top 10 things to do in
top 10 things to do in
We were really enchanted by Budapest. It rained the majority of the time we were visiting the city but we still had an amazing time which I think says a lot. We really enjoyed finding the hidden gems of Budapest while looking for ways to stay dry.
And we ate some incredible food along the journey, too. There was this one falafel dish we got from a place called Tik Tak Hummus that makes my mouth water just thinking about it. So here’s our list of Top Things to Do In Budapest. We hope you enjoy reading about them. And if you ever get to visit Budapest, make sure pop into Tik Tak Hummus!
1. Vajdahunyad Castle
This castle, built in 1896 as part of the Millennial Exhibition, is an amalgamation of various architectural styles and some of Hungary’s finest buildings throughout history. It’s located in City Park near the skating rink and boating lake and is the site of several festivals and concerts throughout the year. We had a very nice time wandering the park and marveling over the eclectic beauty of the castle. It appears much older than it actually is and is unlike anything we’ve seen in other cities.
2. St. Stephen's Basilica
This beautiful Basilica is the third largest church in present-day Hungary and is named after the very first king of Hungary whose right hand, you read that right, his right hand is on display in a shrine. We didn’t go see the king’s mummified hand but we did enjoy the stunning architecture of this magnificent building. The Basilica is one of the two tallest buildings in Budapest. It’s height is intentionally equal to that of the Hungarian Parliament building to symbolize that worldly and spiritual thinking have the same importance.
3. Gellert Hill
Gellert Hill gets its name from Szent Gellert, or Saint Gerard. St Gerard was a Christian BIshop who was tossed from the top of the hill during the great pagan rebellion of 1046. At the foot of the hill, in the spot where St, Gerard met his death, is an incredible bronze monument of St. Gerard overlooking the Elizabeth Bridge.
At the top of Gellert Hill, overlooking the Danube and the city below, sits the old Citadella and the Liberty Statue. The impressive fortress was built in the mid 1800s and remains today. Liberty Statue, located next to the Citadella, commemorates the people who died defending the freedom of Hungary. From the top of Gellert Hill, you can also see a stunning view of the Liberty Bridge below.
4. Buda Castle
The original castle was completed in the middle of the 13th century and has been the primary residence to Hungarian kings and royalty throughout history. However, the large castle you can explore today was built over a twenty year period in the latter part of the 1700s. There are so many museums and points of historical interest in the castle, that you can easily spend an entire day exploring the royal palace and the grounds beyond.
5. Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion
When we were deciding what to include on our list of Top 10 Things to Do In Budapest, we both knew without hesitation that these incredible pieces of architect were making the list. Matthias Church and Fisherman’s Bastion lie side-by-side in the Buda Castle district. Both are stunning works of architecture on their own but, together they look like something from a fairy tale. Aside from being gorgeous, the Matthias Church holds so much compelling history. A small example is that two Hungarian kings have been crowned within these walls.
Both competing with and complimenting the beauty of Matthias Church is Fisherman’s Bastion which looks like something straight out of Game of Thrones. This decorative structure was built as a lookout and offers some of the most beautiful panoramic views of Budapest. Fisherman’s Bastion consists of a chapel, a cafe on the terrace, beautiful balconies and 7 turrets which represent the 7 tribes which founded Hungary in the year 895.
6. Parliament
One thing you’re sure to notice while you’re looking across the Danube from the Buda side toward Pest, is the impressive Hungarian Parliament building which is right along the water. This massive building serves as the seat of the Hungarian National Assembly. It’s the largest building in Hungary since its completion in 1902. You can tour the interior of this building but we think it’s most gorgeous from the outside. A great way to view it is on a river cruise at night when the building is lit up.
7. Margaret Island
It was raining the entire day we spent on Margaret Island but that didn’t stop us from seeing as much as we could of this beautiful park in the middle of the river. My favorite part was the musical water fountain that sprays streams of water into the air to the beat of various familiar tunes such as “Let it Go” from Disney’s Frozen. But there are lots of other fun things to do in this park. There are jogging paths, thermal spas, swimming pools and even live concerts and pop up pubs in the summer. It’s a great way to escape the bustle of the city and enjoy a little tranquility.
8. Visit Ruin Bars
So what’s a Ruin Bar? It’s exactly what it sounds like. There are little pockets of derelict buildings and unused spaces throughout the city that have been transformed into some of the most stylish bars. Popular to locals and tourists, they’re quite busy and offer a great opportunity to mingle. We found one ruin bar, in particular, that had an amazing vegan pizza joint. So we hung out for a while and I tasted Hungarian Palinka. While I wasn’t a fan of the drink, I am a huge fan of the ruin bars and knew it had to go on our list of Top 10 Things to do In Budapest!
9. Eat!
So this item is kind of generic but we felt our list of Top 10 Things to Do In Budapest just wasn’t complete without including it – EAT! We had so many delicious meals during our time in Budapest. Maybe it’s because it was raining so much but our time in Budapest turned into a food tour and it was great! I’ve already mentioned the falafel plate that we just couldn’t get enough of and the delicious pizza we gobbled up in the ruin bar. But there were also amazing, flaky pastries and double-stacked burgers and creamy, cheesy macaroni. Uh, my stomach is growling again!
10. Rainy Day Activities
There were a couple of activities that we stumbled upon simply because we were looking for things to do inside to get out of the rain. But, after experiencing them, we decided they truly deserve a spot on our list of Top 10 Things to do in Budapest. For example, we spent several hours inside a basement that had been converted into an arcade bar. We had a blast playing classics like air hockey, fooseball and pinball.
We also found ourselves stopping into the miniature museum which has tiny miniature replicas of Budapest organized into individual vignettes, each one showcasing different parts of the city and surrounding area. We had way more fun than we expected to inside this museum. It’s actually really impressive and mind boggling to think about the effort and time that must’ve gone into these pretty little miniatures.
And did you know that Harry Houdini was born in Budapest? Well, I never gave it much thought until we ducked into the House of Houdini museum and learned a ton of interesting facts about the famous illusionist. This museum’s collection includes several original memorabilia including handcuffs, keys and personal correspondences. Once we finished the guided tour of the museum, we were treated to a delightful show which exhibited the same type of illusions that made Houdini famous.
So that’s it for our list of Top 10 Things to Do In Budapest. We hope you enjoyed reading it and that, if you ever find yourself in Budapest, you’ll check out at least a few of these items.
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We love traveling together to see incredible places and eat as much delicious vegan food as possible. This site is our way of helping you plan your perfect trip based on our experiences.
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