Your Ultimate Guide to Budapest — Destination Dreamer Diaries

London is cool, and at times – reminiscent of New York City.

Gran Via in Madrid, with its exploding ads left and right, is like a minuscule version of Times square in Manhattan.

Europe is home to a lot of incredible cities, but if there’s one that reminds me of the big apple the most…

… it’s Budapest.

Immediately hopping off the train, I knew that this city was nothing like I had imagined it.

Whenever I had mentioned to taxi drivers that my long winter European adventure was ending in Budapest, they would say things like,

“Budapest is nice. It’s very old, it’s very nice.”

“Ah, Budapest… yes, it’s very different to Vienna.”

I figured from their descriptions, that Budapest was going to be small, like Prague…

... but it wasn’t.

Elizabeth’s Ferris Wheel lit up at night.

Budapest is surprisingly massive. It’s grand not only in architecture in character, but in energy.

Budapest is, in my opinion, like Europe’s Manhattan.

Not sure where to start in this gorgeous and electrifying city?

Let me be of service as I break down my 3-day itinerary to you:

Day 1:

I arrived at around three o’clock in the afternoon from Vienna. Last time I was there in January of 2018, there was no Uber… meaning, I needed to take a taxi from the train station to my hotel.

Be prepared for them to rip you off.

For a five-minute drive to my hotel, the taxi man (who took advantage of nineteen-year-old-me-and-my-apparent-American-identity) charged me 7,000 forints… that’s 27 U.S. dollars!

If it happens, it happens – and you shouldn’t dwell on the fact that you got ripped off… you should marvelin the factthat one way or another: you got here.

I stayed right next to Hero’s Square. It was a two-minute walk away from a metro station; it made it for the most perfect, easy-to-understand home base for a first-time traveler in Budapest.

After dropping off my things, I walked over to the square and saw guards marching and doing all sorts of London Buckingham-Palace-like-things.

Being in Europe in January, it was getting to be dark by four in the afternoon – and after a day of traveling: I was ready for a sit-down meal.

I took a train to Liberty bridge and walked across to the “Buda” side of the city.

Liberty Bridge in Budapest; January 2018.

If you didn’t already know: Budapest is split between the river. The reason why the city itself is so huge, is because the city was once built for Austro-Hungarian Empire – meaning it was originally built for three countries.

Today, people refer to the Parliament, hilly, residential side of town as the “Buda” side, and the side with Hero’s Square and copious opportunities to shop as the “Pest” side.

You simply cross the sides whenever you walk across the bridges or take a tram.

After taking in these views of Budapest lit up at night…

View of Budapest from the Liberty Bridge at night in January 2018.

… I made my way to, “Vegan Love”.

Smoke barbecue tofu burger from Vegan Love in Budapest.

It’s good if you’re traveling and want some real food on a budget, and sure hits the spot – but nothing groundbreaking.

Day 2:

I was on a guided vacation tour, and they had organized a driving tour of the city for me for the first few hours of the day…

… and because I was intrepid enough to be traveling in the middle of January (in the freezing cold when no one wants to be traveling) I ended up having my own personal, private tour of Budapest.

I’m never going to forget when the driver looked at my thin black jacket in his rearview mirror and said,

“That little jacket? That’s all you have?”

“It’s all I have!”

“You’re tough!”

“I am tough!”

My tour guide explained to me that Budapest’s architecture was heavily inspired by Turkish influences. In this way, it’s aesthetics are unlike any other European city I have ever been to – making it something special.

Széchenyi Chain Bridge in Budapest; January 2018.

Since I was only one person, and the driver a native to the city – it was easy to hop in and out of places, and I really got to see all the local recommended, off the radar places.

He took me into Gellert baths to admire the stained-glass windows inside.

The windows inside Gellert Baths in Budapest.

Afterwards, I got a personal tour of the fancy neighborhoods in Buda – and he took me to a lookout point that I hadn’t even heard of.

The view from Gellért Hill in the midst of a snow covered Budapest.

If you’re able to get there, either on a guided bus tour or via taxi – I strongly suggest Gellért Hill. It’s one of the most stunning views I’ve seen… and unlike many other places where I’ve had to pay around the world, it was completely free!

You just have to know that it exists, and now –you do.

I was then driven through the castle district, where I was taken aback… with the light dusting of snow sitting atop the astonishing architecture…

…the city continued to take me by surprise. It didn’t cease to amaze me with its unexpected beauty.

Then we were off to Fisherman’s Bastion; where I was yet again dumfounded by the fantastic (and free!) view.

Fisherman’s Bastion in Budapest; January 2018.

The view from Fisherman’s Bastion is incredible!

There are little shops and bakeries that you can explore while you’re here, but my driver and I were on a roll and didn’t feel like stopping.

He drove me by Elizabeth’s Ferris Wheel…

… the Hungarian Opera House…

… the fanciest, most expensive shopping street in the city, all of the embassies, the largest ice skating rink in Europe, the zoo, the circus, their arena plaza and stadium, and some exquisite hotels.

He also took me inside New York Café, which I had also never even heard of until he told me about it.

We drove by another beautiful building I have never heard of… this time, a Basilica.

St. Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest; January 2018.

I also discovered that Budapest was home to the largest synagogue in Europe – and that like everything else in Budapest… it was beautiful.

The largest synagogue in Europe resides in Hungary - who would’ve known!

I was then dropped off at the Hungarian Parliament for an already paid for tour inside. I get very board very easily when perusing historical rooms and having to follow the footsteps of someone else – but even I enjoyed this.

Some of the roofs and ceilings inside are made of literal, pure gold.

The ceilings inside the Hungarian Parliament are made of actual gold! — The ceilings inside the Hungarian Parliament are made of *actual* gold!

It’s quite stunning, inside – and I recommend you do it as well.

Inside the Hungarian Parliament; January 2018.

After my tour, I was ready for some food. Great Bistro was a ten-minute walk away.

It was alright. If I were to go back to Budapest, it wouldn’t be the first place on my list to eat.

I then hopped into a local grocery store to buy their paprika.

Travel tip: never buy things like chocolate or spices from a souvenir shop. They’ll charge you triple the price, when you can get the same thing (if not, an even better version) of whatever you’re trying to take back home with you at the super market.

I paid around ninety U.S. cents a packet instead of the fifteen U.S. dollars they were trying to charge me inside the Parliament building.

I suggest you do the same; and if you like paprika… you’re in for a treat.

It’s saltier and smokier than the kind I find at my local grocery store in the states. I’m still trying to savor the packets I have sitting in my kitchen cabinet, to this day…

Afterwards, I just started to explore. I walked into jewelry stores, clothing shops, took pictures of the city lighting up at night…

Wandering one of the many shopping streets in Budapest.

… if you’re a shopaholic, I advise you to be careful in this city. They have anything you could think of or want within steps of where you are.

On my way back to the hotel, I came across this golden painting brought to life.

As I was fortunate to see it all from a car, observing the city from the inside-out: I realized that while my driver was right… Budapest was distinct in its Turkish influence…

…but that its city-scene was nearly lively like Manhattan, but with the magic and charm of Prague and the similar (but still, superior) architecture and purple skies of Vienna.

When in Budapest, make sure you give yourself some time to get lost. Like Barcelona, everywhere you turn is going to surprise you.

Walking the snowy streets of Budapest lit up at night; January 2018.

Day 3:

Given I had seen so much of Budapest by car the day before, today was my, “I’m going to do whatever I want” day.

I knew I wanted to go thrift shopping in this city, I still had highly rated places to go eat at, and I still hadn’t gone to one of the famous baths of Budapest.

I found a chocolate-brown bubble vest for the equivalent of eight U.S. dollars that I still wear all of the time. Like I said… if you like to shop: be careful in this city.

I could only shop for so many hours before food was the predominant thought on my mind.

Nefanyes Etteren is a highly-rated plant based restaurant in Budapest.

Yes, I ate dessert for lunch: and I wasn’t mad about it. — Yes, I ate dessert for lunch: and I *wasn’t* mad about it.

Is it good?

Yeah…

Is it one of the best places I’ve ever eaten at around the world?

Nah…

Still, it’s the best place I ate at when in Budapest – and if you’re plant based and get a kick out of trying those high-end, white table cloth places: you should go check it out.

I will say that their beetroot coconut soup was superb.

The beetroot coconut at Napfenyes Restaurant is really good. — The beetroot coconut at Napfenyes Restaurant is *really* good.

I then explored Central Market… which is easily one of the best market halls I’ve ever seen.

Central Market Hall in Budapest; January 2018.

I then made the journey out to Petőfi Bridge.

Petőfi Bridge in Budapest; Janaury 2018.

I also got a shot of Rákóczi Bridge.

Rákóczi Bridge in Budapest; Janaury 2018.

I was going to make the trip out to Arphid; but the bus would’ve taken a long time and I decided that I want plenty of time to enjoy the baths, instead. It’s not really the end of the world if you don’t see all eight bridges, but you should walk across at least on of them during your stay.

Honestly, the underground metro in Budapest is great… but even in the winter time, the trams were packed – and the buses were slow at times.

If you can, I really think that the best and most efficient way to see Budapest is by car.

I kept it simple and chose the Széchenyi Thermal Baths – as they were within walking distance to my hotel.

The Széchenyi Thermal Baths are close to Hero’s Square.

While I was in them, I didn’t think much of it – but in retrospect… it was in fact very relaxing.

A rare sighting: Stephanie in a (semi) relaxed state of mind.

I passed through Hero’s Square, lit up at night, as I walked back to my hotel.

Hero’s Square lit up at night; January 2018.

Day 4:

I was up early that next morning to catch a flight to Tel Aviv. Budapest and I had an eye-awakening goodbye; I watched the sun rise over Hero’s Square that morning.

Watching the sun rise over Hero’s Square.

I depressingly hopped into a taxi to the airport as my journey back to Israel began.

Take off as I return to Tel Aviv from Budapest.

I hope this gave you some ideas on what to do when you go to Budapest. If you’re looking for things to do in other European cities, click here.