Budapest is the capital city of Hungary, which is an important member of the European Union. It has a rich cultural and political history of many centuries. Hence, this city is a popular tourist destination and it was even named to be the Best European Destination in 2020 by a popular media channel. There are plenty of tourist attractions in this city, which draw the attention of people from all over the world.
When To Visit Budapest
The spring and early summer from March to May can be considered the peak tourist season in Budapest. Since too many tourists visit this city during summer, many people also choose to visit here between September and November when the weather is mild before the winter sets in.
What To Pack For Budapest, Hungary
Since people visit Budapest in spring or summer, they should always pack light and comfortable clothes for their tours to this city. They need to pack cotton shirts, loosely-fitted blouses, jeans, leggings, midi dresses, and light jackets. They should also carry scarves, sunglasses, umbrellas, and raincoats if they are visiting during the rainy season.
How To Get To Budapest
Several airlines run regular flights from different cities of the USA, Canada, Australia, and European countries to Budapest. However, people prefer Wizz Airways as this Hungarian airline is reputed for its low-cost flights running between European cities and Budapest. Tourists from neighboring countries can travel by luxury river cruise by River Danube to this city. There are also 3 international railway stations in Budapest where people from some European countries can arrive by train. There is also an international bus terminus in Budapest, running regular bus services from other European countries.
How to Get Around Budapest
There are several modes of transport for moving around the city of Budapest and nearby places. Tourists can take shuttle buses, taxis, rental cars, trams, suburban trains, metro, and ferry services to get around this city. Some people also take cruiser bicycles for rent or hire boats as eco-friendly transport.
Best Things to Do In Budapest
- Climb up the St. Stephen’s Basilica – Stephen’s Basilica is the largest church in Hungary where people need to climb 364 stairs to reach the dome for a view of the city. However, there is also an elevator to the dome of this church.
- Stare At The Sheer Beauty Of The Hungarian Parliament Building – The remarkable neo-gothic architectural style features a sixteen-sided central hall, huge chambers, and a dome built at a height of 96 meters in the Hungarian Parliament building.
- Pay Respect At The Shoes On The Danube Bank Memorial – This memorial featuring 60 pairs of cast iron shoes on the eastern bank of the River Danube was built to pay respect to Jews murdered by the Fascist army during World War II.
- Have Lunch At Hummusbar – Tourists can enjoy local cuisines at Hummusbar in Budapest, close to St. Stephen’s Basilica. This large restaurant serves delicious pita, falafel, and hummus.
- Walk Up The Buda Castle – This historical palace was the residence of Hungarian kings and it was built in a simplified Stalin Baroque architectural style. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987.
- Fisherman’s Bastion – This stone monument has seven towers in the memory of 7 chieftains who founded Hungary in 895. It was built in neo-Romanesque architectural style along the bank of River Danube, near Buda Castle.
- Chain Bridge – This Szechenyi Chain Bridge over River Danube connects Buda and Pest on the western and eastern parts of Budapest respectively. This permanent bridge was opened in 1849 and named after Count Istvan Szechenyi of Hungary.
- Have A Coffee At The Oldest Cafe In Budapest – Tourists love to enjoy a cup of coffee at the oldest café, called Auguszt Cukrászda Belvaros. People also adore the tastes of delicious desserts here, mainly the cakes and cookies served with coffee.
- Get Soaked At The Gellért Thermal Bath – It is the famous thermal bath in Budapest, one of its kind in the entire Europe for its beautiful architecture and carvings. It is also called the Palace of Baths, with 10 pools containing water at various temperatures. Gellert Spa is popular for body massages, sunbaths, and saunas.
- Vajdahunyad Castle – This castle was built copying the architectural style of Hunyad or Corvin Castle in Romania. It was constructed in 1896 in City Park of Budapest, to celebrate 1000 years of the establishment of Hungary.
- Cave Church Inside Gellért Hill – This church was established by Christian monks inside a cave in Gellert Hill. It was closed during Communist rule in 1951 and reopened in 1989. It is also called St. Ivan’s Cave after the monk who lived here. There is a muddy lake with natural thermal water beside this cave.
- Vintage Shopping in Budapest – This city is a haven for shopaholics as they can find many vintage stores that sell trendy fashion garments for the last few decades. Famous fashion designers sell their created clothes, footwear, bags, and accessories in these stores.
Therefore, Budapest is a popular choice of tourists worldwide, as they love to visit this ancient European city again and again for vacations.
