Budapest

Places to visit:

• Hungarian Parliament Building
• Fisherman’s Bastion
• Buda Castle
• Szechenyi Chain Bridge
• Szechenyi Thermal Baths
• Heroes Square
• Citadella
• Little Princess Statue
• Margaret Island
• St Stephens Basilica
• Danube River Cruise
• Ruin Bars

Arrival in Budapest: The City of Culture and Sunsets

Just a short 2.5-hour flight from the UK, Budapest, a city teeming with culture, rooftop bars, and stunning sunsets, awaited us. Our journey led us to the Pest side of the Danube, one half of this city divided by the river. We settled into the lovely Marmara Design Hotel, conveniently located a brief 20-minute stroll from St. Stephen’s Basilica. After checking into our spacious room, we set out to explore the city. Our first day was spent soaking in the culture around St. Stephen’s Basilica square, a bustling tourist hotspot. We ended the day with a delightful dinner at a local Tapas restaurant and a visit to the Intermezzo Roof Terrace, a rooftop bar on our way back to the hotel.

Unravelling Budapest – From Soothing Baths to Scenic Cruises

The next morning, we were ready for a full day of exploration, but not before some relaxation. We had pre-booked a visit to the Széchenyi Baths, easily accessible via Budapest’s hop-on-hop-off bus, for which we had a 72-hour pass. Despite the drizzly weather, we thoroughly enjoyed our time exploring the thermal baths. Post-visit, we ventured into the old town for lunch before exploring the Széchenyi Chain Bridge. Our day concluded with a 90-minute cocktail sunset cruise with Silverline Cruises along the Danube, basking in the twilight views of Budapest.

Exploring Buda: Castles and Rooftop Bars

Our next two days were dedicated to exploring the Buda side of the Danube. We crossed the Széchenyi Chain Bridge and ascended to Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion via the funicular. The beautifully crafted exteriors of Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion stood tall against the landscape, offering stunning views. That night, we visited our favourite rooftop bar of the trip, High Note Skybar, which boasted beautiful views of St. Stephen’s Basilica and the surrounding city.

Final Day: Heroes, Ruins, and Farewell Dinner

Our final day was spent exploring Heroes’ Square, with its incredible statues standing tall against the picturesque background. We then headed to check out a ruin bar, a must-visit in Budapest. We chose the Caravan Street Food ruin bar and followed it up with visits to a few local craft beer places. Our trip was rounded off with a lovely dinner, a fitting end to our Budapest adventure.

Excursions/Day Trips booked:

• Szechenyi Thermae Baths
• Danube River Cruise
• Hop on hop off Budapest Bus