Budapest on the Danube: baths, bridges and ruin bars
Photo by Ervin Lukacs · unsplash.com
Budapest is the Pearl of the Danube: two distinct cities (hilly Buda and flat Pest) joined by spectacular bridges. The neo-Gothic Parliament, the historic thermal baths, the ruin bars and the rich Hungarian cuisine make it one of the most fascinating destinations in Europe.
🌤️ Best time to visit
April-June and September-October for the ideal climate. December for the Christmas markets, among the most beautiful in Europe.
✈️ How to arrive
Budapest Ferenc Liszt airport (BUD) 16 km away with bus 100E (900 HUF) or taxi (7,000-9,000 HUF).
🚇 How to get around
Metro (4 lines), trams and buses. The Budapest Card includes transport and museums. The centre is best visited on foot.
🏛️ Main attractions
Hungarian Parliament
The third largest parliament building in the world (1902), a neo-Gothic masterpiece on the bank of the Danube.
Book online (5,400 HUF). The tour lasts 45 min with a guide. Visit in the evening too when it is lit.
Szechenyi Baths
The largest thermal baths in Europe (1913), with 18 pools and waters at 74 degrees. The quintessential Budapest experience.
Bring a towel and flip-flops (or rent them). Avoid the weekend. Combine it with a beer in the bath - it is possible.
Fishermen's Bastion and Buda Castle
The neo-Gothic bastion offers panoramic views over Pest and the Danube. The castle houses the Hungarian National Gallery.
The bastion is free at night. Walk up from the Varkert Bazaar to enjoy the route.
🍝 Typical cuisine
Gulyas (beef soup with paprika), Langos (fried bread with cream and cheese), Chicken Paprikash (paprika chicken with dumplings), Dobos Torta (layer cake).
🍽️ Recommended restaurants
Kiosk: modern Hungarian cuisine with a view of the Danube. Mazel Tov: Jewish cuisine in the Jewish quarter. Hold Utcai Market: the covered market with local street food.
🏘️ Where to stay
District V (Belvaros): the elegant centre. District VII (Erzsebetvaros): the Jewish quarter with the ruin bars. Buda: quieter and greener.
🗺️ Nearby day trips
Vienna (2h30 by train): the imperial capital. Pecs (3h by train): the university city with Ottoman art. Eger (2h by train): the castles and wines of the Valley of the Beautiful Women.
💡 Practical tips
The ruin bars (Szimpla Kert the most famous) open in the afternoon and come alive at night. Avoid unofficial taxis in front of the stations. Exchange euros for forints (HUF) at a bank or ATM, not at the exchange offices.