The Beauties of Budapest
Budapest has some pretty unique qualities to it that make it shine among its neighbors. Its vibe is a little more traditional, down to earth and grungy. You really just have to book the ticket to understand what I’m talking about. It’s awesome. It’s far more inexpensive than other capitals, which gives you more freedom to buy all of the food, drinks and trinkets your heart desires. Pick up a traditional Chimney Cake and a mulled wine sold in carts all around the city! It’s the perfect pair to warm up your belly and satisfy that ever-lingering sweet tooth that pops up every time you’re on vacation because hey, you deserve it!
Budapest is chalk full of one-off restaurants, bars and boutiques that possess heaps of character. It’s perfect for the creatives, the artists, the foodies, the wanderers and all my fellow victims of the travel bug. It’s a one and only type of place… totally inimitable.
Besides trying that Chimney Cake I mentioned earlier (seriously though, get your hands on one asap), there’s an uncountable amount of things to see, eat and experience when you find yourself in this stunning Hungarian Capital. It’s become one of my favorite places to revisit and I never seem to run out of reasons to love it. Although you’ll find yourself wanting to stop by every cute looking café and restaurant you come across, here are just a few things you simply cannot miss out on…
1. The Thermal Baths
There are a few bathhouses to choose from, so go ahead and book the one with the most impressive pictures/reviews and I promise you won’t be disappointed. You can’t really go wrong with any of them; almost every building you see in Budapest is gorgeous in its own way, which makes things way easier. Make sure to go online and book your spot beforehand to make the whole process smoother. Traveling is often quite a s*** show considering you have no clue where you are or where anything is, so I always recommend being as prepared as humanly possible for activities like this. For the most part though, I’m a big advocate for embracing the crazy. Anyway… these thermal baths are a godsend for the avid traveler who’s been lugging backpacks and suitcases up countless flights of stairs and over the beautifully bumpy cobblestone that makes up so much of Europe. I’m sure you guys are in need of some serious TLC. It’s like going sightseeing and treating yourself to a spa day all wrapped up into one blissful afternoon. I went to Gellért Thermal Baths and everything was picture perfect. You can start with the Baths, move on to the outdoor pool and then end in the sauna/ice bath combo to sweat it all out. There are lockers and showers afterwards as well, so you can go about your day afterwards without having to make a pesky pit stop at the hotel!
Here’s a link for Gellért’s website. Happy bathing!
2. The Ruin Bars
Alright, so you’re all relaxed from the baths, checked into your hotel/hostel/Airbnb (whatever’s your go-to), and you’re ready for a night out on the town and a much-need drink. Budapest isn’t going to let you down in this department. There are tons of one-off bars and restaurants that’ll tickle your fancy, but I have to recommend that you see the famous ruin bars the city has to offer. They’re kind of like malls, but for bars. Sounds pretty cool huh? There are different rooms in each of these buildings that hold a unique collection of bars/clubs that play all types of music and serve traditional Hungarian cocktails as well as all the cocktails you’re familiar with from back home. You name it, they’ve got it. And if not, they’ve got something better.
The vibe of these places is very hipster, artsy and funky. You’ll find some pretty out-of-the-box interior design ideas and a variety of atmospheres. The buildings used for these bars were left abandoned after WWII, so don’t expect a huge and obvious fancy entrance. You’ll walk into a small door and find yourself in a huge place full of your night’s upcoming surprises. They’re like the clown cars of the underground bar scene… totally unexpected unless you already know what you’re getting yourself into.
If you want to check out some of the more popular ruin bars around the city, here’s somewhere to start.
https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/the-ruin-bars-of-budapest/
3. Fisherman’s Bastion
This place is most likely going to be flooded with fellow tourists at any given time of day or night, so brace yourself for the crowds. However, it is 100% worth it. Located in one of Budapest’s first ever districts, this place is a serious sight for sore eyes. It’s stunning… rain or shine. There’s something so magical about the brightness that seems to just pour into this monument. Covered with off-white marble and complimented by subtle splashes of color, the castles and views will leave you speechless and your camera’s storage full. I recommend trying to make it here early in the morning to beat the crowds if you want to be able to take in the sights without the distraction of the mounds of people lining up for photos. It’s much more peaceful in the early hours… a perfect, serene start to your day of exploring.
4. So. Many. Bridges.
There are 8 (yes…8) beautiful bridges that span across the Danube River. I know what you’re thinking… “I have two days to see Budapest and there are EIGHT bridges?!”... Don’t worry, no need to get overwhelmed. You most definitely do not need to see them all in one day, weekend or even fit them all into one trip. However, there are two pretty special ones that I recommend paying a visit to – Chain Bridge and Liberty Bridge. Both bridges are bold, beautiful and totally unique to each other. I recommend seeing Chain Bridge at night if you’re only going to see it once. The twinkling yellow lights against the black night are nothing short of breath taking. The view of the Hungarian Parliament Building is equally as stunning as the bridge itself… so prepare to be left speechless!
Liberty Bridge, on the other hand, is something you’ll want to see in broad daylight. The word I use to describe this bridge is ‘animated’. That may not make much sense, but the greenish aqua color complimented by the yellow trams constantly passing through creates this very cartoon-like scene. You’ll feel like you’ve been dropped right into a painting.
Budapest is one of the most picturesque cities I’ve been to. Even the grungiest of streets are oddly endearing. Book a ticket… you won’t regret it for a minute.
Happy travels all!
