Since my husband and I are only in the United Kingdom for 3 more weeks, we wanted to take one last big trip. We chose Budapest because my husband is Hungarian and has strong family ties to the country and we felt that it would offer a different culture for us to experience. Let me just say it did not disappoint! If you are looking for a beautiful, inexpensive, cultural place to travel to than look no further!
We traveled to Budapest from London on the airline Easy Jet. This is an inexpensive airline and is similar to Frontier or Spirit in the US. We also bought a Budapest Travel Card which was similar to the travel cards we bought when we went to London and Paris. This card allows us access to buses, trains, and subways all over the city. It also can get you into some Budapest attractions for free or at a lower price. Check it out HERE. If you travel anywhere check to see if they have a Travel card. So far everyone we have used has been worth the price and has saved us so much time and money.
We traveled to our hotel which was in the middle of the city from the airport using a bus and Subway. This took about 30 minutes and was super easy to use. The hotel we stayed at was the Boscolo Budapest and it was pure luxury that didn't break the bank! I booked it online and didn't realize how nice it was until we got there. When you enter the lobby you are greeted with the most delicious scent of flowers and the whole lobby is made of marble. We then made our way up to our room and were blown away. There are different types of rooms to get but we chose the standard smallest room. When entering there is a big reception/hall leading into our room. There is a marble bathroom with a large bathtub and shower, 2 closets, and a large bedroom with a balcony. It felt like a palace. I HIGHLY recommend staying here not only for the luxury, but for the price, and the hospitality. When you stay in the room you also have access to their spa and it is attached to the famous and beautiful New York City Cafe. Check out the hotel HERE. They have locations in other places as well.
Once we settled into our room we made our way to the New York Cafe for some lunch. Since this is attached to our hotel we were seated on the private balcony overlooking the dining room. Even if you don't stay at the hotel you can enjoy the Cafe. It is stunning inside and they have different musicians playing throughout the day. Check it out HERE.
After lunch we made our way to the Citadella which is an old fort located at the top of Gellért Hill. We heard that this would offer the best view of Budapest and it did! The walk to the top is long so be warned but the view is worth it! We made it right when the sun was going down and really enjoyed watching the city light up at night! The fort on top is being repaired so we weren't able to go inside but we were able to walk around the outside. It had bullet holes, and patched walls from WWII which was both cool and eerie. Such history! At the bottom of the Citadella is a church inside the mountain. We didn't have time to go inside but if you do have time I would recommend check it out HERE.
After we walked down we crossed the street to visit the Gellért Thermal Baths. Thermal baths are a Hungarian Tradition to visit so if you have time I would recommend checking them out. These baths are also attached to a spa so you can get massages, facials, and other treatments as well. The thermal baths are thought to have healing properties and are also a place to gather and socialize. This particular thermal bath over 8 baths all ranging in temperatures from 40 C to 7 C. You are supposed to alternate between temperatures to help close the pores and help the joints. The inside was beautiful with amazing tile work and beautiful fountains. I only took pictures in the main area but if you want to check out more click HERE.
We then made our way to a Ruin Bar. These Bars are built in buildings that were damaged by WWII. They fix them up just enough to be accessed safely and each apartment building in this particular one was a different bar. Each had a different vibe and it was a great social scene.
The next day after having a delicious breakfast at our hotel, we made our way to the Castle District. If you only pick one area to visit in Budapest I would choose this one! There are a ton of attractions, museums, and photo spots all in one area. Some of these include Buda Castle, panoramic views of the Danube River, Fisherman's Bastion, and various museums. Entrance is free to the property but admission to the museums costs money. We didn't visit any museums as we were on limited time and would rather see the sites and architecture but if we ever go back we would visit them. The best view is seen from Fisherman's Bastion. The architecture is to die for and you get some great views of both the Buda and Pest side of the city. Check out the Castle District HERE.
After we were done we made a short walk over to Chain Bridge which is the most famous bridge in Budapest. We were able to walk over and get some great pictures. Once we made our way over the the bridge we took another short walk to the Parliament Building. During our walk we saw some monuments, memorials, and Danube Cruise boats. The Parliament building has the most stunning architecture and looks great from all angles! You can buy tickets to go in but we did not do this. Check it out HERE.
We then took another short walk to St. Stephen's Basilica which is one of the most famous churches in Budapest. We saw that you were able to go on the roof so we chose to do this. Be warned this is a long walk up to the top. They do have elevators though if you are willing to wait. The view from the top was amazing and so worth the small admissions price. Once we made our way back down we wanted to check out the inside of the church. Admission is free but they have a small suggestion donation. Once we entered the inside took my breath away! There was gold, and ornate carvings and paintings everywhere. Even more beautiful than Notre Dame! This was probably my favorite place we went to. Everywhere we looked we saw new sites and art. Check it out HERE.
We then made our way over to Vajdahunyad Castle which had beautiful courtyards, museums and vendors inside it's courtyards. We tried Hot Wine for the first time and it was surprisingly good! Right outside the Castle was a huge ice rink they were setting up for December! We weren't able to skate it as it wasn't open yet but I would recommend checking it out. A short walk from the castle was the Millennium Monument this is a beautiful Monument which also has a couple museums on either side of it.
After this, we made our way back to our hotel for the evening. I took a luxurious bath in my tub and we had a lovely dinner at the New York Cafe. Once again I can't say enough good things about our hotel. We were going to check out the spa but fell asleep instead.
