Budapest, Hungary’s gorgeous capital, is a lively river city so with much to see, do, and eat. Budapest is slowly but surely becoming a tourist destination that everyone wants to go to. Before visiting, I had no idea how large the city actually was. There are two sides to the city that are separated by the Danube River. On one side of the river is the hilly Buda side and the other is the flat Pest side which are connected by the famous Chain Bridge. I had so much fun visiting and exploring and here’s what I recommend!
What To See:
♦ Széchenyi Chain Bridge – this historic bridge is what connects the city and it is a must see
♦ Hungarian Parliament – this extravagantly beautiful Gothic style Parliament building is one of Europe’s oldest legislative buildings and definitely worth seeing
♦ Fisherman’s Bastion – this 19th century Gothic Revival fortress is located on the Buda side and has a panoramic viewing terrace as well as beautiful lookout towers
♦ Buda Castle – the beautiful Baroque Castle has been home to the Hungarian Kings since 1265
♦ Matthias Church -this old Roman Catholic church is located in the front of the Fisherman’s Bastion and was named Mathias Church for King Matthias, who was married here in the 14th century. It’s beautiful inside and out
♦ Fountain of King Matthias- located behind the church, it’s called the “Trevi Fountain of Hungary”
♦ The Danube River – this is the second largest river in Europe and what runs through the city
♦ Thermal Baths – Budapest sits on around 125 natural thermal springs and they’ve turned them into gorgeous outdoor spas
♦ St. Stephen’s Basilica – this is the largest church in Budapest and sits in a beautiful square
♦ All of the Gothic architecture that is all over the city
♦ Castle Hill Funicular – this funicular will take you from the chain bridge to the Buda castle
♦ The Shoes on the Danube Bank – this famous statue was created in memory of the Jews who were killed by fascist militiamen in Budapest during World War 2
Things To Do:
♦ Ride the Castle Hill Funicular
♦ Walk the iconic chain bridge
♦ Ride the Sziget Eye Ferris Wheel, located in Erzsébet Square
♦ Attend a concert – Budapest is known for having concerts almost every night in the year, especially in Summer months
♦ Take a dip in Széchenyi Thermal Bath or any of the other outdoor thermal baths
♦ Take a stroll in the beautiful City Park
♦ Admire the architecture, and the revival of the run down buildings
♦ Have a drink at one of the famous Ruin Pubs or if you want something more sophisticated, a rooftop bar
♦ Go with a group to a popular Room Escape where you have to work together to figure out clues on how to escape
What To Eat/Drink:
♦ Try some local Hungarian wines
♦ Unikum – this is the Hungarian national drink and it is similar to Jagermeister
♦ Paprikás csirke – Paprika chicken
♦ Goulash
♦ Lángos – this deep fried Hungarian flat bread is everywhere and always have a wide variety of toppings
♦ Kolbász – Hungarian sausage
♦ Tölttött Káposzta – stuffed cabbage rolls
♦ Túrógombóc – cottage cheese dumplings
♦ Dobos Torta – Hungarian 5 layer cake (YUM)
♦ Kürtöskalács – this sweet dough is wrapped around a cone, rolled into a cinnamon sugar, and cooked over an open flame
Where To Eat/Drink:
Breakfast:
♦ Két Szerecsen – yummy scrambled eggs and fresh juice
♦ Kicsizso – try the scrambled eggs with mangalitsa meat
♦ Zoska Breakfast Café – serves a delicious breakfast all day long
♦ Déryné Bistro – try their eggs benedict or their house-made sausage
♦ New York Kávéház – this is one of the most beautiful cafe’s I have ever been to. It has been restored to it former opulent glory and serves a delicious brunch
Lunch:
♦ Great Market Hall – go here for all of the delicious choices at the food stalls
♦ Street Food Karavan – this tucked away ally houses a lot of great food trucks
♦ Bors GasztroBar – famous for it’s soups. There is always a line!
♦ Köleves – traditional Jewish cuisine with a cute garden
♦ Borbíróság – houses local Hungarian wines and has great finger foods
Cocktails:
♦ 360 Bar – swanky rooftop bar
♦ Gozsdu Sky Terrace – rooftop bar with great views
♦ Doblo Wine Bar – romantic brink lined wine bar housing delicious Hungarian wines
♦ Kisüzem – this local favorite is always packed
♦ Szimpla Kert Ruin Pub – the most famous of all of the Hungarian Ruin Pubs
Dinner:
♦ Macesz Bistro – upscale Jewish cuisine (one of my favorites!)
♦ Costes Restaurant – fine dining with delicious fish and meat
♦ Spinoza – traditional Hungarian
♦ Halászbástya – fine dining with beautiful views located at the Fisherman’s Bastion
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