BUDAPEST

A tree lined boulevard leads you up to St. Stephen’s Basilica.

Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is incredibly special. Nestled on the Danube river and split between Buda and Pest, centuries of diverse rulers (the Romans, Ottomans, and Hapsburgs) influenced the architecture and culture you see and feel visiting today. Budapest is unpretentious, eclectic, and mysterious (yes, mysterious); it stands apart from other cities you will visit in Central Europe.

This is not your average dive bar. The ruin bars of Budapest, like Szimpla Kert, were established in abandon buildings in the city’s Jewish quarter. Visit during the day for no crowds or lines.

To stay in Buda or Pest? Budapest is a medium sized city that’s easy to navigate. Pest is good for first time visitors with limited time. Most of the popular sites and top restaurants are located in Pest. This means you’ll also be alongside many other tourists. Buda, on the hill and across the river, feels more sophisticated. If you’re looking for an elevated stay, consider staying in Buda to get a sense of how the locals live.

One of the many intricate rooms inside the Gellért Thermal Baths

Budapest is known for their bath houses; and you’ve never visited one like this. The thermal springs in Budapest have a long history of healing powers. Bathhouses were first built by the Romans and later expanded by the Ottomans. It wasn’t until the early 1900s that the Hungarians sought to create a reputation of a “spa city” by building the majestic bathhouses you see today.

A lap pool inside the Gellért baths

While there’s several thermal baths to choose from in Budpapest, I recommend visiting the Gellért Baths. Located one stop into Buda on the Metro, you’ll find a more relaxed environment here than at the popular Széchenyi Baths. It’s fun to simply walk from gorgeous room to gorgeous room, each with it’s own unique design and color scheme. Visit in the early morning with the locals or during lunch hours to avoid crowds. Spend 3-4 hours here on one of your last days in the city to unwind and enjoy the indoor/outdoor thermal pools, saunas, and steam rooms.

Take a 1 hour river cruise at night to see the Budapest Parliament building in all it’s glory.

Don’t forget dessert! Signature strudel flavors include apple and sour cherry

The origins of strudel date back to the Ottoman Empire, who introduced filo-like dough to Central Europe in the 16th century. Inspired by Turkish baklava, Hungarian bakers adapted the technique, creating the paper-thin, stretched dough you see today. There’s many places to eat strudel in Pest, I recommend going to Strudel House where you can sit and watch the bakers prepare the strudel all day long.

Restaurant Pick ($$$): Babel. One of my favorite meals in 2024! Offering an 8 and 13 course tasting menu, Babel’s food is driven by the best available ingredients in the region. Expect traditional Hungarian food (with a modern twist) from Chef Kornel Kaszas. Highlights include the hot and cold foie gras, the signature casino egg with sturgeon caviar, and the fish soup with turbot and cauliflower. It’s a small dining room of only 12 tables. Babel carries over 140 Hungarian wines and they are very proud of their winemaking. The staff is incredibly attentive without being overbearing. On the restaurant walls, you’ll be able to see marks from the 1838 Great Flood of Pest. Babel currently has 1 Michelin star.

The stunning red shrimp with tomato and plankton.

Look at this display!