Explore Budapest – Best Things to Do

Budapest, the capital of Hungary is one of my favorite cities in Europe. The thing that sets it apart for me is the fact that it has everything one could look for in a vacation. Architecture, history, city vibe, views, nightlife, relaxation, food and so much more! This stretch of Central Europe including Prague, Budapest, and Bratislava is cheaper in general than Western Europe which allows you to appreciate everything and stay within the budget. If you have some spare days, indulge in a massage, a haircut, or anything you would end up paying much more in Western Europe or United States. Budapest comprises of two towns, Buda on the west side of the Danube river, and Pest on the right side. While Buda offers the glorious Buda Castle and hill side, Pest consists of the town center. The population is diverse and accepting, thanks to the settling of immigrants from all over. There are two very unique things this city has to offer, the ruin pubs & the bathhouses! Lets delve into some details and get your trip planned to this all-encompassing city soon.

Danube River Cruise & Hungarian Parliament Building

Home to the National Assembly, the Hungarian Parliament building is one of the most iconic buildings in the world. Sprawled across the bank of Danube, this world heritage site has neo-gothic architecture and glows like fiery gold after sunset! Undoubtedly, one of the best views I have come across in cities around the world. The best way to partake this beautiful view is by taking a river cruise of the Danube river after the sunset. Most cruises are like affordable ferry rides with cash bar and restrooms available. Not only you will get to see this building but other parts of the city lit and glowing. The Buda Castle is also one of the mesmerizing sights you will come across while on the cruise. There are also guided tours available to visit the Parliament building and you get to see the gold plated staircases, statues, crown jewels, sculptures, frescoes, unique halls, granite columns and so much more. Being the world’s third largest parliament building, it consist of 691 rooms. A splendid display of Hungarian craftsmanship, about 100,000 individuals were deployed for construction of this gem!

Széchenyi Thermal Bath

Szechenyi Bath was one of the most enjoyable experiences for us in Budapest. Yes, it was crowded but the place is huge with a number of thermal baths, regular pools and saunas. The yellow palace built in 1913 added to it’s charm. The pools varied by temperature so you could choose what suits your body the best. The saunas (including our favorite aromatic ones) are located inside the building. We spent half a day at Szechenyi as it was a little away from the city and provided the much needed relaxation towards the end of our Central Europe trip! I would recommend booking your visit in advance as the tickets could get sold out during peak/festival season. If you can spend the entire day, stay for the night party after the sunset. With the convenience of changing rooms, showers, lockers, and a cafeteria, you can have fun without worrying about your belongings. You can bring your own food too and enjoy yourself a meal on the grounds of the palace. Bathing suits and towels can be rented if you don’t have them. Since we had already booked a massage in the city, we didn’t get a chance to experience it but from what I have heard, they are amazing. Both the massages and beauty treatments are quite affordable too. There are no separate pools for men and women, something to keep in mind if you have a preference.

Szimpla Kert & District 7

The concept of a ruin bar was completely alien to me. Upon googling, I came to know that these former abandoned buildings have been converted into pubs/bars while retaining the charm of the ruins. Luckily, our rental was located at a few minutes walk from District 7. The night comes to life thanks to these ruin bars (romkocsma), located in the Jewish Quarter neighborhood. One of the most popular ones, Szimpla Kert was like a maze full of rooms, each with it’s unique charm and wit! It also has an open area with seating and is spread across two floors, so you won’t feel crowded even with the number of tourists visiting. The walls are full of graffiti, messages, posters and anything under the sun you can imagine. These building were abandoned and left to decay after the World War II. The lights were dim yet colorful, the drinks were nice, and the ambience was as unique as it gets. The furniture is thrifty and intentionally mismatched adding to the vibe. This concept is a perfect example of how we can make something out of nothing and give it an identity so unique, people from all over the world flock down to check it out! It was quite a memorable night and I can’t wait to return when the opportunity arrives! Some other popular ruin bars include Dürer Kert, Mazel Tov, Grandio, and Instant & Fogas Complex.

Dohány Street Synagogue

Dohány Street Synagogue, also known as the Great Synagogue is the largest synagogue in Europe (and the second largest in the world) with a seating capacity of 3000 people. It also comprises of the Memorial, the Graveyard, the Heroes’ Temple and the Jewish Museum. The synagogue is located on Dohany street, which is at the border of what used to be the Budapest Jewish Ghetto (sheltered hundreds of Jews). You can buy an entrance ticket in advance, opt for skip-the-line option or choose a guided tour. The facade was built in oriental Moorish architecture commonly used in the 1950s. The Tree of Life Holocaust Memorial was built in 1989 on top of the mass graves honoring the Jewish martyrs of Hungary. The names are written on the leaves of the metal tree. The interior of the synagogue is very beautiful and contributes towards making this synagogue one of the top ten sights of the city.

Central Market

The Great Market Hall of Budapest located in the center of the city is spread across 3 floors with vendors selling fruits, vegetables, souvenirs, utensils, spices, clothes, accessories, and delicious food. The exterior is built in neo-gothic architecture adding to the appeal of this largest market hall of Budapest. Opened in 1897, the purpose of this indoor market was to arrange a central location for vendors and farmers. There are more than 180 shops and stalls offering unique Hungarian items and delicacies. We tried the spicy Hungarian goulash (a bit different from the Czech one we tried in Prague) along with a local beer. Food was relatively expensive considering we were buying from stalls. While it was fun to walk around and immerse ourselves in the Hungarian culture, food stalls could have been avoided.

Fisherman’s Bastion (Halászbástya)

Fisherman’s Bastion is located on a hill top near the Buda Castle but deserves an afternoon to itself. Built in the 19th century, towers of the Bastion provide the best views of the Danube River, the Hungarian Parliament, and the surrounding area. It was built in honor of Hungary and it’s founders, with seven stone towers representing the leaders of the seven Hungarian tribes (Magyar) and their arrival to the country. The white stoned facade consisting of turrets and spires looks straight out of a fairytale. There is cafe located along the walls offering a panoramic view in a picturesque setting. The monument was protected by a guild of fishermen during the medieval times, hence earning this beautiful name. You can climb up a tower spire by paying an entrance fee and even better, visit in the morning to see the sunrise!

Buda Castle

The trip to Fisherman’s Bastion can be combined with a a visit to the Buda Castle, the Matthias church, the Castle Hill Funicular, and viewing the changing of the guards ceremony. You can take a guided tour visiting both outside and inside of the castle, and the labyrinth under the castle. The castle grounds are home to the National Library, the National Gallery, History Museum, and the Lion Courtyard. Mathias Church was once used for the Coronation of the Hungarian kings. The palatial complex also consists of the Buda Castle Garden Bazaar which hosts a number of events during Easter and Christmas. There are elevators for convenience and the grounds are open in the peace of the night as well. Towards the end of our visit, we walked out randomly along the streets towards the town and came across this beautiful restaurant called Aranybastya. We tried their cocktails and desserts including Somloi Galuska – a classic Hungarian trifle cake made of several layers of sponge and custard cream. Getting lost in the streets and finding such gems is a true wonder of travel sojourns!

Vaci Street

This pedestrian only street in the center of the city is home to numerous hotels, restaurants, cafes, shops, and historic buildings. Since Vaci street was established during the 18th century, the historic buildings on site ooze periodic charm.. Being one of the main shopping streets in the city, Vaci street is popular and busy during both day and night times. The small side streets will lead you to the Danube river which runs parallel along this street. One end leads to the Vörösmarty Square while the other to the Pest end of Liberty Bridge. While this location is perfect for people watching, history buffs will enjoy a stroll along the mansions, plaques, and sculptures lining the street.

It helps that the northern part of the street is dedicated to shopping while the southern part houses restaurants and souvenir shops. While the food is overpriced, our first Hungarian Langos experience was over here and we definitely had no regrets! If you want to purchase ‘Hungaricums‘ (unique Hungarian products), this will be a great opportunity to explore the various options. After sunset, the street turns into a prime hotspot with various bars, clubs, theaters and concert halls. Hence, this downtown gem is not to be missed! For the food adventurers, I was shocked to see the outdoor display venue of Safari Grill House serving Camel, Lama, Zebra, and Corsican steak.

St. Stephen’s Basilica

This sacred Catholic Church is named in the honor of the first king of Hungary known as St Stephen. This church is the largest in Budapest and and third largest in Hungary. The basilica is home to mummified right hand of it’s patron (St. Stephen) and is hence treasured by the people of the country. Also known as the Holy Dexter, the mummified hand was discovered in a Bosnian monastery before being brought back to Hungary. Interestingly, the church was built on the location of Hetz Theater known for hosting animal fights in 1800s. Giving equal importance to spiritual thinking as worldly thinking, it is one of the two tallest buildings equal in height to the Hungarian Parliament Building. One can climb up the dome or take an elevator to enjoy the panoramic views of the city. The Basilica is also known for it’s 6 bells, out of which the one weighing 9 tons is the biggest bell in the country. The right hand of the king was believed to have miraculous powers and is celebrated to this day on special and momentous occasions. It resides in the Holy Right Chapel located at the left of the main alter.

Food & Cafe Culture

We couldn’t get enough of the food in Budapest which was flavorful and delicious! The Lángos, Goulash, and Chicken Paprikash are some of my favorite savory dishes. Somloi Galuska (classic Hungarian trifle cake made of several layers of sponge and custard cream) and traditional chimney cakes (Kürtős kalács) should definitely be on your list! Dobos torta (Dobos Cake), Esterházy torta (Esterházy cake), and Zserbó (Hungarian Gerbeaud cake) are some other layered cakes to try on your trip to Budapest. This section would be incomplete without mentioning the most beautiful cafe in the world – New York Cafe! While we were there, reservations in advance were necessary to get in. However now they provide reservations only for dinner after 6 PM. Up until then, table availability is on first come first serve basis. This cafe has survived over a century and served noblemen, writers, artists, politicians and more. You will be transported into another era and have a gala time when out there. PS: It can be booked for weddings and other events!

Night Stroll Along Danube

Danube is the second longest river in Europe flowing through central and southeastern parts of the continent. Connecting 10 countries, it starts in Germany and passes through the capital of Hungary, Budapest. While one can cruise along the river covering multiple countries, there are two ways to enjoy the river in Budapest. First one being river cruise through the city (mentioned in the first section above) and second one is the mighty humble walk along the river on both sides! The best part about the night stroll is the peace and quiet, ability to encounter the city lit at night, and taking all the time you need to stop and take pictures (or simply gaze away). There are bridges connecting both sides (Buda & Pest) and crossing the bridges gives you a central and panoramic view of the river. This was our first night in the city and we walked all the way to the Buda Castle mesmerized by the beauty of the city at night! On this note, we will end the blog here and hope it helped plan your trip to the city..