Hungary — Trip Guide

Overview · the whole journey

LAX ✈ Toronto ✈ Budapest (both ways), then rail east to Miskolc. Pick a day for its street-level plan.

✈ Flights · LAX–Toronto–Budapest 🚆 Rail · Budapest–Miskolc ① Numbered by visit order

Logistics

Flights · Air Canada · via Toronto · A5QUHN

7:30 AM · Thu Jul 9

LAX T6

AC 782 → AC 942 · via YYZ

9:40 AM · Fri Jul 10

BUD T2B

11:45 AM · Fri Jul 17

BUD T2B

AC 943 → AC 793 · via YYZ

6:53 PM · Fri Jul 17

LAX T6

🚗 Sherman Oaks → LAX ~25–35 min (early morning). Be at LAX ~3 hrs before the 7:30 AM departure — leave home by ~4:00 AM Thu Jul 9. Full outbound timing on the Thu 9 travel day ▸.

Stay · Budapest

Airbnb — Dob utca

Check inFri Jul 10

Check outMon Jul 13

3 nights$410.76

Dob utca 34–36, Budapest, 1072 · Reservation

Stay · Miskolc

Airbnb — Széchenyi út

Check inMon Jul 13

Check outFri Jul 17

4 nights$295.94

Széchenyi István út 48 3/4, Miskolc, 3530 · Reservation

City Pass · Budapest

Budapest Card — 72h ×2

Voucher1935831222

Paid$194.55

QR to redeem on the Friday arrival screen + full pickup points below.

Getting to Miskolc

MÁV train · Mon Jul 13

Budapest Keleti→ Miskolc

InterCity ~2 hrs · jegy.mav.hu · then the MVK tourist card.

Thursday, July 9 Travel

Sherman Oaks → LAX → Toronto → overnight to Budapest

Getting around: 🚗 leave Sherman Oaks by ~4:00 AM (early-morning drive, ~25–35 min) to be at LAX ~3 hrs before the 7:30 AM departure. Booking ref A5QUHN.

~4:00 AM · DriveSherman Oaks → LAX (Terminal 6)~25–35 min · check-in / bag drop opens 4 hrs priorEconomy Basic — checked bags $75 (1st) / $100 (2nd) each way. Carry-on: 1 personal item + 1 standard bag on the transatlantic legs.
7:30 AM · FlightAC 782 · LAX → Toronto 7:30 AM → 3:17 PMLAX T6 → Toronto-Pearson T1 · Airbus A220-300 · 4h 47m
Layover · Toronto~3h 40m at YYZ (Terminal 1)Clear the connection; grab a real dinner before the long leg
7:00 PM · FlightAC 942 · Toronto → Budapest 7:00 PM → 9:40 AM +1YYZ T1 → Budapest BUD T2B · Boeing 787-9 · 8h 40m, overnightSleep on this one — you land Friday morning and go straight into Budapest.

Friday, July 10 Budapest

Land 9:40 AM · settle in, then ease into the city

Getting around: 🚶 New York Café is a ~6-min walk from the flat · 🚇 M1 (yellow line) up to Széchenyi Baths, ~15 min. All transit free with the Budapest Card.

Budapest Card pickup QR code — tap to enlarge

Redeem the Budapest Cards on arrival. Show this QR at the Terminal 2B BKK desk before leaving the airport, so transit is free from your first ride. Tap to enlarge. Voucher 1935831222.

9:40 AM · LandBUD — Ferenc Liszt AirportTerminal 2B · collect the Budapest Cards at the BKK desk
Airport → AirbnbTo the flat on Dob utca🚌 100E Airport Express → Deák Ferenc tér, then 🚇 M2 one stop / 🚶 8 min — ~45 min · or a taxi ~30 min (Főtaxi)Check-in is 3 PM (co-host István). He says the luggage-locker options are in the Airbnb welcome message — stash the bags there, then brunch.
BrunchNew York CaféErzsébet krt. 9–11 · "the most beautiful café in the world"
Afternoon · BathsSzéchenyi Thermal BathÁllatkerti krt. 9–11 · one bath entry included with the Budapest Card
7:00 PM · DinnerEssência — 7:00 PMSas utca 17, 1051 · Portuguese–Hungarian tastingBooked for 2 · DinnerBooking #61443587.

Saturday, July 11 Budapest

Market morning · Castle District · the river after dark

Getting around: 🚋 tram 47/49 to the Market (Fővám tér) · 🚌 bus 16 or the Chain Bridge + funicular up to the Castle · 🚶 the riverside lunch, dinner & cruise are all walkable.

Morning · MarketCentral Market Hall ~10:00 AMVámház krt. 1–3, Fővám tér · lángos + paprika upstairsOpen till 3 PM Sat, closed Sun — Saturday is the window. Then cross Liberty Bridge / metro to the castle for the 2 PM tour.
Late morning · MuseumLudwig MuseumContemporary art at Müpa · optional if the market runs long
~12:30 PM · LunchLeo RooftopRooftop over Vörösmarty tér · book a terrace table — before you cross to Buda
2:00 PM · TourBuda Castle Walking Tour — 2:00 PMMeet: Matthias Church, Holy Trinity Column · Szentháromság tér 2, 1014$125.26 · booked. Bring the confirmation.
DinnerSzázéves ÉtteremOne of the oldest restaurants in Budapest
Night · CruiseDanube Night Cruise — 9:00 PMJane Haining Quay, Vigadó tér, Dock No. 6Hourly 11 AM–9 PM; last departure 9 PM — take the last one for Parliament lit up.

Sunday, July 12 Budapest

Jewish Quarter + a basilica concert

Getting around: 🚶 essentially all walkable — the Passage, National Museum, Synagogue, Mazel Tov, Basilica & Szimpla are within 10–15 min of the flat. 🚇 M1/M3 to the Basilica if you'd rather ride.

BreakfastPárisi PassageCafé & Brasserie in a restored Art Nouveau arcade
Morning · MuseumHungarian National MuseumMúzeum krt. 14–16
AfternoonDohány Street SynagogueLargest synagogue in Europe · minutes from Dob utca
DinnerMazel TovMiddle-Eastern garden restaurant in a ruin-bar courtyard
Evening · ConcertSt. Stephen's Basilica — 8:00 PMSzent István tér 1 · classical concert under the domeTickets on GetYourGuide — book the July 12 date.
NightcapSzimpla KertKazinczy u. 14 · the original ruin bar, open lateLast Budapest night — 2 min from the flat. Open nightly till ~4 AM.

Monday, July 13 → Miskolc

Check out of Budapest · train east · into the festival

Getting around: 🚇 M2 or M4 to Keleti station, then the 🚆 MÁV InterCity to Miskolc (~2 hrs). 🚋 tram 1 into town from Miskolc-Tiszai on arrival.

Morning · TravelMÁV train — Budapest Keleti → MiskolcInterCity, ~2 hrs · reserve seats
Afternoon · ArriveCheck in — Széchenyi István útGrab the MVK tourist card for the week.
Afternoon · UnwindMiskolctapolca Cave BathThermal bath inside a natural cave, ~15 min out (🚌 bus 1) — the perfect reset after the travel day
OptionalAvas Lookout Tower + Cellar RowShort uphill walk from the center — panorama, then a glass in the historic wine cellars

Chroma Festival · into the swing of it
Text Andy when you land in Miskolc — 216-548-0742
Shuai is running things remotely this year (family — see note), so Andy's your on-site contact. If the train's in by early afternoon, catch the Piano Masterclass (Kim), 2–4 PM, then the Panel Discussion "Topics in Career Building," 7:30 PM. The group photo is set for Tuesday ~4 PM (Shuai's emailing everyone) — good to confirm with Andy tonight.

DinnerGajdóModern Hungarian bistro — easy first-night dinner (festival dinner is 5–6:30)

Chroma schedule · Mon Jul 13

7:30–9:00Breakfast
9:00–11:30Composition Forum (Beacom, Aguilar) · piano-duet coaching to 12
11:30–1:00Lunch
1:00–2:00Composition lessons (Wendt)
2:00–4:00Piano Masterclass (Kim)
5:00–6:30Dinner
7:30 PMPanel — "Topics in Career Building"

Tuesday, July 14 Miskolc

Masterclass · lectures · group photo · the Végállomás dinner

Getting around: 🚋 tram 1 to the Bartók Institute (all masterclasses + concerts are in its Concert Hall) · 🚶 Avas hill is a short uphill walk if a gap opens.

Chroma Festival · the prime capture day
8:30 AM check-in — full festival day
Guest-artist masterclass (Bálint Zsoldos) 9:30–11:30, then lectures — Cherwin 2–3, Burleson 3–4. Push the student + faculty interviews for Shuai's promo video today (they must wrap by Wed). Interview Andy about Mirages, and the concert faculty.

~4:00 PM · Group photoFestival group photoAfter the lectures, before dinner · Bartók Institute (or the square if it's nice)Set for today — Shuai's emailing everyone to gather. You're shooting: set up wide, get everyone in.
7:00 PM · Booked dinnerVégállomás Bistro&Wine — 7:00 PMKiss tábornok út 50–52 · party of 2 · confirmed for Tue 7/14Rebooked to tonight so Wednesday stays free for the outdoor concert. The 7:30 PM Guest Artist concert is the same evening — you'll be at dinner instead.

Chroma schedule · Tue Jul 14

7:30–9:00Breakfast
9:30–11:30Masterclass — guest artist Bálint Zsoldos
11:30–1:00Lunch
1:00–2:00Composition lessons (Beacom)
2:00–3:00Lecture (Cherwin) — "Skill Building for the Creative Musician"
3:00–4:00Lecture (Burleson) — "Improvisation for Classical Pianists"
~4:00 PMGroup photo (before dinner)
5:00–6:30Dinner
7:30 PMGuest Artist Piano Concert (Zsoldos) — you're at Végállomás

Wednesday, July 15 Miskolc

Festival by day · the big outdoor concert tonight

Getting around: 🚋 tram 1 · tonight's concert is outdoors at Városház tér (City Hall square), not the Institute.

Chroma Festival · the marquee night
8:30 AM check-in — wrap any last interviews during the day
Keep the evening clear for the outdoor concert — this is the one to shoot properly.

7:30 PM · Faculty Concert IIFaculty Concert II · Városház tér — 7:30 PMOutdoor stage, two grand pianos · promoted by the Miskolc Cultural MinisterThe marquee capture of the week — expected to draw a big crowd. Program includes Beethoven's "Quasi una fantasia," Chopin's Ballade No. 3, Dvořák Slavonic Dances, Ligeti, Schumann's Kreisleriana — and Andy Rindfleisch's own Mirages.

Dinner moved off tonight. The Végállomás dinner is now Tuesday 7/14, 7 PM ▸ — keeping this evening clear for the outdoor concert.

Chroma schedule · Wed Jul 15

7:30–9:00Breakfast
DaytimeFestival sessions — reslotted after the outing moved to Thu (confirm on-site)
5:00–6:30Dinner
7:30 PMFaculty Concert II — OUTDOOR, Városház tér (the marquee night)

Thursday, July 16 Miskolc

The group outing — Cave + Eger · free evening

Getting around: 🚌 festival group coach for the all-day outing to Eger (~1.5 hrs each way) — early 7 AM breakfast, then depart. Back in Miskolc for the evening.

Chroma Festival · the group outing (all day)
Cave + Eger with the festival
The outing moved to today (was the 15th). Great for relaxed, off-stage footage of the group. Shuai vouches for Eger — a charming old town, full of the old-city feel.

7:00 AM · Early breakfastEarly startFestival breakfast is 7 AM today (not 7:30) — the coach leaves early for the full day
All day · OutingCave + EgerGroup day-trip west of Miskolc — cave visit + the town of Eger
Evening · FreeLast night in MiskolcNo concert tonight — an easy evening back in town after the outing.

Chroma schedule · Thu Jul 16

7:00 AMBreakfast (early)
All dayOuting — Cave + Eger (group coach)

Friday, July 17 Home

Early train back · fly Budapest → Toronto → LAX

Getting around: 🚂 early MÁV InterCity Miskolc → Budapest, then ✈ from BUD. Leave Miskolc by ~6:30 AM to make the 11:45 flight comfortably.

Early AM · TravelMÁV train — Miskolc → Budapest~2 hrs · then transfer to BUD airport (M3 + 100E bus, ~1 hr)Tight morning — the 11:45 AM flight means an early start. Consider seats booked in advance.
11:45 AM · FlyBUD → Toronto → LAXLand LAX 6:53 PM the same day

Budapest Card · 72h ×2

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Show this QR at pickup

Voucher1935831222

Order202607/77

Quantity2 × 72-hour

Paid$194.55

Valid1 May 2026 – 30 Apr 2027

Pick up the physical cards by showing the QR at: BUD Airport Terminal 2A/2B · Városháza Park (Budapest Card Centre) · Deák Ferenc tér · or the Keleti / Kelenföld / Déli station BKK service centres. The voucher is personal and non-transferable — bring it on your phone.