If you're arriving at Budapest Ferihegy Airport Terminal 1, you can now hop on a train at the airport and travel to the main downtown railway station - Nyugati (West) Station.

It costs 300 Forints (about 80p) and takes about 25 minutes. Far cheaper than other options and faster than most, expensive taxis aside.

Most of the budget airlines fly to Terminal 1. If you're flying BA or another "normal" airline, you'll arrive at Terminal 2 and this tip does not apply to you.

Terminal 1

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Europe's biggest puddle is how I have seen it described, and it is pretty accurate.

The southern shore, in particular, is far from tranquil and peaceful and teems with cheap and tacky bars. Think of a series of mini-Blackpools and you get the idea.

Its bathing is passable, especially for kids, as the water only slowly deepens on the south shore.

There are decent places in the vicinity, but if you're expecting a Lake District-style idyll, you'll be disappointed.

If travelling from Budapest, choose your train carefully, as the 70-mile trip can take almost three hours on the slower ones.

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Several others have quite rightly recommended www.pestiside.hu, but it is temporarily, I hope, on a hiatus.

Chew is the site's specialist food site and is much better for finding good places to eat of any food category.

www.chew.hu

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This wonderful Moorish palace next to the cathedral is very human in scale and the Islamic art is stunningly beautiful. Even on the very hottest summer days, the flowery gardens are an oasis of calm.

By contrast, the cathedral next door is a gloomy, depressing place. The Giralda is part of the Grand Mosque that the Christians incorporated into their church post reconquest.

Plaza del Triunfo, Santa Cruz, Seville;
tel: 954 502 323

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I always recommend people to stay in this small, riverside hotel when they´re in Buda. It´s an eyesore architecturally, being a modern block in the middle of some fin-de-siecle apartment buildings, however, the views it offers along the Danube to the Chain Bridge and the Parliament are stunning. It´s not badly priced, and the upper floor rooms offer the best views along the river.

Bem rkp 11; tel: 1 457 8080; www.victoria.hu

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A reliable taxi service. Rare in Budapest. English speaking operators too. Do not take the taxis from the rank outside the terminal, but call the number. You will be given a car number and you should look for this number - in the City Taxi crest (See the website) on the car - the car will be there in less than 5 minutes. If there are two or more of you, it's cheaper, and faster, than the Airport Minibus service. No, I'm not on commission! On request, they'll send an estate if you have lots of baggage.

Call 2111 111 or see www.citytaxi.hu

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It's a Moorish palace from the Moor occupation. It's much less manicured than al Hambra in Granada, thus much more human in atmosphere and scale. If you're a fan of Islamic art (I am) then your breath will be taken away by the exquisite, mathematically inspired carvings.

It's right in the centre by the cathedral, which is dark and dingy in comparison

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