Very well organized race. The river was nice to swim but with dark water. Transition was easy to navigate, bike route was very nice the asphalt was so so with some cobblestones parts and some tram crossings that needed attention. The wind also was an issue.The run was flat but the heat was high! Fans very few from the local people.

The race takes place in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, right along the Danube past historic landmarks like the Parliament, Chain Bridge and Buda Castle. 

The swim/transition area is a gorgeous green park that includes a tranquil lake-like part of the Danube.

Everything worked flawlessly: registration, safety, transition logistics, aid/food/hydration stations, tons of volunteers.

One downside: drafting on the bike segment was not only common but outright egregious.  Groups of 30-40 athletes would whizz by with no penalties at all...

I would certainly go again!

Swimming in the Danube waters isn't my kind of thing,  but it was very enjoyable. Racing the cycling part through central Budapest can't be compared with any other similar experience. Enjoyable run with great support! 

Overall, an amazing and unforgettable race!

This is a beautiful event, in town,  most of it along and inside (swim) the Danube river. Swim is fast, only one loop linear and perfectly signed by frequent buoys. No real current sicne it occurs in a side bay of the river. The rolling start might work for some, like me, as long as one positions him/her self in the right wave time. Transition is fast, close to swim exit and to bike exit. Bike course consists of 2 loops of a pancake flat course, along the river with a little uphill to the castle. The scenery, if one manages to look, is beautiful and historical. Very fast T2, and the run consist of 4 laps of a back and forward along the river, completely flat. Very HOT this year, and hard to run in those temperatures, but it might vary from year to year. Plus there were showers and cold sponges and drinks twice per loop!

One has to plan how to get to the start in the morning since all roads are closed and the cars can only drop you 1km away. I strongly reccomend this race.

As this was my first Ironman 70.3 then I admit that I have nothing to directly compare it to. However, if this was to be my last 70.3 then happy days. The race is very well organised from start to finish (I heard it won an award last year, not bad for the first ever edition of the race) and the locals come out in force to make the occasion all the more special. The cycle route is a two lap loop of the city taking in the Danube and the main bridges taking you from Buda to Pest and vice versa. There is Gellert Hill which hits you like a Tyson right hook but apart from this it is fairly flat and the run is a 4 lap loop which is also flat. If you're after a P.B then this one is for you but also I would reccomend this race to anyone who would like to try a 70.3. If you ever get a chance to catch your breath then the scenery is simply sublime.