Weekend guide to beautiful Budapest
Some cities are just too beautiful to only visit once, and Budapest is one of them. My first trip to Budapest happened in the winter of 2014, when visiting a friend who spent an exchange semester there. And while I do have very fond memories of that first trip, I couldn’t stop but feel that I only tasted a bit of what Budapest had to offer. The short and gloomy winter days didn’t leave much time for exploring, plus we spent half of those short days sleeping in from clubbing the night before. So I wanted to go back and do Budapest ‘right’ this time.
That second visit finally happened this August, when Jaime saw cheap flights to Budapest for his birthday weekend. So off we went! I absolutely loved returning to this elegant city, this time in summer with more daylight and no hangover. Plus I got many more tips for Budapest now, which I’ll happily share with you in this blogpost. Some of these activities were inspired by ideas from my friend, others were my own initiative - with the help of dreamy images on Instagram!
Good to know about Budapest
The city of Budapest is divided by river Danube into Buda on the west bank and Pest on the east bank. Both sides are very different from each other. Buda is the quiet side, full of castles and other monumental buildings that offer breathtaking view over Pest. Pest, on the other hand, is where all the action happens. Here you’ll find the city center and important landmarks such as the Hungarian Parliament and the St. Stephen’s Basilica.
Watch the sunrise from the Fisherman’s Bastion
Let’s start with one of my most magical travel moments ever: witnessing the sunrise from the Fisherman’s Bastion. It was glorious to see the sky change from fiery pink into bright blue, with the Hungarian Parliament as a beautiful backdrop. Was it worth it to wake up at the crack of dawn to make it here before 5.30 in the morning? Absolutely. Did I take a nap after this? You bet I did!
Head to Buda Castle during golden hour
I would say the perfect day in Budapest starts with sunrise at Fisherman’s Bastion and ends at Buda castle during golden hour. The city looks at its finest when the golden sunlight shines upon it. Plus the Buda Castle offers the best view over the Chain Bridge and St. Stephen’s Basilica! And you can also see the interior of the castle. You can also visit the National Gallery and Budapest History Museum at Buda Castle.
Admire a panoramic view of the Hungarian Parliament
Go to the Buda bank of the Danube for another spectacular view: a full front image of the Hungarian Parliament. If you want to get there fast, take the metro and get out at Batthyány tér, which is located right in front of the view. Or take the scenic route: cross the Chain Bridge from Pest and walk for about 15 minutes. Best time to go there? I would say just before sunset. First you’ll see the sky turn pink behind the parliament and slowly it will fade into dark blue while the parliament lights up in gold.
Go for a stroll around the Hungarian Parliament
While the Hungarian Parliament dominates the Budapest skyline, it’s also nice to to see the parliament from up close. You can go for a quick stroll just around the building, or visit inside with a guide of your preferred language (don’t forget to book beforehand). And since you’re already there, also take a look at the shoes by the Danube. It’s a very sad monument for the victims of World War II and it will leave you speechless.
Discover Margaret Island
Margaret bridge is a fifteen to twenty minute walk away from the parliament, and it connects Margaret Island with the rest of the city. Basically all of Margaret Island is one big park: people go there to work out, chill on the grass or watch the fountain shows. It is very laid back compared to the rest of Budapest, but I found it a great place to escape the summer afternoon heat.
Relax at the thermal baths
Budapest is known for its many thermal baths. I have only been to Széchenyi Bath so I can’t tell about the other baths, but I definitely recommend Széchenyi Bath! This striking yellow building features 18 thermal pools and is more than a hundred years old, making it the largest and most popular thermal bath of Budapest. With a water temperature of 28 degrees Celsius and an outdoor pool, it’s the perfect place to sunbathe in summer and to warm up during the colder months.
Explore the area around Heroes Square
Széchenyi Bath is located right next to Heroes Square, another monumental spot in Budapest. And the baths are not the only leisure activity that the square has to offer. The area around Heroes Square includes a park, a castle and is home to the largest ice rink of Europe. If you happen to visit Budapest during the winter months, then going to the ice rink is a MUST! And that’s coming from someone who really sucks at ice skating haha.
Have a drink by the Chain Bridge
On the Pest side of the Chain Bridge, you’ll find some cool bars to sit down, relax and enjoy the moment. One is called Raqpart and the other is called Pontoon and they are both fun. You can go there for food and drinks, or for some late night dancing in the weekends.
Enjoy the city views from a rooftop bar
With some of the best views in Europe, it’s no wonder that Budapest has a fine selection of rooftop bars. I went to High Note Skybar for a quick cocktail break in between sightseeing. This rooftop bar features two platforms, one facing the ferris wheel and the other platform is right next to the St. Stephen's Basilica.
I also watched the sunset from Intermezzo Roof Terrace, where I ordered a delicious grilled salmon for dinner.
Ride the ferris wheel
I love ferris wheels! Almost every major city has one nowadays and I’ve been on quite a few of them. So maybe not the most unique thing to do in Budapest, but it’s fun regardless. And trust me, you don’t want to say no to another chance to admire the beautiful views of Budapest.
Other Budapest tips
Two spots that I really wanted to see this trip, but didn’t have enough time for, were the Central Market Hall and the Citadella on Top of Gellért Hill. I’ve heard this is an amazing spot for sunset, and the thermal bath of Gellért seem to be very nice too. Okay, I definitely need to go back to Budapest for a third visit haha.
Another thing that I did not mention in this blogpost, but that I did during my first Budapest trip, was go on a Danube boat cruise. I recommend doing this at nighttime when the city is all lit up, it looks absolutely magical!
Talking about nighttime, Budapest has a great nightlife. I danced the night away at club Instant with my friend, and she also shared some recommendations for ruin pubs which you can read in my previous blogpost about Budapest.
Practical info
How to get around in Budapest
If you travel to Budapest by plane and want to use public transportation in the city, then I recommend buying a 72-hour public transportation pass right at the airport. Once you got your pass, you take a bus to Kobanya-Kispest metro station. From here you continue your trip to the closest stop near your stay, I always use Google maps for that.
Budapest has a compact public transportation system and it won’t take long to get you from point A to point B. But most of the city can also be explored on foot.
Where to stay in Budapest
Jaime and I stayed at Studio 4U Apartment on the Pest side, with a central location near metro station Deák Ferenc tér. We had our own cozy room and shower, the kitchen was shared with other guests but we were alone in the apartment during most of our stay. Our host, Renata, is a very kind girl who texted us before and during our stay to make sure that everything was okay. She even bought a clothes iron when Jaime asked if the apartment had one! We definitely recommend staying at Studio 4U Apartment and we would book a room again with them when in Budapest.
