Budapest was our last stop on our 3 week vacation in Europe. (We were in Amsterdam for 5 days and then sailed along the Rhine and Danube to end up in Budapest.)
Unfortunately, I caught the flu on the last 3 days of the trip, and so did not get to see everything on our itinerary, especially the thermal baths Budapest is so well known for. But, I guess that's a good excuse to come visit Budapest again in the future.
Below are our “Top 8” attractions for Budapest. The itinerary was compiled using Rick Steves' guide books and Eileen Aldis Utube videos on Budapest.
1. Admire Panoramic Views of Budapest from Fisherman's Bastion
Budapest is divided into the Pest and Buda side by the Danube River. Fisherman's Bastion is on the Buda side, right behind Matthias Church, and is made up of seven towers/turrets - each one symbolizing one of the seven Magyar tribes that, in 896, settled in the area now known as Hungary. Even though this is a top tourist attraction and can get crowded, from any of the terrace windows, you can soak in the spectacular panoramic views of Pest, and feel relatively at peace.
2. Pay Tribute to War Victims at Shoes on the Danube
Shoes on the Danube, erected in 2005, is a monument made of 60 pairs of bronze shoes along the Pest side of the Danube River to commemorate the thousands of Jews killed along the river banks by the Arrow Cross Party between December 1944 and January 1945. The shoes were surprisingly very realistic, and a very moving piece of art work.
3. Marvel at the Hungarian Parliament's Gothic and Renaissance Revival Architecture and Learn About the 1956 Uprising
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| Parliament viewed from the Pest side |
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| 1956 Uprising Monument |
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| Embedded bullets: 1956 Uprising tribute |
The Hungarian Parliament building, another Hungarian landmark, is a magnificent piece of architecture whether you enjoy it from the outside on the Pest side or the Buda side, at night or during the day time. If you want to take an English speaking tour of the inside of the building, please purchase tickets well in advance--not like us. We waited til the day of and all the tickets were sold out for that day (and the next 2 days).
But not to worry, at the east front of the building is a memorial to the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, worthy to spend some time reading the history, exhibits and watching a hologram of a tank gun take aim at you. And then nearby in Kossuth Square, there is a column embedded with bullets to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the 1956 uprising.
4. Walk Across the Chain Bridge and Ride the Funicular to Buda Castle
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| Views of Elizabeth Bridge, Parliament, and Chain Bridge from Buda Castle Hill |
Take a stroll along Budapest's first permanent bridge over the Danube, the Széchenyi Chain Bridge. The bridge opened in 1849, offering a pedestrian-friendly way to connect Buda and Pest, and has since become one of Budapest's most recognizable symbols. Walk past the lion sculptures guarding the entry way, and enjoy the views of the blue Danube--beautiful by day, but even more mesmerizing at night. When you're on the Buda side, take the Buda Funicular up to Castle Hill. It shuttles visitors up and down the hill every few minutes, and is where the above picture was captured.
5. Savor the Flavors of Hungarian Food at Hold Utca Food Market
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| Hold Utca Food Market |
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| Goulash |
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| Hortoybagyi |
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| Pickles |
Hold Utca Food Market was recommended in the Rick Steves Guide book when near the Parliament area (5 minute walk from there). It was a little hard to find, but just look for the big Belvarosi Piac sign over the door. Trip Advisor reviews were pretty negative for this place, but for me, the experience here was actually way more enjoyable than at the larger and more touristy Great Market Hall.
The smaller Hold Utca Food Market had the same cute pickle jars, honey, and paprika as the Great Market Hall. And upstairs is a large food court where we could browse all the traditional Hungarian dishes, settle on a few dishes and easily find a table to sit down to enjoy the food. The hortobagyi (duck stuffed crepe smothered in sauce) and goulash were really yummy!
In contrast, at the Great Market Hall, I had to push my way through the shoulder to shoulder crowds, stand in long lines for food, then wait around for a good 15-20 minutes while my food got cold before a kind couple offered to let us squish together on their small table, so we didn't have eat standing up. And worse, the cabbage roll we got was way too salty, and the Hungarian sausages with veggies were nothing special.
My advice, go to Hold Utca instead of the Great Market Hall.
6. Appreciate Your Freedom Inside the House of Terror
After watching Eileen Aldis's Utube video on Budapest, I was convinced we had to go to the House of Terror to experience what Hungarians felt under fascist and communist regimes, and to better understand the Hungarian people today.
The exhibit is mainly in Hungarian, but there are English paper handouts in each room, which were adequate for me to imagine what life was like to always be in fear of the possibility of being interrogated, tortured or killed for saying or doing the "wrong" things. The exhibit really does make you appreciate living in a country where freedom of speech is allowed and valued.
7. Visit the Wood and Cardboard Turned Stone and Brick Vajdahunyad Castle
Originally built out of wood and cardboard in 1896 to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of the year the first Hungarians (the Magyars) arrived in Europe, this large complex houses 21 exact replicas of the most magnificent Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance, and Romanesque buildings in Hungary's thousand year history. The temporary castle was so popular that after the conclusion of the millennial celebrations, the government rebuilt the whole castle with stone and brick. The castle sits in front of an artificial lake and a stroll here feels like walking through a fairytale.
8. Be Dazzled by the Lights, Aroma, and Festivities at the Christmas Markets
We were really lucky that our days in Budapest coincided with the most beautiful, oldest and internationally acclaimed Budapest Christmas fair: the Christmas Market on Vorosmarty Square in the heart of the city (since 1998). The streets were decorated with hanging lights in the shape of presents, shoes, umbrellas, purses and dresses; and stalls were brimming with Christmas ornaments and other trinkets--so festive! And then there were the inviting aromas of Hungarian roasted meats, sausages, and mulled wines, beckoning us to come for a sample. The famous chimney cakes, dusted in cinnamon sugar or chocolate, are not to be missed!
Itinerary for November 2019
| Date | Time | Activity |
| Day 1 | 9 AM | Hero’s Square |
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| 10 PM | Buda side, Matthias Church, Fisherman’s Bastion. |
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| 2 PM | Rick Steve’s Leopold Town Walk (~1.5 hrs): Parliament and flag changing ceremony, 1956 Uprising Monument, Princess Statue, Shoes on the Danube, Chain Bridge |
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| 6 PM | Night photos of Parliament and Chain Bridge |
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| 7 PM | Farewell dinner on cruise ship |
| Day 2 | 9 AM | Disembark, and check into Katona Apartments |
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| 11 AM | Rick Steve’s Town Center Walk (~1.5 hr): Vaci Utica, St Steven’s Basilica, Liberty Square |
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| 1 PM | Lunch at Hold Utca |
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| 3 PM | Back to Kossuth Square for pictures of Parliament. |
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| 4 PM | Walk across Elizabeth Bridge and take pictures of Pest at night |
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| 7PM | 0 Km marker/sculpture, then walk across Chain Bridge |
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| 8 PM | Dinner at Ghetto Goulash |
| Day 3 | 8 AM | Hero’s Square again |
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| 9 AM | Vajdahunyad Castle |
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| noon | House of Terror |
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| 3 PM | Back to apartment to rest |
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| 8 PM | Christmas Market |
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| 9 PM | Only one of us went across Chain Bridge and up the funicular to Buda Castle |
| Day 4 | 10 AM | Great Market Hall |
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| noon | Back to apartment to rest |
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| 3 PM | Opera House |
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| 6 PM | Soup for dinner |
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| 7PM | Christmas Market |
| Day 5 | 10 AM | Fly out |