I have pending posts since last Easter soz might not be able to update any time soon. Went to more than 10 cities during the winter break and I'm starting on Budapest because it is one of my top favourite! If you're looking for somewhere (CHEAP) to travel, I would definitely recommend Budapest. Oh and not to forget, the food there is really delicious as well.
Getting There
Hungary is the second country on our 11 days Central Europe itinerary. It's about 2.5 hours by train from Vienna. However, lots of trains were cancelled on that day. We were so worried that we couldn't make it to Budapest. There were some language barriers while speaking to the staffs on duty (we asked if we can board a train that wasn't our replacement train) and boarded on a train after 4 hours from our scheduled one. It was so packed but we were so glad that we made it!
Getting Around
We opted for the 24-hour group travel card (valid for 1-5pax) everyday because it is more worth it than getting the 72-hour Budapest-travelcard individually. Less than £10 per person for THREE days!!! We had no problem getting around because the transportation is really convenient there.
Where we stayed
We stayed 3 nights at Prince Apartments. It was cheap (less than £15 per person per night) and public transport was easily accessible there.
Where we went
Széchenyi Chain Bridge
The most iconic bridge of Budapest. It spans the Danube River between Buda and Pest.
So in love with the night views in Budapest.
And then we crossed the bridge from the Pest to the Buda side and walked all the way to reach the middle to get the shot of the Parliament building from opposite. What a journey but so worth it.
And more shots taken on a clear night-
Liberty Bridge
We didn't know about this bridge at all but stumbled upon it when we were navigating our way back to the hotel! This is the shortest bridge in Budapest.
Buda
Fisherman's Bastion
Fisherman's Bastion
Most well-known attraction of Budapest I guess? It's within walking distance from Buda Castle so you can visit these two places + Matthias Church at one go.
I was kinda sad because it was really really foggy when we went there. So glad that we came back during the last day for more shots although we had to rush.
Matthias Church
The church is located in front of the Fisherman's Bastion. The entrance isn't expensive, around £3-5 but we didn't bother going in.
Buda Castle
The funicular up costs about £5 but we left it for the last day because we wanted a clear view of the city. Alternatively, you can also hike up to the castle and then walk over to Fisherman's Bastion.
Pest
Fashion Street
Located in the heart of Budapest, with lots and lots of shops to stroll around.
St Stephen's Basilica
One of the landmarks of Budapest! Entrance is free :)
Shoes on the Danube Bank
A memorial for the Jews consisting of 60 pairs of shoes.
Parlamento Budapest
The entrance to the Hungarian Parliament Building is quite expensive therefore we skipped it as well. Plus, we pretty much prefer admiring it from the opposite side at night ;)
Heroes' Square
This square is located quite far away from everything else but we had sufficient time so we decided to go grab some shots.
Széchenyi Thermal Bath
It's 8 minute's walk away from Heroes' Square. Tickets were around €22 and it was winter plus kinda troublesome to bring extra clothes so we didn't go in. We did enter the building but couldn't get a shot of this :/ It would be nice to come here during the summer though! But be prepared for the crowd ahaha.
What we ate
Breakfast @ Ket Szerecsen
Came across this restaurant while searching for breakfast spots and oh my this place is a 10/10! Their hot chocolate is simply AMAZING. (And also their latte with dark chocolate !i!!!)
Our bill came up to only £7 per person!
In the frame: Omelette with mushrooms, fried bacon and sour cream // Peasant Breakfast // Egg Benedict
Had the most expensive cup of mocha in my life at this cafe?? €8!!! But lmao still gotta visit for the grams right. Desserts were not bad. Do remember to make a reservation to skip the queue!
In the frame: Lemon Mousse with Crunchy Coffee // Cheesecake with Homemade Apricot Jam
This ice-cream parlour is located near St Stephen's Cathedral so it's a perfect spot to take a break while doing your sight seeing around Budapest! We came back for more gelato before leaving and had 3 in total haha. It's around £2 for one!! Not only looks good but tastes good too!!
Fülemüle Étterem
We went to 2 restaurants and called up like 5 other restaurants according to this guide before coming to this omg. All of them were fully booked because it's a Saturday night ._.
In the frame: Golden Goose Soup // Hungarian Paprika Chicken // Crispy Duck
We went to 2 restaurants and called up like 5 other restaurants according to this guide before coming to this omg. All of them were fully booked because it's a Saturday night ._.
In the frame: Golden Goose Soup // Hungarian Paprika Chicken // Crispy Duck
Ruben Étterem
We finally got to eat here after 3 attempts!!! Although it was abit rushed on the last day because we had to catch our flight but it was so so so so so worth it! Definitely the best meal we had in Budapest. It's considered a fine dining restaurant but our bill came up to only £11 per person :'''')
We finally got to eat here after 3 attempts!!! Although it was abit rushed on the last day because we had to catch our flight but it was so so so so so worth it! Definitely the best meal we had in Budapest. It's considered a fine dining restaurant but our bill came up to only £11 per person :'''')
In the frame: Pork Loin Medallions (HUF2950) // Rose Duck Breast Fillet with Mascarpone Risotto (HUF3350) // Beefsteak Budapest Style (HUF3950)
Christmas Markets
We went to two Christmas Markets, the first picture is taken from right in front of St Stephen's Basilica and the other one at Vorosmarty Square. Great place to taste the local food!
Homemade Hungarian Sausage // Potato Pancake // Langos (deep fried dough) with cheese & sour cream
$ Damage $
Train (Vienna-Budapest) - £17.56
Transport - HUF3300 + HUF1200 furnicular
Hotel - £43.69
Food - £60
Total ≈ £128
2 comments
What an amazing trip! I love your photos and your stories!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your experience in Budapest! It sounds like you had a wonderful time exploring this budget-friendly destination. Budapest truly has a lot to offer, from its stunning architecture to its delicious food. If you ever plan a visit to a new location, we also have a hotel with a rich history and stunning views luxury hotel Kandy . It would be a perfect getaway.
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