Budapest ðŸ‡ðŸ‡º
Quick holiday facts
Duration: 3 nights
Flights: Ryanair return from London Stansted (£374) - booked direct
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Budapest (£342) - booked via IHG app
Spending money covering food, drinks, public transport, taxis & activities: £100 per day, £43 total for private bathing at Gellert Baths, £66 total for bathing at Szechenyi Baths, £45 total for night time bathing at Rudas Baths, £17 total for a Danube River Cruise with Legenda Cruises, Entry tickets to House of Terror Museum are £13 each.
APPROX TOTAL SPEND = £1,313
Our 4-Day Journey Through History, Flavours & Thermal Bliss
Budapest, the heart of Hungary, unfolds its beauty through historic architecture, vibrant culture, and culinary delights. Our short break in this enchanting city was a blend of relaxation, exploration, and indulgence in local flavours that left us yearning full from all the food! And chilled - thanks to the thermal baths unique mineral content contributing to our wellness! Beware though: there’s no getting away from that eggy smell commonly found in thermal spas all over the world, once you get used to it, it’s all good.
Here’s a glimpse into our Budapest adventure, along with top tips to make your Budapest trip unforgettable.
Day 1:
We arrived mid-day and decided our best course of travel rom the airport to the city centre was by Bolt. We’d read a great deal about the city’s rogue ‘freelance’ taxi drivers so opted for a safe option. Bolt was incredibly easy to us (basically it’s Uber) and for £20 we had a door to door service. Winning! We arrived at the hotel, a newly opened Crown Plaza and it was lovely! A really modern, clean and quiet hotel, well situated for exploring the city and connecting to public trasnport.
After a quick freshen up we headed out to start exploring. We took a stroll from our hotel towards the River Danube, and soon came upon the stunning Parliament building, followed by the Shoes on the Danube sculpture. A really poignant reminder of past (horrific) times and a beautiful homage to the Jews that died during the war. After that, we headed over the iconic Szechenyi Chain Bridge. A short walk later (and many amazing views to take in), we arrived at the foot of Buda Castle. But, we were starving! So, sought out some food before seeing the sights of the castle.
We chose to go to ADAM Bistro. A modern take on Hungarian cuisine, it was delicious! We both opted to try local spirit ‘Palinka’. Wow! It is strong! Anyway, back to food: we had a local meat and cheese platter to start (yum) followed by Chicken Paprikas. Also YUM! Bellies full, the majestic Buda Castle and its surroundings beckoned. The funicular ride up the hill offered stunning views and an exciting approach to this historic fortress. Walking through the castle district felt like stepping back in time, with every corner telling a story. After a wonder around the area, we happened upon a Chimney Cake shop. Made fresh from dough, deep fried and coated in sugar cinnamon and layered with Nutella (on the inside). OH MY GOD. What a treat! Following that, we walked to St.Matthias Church and took in some stunning city views before heading back down the hill, back over the bridge and towards our first Ruin Bar.
Ruin Bars are pop-up bars in clapped out, literally ruined, buildings and soon enough we were in the most famous of them all; the Szimpla Ket. Wine and beer in hand, we took in the unique interior and buzzing atmosphere before we decided it was time to hit the sack, and walked back to the hotel.
Day 2:
Today’s journey began with breakfast at Kaptafa - we were really impressed with their contemporary takes on classic dishes (basically really suave toasties). And then it was time to dive into the city's famous thermal spa culture. Budapest is known as the "City of Spas" for a reason, and our mission was to experience more than just one. Upon arriving at the City Park, we had a quick coffee before heading into Szechenyi Baths. Probably the most iconic of them all - in a stunning building with historic facades and a range of indoor/outdoor bathing options. We spent a 3 hours chilling in the baths, including having a bite to eat for lunch (although it was VERY EXPENSIVE! A definite tourist trap!), luckily the food was tasty and we had out first try of Hungarian spicy sausage called ‘Debreceni kolbasz’. Yum.
After the spa, we headed back to the hotel for a freshen and glam up, before heading to another ruin bar, this time the ‘Red Ruin’. It was soon time for food (again) and we’d read AMAZING things about Bors Gastro Bar. The BEST soup we’ve ever tasted, so so good. Highly recommend heading there. And then it was time for more drinks, so we headed to Hotsy Totsy Speakeasy Bar around the corner. the hub of all the nightlife action is in the Old Jewish District (or district 7), there’s honestly LOADS of things to see and do in that district alone. Cocktails in hand, we enjoyed an hour or so in that bar before heading for strudel. Yes, more food! Well, Budapest has so many culinary delights, it’s a real foodie culinary scene and a delightful journey through flavours. The Strudel House is the first ever strudel house in the city and quite simply we opted for apple. It was fabulous! And then, a walk to walk off all the day’s food. It was time for bed!
Day 3:
Today started with a short walk from our hotel to local market Lehel Csarnok, especially for langos! A local street food, we had to try it. And basically, it was like a big doughnut cross between a pizza. Nice but you can’t eat too many, in fact Amy needed something to cut through the grease after eating, and as pickles are a big part of Hungarian cuisine too, we bought some from one of the many traders in the market! After that, we made our way to the House of Terror Museum, on Matt’s wishlist of things to do. We bought our tickets and audio guides and we were in! Three floors of astonishing history and some much education. It was a really engaging visit, with lots of exhibits and interesting facts. Worth going. The weather by now was abit crappy - misty and rainy and cold. So we decided to go for a walk on Margaret Island. Don’t do that in winter, there’s not much doing. We ended up sitting in one of the parks bars - getting cold - and then heading straight back off the island to warm up! What did we do next? More food of course! We headed to a local cafe to sample the layer cake called ‘Dobos Torte’. It was ok. As the sun began to set, a cruise on the River Danube was the perfect way to see the city in a different light. The silhouette of the city against the twilight sky was breathtaking, making it a highly recommended experience. We booked via Get Your Guide and it was really simple and easy (and cheap!). The highlight following that cruise was a late-night spa session at Rudas, an adults-only experience unlike any other, especially on a Friday or Saturday night. From 10pm until 3am you can enjoy music and drinks in the many pools of there spa including their 500 year old Turkish bath. Delightful. The historical setting, combined with the modern amenities, provided a serene escape from reality.
Video: Amy eating her first ever langos!
Day 4:
On my final day, we decided to go see the Grand Central Market. However it was quiet! Therefore don’t do that on a Sunday. Lol. Not much doing. Instead, as the sun was out we headed to a sunny square for a coffee before heading over the bridge to visit the Gellert Bath. Another not-to-miss experience was the private bathing. We prebooked a 90 minute slot in luxurious ambiance and the healing waters were the perfect reset, all to ourselves to round off our trip.
Budapest captivated our hearts with its thermal spas, mouth-watering cuisine, historic beauty, and the serene Danube. Whether you’re soaking in a late-night spa, savouring the local delicacies, or exploring the grandeur of Buda Castle, this city promises an experience filled with wonder and delight. We had a great time, the food was cheap and the nightlife is buzzing!
Video: Panorama views from the chainbridg over the Danube river.