A look at the Central European capital of Budapest
Hungarian Parliament Building, Budapest, Hungary (ISO 200, 32 mm, f/25, 20 s)
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Budapest is an European capital unlike any other, formerly composed of two settlements on both sides of the Danube river, aptly named ‘Buda’ (West side of the Danube) and ‘Pest’ (East Side).
A visit to Europe would not be complete without seeing this city with its architecture, national monuments, rich culture, and ripe with history. A city stroll in this capital will take you through centuries of history, gorgeous landmarks, and you will never go hungry. You can find a Google map of the places I will discuss at the end of this post.
Perhaps what is most famous in this city are its bath houses. Since Budapest sits on a many thermal hot springs, it is ripe with these places, the most famous and popular being the Széchenyi Baths (Other bathhouses include: Gellért Baths, Veli Bej Baths, and Lukács Bath. Depending on the bath and the time of the week/day, these places can be single-sex or coed, and offer a variety of services like massages and other medical treatments. Prepare yourself for a slight hint of sulfur. If you were to visit one of these houses at least once during your stay, I’d recommend it near the end of your trip, so you can relax in your final day/hours in this city.
Heroes' Square is a very significant part of the city. Here just East of the Danube river and near Vajdahunyad Castle, this place is a massive monument to the literal heroes in Hungary's history. It's quite moving to see all the statues of people that helped build modern Hungary. It's an open air type memorial so no need to pay an admission fee and you can go anytime you'd like (daytime is obviously best).
Hungarian Parliament Building, Budapest, Hungary (ISO 800, 10 mm, f/11, 1/250 s)
Perhaps the most famous landmark (and largest building in Hungary) is the Hungarian Parliament Building, just off the Danube River. There are guided tours that take you into the building that lasts roughly an hour. Another way to get a great view is by water in one of the many boat tours available.
Shoes on the Danube Monument, Budapest, Hungary (ISO 800, 10 mm, f/11, 1/800 s)
Just down the river is the Shoes on the Danube Bank monument. This memorial is dedicated to the Jews that were executed along the river’s banks, where they were told to take off their shoes, in World War II. It is Deeply moving and worth visiting to understand the plight of the rough 20,000 people that were executed there.
The Buda side of the Danube provides a few more noteworthy landmarks that are worth seeing. Take a walk across the Chain Bridge to the Buda Castle to get a great panoramic view of Pest. There is no right or wrong time to go as both day and night views are breathtaking.
The Széchenyi Chain Bridge or simply ‘Chain Bridge’, spans the Danube river and connects Buda with Pest. It was the first permanent bridge across the Danube river in the country, opened back in 1849. On nice days, it is incredibly pleasant to walk the span and enjoy the unique views of being on the river. At night it is lit up as well making it quite nice to photograph.
Vajdahunyad Castle is located just near Heroes’ Square in the Western part of the city. It is basically a carbon copy of another castle in Romania called Hunyad or Corvin Castle. Built in 1896, it was designed to be a mashup of different prominent buildings from different parts of the Kingdom of Hungary. Because of this, it displays elements of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles.
Just nearby is the Fisherman’s Bastion, a 19th century fortification overlooking the Danube river. It’s open all day, every day, free to view along its balconies, and feels like you’re on the set of a Walt Disney film.
For excellent food, check out Bors GasztroBar. The food here is outstanding and a great value for money. It’s usually extremely busy but the food comes out fast and you will probably head back to sample more of the menu on your trip (we went 3 times).
Budapest, Hungary (ISO 800, 10 mm, f/11, 1/640 s)
Just next door to Bors is Szimpla Kert, which can be described as a bar, garden, market, restaurant, art gallery, music venue and greenhouse in one building. It is truly a unique space that is immensely popular among tourists and locals alike.
I can’t recommend this place enough for a chill night out and good conversation with friends. Be sure to check out the Sunday morning markets here too with artisanal foods for sale.
If you have some extra time during your Europe trip, be sure to check out Prague, Czech Republic. Prague and Budapest are often spoken in the breath regarding wonderful central European experiences.
PROTIP: Get to Szimple Kert early on a night out to get a good space, it fills up quickly. Also, grab a Budapest Card if you intend on staying for a few days. You’ll save money in the long run.
Another city that is usually mentioned in the same breath as Budapest happens to be Prague. If you have time to see this city as well, check out my guide on the Czech Capital city.
