Best Things to do in Budapest
I had zero expectations when I went to Budapest. I didn’t know much about it or anyone that had been before. It blew me away and has since become one of, if not my favourite city in Eastern Europe! So much rich history, lots of cool bohemian vibes, amazing food, and you don’t need that long to explore it! Its great for a long weekend or city break.
1. Boat Ride Down the Danube
Its one of the most famous rivers in all of Europe! Johann Strauss even wrote a whole waltz about it. It will give you stunning views of both Buda and Pest! I did one at night, so I boarded right before sunset and had a wonderful night eating goulash and drinking champagne, and the views of the parliament buildings all lit up were stunning! Very cinematic and cool.
2. Parliament Buildings
Whether you check them out by land or by sea they are definitely worth seeing. Its the largest building in Hungary and done up in a Neo-gothic style. The reddish roof against the start white stone makes for unique contrast. Make sure you walk all around it as there is tons to see! I think it might actually be one of my favourite government buildings I’ve ever seen.
3. Synagogue
The history with Hungary and its Jewish community is complex. The Dohány Street Synagogue is one of the most unique I’ve seen in my whole life. It is incredibly ornate inside with orb like chandeliers and red and orange colours everywhere. The most astonishing feature though, is the tree of life statue in the garden. Its a sculpture of a willow tree, which is a symbol of mourning in Hungarian-Jewish culture, to memorialize the Hungarians who lost their life in the holocaust, with names on each leaf. Its startling, and haunting but absolutely beautiful and for anyone interested in the war or history it is a must visit.
4. Bath Houses
There are tons of bath houses all over Hungary, but arguably the most famous is the Szechenyi Bath. Its one of the biggest natural spa baths in all of Europe. Its over 100 years old, and honestly you feel like royalty just walking into the place. All yellow, gold and palatial with bright blue waters. There are 18 pools, both indoor and outdoor with varying degrees of warmth for dipping. There are also saunas, massage treatments, and some nights after dark the baths become a club and you can party in the water! Wandering around inside is like a steamy labyrinth. Its affordable and an incredible way to spend an afternoon.
5. Fishermans Bastion
Right on the top of castle hill is Halászbástya, more commonly known as the Fisherman’s Bastion. Its the perfect lookout point to see all of Budapest. Its easy enough to get to by public transport, I took a bus right from the centre of town all the way to the top! Its the perfect spot for a photo op as well! When I was there it was St Stephens day so the whole bastion was filled with people watching the fireworks light up over the city! Around the bastion there are tons of great little cafes and shops.
6. Ruins Bar
Budapest has some of my favourite night life in the entire world. Its vibrant, noisy and fun. Funnily enough, they aren’t that old. They started opening up in 2001 in old factories and run down buildings, but trust me when I say its like falling down a rabbit hole to wonderland. The best and the original bar is Szimpla Kert. It has so many rooms each with their own theme! Theres a courtyard that looks like its out of Jurassic Park, a room filled with carnival rides, an old communist train car, paper mache hanging off the walls, hookah pipes, every cocktail you can imagine, live music, chilled music, people handing out carrots its super trippy and absolutely the best night out!
7. Eat Langos
Hungarian food is severely overlooked and underrated in my humble opinion. From goulash to chicken paprikash to chimney cakes I was a very happy girl when I was there. One of the best things I tried though was Lángos! Its basically a deep fried bread like dough, almost like a focaccia but not really, and topped with sour cream and cheese. Everything about that is perfect! Those are the classic toppings but you can really put whatever you want on top! As for where to get it, I just grabbed one in a little street market I found, but its a Hungarian staple so I’m sure you’ll be able to find it wherever!
Budapest really came out of left field and surprised me by how much I adored every aspect of it. The city is pulsing with life and culture and history and wether you want a historical trip or want to party, you wont be disappointed!