Budapest in a glimpse

Here we go

I’ve visited Budapest 5 times. You can tell it’s a city I love. It’s the not-at-all-touristy vibe, the good food, the thermal baths. The flight tickets can be super cheap, like 20€. The most expensive one way ticket I’ve bought was 70€. Budapest is my go-to destination when I need to relax and take some time off. Music on my AirPods and strolling around like there’s no tomorrow. You can walk for hours and not get bored, even though the public transportation can take you anywhere around the city. And you can fly cheap to many destinations, ‘cause many low cost airlines operate there.

Eat and drink

Restaurants and cafés are typically very affordable. You can spend 10-15€ per meal. My personal favorite is Napfényes Restaurant. For me, it’s a vegan heaven. I strongly suggest it for non vegans, too. It’s like a universe of flavors to your palette. Also, you cannot leave the city without tasting the best Langos (fried garlic bread) at Retro Langos (vegan options available). Mazel Tov is a top tier Mediterranean restaurant and the vibe is so cool. If you’re into street food you definitely should visit Street Food Karavan, an open space food court in a pedestrian passage. I’m sure you’ll find a restaurant you won’t forget.

Cafés and bars in Budapest can serve all kinds of needs and wants. New York Café is an ornate -kind of pricey- café since 1894. It’s like having coffee in a palace. I’ve passed by many times, but the queue was always so long, so it was a hard pass. If you have the time and patience, it’s worth the wait. Another rare find is Zoo Café, reservation required. You can have your drink while cats stroll around and parrots fly everywhere inside the place. Almost forgot to mention the very crowded Ruin Bars. It’s where the nightlife is. Shortly after the sun sets -maybe earlier during winter time- people gather for a beer or a cocktail. Food is also available, even karaoke. Most of the nightlife is gathered there and the surrounding area. So, it’s another spot not to miss.

What to do in Budapest

Every big city has a central market and so does Budapest. Mercado Central is located close to the city center. There you can purchase, other than fresh produce and items in bulk, local paprika spice, that the Hungary is famous for. Also, every big city has it’s own city park. And you guessed it, Budapest, too. The most recent addition is the Museum of Ethnography, which should be in the next paragraph, but it isn’t. The state of the art architecture of the building is truly mesmerizing. Margaret island is another park worth to visit. What distinguishes it is that it’s an island accessible by public transport. It even has a Japanese garden. After your stroll there, Shoes on the Danube Bank are sculptures of shoes as a memorial for the Hungarian Jews killed during WWII.

As of museums and attractions, the city is full of them. The Hungarian Parliament Building is the ultimate landmark and it’s hard to book a last minute tour in English, so reserve yours as early as possible. Then, take the public transport or walk to the Fisherman’s Bastion. It’s the best spot to capture amazing photos of the city. I suggest going there just before sunset, just to experience the view and the colors of the sky. And just behind it, there’s a well hidden bunker, the Hospital in the rock, visits by tour only. The bunker is built inside a cliff, so it never served as a bunker, but as a hospital during WWII. And my last suggestion is the House of Terror museum, which documents the footprint of the regimes Budapest had and also serves as a memorial to the victims. It’s very intense, so it may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

Thermal baths

The city, other than being the capital of Hungary, is also the European capital of thermal baths. The most known baths are the following: Széchenyi Thermal Baths, Gallért baths and Rudas Baths. Of course the city has more thermal baths to offer. My personal favorite are the Széchenyi Baths. One can find multiple pools, indoors and outdoors, and several other spaces, such as steam rooms and saunas. It even has services such as massage, beer tubs and much more with an extra charge. The full day ticket gives you access to the most of the common areas, so prepare to spend 3-6 hours. Your hands and toes may become a little soggy, but you’ll feel so relaxed after.

I’ll probably revisit like a dozen times more. Every single time the city has something new to offer. If you’ve already visited Budapest or you’re getting ready for the trip, leave a comment below about your thoughts or experience.