Budapest - how many days is sufficient?
 

For a husband-wife couple, who've both never been. We live in europe so we're planning a budget airline in, probably no rental car unless someone suggests it's absolutely necessary, and just use public transport.

How many days would be sufficient to get a good feel of the city? Will probably try to redeem an IHG PointBreak since it's on the list this year.

3 days minimum. A week would be too long for me.

It really depends on what you like to do. You could easily lose half a day enjoying one of the baths :).

Public transport is not of the quality in other European cities, IMO. However, it's adequate, and you are correct not to rent a car.

To "get a good feel of the city", I'd recommend some of the following, in addition to the tourist sites:
- Visit a couple ruin pubs for drinks
- Go to one of the baths
- Get a snack/drink on the square in front of St. Stephen's
- Go to the Central Market Hall around lunch time. It's not only a fantastic market, but the top floor is ringed in food stands.

Yes minimum 3 days, if you have the time, 4 days would be nice.

If you like fine and interesting dining, I can recommend the restaurant Csalogany 26 Etterem
http://www.csalogany26.hu

I was there twice in March.
Try their 4 or 8 course tasting menu with wine pairing.
I was very impressed with the quality and the presentation of the food.
And they have very cheap lunches.

Another restaurant, but not fine dining, I usually recommend is Rosenstein. Authentic Hungarian food, mostly locals. Last time I was there, we were the only English speakers, along with our waiter. Very quaint and very good food. The roast goose was fantastic.

I reckon 3 or 4 days. And recommend riding around on trams. I thought the public transport was quite good aside from getting too/from the airport which was a bit of a PITA.

Don't even consider getting a car. Parking in central Budapest is a nightmare. Just get a "travelcard" at the airport transportation desk located outside of baggage claim. They are good for 24/72 hour increments, and include all the metros. trams and busses.

http://www.bkk.hu/en/prices/

I'd seriously rethink the ING Holiday Inn pointsbreak promotion. The hotel is nice, but it's located way out in a light industrial area in the suburbs. Getting into town will require taking a suburban train to the metro hub in Buda. I'm guessing it's about 45+ minutes away. Budapest has lots of good inexpensive hotels in the city, and I would strongly recommend staying in town.

Forget the Holiday Inn - you'll be (literally) next to the main westward 4 lane motorway (M1/M7), 40-50 minutes from anything of interest. You can get nice downtown hotels for cheap, even the excellent Danube-side ones (IC, Marriott, Sofitel).

A 7 days travel card is 4950 Ft (16-17€) with unlimited travel within the city limits. There are some major reconstruction going on on some tram lines, but buses run on those stretches.

Mass transit is good and reliable in the city. Getting to the airport involves taking the metro and at the terminal changing to a bus (#200E, afaik) - a bit long, but doable and included in your pass. The cab drive to the Buda side is ca. 9000Ft (30€) to the Pest side less, to your planned HI more (but you have already forgotten that hotel, haven't you? ;))

I'd agree with what others said about a 3 day minimum UNLESS you especially love Hungarian food. If the food is an issue, give it at least 5 days so you can try a good handful of the amazing (and inexpensive) restaurants in the city.