Europe | Hungary

★ Week Two & Three Itinerary:

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Budapest, Hungary

London ✈ Budapest

Budapest, Hungary | August 7th – 17th.

If you’re not a history, geography, random facts or travel buff then you’ve probably never wondered where Budapest got its name… but if you have then look no further than 1873. Prior to this year the three cities of Buda, Óbuda (old Buda) and Pest existed separately across both side of the Danube River, linked only via the Chain Bridge (constructed in 1849). For many reasons I shan’t go into (it would take my entire blog post to explain) they were unified in 1873 forming the Budapest we know today, however despite sharing a name these regions continue to have their own distinct personalities, historical buildings and for N.D and I; places to explore!

Afternoon one started with exploring near our accommodation in Városliget. Containing the Vajdahunyad vára, Sellők díszkút, famous and most photographed Széchenyi Thermal Baths and Ötvenhatosok tere; there’s something for everyone in this park. 🙂

I especially liked the Vajdahunyad vára/castle which expands across a large area of the park, appears magical in an enchanting-esque way, allows anyone to wander through it at their own leisure, read about its history and is entirely free!

Hősök tere/Heroes’ Square which is situated across from the park is part of an UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains statues of the seven tribe leaders whom founded Hungary.

The next day we wandering through the waterfront region on the Pest side of the Danube. With its convivial, lively atmosphere, abundance of trendy cafés, restaurants and numerous historical buildings we had a jam packed day!

Starting at the Budapest Inner-City Mother Church of Our Lady of the Assumption we trotted from church to bridge, from bridge to park, from park to museum and then back to another church and so on. Switching out museums for government buildings, parks for cafes or tasty treats and church’s for water features we marvelled at all of Pests sights. By nightfall they were illuminated and we had to see them all over again!

Some of the days sites included the:

• Budapest-Belvárosi Nagyboldogasszony Főplébánia-templom
• Dohány Street Synagogue
• Vigadó tér
• Vörösmarty tér
• St. Stephen’s Basilica
• Fat Policeman Statue
• Erzsebet Square and Ferris Wheel
• Liberty Square Szabadsag ter containing the Soviet War Memorial, Ronald Reagan Statue, controversial A német megszállás áldozatainak emlékműve
• Monumento de los zapatos/Shoes on the Danube Bank
• Országház/Hungarian Parliament Building
• Kossuth Lajos tér

We both also really enjoyed the iconic Hungarin building of Országház, a neo-Gothic Hungarian revival that is perfectly symmetrical and an emblem of the city.

The next morning we left behind the flat side of Pest and crossed the Erzsebet hid/Elisabeth Bridge to Buda. Offering sweeping panoramic views (from all the hills you have to climb) Buda contains the Castle District and the Old City which Budapest may be more well known for.

Starting with a steep, sweaty climb to St. Gerard Sagredo Statue we were sadly greeted with a theme for the day; under construction. Understandably these amazing statues, sculptures and various parts of the city’s history have to be maintained to be enjoyed and viewed for years to come, sadly it was during our visit. But we could still see parts through the scaffolding and we got a hill workout in at least. 😛

The fairytale turrets of Fisherman’s Bastion, constructed with seven look-out towers to honour the chieftains who settled their tribes in Hungary, to Castle Hill with its history, atmospheric cobbled streets, ornate Baroque buildings and of course another enchanting castle; everything enthralled me!

Castle Hill and the Hungarian Castle itself is another World Heritage Site inviting people to explore from the brattice surrounding it.

We found ourselves visiting many, many sites that day including:

• Gellért-hill and Gellérthegy Jubileumi park
• Liberty Statue and Citadella
• Garden of Philosophers of renowned thinkers
• Kilátókő szobor, Buda királyfi és Pest királykisasszony
• Castle Garden
• Mace Tower (under construction)
• Buda Castle and Hill
• Zero Kilometer Stone
• Széchenyi Chain Bridge (under construction)
• Castle District
• Matthias Church
• St Stephen Statue
• Fisherman’s Bastion
• Kolodko: Főkukac miniszobor
• Vienna Gate Bécsi kapu
• Church of Saint Mary Magdalene

By the afternoon we were exhausted, both physically and weatherly, if that’s not a state of exhaustion it should be! The European summer sun has no mercy.

Here we trotted (more like waddled we were still tired and it’s hot) to the water tower, Japanese garden, musical well and musical fountain before finally making our way to Palatinus Strand Baths. The fun thermal pools. 🙂 With its wave pool, water slides and warm water we had an absolute blast.

We crammed in any and everything you could want to see in Budapest into those days… right before the real celebration started. 😉

Sziget Music Festival, Óbudai-sziget | August 10th – 15th.

During the time that we weren’t at the festival we caught up with friends, explored other parts of Budapest including the Central Market Hall and Liberty hid/Liberty Bridge and ate. In particular we tried Molnár’s kürtőskalács chimney cakes and traditional Hungarian langos and goulash. We also soaked in the famous Széchenyi Thermal Baths one morning and felt like we made it into everyone’s Instagram photo backgrounds haha. I’m sure they’ll cut us out. 😉

As quickly as the festival started it sadly had to come to an end. N.D and I now find ourselves sitting at a bus station ready to visit our next country.

Viszlát.

TTFN – next stop 3 hours away