A Guide to Budapest
Since being released from the tight grip of the Soviet Union, Budapest has slowly but surely turned into a thriving, colourful and energetic city. Perhaps thanks to the emerging entrepreneurial tech scene, or the fact it is a favourite destination for bucks and hens night. With cheap prices, stunning streets, friendly people and delicious food and wine, it was easy to fall in love with this city made of two parts, Buda and Pest. Here is my guide:
See & Do
Walk around the underground, hipster neighbourhood of District V11 and bar hop the ‘ruin bars’ which are located in abandoned buildings left to decay post World War 2.
Enjoy a day at the Széchenyi Baths where you can bask in the sunshine in one of the huge outdoor pools, cleanse in a thermal pool or rejuvenate with a sauna and cold plunge pool combo.
A lot of Budapest’s life can be found in the courtyards of its buildings which you can find while walking slowly through the city and peering into unsuspecting doorways. The best examples of this are the markets and restaurants tucked away in Karavan Street Food Market.
If its a nice day, stop by Szimpla Markets and pick up some famous Hungarian salami and freshly made cheese for a picnic at one of the many squares in the city.
Take a walk along the Danube River which divides the two parts of the city, Buda and Pest. You will have beautiful views of the landmarks nearby like the Chain Bridge and Fisherman’s Bastion, as well as the famous brass shoe monument which pays homage to the Jews who lost their lives in World War II.
Head to the Buda Castle at nighttime before 1am to enjoy the monuments across the city lit up at night.
Eat & Drink
360 Bar is a must before the sun goes down. It is located on top of one of the highest buildings in the city giving you (yes you guessed it), 360 views of the city below. Reserve a table in advance if you’re going with a big group.
Hungary has a thriving wine industry that I had no idea existed, and there is no better place to learn and taste more about it than DeVino wine bar. Grab a bottle and a couple of glasses and head outside to find a seat by the fountain and enjoy the people watching in Szent István tér square and the views of St. Stephen's Basilica.
Menza is one of the many restaurants lining the green, lively Jókai tér square. It has a huge awning outside making it perfect for people watching outside and long weekend brunches enjoying the sunshine. It serves everything from the Menza burger (photo below) and traditional Hungarian goulash soup.
Naspolya is a cute little cafe specialising in healthy, raw and vegan sweet treats, aka guilt-free salted caramel cupcakes, lemon cakes and brownies.
Getting around:
The city is relatively flat and a great place to explore by foot or bike as it has many dedicated bike lanes and bike stations around the city. The metro is also another cheap, easy and quick way to explore the city, I felt completely safe when we used it.
Where to stay:
Airbnb: I loved our little apartment in the hipster neighbourhood of District VII. It was so cheap, well located and cosy. Here is the link to the airbnb listing.
Hotel: the Brody House is a townhouse that has been turned into a series of individual, art-filled rooms. Staying here gets you access to the members-only bar at Brody House, the gallery and the printing studio.
