Who would have thought that Budapest was such a hidden gem. We unfortunately only had a couple of nights here, as we finished our river cruise from Amsterdam in Budapest, and then we were quickly moving onto our next destination.

Budapest was created in 1873 by the merger of three cities: Buda, Pest and Obuda. Buda, on the west bank, and Pest on the east bank are split by the Danube River.

We could easily have spent several days in Budapest, so if you are planning on visiting this beautiful and interesting city please allow 3-4 days.

We chose to stay at the Boutique Hotel Victoria located along the river promenade, with some pretty spectacular views of the Parliament Building and the Danube River. We choose smaller hotels where possible and try and locate our stay close to major tourist attractions. The rooms are generally a little larger than the big chain hotels, and the service is a little better with less guests to care for. There are also some good restaurants along the promenade with outdoor seating, so an evening spent eating and soaking up the view of the Parliament Building lit up at night is something very special.

With not much time to spare we only managed to see the following:

  1. Fisherman’s Bastion – there are some great views across Budapest as you stand on the wonderful decorative look-out towers. The Fisherman’s Bastion was built as part of a development to celebrate the 1000th birthday of Hungary with the viewing terrace being a main feature, and ceremonial wide stairs leading to the top which feature statues along the way.
  2. Matthias Church – located in the Holy Trinity Square in front of the Fisherman’s Bastion is one of the finest churches in Budapest. Take note of the carvings above the southern entrance, and make sure you take the steps in the northwest corner which lead up to the Royal Oratory. Close by there is also a market which sells some interesting souvenirs. Allow yourself half a day at least to see all that is on offer in this area.
  3. Buda Castle Funicular – if you would prefer not to walk up the steep streets to the Fisherman’s Bastion, then catch the funicular which is easily accessed by walking along the river front.
  4. Hospital in the Rock Nuclear Bunker Museum – underneath Castle Hill the rock is a maze of caves and passageways. This subterranean hospital was used extensively during the WWII siege of Budapest and during the 1956 Uprising. In World War II, some of these caves were fortified as an air raid shelter and emergency hospital. It is now a well attended museum with guided tours taking around an hour. We think it is well worth visiting.
  5. Hungarian Parliament Building – one of the most beautiful and impressive buildings we have ever seen, it sits majestically on the Danube River. At night its lights reflect across the river giving a wonderful display.
  6. The Chain Bridge – the bridge was the first bridge to be built over the Danube River and spans the river between Buda and Pest, the western and eastern sides of Budapest. It is located down from Buda Castle.

Travel Tips

  • Stay close to the Fisherman’s Bastion as there is a lot to do in the area, and you may well want to spend a couple of days wandering through it.
  • There are plenty of tours that you can choose from, so click here to start researching.

Travel Alerts

  • We loved Budapest and felt perfectly safe there. But, as always, we advise travellers to watch their personal belongings no matter which country they are visiting.

Travel Adventures

  • Szechenyi Thermal Baths – the most popular thermal baths in Budapest they are supplied by two thermal springs, and maintain a water temperature between 74 – 77 degrees celcius. They are very popular and are used regularly by the residents.
  • Memento Park – an open air museum in Budapest with statues of Vladimir Lenin, Karl Marx and other Hungarian communist leaders.
  • Buda Castle – the seat of the Hungarian Kings this impressive castle sits atop the hill overlooking the Danube River.
  • Sandor Palace – located next to Buda Castle complex in the ancient Castle district, the palace serves as the official residence of the President of Hungary.
  • The Danube Promenade – a century old riverside walk between the Elisabeth and Chain Bridges. Close to the Hungarian Parliament buildings you will find the chilling Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial, a series of 60 pairs of steel sculpted shoes commemorating Jews shot here by the Nazis. It’s a poignant and moving reminder of the Nazi atrocities suffered by Hungary in World War II.
  • Heroes’ Square and the Millenium Monument – it is the largest and most symbolic square in Budapest. On either side of the column, colonnades extend in a semi-circle, and between the individual pillars stand statues of Hungarian rulers. There is also the Memorial Stone of Heroes in front of the Monument. The best time to see it is at night when it is well lit up.