open later. Attractions like museums typically operate from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with some closing on Mondays.

Yes, Budapest’s tap water is safe to drink.