Budapest, Hungary's captivating capital, is a city of timeless charm and rich history, seamlessly blending the old with the new. Divided by the majestic Danube River, Budapest boasts two distinct halves – Buda and Pest – each offering its own unique experience. Visitors can immerse themselves in the city's rich history by exploring landmarks like Buda Castle and Matthias Church, indulge in culinary delights at bustling markets and ruin bars, and unwind in the healing waters of its world-renowned thermal baths. With its thriving cultural scene, stunning architecture, and breathtaking views along the Danube, Budapest promises travelers an unforgettable experience filled with discovery and adventure.
Must See Sights in Budapest
Buda -If you are staying on the Pest side of town as I was, Buda may look like it is 'up the hill.' When you cross the Danube River and go up Castle Hill, you are greeted with two great attractions: Buda Castle and Fisherman's Bastion. I started off my tour at Buda Castle, which is home to the Hungary National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum. I decided to check out the Budapest History Museum. I found this museum to be interactive and informative, and it offered a great escape from the summer heat. I would save the museum tour for the middle of the day as the crowds were not too bad, and it's indoors with A/C. After the museum, I headed back outside to check out the exterior of the Buda Castle complex, which offered old statues, a military ceremony, and beautiful fountains. I then headed north along the Danube River towards Fisherman's Bastion. This next attraction is a contrast from the older Buda Castle, as Fisherman's Bastion feels newer, cleaner, and more open. Fisherman's Bastion offers inspiring lookout towers and decorative fortifications that were built in the 19th century to serve as lookout towers, providing the best panoramic views of this classical city.
Pest - Whether you want to have a fun night out on the town, grab authentic Hungarian cuisine, experience classical sights such as the Hungarian Parliament building, or relax at the Széchenyi Thermal Baths, Pest has a lot to offer! On my first day in Budapest, I hopped straight on the M1 metro line. The first stop was at Andrássy Avenue, and I walked straight to Heroes Square. Heroes Square pays tribute to Hungary's independence and the people who died fighting for it; it is a vast open area with beautiful statues of Hungary's past leaders. As I continued down the famous Andrássy Avenue, I found St. Stephen's Basilica. Expect crowds when visiting this basilica, which requires a ticket for the full tour. The golden mosaics on the interior of the dome are worth seeing, in my opinion. After a long day of walking, I wanted to end the day at the Széchenyi Thermal Baths to unwind and soak in what I had just experienced—literally! You can experience the baths in a couple of different ways, whether you want the traditional spa relaxation experience or prefer to grab some drinks and socialize with others in the thermal bath. Both options are fantastic. I decided to go for the traditional experience, spending most of my time in the main outside pool. However, I also checked out three of the 15 inside pools, which offered a more traditional experience. If you want to use your phone, I recommend bringing a waterproof phone holder—I wish I had done this looking back on it. Most importantly, don't forget to bring your own towel and water shoes!
Travel Around Budapest
Public Transit - Budapest uniquely hosts the oldest electrified metro line in mainland Europe and the second oldest in the world! This is the famous M1 metro line, which is a travel attraction itself. With the cute old yellow train cars and the rickety ride, it truly transports you back in time! During my time in Budapest, I utilized the public metro, public bus, and public tram systems. The combination of these three methods of transportation allowed me to travel anywhere from Fisherman's Bastion in Buda to the Széchenyi Thermal Baths in Pest. I found the public transit easy to use and obtained a Budapest Card pass for unlimited public transport access. I found the price to be fair and a great deal if you are using public transport more than three times a day.
Private Transit - Budapest has numerous taxi options you can access. While I did not take a taxi during my time in this classic city, it was an easy option to find and utilize. Although Uber is no longer available in Budapest, you can still access private rides through other rideshare providers. The best option I found was just walking. Budapest is a walkable city with many tourist attractions close together. On tourist attraction days, I found myself walking most of the day. This is my preferred method of travel, as you really get to take in the Gothic and Baroque architectural characteristics of this classic Eastern European city.
Night Life
Numerous ruin bars are located in and around the city of Pest, just a few blocks away from where I was staying near St. Stephen's Basilica. There are multiple options for bar crawls, whether you want to sign up with a professional group tour or just go off on your own. Both are doable and highly recommended. I chose to do a tourist-style group tour bar crawl as I wanted to connect with other travelers from around the world. Together, we experienced 5-6 different ruin bars, some above ground, while my favorites were tucked away underground. When going down those steps, it's as if you have entered another world. These underground bars were some of my favorites I have ever experienced anywhere in the world! You can also take it at your own pace. Be prepared to map out a route ahead of time and expect to wait in some longer lines at the more popular places. For your information, the group tour got us through to the front of the line, which was nice but not necessary to have a great experience. Whether you are in town for one night or one week, I highly recommend going out in the city of Pest one night to connect with others and take in these historical dive bars. Plus, it's just a lot of fun!
Checkout my Youtube Channel for a full in depth experience of this great city!
-cferTravels
Christian Fernandez
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