Budapest is an increasingly popular weekend destination, especially for Europeans. This fascinating city should be visited for many reasons, and the question arises whether 2-3 days are actually enough to get to know Budapest in its entirety. We will try to be your guide for Budapest today.
The capital of the Hungarian Empire and one of the two most important cities of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy has numerous sights and monuments. Here is what to see in Budapest, why to visit it and how to organize a tour of the capital of Hungary.
About Budapest
Budapest is the capital of the Republic of Hungary and represents the main economic, political, cultural, industrial and commercial center of the country. The city developed on both banks of the Danube River and was created by merging Buda, on the right and Pest, on the left bank of the most famous European river. It is interesting to note that the Danube flows through Europe through four capitals. Budapest is the third capital to develop on the banks of the Danube, after Vienna and Bratislava, while downstream, Belgrade.
Spend the afternoon at Buda Castle – the biggest attraction in Budapest
Budapest is a city of turbulent history, full of beautiful architecture and important historical and cultural monuments. It is a city of healing springs and landscaped spas, parks, promenades, a city that has fully used its extraordinary position on both banks of the Danube.
The Buda Castle is a royal palace built in the 13th century. This is probably one of the most important places in the whole country! Even UNESCO has included it on its list. The castle is an unavoidable part of Hungarian history, and over the years, it has seen good and bad days. Fortunately, it remained intact in its form. In recent years, it has also become known as the venue for some of the best gastronomic fairs and cultural festivals, such as the Hungarian Palinka Festival, the Easter Fair, the Wine Festival, as well as the Hungarian Folklore Festival.
Visit the Hungarian National Parliament in Budapest
Aside from being spectacular on the outside, the Hungarian Parliament has some special things hidden inside. What you should definitely not miss is the room with the crown jewels of the Kingdom of Hungary.
The story goes that these gems were lost and stolen many times. After World War II, they were transported to Western Europe and eventually given to the U.S. military to protect them from the Soviet Union. Later, during the Cold War, crown jewels were kept in an American coin safe (Fort Knox, Kentucky) along with most of America’s gold reserves. They eventually returned to Hungary under Jimmy Carter in 1978.
It is interesting to mention that the Hungarian National Parliament is the third largest parliament in the world, with an incredible 700 rooms, as well as an impressive 19 kilometers of corridors and stairs.
Experience famous Hungarian baths
Budapest is known for its spas, and few are more famous than Széchenyi. In the picture above you can see how huge this place is, and they say that when you are there, it all goes to a new level. The hot thermal water allows you to stay and swim in the outdoor pools during the coldest winter months, which is certainly an amazing experience.
For beer lovers, there is a beer spa in Budapest that you should definitely check out!
Danube Cruise
The thermal baths are a completely unusual way to experience the city, but cruising the Danube is one of the trademarks of Budapest. Whether you decide to cruise during the day or night, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful panorama, where you will get to see many sights of the city.
Experience the best view in the city from the Fisherman’s Bastion
Although the Fisherman’s Fortress may look like a medieval fortress, it was essentially built in the early 20th century in the neo-Gothic style. Since its creation, the fortress has attracted the attention of the public, and the locals say that you have the best view of the entire city from it. The seven towers of the fortress represent seven Hungarian tribes that helped the population from these parts to settle in this territory.
Find antiques at the Ecseri flea market
Although located on the outskirts of the city, this flea market is the best place in Budapest to shop for an interesting thing. The place is really big, and the merchants and their various items will make you spend hours here, looking at things you may not have even known existed. From old Hungarian banknotes, plates, stamps, to World War II souvenirs and various clothing items, Eserci offers good fun and a lot of bargaining.
Try local Hungarian specialties at the Central Market
One warning before coming here! Don’t eat anything by any chance before. There is a really incredible amount of food on the market, with a large number of restaurants, so your biggest problem will be choosing what to eat in the end. The place was built on the 1,000th anniversary of Budapest in 1896, at a time when this city was becoming one of the most modern cities in Europe and as such, it had to have a market that would follow that name.
