Budapest Hungary is an incredibly beautiful place to visit.
Upon our arrival, we were taxied to the Regency Suites Hotel Budapest which is located downtown on the Pest side which is home to some of the cities best nightlife, culture and other main sights. Hotel services include free wireless, breakfast buffet, fitness room, hotel bar, and more. We stayed in a suite style room which has a living area separate from the bedroom – they are the largest suites in Budapest’s 4-star hotel category.
Things to do in Budapest
Budapest, Hungary’s Capital, is split into two by the Danube River. The city’s 19th-century Chain Bridge connects the hilly Buda district with flat Pest.
What Can I Do on the Pest Side?
The Pest side of Budapest is most city-like. It’s busier and home to many of the touristy attractions the city has to offer.
Check out Chain Bridge
You must walk across and along Chain Bridge. The views of and from the bridge and stunning and the Shoes on the Danube Memorial are incredibly moving. Chain Bridge was the first to connect Buda and Pest. It is a stunning 375 meter suspension bridge that you must, and you will, walk over at least once during your stay in Budapest.
Take a Sightseeing Cruise on the Danube
Another great way to see the city and the river is on Danube sightseeing cruise. We took a night cruise which allowed us to the see the city as the sun set and all lit up. The cruises run daily and provide a wide range of options for all kinds of viewers and cost anywhere from 11 Euros to 88 Euros.
Visit the Dohány Street Synagogue
Bring tissues on this one. Another emotionally moving stop in Budapest is the Dohány Street Synagogue. This lavish Moorish Revival style synagogue provides visitors with a museum, cemetery & Holocaust memorial experience. It is the largest synagogue in Europe and one of the largest in the world. The Holocaust memorial represents over 400,000 Hungarian Jews who were murdered by the Nazis; it resembles a weeping willow with each victims name inscribed on each leaf.
Great Market Hall
Another place you cannot miss is the Great Market Hall. This indoor market houses a variety of stalls on three different floors. The first-floor offers produce, meats, pastries, candies, spices, and spirits; mainly eateries and souvenirs can be found on the second floor; and the basement contains butcher shops, fish market, and various pickled goods. The highlight of the market can be found on the second floor, the Lángos stand. Lángos is a Hungarian food speciality, a deep fried flat bread made of a dough with flour, yeast, salt and water. They are served a variety of different ways and the line is WELL worth the wait!
Things To Do on the Buda Side of Budapest
The Buda, or west side of the city, offers a different type of atmosphere from the Pest (or East of the Danube). Buda is hilly, and more suburban then the flat, bustling streets of Pest. Buda provides a stunning view of the bustling city of Pest including the Hungarian parliament building, Chain Bridge and the distant Transdanubian Mountains.
Ride the Funicular
After crossing Chain Bridge we rode the funicular up to Castle Hill. Riding the funicular provides really beautiful views of Pest that were only topped by the view from Fisherman’s Bastion which looks like a series of real life, stone sandcastles.
Enjoy A Wine Tasting
While in Buda we enjoyed a wine tasting at the Faust Wine Cellar. I was skeptical after walking through the Hilton Hotel and then down a long flight of winding stone stairs – I felt almost as if I was setting myself up for the Taken 2 – but at the bottom of our descent we were met with a stunning, but quaint seating area.
Our host was knowledgeable and entertaining, taking us through a number of great regional wines. I thoroughly enjoyed our tasting but would suggest bringing a sweater along! It can get quite chilly down there. Another suggestion is to make a reservation! There are only 5 tables for each seating, 5:30 being the latest, and they fill up quickly.
Go Caving
Feeling Adventurous? Go Caving! Due to the abundance of thermal water coursing under the city, there are around 200 caves in Budapest alone. Buda’s hills are full of caves, which means tourists can go Caving without having to leave the city. There are two showcaves up in the hills, and you can also go caving in the honeycomb tunnels running under Mátyáshegy for a three hour subterranean adventure with a guide in a group.
Check Out a Church in a Cave
Hike up Gellért Hill and go inside of it… to a subterranean spiritual sanctuary. Pay a visit to Gellért’s cave church. Most of the church lies inside the natural cavern located opposite the Gellért Thermal Baths. As long as there is not mass going on, it’s open for visitors and you can learn all about its history and construction.
Best Dining Experience in Budapest
Our best dining experience of our time in Budapest was at Comme Chez Soi, a quaint restaurant that has earned a trip advisor rating of 5 stars. We had a 6 PM reservation where we were promptly greeted and seated by a wonderful waiter.
The place is small but cozy and the staff is very attentive and work together in perfect harmony. After ordering two Proseccos to start, we were brought a complimentary treat from the kitchen, Parma ham with cheese, tomato and bread. Soon after our starters arrived, mozzarella caprese and the seasonal salad, both wonderfully fresh and generous. For mains, we had the pasta trio and the tagliatelle with salmon. Both meals were tasty and quite filling.
My mom passed on dessert and opted for a cappuccino while I thoroughly enjoyed the crepe Suzette. While we waited on dessert we were given a glass of Tokay wine and when we paid the check we were given a sampling of homemade limoncello and chocolates to take away.
As if our perfect meal wasn’t enough, the bill was so reasonable for all that we had! Our three alcoholic beverages, 3 bottled glasses of water, 2 starters, 2 mains, a dessert and cappuccino was under 10,000 forints with tip (@ $95). Please keep in mind that they only accept cash payments!
Köszönöm, hogy elolvasta!
If you’re looking for places to eat or things to see in Budapest you have come to the right place. There is plenty of adventure to be had between the bustling city of Pest and the quiet hills of Buda as long as you know where to look! Simply walking around the city can provide you with many Oohs and Ahs but there are a number of activities that are hidden just enough that you might miss them! If you don’t want to miss a night cruise on the Danube, a cozy wine tasting in the hills of Buda or an amazing indoor market full of great local food and gifts, check out my newest page: Best of Budapest. There you can find detailed information and/or links to each activity I’ve done along the way and pictures of all the amazing places and views we experienced.
Köszönöm, hogy elolvasta!
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