What does one think of when they hear – Budapest!? I certainly was among those people who wanted to visit Budapest because of the nightlife and affordability. However, my view of this place totally changed when I landed there. Budapest is so much more than just vibrant nightlife! It is so culturally rich, has grand architecture and such amazing food. Plus, when you visit Budapest, you are actually visiting 3 cities together!
Budapest was formed by the union of 3 cities, Buda, Pest and Óbuda. It has its origin traced back to 4th century BC when the Celts occupied the plains of Hungary. Later it was inhabited by the Romans, Huns and various other races of people over the centuries resulting in a very diverse cultural heritage.
Danube river passes through Budapest, the west bank of the river is known as Buda and Pest extends to the left bank of the river.
Budapest has a lot to offer and it’s a famous spot for the tourists across all age.
Fun fact-The inventor of famous Rubik’s cube was born in Budapest.
Where to stay in Budapest?
Budapest has 23 districts and its quite a task to determine which area to stay in. Some of the districts which you might want to consider are-
District I– This is the posh neighbourhood of Budapest and is located on the Buda side of the town. Most of the historical buildings are in this district. Also, Gellért hill provides the best view of sunrise and sunset for the nature lovers.
District II– This is the quiet part of the city. If you want to avoid the crowd, this is the place to be.
District V– This place is nearby to the Hungarian parliament and Shoes on Danube bank memorial. It’s the commercial and touristic centre of Budapest.
District VI– This is the Fashion district in Budapest and also the never sleeping part of the city.
District VII– It is packed with food and drinks option and is also the historical Jewish quarter. It has loads of ruin bars, cafes and boutiques.
District VIII– It is the trendiest neighbourhood in Budapest.
Based on your preference you can select from any of these districts or the other remaining districts too.
My suggestion-5th district has the best overall neighbourhood and is very well-connected to other parts of the city.
Explore the best of Budapest
The best part of Budapest is that a majority of it can be explored in 3-4 days, making it the best option to travel over any long weekends.
Historic sightings-
1.Grand Hungarian parliament building – It was created in the 19th century and has the most remarkable architecture. It is built in Gothic revival style with a symmetrical facade and a dome.
It looks like a golden castle when the warm orange glow of the sun rays falls on it during sunset.
Entry fee- The tickets are priced at 2400 HUF for EU citizens & 6000 HUF for non-EU citizens and it can be reserved from here.
Interesting fact: The architect, Imre Steindl went blind before completion of this building, hence he could not appreciate this masterpiece.
2.Buda castle and the labyrinth – This historic castle was built around the twelfth century. It went through drastic changes since then across the multiple centuries due to the various communities of people occupying it and also during the world wars when it was heavily damaged due to the bombings. It has now been announced as a world heritage site. The castle is in the heart of the city and provides a grand view of Budapest.
The castle is huge and has different attractions within, some of them are-Historic fort, National gallery, Budapest history museum, Castle gardens and Bazar.
Underneath the Castle district lies the labyrinth which is almost 1000 metres long. Some historians also say that this labyrinth was used by prehistoric men to save themselves from predators. During world wars, it gave shelter to around 10,000 people from bombings. The labyrinth has been restored and one can find statues, fountains and many other interesting sights. This is a hidden gem and should not be missed. There is no official map for this place and if you intend to visit, I will suggest visiting after 6 pm when the lights are switched off and the visitors need to follow the natural light of the oil lamps. An eerie feeling all together but should not be missed!
Take time to stroll through Castle hill as there is a lot to see and explore!
Entry fee- Entry to Buda castle is free however you will need to buy tickets to enter the museums.
3. Fishermen’s bastion – It gives a complete panoramic view of the city. It consists of 7 towers which represent the Seven tribes who played an important role in the Hungarian conquest.
My suggestion: Do not forget to have a drink or a coffee at the rooftop café of this place. It gives some amazing view of the city.
4. Shoes on Danube bank-This monument was built as a remembrance to the tragic incident of 3500 people who were shot into the Danube river during the Arrow Cross terror. It consists of 60 pairs of 1940s style shoes which are cast in iron.
5. Liberty Bridge-The shortest bridge in Budapest and has been built using all the materials produced by Hungarian industries and connects the 2 souls-Buda and Pest. This bridge was partly exploded during 1945 German bombings, but due to its strong foundation, it was reconstructed within few months and was reopened in 1946.
6. St. Stephen’s Basilica-Beautiful cathedral with exquisite interiors. This houses the most sacred treasure- St.Stephen’s mummified right hand.
Interesting fact: No building can be taller than 96m in Budapest as per the local regulations which restrict the building height. St Stephen’s Basilica and Hungarian parliament building are of the same height, signifying that government and religion both are of equal value.
Fun places to visit-
7. Thermal baths– Budapest has 9 medicinal baths and 123 hot springs. Each of these baths has different mineral contents and its unique in terms of architecture, size and facilities.
The most renowned and largest of them all is -Széchenyi Medicinal Bath. Most locals spend hours over the weekend healing their bodies and training their minds with the game of chess in this bath. If you want something more private, then you can book a thermal spa session at Gellert spa bath.
Many do not know that Széchenyi bath transforms to the hottest (literally! 🙂 ) pool party destination over the weekend (only during a certain time of the year). The celebrations are HUGE, and if you are in Budapest and like to party in EDM, this is something you should not miss!
Plan your trip accordingly so that you are able to attend this Sparty and book your tickets in advance.
8. Ruin bars– One of the most unique places to visit in Budapest are the ruin bars. The abandoned buildings and the dilapidated Jewish quarters were transformed to bars around 2004 and since then these ruin bars are a big hit in Budapest! These ruin bars thrive on unusual decors, crazy lightings, laid back and hodgepodge atmosphere and cheap drinks!
The best of these ruin bars is Szimpla Kert- it’s also the busiest ones! Some of the others which you might want to visit are- Instant and Fogas Ház, Mazel tov, Szatyor Bar and UdvarRom.
My suggestion: Do not forget to ride Tram number 2 from Parliament house till the south, as it gives a fabulous view of all the major places of the city and you cannot beat the view across the river. It is also considered as one of the top ten most beautiful tram tours in the world.
Must try foods-
If you are in Budapest, you should try some of these delicious foods-
Goulash– Budapest bistro serves the best Goulash, but do not forget the make a prior reservation as they are almost always full.
Fisherman’s soup-One of the must-have items on a Christmas dinner table at any Hungarian house. Pest-Buda, Gundel restaurant serves the best ones!
Kürtőskalács– A special sweet spiral cylindered bread made from sweet yeast dough baked over charcoal and coated in sugar. One can also add other flavours like cinnamon, chocolate or coconut! (I am already drooling while typing this :P).
Final thoughts!
This is a city which is historically very rich! Do spend quality time appreciating the architecture of this place as its quite grand and much different from the other European cities. Watch the sunset from Gellért hill or from the Danube riverbank and observe the majestic parliament house transform to a golden castle. I am totally sold by the beauty of Budapest and the night party scenes and will love to visit again if given a chance!
Keep Travelling,
Rubela
An amazing Budapest guide for a new tourist like me .thank you!!
Thank you so much Nalini 🙂