Budapest: A Lonely Planet Guidebook (2012)

  

The fifth edition of Lonely Planet’s guidebook to Budapest (written by Steve Fallon) was published in February 2012. I have mixed feelings about this book.

On the positive side there is a lot of useful information here – what to do and what to see in Budapest. In addition, there are sections with general background and historical background about Budapest and Hungary. Finally, there are several maps, which may be helpful to some visitors.

On the negative side there are factual mistakes and unfortunate statements which should not be found in any book - certainly not in the fifth edition of a guidebook. In addition, many important facts which should be here are not here. Finally, the organisation of the maps is not as good as it should be.

Let me try to explain the negative points. For reasons of space I can only mention some of them here.

THE MAPS

The ancient Roman town in the northwest – called Aquincum – is mentioned in the text on page 73, but it is not shown on the pull-out map. At the end of the book there are more maps. But Aquincum is not shown on any of these maps either.

A MISTAKE

On page 75 we are told that the ancient military amphitheatre “could accommodate up to 15,000 spectators and was larger than the Colosseum in Rome.” A similar statement appears on page 187. It is false. The military amphitheatre could seat 10-14,000 spectators. The Colosseum, the largest amphitheatre in the Roman Empire, could seat up to 50,000 spectators.

A MISTAKE

On page 212 the author claims the Hungarian language “has no significant similarities to any other language in the world.” This is not true. Hungarian is related to Finnish and Estonian, and the author seems to know this. On page 173 he says: “The Magyars belong to the Finno-Ugric group of peoples…” which is true.

THE MISSING HOTEL

Le Meridien Budapest Hotel is mentioned as a landmark twice (pp. 68 and 202). But it is not listed in the special section with hotels, and it is not shown on any map. So where is it? It is near the Kempinski Hotel, which is marked as # 81 on the map found on page 238.

SOME ADDITIONAL POINTS

The 1956 revolution is described on page 183. In order to explain what it was all about the author uses the phrase “Socialism with a human face.” But this phrase is not from Budapest 1956. It is from the Prague Spring in 1968, and it was coined by the Czechoslovakian leader Alexander Dubcek.

When presenting a site or a museum, the author gives two ticket prices: one for adults and one for children. What about senior citizens and students? In many cases there is a special discount for them. This fact is never mentioned.

Many travellers carry a credit card, so the traveller wants to know: “Can I buy my ticket with a credit card?” This question is never answered.

Most travellers carry a camera and/or a mobile phone with a camera, so the traveller wants to know: “Am I allowed to use my camera inside the museum?” This question is never answered.

Time and money are limited for most travellers, so the traveller wants to know: “Is this museum worth my time and my money?” This guidebook presents many sites and museums, but I think there should be more evaluation of the places. There is a list with the top 10 sites in Budapest, and top sights are mentioned for each district, but otherwise there is not much to tell you if a museum is worth your time or your money. Here are two examples where the presentation is incomplete:

(1) The House of Terror (page 118) is recommended as one of the top sights in the district, but some important facts are not given: You are allowed to take pictures of the Soviet tank in the courtyard, but you are not allowed to use a camera inside the exhibit. The museum is new, but the set-up is highly unprofessional. Quotations written in large letters on the walls are only in Hungarian. Two or three different movies with different soundtracks are shown in the same room, which is annoying and confusing.

The House of Terror is about an important topic. It could and should be a place for education and reflection. Unfortunately, it is not. The intentions are good, but the result is poor.

LP does not give you this information.

Personally, I recommend a visit to this place. But I would add a warning: do not expect a professional and serious treatment of the topic. If you do, you are going to be disappointed.

(2) The Semmelweis Museum of Medical History (page 66) is very old-fashioned. It was established about fifty years ago, and since then, it seems, nothing has changed. If you know nothing about Ignác Semmelweis (1818-1865), I am afraid this place will not help you understand why he played an important role in the history of modern medicine.

But Semmelweis was born in this house, and in 1963 (almost one hundred years after his death) his remains were deposited here. He deserves to be remembered. As a scientist he was outstanding, but as a person he was difficult, and as a communicator he was his own worst enemy.

LP does not give you this information.

Personally, I recommend a visit to this place, but I would add a warning: do not expect too much. If you do, you are going to be disappointed.

I have written to Lonely Planet to tell them about these flaws. I hope they will not be repeated in future editions of the book.

How many stars does this book deserve? If I look at the positive side, I will say five. If I look at the negative side, I will say one. If I look at the book as a whole, I think I have to settle for three.

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Steve Fallon,
Budapest, Lonely Planet,
fifth edition, 2012, 256 pages 

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