A Day in Budapest, Hungary
After a relaxing stay in Nice, France, we were ready to let loose. We decide on a quick impromptu trip to Budapest.
Table of Contents
Must Know Before You GoWhen to Visit: Summer shoulder months (March-May, September-October) are the best time to visit due to pleasant weather. Visas: US citizens do not need a visa for visits under 90 days. Language: Hungarian. English is widely spoken among younger generations. Currency: Hungarian Forint. Euros may be accepted in some tourist establishments; however, the conversion rates are often unfavorable.
Credit Card vs. Cash: Major establishments accept cards, even smaller shops and bars. ATMs: ATMs can be easily found in touristy areas. Tipping: Tipping is not mandatory but customary. Tip between 10-15% is standard practice. Many establishments may include a service charge of 12.5%. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Budapest, Early Christian Necropolis of Pecs, Ferto, Hortobagy National Park, Millenary Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma, Old Village of Holloko, Tokaj Wine Region, Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Solvak Karst National Parks: Hortobagyi, Ferto-Hansag, Koros-Maros, Bukki, Balaton Uplands, Kiskunsag, Aggtelek, Orseg, Danube-Ipoly, Duna-Drava |
Getting Around:
We booked a last-minute airfare on Wizz Air for 64,030 HUF (€118). From the airport, we took the airport line bus for 709 HUF to city center. It takes approximately 30 minutes to get to the downtown region. To board the bus, you will need to scan the QR code on the outside of the bus and show the results to the bus driver.
Getting around Budapest is quite easy. All the main attractions are within walking distance. Budapest has a fantastic transportation system. I recommend downloading BudapestGo on your cell phone. This application allows travelers to plan routes and book bus tickets in one app. I purchased a 24-hour bus fare for 1,299 HUF. That is about $3.50. A single ticket will need to be validated but passes and travelcards do not. However, special buses like the airport require scanning the QR code, and verifying with the bus driver. The travel card is not valid on the airport buses.
Buda vs Pest:
The Danube River divides Budapest into two regions, Buda and Pest. Buda is located on the west side. This region is culturally rich and has beautiful architecture like the Fisherman’s Bastion. On the east side is Pest, pronounced Pescht, not Pest. Pest is arguably more lively with exciting bars and restaurants. On this side, we have the Parliament Building and the Jewish Quarter.
Where to Stay:
Since I came to Budapest for a good time, I decided to stay on the Pest side. I rented a loft-style AirBnB for $95 a night including all service and cleaning fees. This AirBnB is a 1 bedroom 1 bathroom that is located just steps to busy bars and restaurant strip. This location was exactly what I was searching for.
Itinerary:
| Day | Date | To Do | To Eat |
| 1 | June 1, 2022 |
1. NCE to BUD flight 2. Blue Bird Karaoke Club
|
Dinner: Meshuga
|
| 2 | June 2, 2022 |
2. Hungarian Parliament Building 3. Shoes of the Danube Bank
5. Heroe’s Square 6. Buda Castle 7. Fisherman’s Bastion 8. Chain Bridge |
Lunch: Tom Yum Authentic Thai Cuisine
Dinner: Pater Marcus Belgian Pub
|
June 1, 2022
Dinner: Meshuga
Just like the Karaoke Club, we stumbled onto Meshuga by the music. We saw the servers singing and bringing out instruments. My friend and I looked at each other and said, yes, we are going here. The host immediately sat us down and our server brought us complimentary shots. I am not sure what kind of concoction I was drinking but it cannot be that dangerous, right? I ordered a drink and it was not very good. It reminded me of cough syrup. The food on the other hand was delicious. Throughout the night, our server kept dropping off shots. We had a great time here.
Night: Blue Bird Karaoke Club
After dinner, we roamed around and heard the music blaring out of the Blue Bird Karaoke Club. We were intrigued so we decided to check it out. It was such a fun vibe. Everybody was singing at the top of their lungs to the biggest Western songs. What was only supposed to be a short stop of our bar hop, resulted in an entire night in one bar.
June 2, 2022
On Day 2, we finally had a full day to explore in Budapest. We started off the day by scheduling an appointment at a Thai massage parlor by our AirBnB. They could squeeze us in at 3pm. That was perfect because it allowed us to explore for a bit and finish the massage before dinner.
Lunch: Tom Yum Authentic Thai Cuisine
After a night of fun, lunch was screaming our names. We found a delicious Thai food restaurant called Tom Yum Authentic Thai Cuisine. The Tom Yum is a must! I was surprised on how delicious this soup was. In addition to that, we ordered the veggie eggrolls, paid thai, and some thai ice tea. Everything was everything that I needed and more. Highly recommend and that speaks volume since Thai food is my favorite type of cuisine.
Afternoon:
1. St. Stephen’s Basilica
The St. Stephen’s Basilica is the most significant church building in Hungary. Entrance to the church is 2,300 HUF.
2. Hungarian Parliament Building
I have to say that the Hungarian Parliament Building is the place to be during the spring. The flowers are just blooming everywhere. My allergies were flared but it was worth it.
The Hungarian Parliament Building is the largest building in Hungary. I did not get to go inside, but I heard that it was spectacular. A 45-minute guided tour is required to visit the parliament. Tickets will need to be purchased weeks in advance as they do sell out. Tickets for non-EEA citizens are 9,600HUF.
3. Shoes of the Danube Bank
The Shoes of the Danube Bank is a memorial for Jews who were killed during WWII. Jews were ordered to take off their shoes before they were shot at the edge of the river.
4. Erawan Thai Massage
After our short exploration, we wandered back to get our massage. Once we entered the parlor, we were asked to remove our shoes. They gave us crocs to wear and brought out some water. They then brought up a basket of lotions and oils for us to choose. I chose the lemongrass scent. After, we were brought into our room. The massage was relaxing and just what I needed before I head home. I got the 60 minute relaxing gel massage for 15,000 HUF (about $40). After the massage, we were given fresh fruits and another glass of water. This place provided excellent service and so thrilled to have stumbled upon it.
5. Heroes’ Square
After the massage, we attempted to make our way to the Buda side. We first stopped off at the Heroes’ Square. The square features notable figures in Hungarian history.
6. Buda Castle
The Buda Castle overlooks the Danube River. It is free to walk around the castle grounds but entrance to the galleries and museums costs a fee.
Dinner: Pater Marcus Belgian Pub
I stopped by the Pater Marcus Belgian Pub on our way to the Fisherman’s Bastian. We were starving after our massage that we had to pull over to eat. I ordered the cheeseburger with fries (4,000). I have this strange craving for a burger whenever I travel. I do not typically eat burgers but here I am. The burger was massive. I only ate half of it.
Evening:
1. Fisherman’s Bastion
The Fisherman’s Bastion is my favorite place in Budapest. It reminds me of a palace out of a fairy tale story. The lower level is free all day and the upper terrace is free before 9am and after 7pm. It is also free on national holidays and Christmas holidays. I recommend coming here to watch the sunset. It is quite romantic and people come out here with a bottle of wine and cheese. During the day, Fisherman’s Bastion is 1200 HUF. Payment can be made through a ticketing machine. Cash and cards are both accepted.
2. Chain Bridge
The chain bridge is the main bridge that connects Buda and Pest.