Contents
Budapest
I’ll be honest with you, I was not planning a trip to Budapest. I had so many other cities on my list but after multiple conversations with friends who’ve raved about Budapest, I realized that I should re-think the numerical order of my travel list. I am so glad that I did. Budapest is absolutely stunning; it is relatively small and walkable, the architecture is beautiful, and the food and alcohol is cheap (& delicious). Best of all, Budapest is perfect for a [long] weekend trip!
I found that Budapest is a very inexpensive city. Factoring the latter into my budget, I was able to splurge on a little 5 star luxury at The Corinthia Budapest (which, by the way, has incredible rates all year around!)
I will run out of superlatives trying to describe this absolute gem of Budapest. The property and its amenities are absolutely beautiful and located just walking distance from some of Budapest’s most sought after attractions.
Guests enjoy access to the breathtaking pool, sauna, steam baths, and the spa. As a matter of fact, Budapest bears the title “the city of spa’s” and is famous for it’s wide variety of bath houses that date back to the Roman era. I’ll get to that a little bit later.
Food
Budapest is divided into the Buda and the Pest side and below are all the ways that you can stuff your face on the Pest side. On the bottom of this post, I created a google map of things to see and a few places to eat. You can save this map and use it when planning your itinerary! It is simply impossible to walk past the street food without grabbing a bite of well, anything.
Street Food
Benediction @ The Kempinski Hotel
One of the best brunches I’ve ever had was at Benediction at the Kempinski Hotel Budapest. The cozy hotspot is home to [as the name suggests] a very delicious variety of eggs benedict .
Rickshaw Restaurant @ The Corinthia Hotel
The Corinthia Hotel Budapest is home to three popular upscale restaurants and two bars. I had the pleasure of dining at Rickshaw, a fabulous traditional Asian dining experience.
The New York Café
When I think of “picture perfect” this is the only place that comes to mind. There is a reason that this Café is dubbed “The Most Beautiful Café in the World”. It is like stepping back in time into a magnificent palace where sophistication is woven into the fabric of the palatial design. They do not take reservations and you should be prepared to wait for a little while. I only waited about 15 minutes to get seated and trust me I spent every minute staring at the beauty of the interior without noticing the time pass. It is absolutely worth the wait. Unlike the beautiful interior, the food is just ok. This is why I recommend coming here for some tea / coffee and dessert, not a full course meal.
Gelarto Rosa
… Because no matter how cold it is, ice cream shaped as a rose is an absolute must.
Hungarian State Opera House
Hungarian Parliament Building
Széchenyi Chain Bridge
Buddha-Bar Hotel Budapest
Liberty Bridge
The Corinthia Hotel Budapest
Hungarian Parliament Building (nighttime)
When in Budapest, you should absolutely book a nighttime boat ride to see the Hungarian Parliament Building after the sun goes down. You can also catch a glimpse of it on the Pest side near the Szent Ferenc sebei templom.
Buda Castle
Fisherman’s Bastion
Mátyás-templom
Bathouses
Budapest is known as the “City of Baths” because it is rich in thermal waters that are not only pleasing but they also possess healing qualities. Bathhouses are a big part of Hungarian culture and are a very popular destination in Budapest. Some of the Turkish Baths in Budapest date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. I didn’t particularly enjoy the bathhouse experience because it was extremely overcrowded but it’s an experience that is unique and and almost a must when in Budapest.
Hi there! Just started following your blog and im hooked!! Wanted to know if you ever include pricing of your trips? Airfare? Hotel? Total spent. Found you on insider traveler that mentioned you do these trips for under $1000
Hi Anna – that’s something I will certainly consider in future articles !
It would be nice to know the costs related to these trips. It will really show if is affordable enough to do for a weekend!
Sure thing Mara – thats the plan for posts going forward 🙂