Budapest, Hungary
Best time to travel
The high season for tourism is from May to September and the month of December. If you like festivals and a larger number of tourists don't bother you, summer could be a good option for you. If, on the other hand, you are a fan of quieter trips with fewer tourists visiting the city, choose the months outside the high season. The months of March, April and October allow you to avoid the summer heat and crowds at the main attractions and means of transport.
How to get there
Located in the heart of Central Europe, the city of Budapest is a relatively easy destination to visit. The most common ways to travel to Budapest are by plane, train and bus, although there are other means of transportation depending on the departure location. If you are planning to travel by plane, try to buy your tickets well in advance to get the lowest prices. The best way to get to the city center from the airport is by train. You can easily find train tickets sales outlets at the airport.
Where to stay
Hotels in Budapest are relatively affordable compared to other major European cities. Given the time of year we visited the city (summer), we opted for a more central hotel with lower costs compared to the available offer. We stayed at Easy Hotel Oktogon which was the best option according to our budget and the location we were looking for. The Hotel has very practical rooms (basic and with little storage) and small dimensions. It worked perfectly for us, but we know it's not ideal for everyone. The city offers several accommodation possibilities at different prices. The best accommodation options are located in the city center close to tourist sites such as the Chain Bridge, the Parliament, the Opera, among others. A good option would also be a hotel further away from the center but close to a metro station. Everything will depend on your preferences.
Best Tourist attractions
Fisherman’s Bastion
Fisherman's Bastion is one of the most visited attractions in Budapest. It is a terrace located on the hill of Buda Castle, next to the Mathias Church, on the west bank of the Danube. It has seven towers that pay tribute to the seven founding tribes of Hungary. It's the place to soak up the city's stunning views. We chose to go early in the morning, before sunrise. We can say with all conviction that we do not regret our choice for a second. It was a magical sunrise that provided us with fantastic photo opportunities. We strongly advise you to visit this place early in the morning so you can enjoy the place with few tourists and a sunrise that will certainly be locked up in your memories. At the end of the morning, after exploring other attractions in the region, we returned to the bastion and the feeling was totally different. It's really worth the effort of waking up early to visit this place.
Parliament
The Parliament is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Budapest. It is situated in Kossuth Square, on the Pest side of the city, on the eastern bank of the Danube. It is where the National Assembly of Hungary is located and is the third largest parliament in the world. The building is impressive for its magnitude and particularly beautiful, dominating the city center. We booked the guided tour of the interior and highly recommend it. You can see the details of the interior in the photo. Check the availability of visits well in advance given the popularity of this tourist attraction. For photography lovers, the Parliament building at sunrise, sunset and at night has a special charm, don't miss the opportunity for some fantastic clicks.
Danube Cruises
There are several boat tour options in Budapest, where you can get a different view of the city and can relax and enjoy the views. We found that there were day and night cruises available and some with an onboard meal option. We opted for the Duna Bella daytime cruise, departing at 11am, which included a drink on board. It was a different, fun and welcomed experience, saving us energy for the rest of the day and allowing us to see the city from a different perspective.
Liberty Bridge
It is the third and smallest bridge in the center of Budapest. On the Buda side of the bridge we can find Gellért square and, on Gellért hill, the Hotel Gellért, known for its thermal water. At the Pest end of the bridge there is Fővám square and the Great Market-Hall. It is a very beautiful bridge that gets even prettier at night.
Central Market
It is recommended by the most varied tourist guides and for good reasons! It is considered not only one of the biggest markets in Budapest but also one of the most beautiful. Composed by 3 covered floors, where all types of goods are sold (fruits, vegetables, clothing, accessories, spices, among others), it provides good entertainment and is a good option for purchasing souvenirs. For those who like photography, it is also worth a visit.
Chain Bridge
The Chain Bridge is the oldest suspension bridge in Budapest and the most famous on the Danube. It crosses between Széchenyi Square, on the Pest side, and Clark Ádám Square, in Buda. They say it is a good landmark for photography. Unfortunately the lions had “taken a vacation” at the time we went there and the bridge was closed (for renovation).
Thermal Baths
In Budapest, locals have enjoyed steaming, mineral-rich thermal water for thousands of years. Community baths have long been a place to relax and socialize. By doing a brief search you can find several community baths that differ in size, ornaments, opening hours só they can please everyone. We opted for a lesser known one but described as being frequented by locals – Lukacs bath.
We chose this one not only because it is less touristy but also because it is included in the Budapest pass. Still, we were pleasantly surprised by the lack of tourists. It was incredible to observe the customs of the locals, realizing that it was something that was part of their daily routine. As we walked through the different pools, we heard whispered conversations, discreet laughter, people socializing and relaxing.
At Lukacs bath there is an indoor and outdoor area, with several pools at varying temperatures, indicated on the outside of each one, as well as the appropriate length of stay depending on the temperature.
It is recommended that you start with lower temperatures and gradually increase them.
Regardless of the choice you make, go as early as possible to avoid the busiest hours. (due to the convenience of not carrying electronics in the bathing area, we did not take photographs in this place) If you are interested in more information about Lukacs Bath, follow the link to the official website: https://en.lukacsfurdo.hu/
Matthias Church
Matthias Church is a Roman Catholic church located opposite to the Fisherman's Bastion, close to Buda Castle. It has a wonderful interior, with warm and vibrant colors, as you can see in the photo. If you purchase the 72-hour pass, the visit is included.
Food
Traditional Hungarian cuisine is essentially characterized by the use of meat (mainly pork), paprika, soups, bread and lard. One of the best-known traditional dishes is goulash. We tried csirke páprikas with galuska which is chicken with a creamy paprika sauce served with a dough made from egg, flour and salt.
As in any other city, there are always fast food options for when you want to save money or when your plans are more hectic. As far as sweets are concerned, we tried kürtőskalács, a sweet made in a spiral, which can be served plain or with fillings and toppings.
Budapest Card - Yes or No?
If you want to purchase the Budapest card, you can do so online before your trip. In our opinion, the city card does not always pay off, however, Budapest's card includes several attractions as well as different means of transportation if you choose the 72-hour card or longer. For us, who stayed in the city for around 5 days, it was really worth buying the card. As there are annual updates to what the cards offer, we advise you to visit an official website to confirm whether the conditions we describe still apply. https://www.budapestinfo.hu/en/budapest-card
Attention: All information presented here was correct at the time of our travel. Therefore, we advise you to check whether they remain unchanged.
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