I love my trips to Budapest, the city has ugh great energy! Walking around is beautiful whether it’s by the river, the view from Gellert Hill, or the city streets. You’ll see that many of the buildings have detailed & delicate architecture. In fact the city is also referred to as “the Paris of the East”.
I’ve visited on both summer and winter. I have to say my autumn/winter trip is was by far my favorite! We enjoyed walking around the whole city and spoiled ourselves with sunset in the thermal baths, fully appreciating the warmth they provide. My summer trip was during a heatwave and it was so hot! 🥵 We were using google maps with the setting for least amount of walking. It was also less pleasant in the outside thermal baths because there wasn’t the cold air in comparison to the hot baths.
Things to know
Transport: tram (fine)
It’s really easy to get around by tram.
📍Tram 2 has amazing views along the Danube & passes along many of Budapest’s major sights!
Local Delicacies
🥐Tredlník aka Chimney Cakes (a pastry that can be filled with cream or ice cream)
🥞Langos (a savoury donut like pastry which can be topped with savoury or sweet toppings)
🥘Gulyásleves (goulash soup with meat and vegetables)
🥘Pörkölt (meat stew in paprika sauce)
🌭Kolbice (grilled Kolbász sausages in wheat bread cone)
🍲Lescó (vegetable stew)
🍗Paprikás (creamy chicken paprikash with paprika and chicken leg)
Spots to see
Walking around the city centre is quite intuitive and you will be distracted by beautiful buildings, nicely displayed shop windows, and delicious food spots! Here are just a few I noticed:
Danube Promenade: The banks of the Danube river in Budapest are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s an enjoyable walk, laced with beautiful buildings. (The walk is a bit cold in the winter but still worth it, just remeber your jacket! 🥶)
A massive indoor market built in 1894. I love the Langos on the first floor. 😍
💶The prices are a little higher here compared to stalls in the Buda side of the city.
A beautiful neighborhood built on a hill. Some buildings dating back to the 14th & 15th centuries.
One of my favorite spots in Budapest, lovely architecture, & a great view of the parliament building. Beautiful day & night - visit at sunset if you can!
📍Trinity Square
📍 Matthias Church (Mátyás templom)
📍 Fisherman’s Bastion (Halászbástya)
📍 Buda castle
The city park is a great escape from the city, you’ll find lots of beautiful spots over 302 acres park. Great spots to explore on a nice day 😍
📍Széchenyi Baths
📍Zoo
📍Vajdahunyand Castle
Above Gellert Hill, leading to the freedom statue. Beautiful view at night. 😍
📌The area was under renovation when I last visited but it was still worth the views.
One of the most popular thermal baths 🛁
Built in 1918, beautiful design featuring 4 thermal-medicinal pools, 6 other indoor pools, & 2 outdoor pools.
💶 It’s around €20 entry
📌 For the spa, you’ll need to bring a bathing suit & a towel
One of the most popular thermal baths & one of the largest spas in Europe. 🛁
Built in 1913, it’s quite popular for its neo-baroque bath complex with 11 medicinal pools & 8 swimming pools.
💶It’s around €20 entry, you can buy drinks inside. There are also lockers to store your belongings (you’ll be given a bracelet/lock). They also occasionally throw events/parties. 👯♀️
I loved this one! Especially the outdoor bath in autumn/winter.
Great way to explore & learn about the city from a local. A grey overview without stressing where to go. Here are a few options:
🔗Trip to Budapest (triptobudapest.hu)
🔗Free Budapest Tour (freetour.com)
🔗Be Original Tours (free-budapest-tours.com)
Budapest is famous for its Ruin Pubs (pubs built in abandoned/ruined buildings).
After WWII, many of the buildings in the Jewish neighborhood were destroyed. Years later people moved into these buildings & turned them into secret underground pubs & bars.
Each have their own vibe but these were ones suggested to me:
🪩Szimpia Kurt
🪩Instant
🪩Fogas Ház
My google maps has so many pins, you can't see the continent. 📍🌍 Let me share my favorite experiences, destinations, and cafe-hopping spots with you! ⭐️
I'm a Maltese adventurer, living in Germany. When I’m not exploring Bavaria, I’m adding new countries to my list (42 so far!). ✈️
