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Budapest: Things to Experience!

         Take a Night Cruise (or dinner cruise) on the Danube! You can book online and  Legende is a highly rated company.  From all that I’ve read and heard, this is a must do.  The view of the buildings illuminated are stunning.  You can book either a one hour cruise or a 2 ½ hour dinner cruise.  Reviews of both options are good.   Budapest might just be one of the most popular places for night photography. Whether you’re a photographer or not, Budapest really lights up at night and it’s particularly stunning at the Danube where you have the best view of the landmarks.  You will enjoy beautiful views on both sides of river with night lights.  Sit on top on either side as the boat goes up and down.... Match the departure time right around sunset.  

·         The Baths:  Budapest, The City of Baths! Bathing is a major pastime for locals as well as tourists in Budapest, and there are plenty of baths to choose from. The thermal water is warm year round; so even a winter visit to Budapest means you can strip down to your bathing suit.

Courtesy of Flickr

The most famous of all of the baths – and also Europe’s largest medicinal bath – is Szechenyi, a sprawling Neo-baroque building that’s home to indoor and outdoor pools as well as a sauna and steam rooms. Another popular bath in Budapest is Gellert, a smaller but equally beautiful building that makes you feel a little bit like you’re swimming inside a cathedral.

·         Ruin Pubs: one of the most unique and quirky things to experience in Budapest. A world apart from the magnificent New York Café or Fisherman’s Bastion, these pubs are deserted old buildings that have been turned into pubs and bars around the city. The largest concentration of ruin pubs can be found in the trendy Jewish Quarter, and the most popular of all is Szimpla Kert, a derelict maze of bizarrely-decorated rooms and outdoor nooks.  These ruin bars are really abandoned spaces that are turned into shabby chic clubs by locals with lots of creativity, artistry… and second-hand furniture.  You’re guaranteed a night out like no other when you visit one of the ruin pubs of Budapest.  Each pub has its own unique style.  This sounds like a fun evening to me!

Courtesy of Flickr

From my research, these are the top three ruin pubs in Budapest:

Szimpla Kert. There’s a reason why it’s the most popular ruin bar in Budapest. It just has so much to see and venues where you can drink. Come early before it gets crowded and enjoy all the rooms and stuff on the walls, it will bring you back to another time.

Instant. Instant, with its crazy animal pictures, has a vibe that makes you want to go crazy.

Mazel Tov because of its stylishness or Ellátó Kert because of the home brewed beer. Here's a link to an article by CNN on Budapest's ruin bars.

·         Indulge in the food!  Budapest is a foodie’s paradise, with delicious food at reasonable prices!  Budapest is a foodie town and it packs a punch when it comes to International food (including Greek) and Hungarian food. If you like paprika, sausage and goulash, you will like the local cuisine. Traditional Hungarian food is hearty and warm.  You may notice an absence of fruit and veggies on menus around the city, but you can always order sides if you’re craving a few more vitamins. Goulash is one of the most popular dishes, and you’ll find it all around Budapest.

Take a Food Tour!  This is definitely on my “must do” list.  Take a look at Taste Hungary.  There are many options from which to choose.  You will have an educational and sociable time while enjoying Hungarian food and drink, even a wine tasting.!   These are mostly walking tours; so wear comfortable shoes!  Budapest Locals is another company that gets great reviews on TripAdvisor... both for food tours and Budapest highlight tours.

Courtesy Taste Hungary

Some recommended restaurants: A recommended place to eat traditional goulash is in the Opera Cafe, a grand building located on Andrassy Utca. This shopping street is lined with old majestic architecture, and the Opera House Cafe is no exception. The cafe, furnished with plush red leather chairs and gleaming marble tiles, also serves an enticing collection of jewel colored cakes.

Another highly rated experience is Eat and Meet .  This is an opportunity to try traditional Hungarian cuisine with homey flavors based on family recipes!  You will dine in a Hungarian home with a Hungarian family and get a taste of the real local cuisine and culture. 

Courtesy Eat & Meet

Here is an excerpt from a Tripadvisor review: "Throughout the evening, Suzie told us stories about Hungarian culture and food, her mother cooked and her father served and poured wine. The first course was a wonderful, creamy soup made from a local root vegetable, fennel and other nice spices. She said that goulash is only eaten 3-4 times a year by people in Hungary. It is a simple comfort food which originated as a peasant soup. She also busted the myth that Hungarian food is heavy. For the second course we enjoyed a delicious meal of roasted duck, thyme seasoned potatoes and a pumpkin citrus side dish. Wine drinkers could enjoy different wines with each course if they wanted.  The best part of the evening was the lively conversation with visitors who quickly became new friends. Suzie encouraged us to mix in throughout the table and it was really fun to learn about Hungarian culture through Suzie and other cultures through the other guests. Such a different experience than anything I’ve done before and super fun and great food and wine! Also, my dad doesn’t eat meat and Suzie was able to accommodate him with a wonderful fish option which he said was delicious. Would definitely recommend this to anyone traveling to Budapest!"

Foodies should head straight to the city’s Jewish quarter and find Gozsdu Udvar (or Gozsdu Courtyard), "where happy people meet"! Here you’ll find old passageways packed with hipster bars, restaurants and pubs, each with a menu more mouthwatering than the last.  A recommended restaurant is Spilar which is said to be worth the flight to Budapest alone.

Spilar, Courtesy of Flickr

NewYork Café: Touted to be the most beautiful café in the world.  It’s like the inside of a palace, or a really fancy theatre and it’s definitely worth a visit, even just to see it.  Located inside Boscolo Budapest Hotel, New York Café is extremely popular.  If you go, make reservations.  Tip from friends is to find a table upstairs in the 100 year-old Nyugot Bar for dinner with a view overlooking the Care below.   

New York Cafe courtesy Flickr

Hungarikum Bisztro: Beautiful restaurant, located in the city center, that serves traditional Hungarian cuisine.  Reasonable prices and nice portions!  Reservations highly recommended as this is a popular venue.   

TheTrófea Grill:  All you can eat and drink! Delicious! The selection of food available was incredible, even for vegetarians.  They serve a mixture of traditional Hungarian dishes, plus routine things like vegetables and chips. The red wine they serve is said to be incredible. 

Dubarry Restaurant is rated well on TripAdvisor and is located not far from the Intercontinental Hotel Budapest where we will be staying.  Reviews are good, the terrace dining area looks great (weather dependent) and the menu looks perfect!  

For foodies: The top 12 things to taste in Budapest:

1.     Gulyásleves – goulash soup with meat and vegetables, seasoned with paprika and other spices.

2.    Tokaj – sweet Hungarian white wine.

3.    Dobos torta – sponge cake layered with chocolate buttercream and topped with caramel.

4.    Gundel palacsinta – pancakes stuffed with a sweet walnut filling and drizzled with a sweet chocolate rum sauce.

5.    Pörkölt – meat stew in a thick paprika-spiced sauce.

6.    Halászlé – Fisherman’s Soup, traditional red fish soup spiced with hot paprika.

7.    Paprikás Csirke – creamy chicken paprikash with red spiced paprika and stewed chicken leg.

8.    Lángos – fried bread dough, often served with sour cream, garlic and cheese.

9.    Lecsó – mixed vegetable stew, the Hungarian ‘Ratatouille’.

10. Local beer – Arany Aszok, Soproni, Dreher. Try also dark lagers

11.  Kürtőskalács – a chimney cake made from sweet yeast then spun and wrapped around a truncated cone–shaped baking spit, and rolled in granulated sugar.

12. Kolbice – local street food, grilled Kolbász sausages in a cone-shaped bread.

Shopping: Andrássy Avenue is where you can quickly shell out a fortune at stores like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Rolex. Large commercial chains, like Zara and H&M, and tourist aimed folklore shops are mostly along the bustling Váci Street, Budapest’s version of La Rambla. In between, both price-wise and geographically, is Fashion Street - a short pedestrian row with labels like Hugo Boss, Lacoste, and Massimo Dutti.

Souvenir Thoughts:

1.     Hungarian Paprika – dried, packed in bags, pretty little cans, ceramic jars or in a tube as a paste; it’s an inexpensive and local souvenir.

2.    Tokaji Wine – with its slender, elegant bottles it’s a beautiful and delicious gift. Tokaji wine comes in a variety of different tastes including dry, Szamorodni, Aszu, Maslas, Fordiatas and Eszencia.

3.    Palinka – a traditional fruit brandy made of plums, apricots, apples, pears or cherries.

4.    Pick Salami – original Hungarian salami sausages that come in a variety of different types, flavors, and levels of spice. If transported and kept unopened, it will last a long time.

5.    Handmade Hungarian Lace and Embroidery – for those who like traditional folk souvenirs.

6.    Unicum –  a Hungarian herbal liqueur that is made of a mixture of over 40 different kinds of medicinal herbs and spices.

7.    Gyulai or Csabai Kolbasz – Hungarian spicy sausages with a lot of red paprika.

8.    Traditional Hungarian shirts, dolls, tablecloths

9.    Hungarian secret box: At first glance, you may think these lovely wooden boxes are ordinary jewelry boxes. That is, until you attempt to open one and discover that the lid does not move upon command. Only after the shop keeper has shown you how to slide open the secret panels, uncover the key and the hidden lock, will you have access to the inside of this clever puzzle box. And, if that’s not enough to satisfy your cravings for secrecy, there is a hidden compartment inside the box itself, in which you can store your most treasured possessions. Hand carved out of wood, these boxes make a wonderful gift for anyone who enjoys puzzles or values their privacy.
There are a number of aesthetic choices to make when purchasing this gift as the boxes come in many different sizes, from tiny ring sized boxes to full sized jewelry boxes.  Some are painted and some retain the original look of the wood they are carved from. Many vendors will also offer to engrave a name and date on the box as well- often at no additional cost. The cost of the boxes runs from $10-$20 and they are widely available throughout the city. They are on sale at many of the stands in the Nagy Csarnok (The Great Market Hall)

10. Paintings of the Danube: Walk along the Danube on a golden Autumn morning, and you’ll be sure to spot Hungarian artists sitting by the water with their sketchpads and paints by their side.  For an image that captures the color, excitement and energy of the city, try a beautiful water color painting. Or for a taste of an older, more elegant Budapest, search for a charcoal drawing. Pricing varies greatly with the scale of the pictures- smaller pictures will be around $10, while larger images will fall in the $30-$50 price range.

Budapest: Sightseeing Highlights

Photo by Dan Novac on Unsplash

·         Chain Bridge:  Buda and Pest are separated by the mighty Danube river; and no less than eight bridges link the two city parts. The most well-known of these bridges is the Széchenyi Chain Bridge.

·         Parliament Building:  One icon of Budapest is the Neo-Gothic Parliament building, often photographed from across the river at Fisherman’s Bastion. But it’s even more spectacular up close. The third largest parliament building in the world, it’s over 100 years old.  You can visit the inside of this limestone building if parliament isn’t in session for a 45-50 minute tour at specific times of the day. Tickets can be purchased online in advance by clicking here.

Photo by Joaquim Lesne on Unsplash

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Photo by Mika on Unsplash

    Shoes on the Danube:  This is a very moving memorial what you will see while walking along the Danube promenade. The shoes on the Danube banks tell the horrific war story of the many Jewish people who, during 1944-1945, were forced to strip naked on the banks of the Danube and face the river. A firing squad then shot the prisoners at close range in the back so that they fell into the river to be washed away. The shoes are a fitting tribute to all those who lost their lives, but also a sad reminder of a very dark time.

·         Buda Castle is a beautiful historic building right in the heart of the city.  Just across the Chain Bridge from Pest you’ll find a funicular (for a fee) that ascends to Buda Castle. If you’re feeling fit, you can climb the stairs that wind their way up the steep hill to see the intricate Houses of Parliament, Chain Bridge, and the vibrant city of Pest from above.  Enjoy the stunning view of the city from here. Don’t forget to explore the Labyrinth inside… but don’t get lost!  Trivia: Buda Castle is also that place where Katy Perry shot her “Firework” music video. You can purchase tickets for a Buda Castle Tour here.

       

Photo by Anastasia Zhenina on Unsplash

 Buda Castle Hill Funicular: This funicular, which first opened in 1870, is the second oldest funicular of its kind in the world. A system of weights and counterweights is used to help to raise the carriages up and down the hill. The funicular is the fastest way to get to the top of Castle Hill, and is exceedingly popular because of its panoramic views out across the Danube.  It’s is open daily until 10pm, so it is also a great way to enjoy views of Pest at night.

·         Fisherman’s Bastion:  named after the Guild of Fishermen, which was responsible for defending that stretch of the city walls during the Middle Ages, this is one of the most visited places in Budapest so get there early to avoid the crowds. It’s open 24/7 so there’s really no such thing as too early.  Fisherman’s Bastion (aka TheHalászbástya in Hungarian) is a terrace in neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque style situated on Castle hill.  Although the Fisherman’s Bastion looks like a medieval monument, it was actually built in the early 20th century in a neo-Gothic style, specifically to act as a panoramic viewing platform across the Danube, Margaret Island and Pest. The seven towers of the Bastion represent the seven Magyar tribes that helped to settle the Magyar people in the Carpathian Basin. Come at sunset to see a particularly beautiful view of the city.

·         Hungarian State Opera House: TheOpera House offers daily tours at 3pm and 4pm in English, German, French, Spanish and Italian. These last around 45 minutes and there’s a fee for admission.  You can sit in the stalls, visit the Royal Balcony, and wander around parts rarely seen by tourists.   You may be lucky enough to sit in on a mini opera concert after the tour (for an additional fee).

·         Heroe’s Square:  (Hosök tere), which marks the end of Andrássy Avenue is home to an iconic monument which features depictions of the Seven Chieftains of the Magyars, who are believed to have led the Hungarian people from central Asia to the Carpathian basin. At the top of the central pillar is the Archangel Gabriel, who is holding the Hungarian crown. At either side of the central column are two matching colonnades, which depict a variety of other historical Hungarian figures. The impressive buildings at either side of the square are art galleries. Take care when crossing to the statue, because traffic around the monument can be chaotic.

Courtesy of Flickr

·     The House of Terror Museum contains exhibitions about the fascist and communist regimes which ruled Hungary during the 20th Century. The building itself was the former headquarters of the Fascist Arrow Cross party, and the building was subsequently used as a prison and torture venue by the State Security services of Hungary. There is the opportunity to tour some of the prison area in the basement. The House of Terror is also a memorial to the victims who were detained, tortured, or killed in the building.   

·         St. Stephen’s Basilica: is the biggest church in Budapest, Hungary with its capacity of 8,500 and one of the most important religious buildings in Hungary. The mummified right hand of the first Hungarian king, King St. Stephen I (reigned from about 975 to 1038), is on display at the Basilica; the relic is in the Szent Jobb Chapel. As this is a holy site, visitors who plan on entering the church are asked to keep their knees and shoulders covered.   If you want a great view of the city, you can head up to the base of the dome and look out over the city.  Classical music concerts and organ concerts regularly take place inside the Basilica, and sometime spill out into the square outside.  You can purchase tickets for an organ concert; but at the moment none are scheduled for the dates that we will be in Budapest!

Photo by Liam McKay on Unsplash

Photo by Kristzen Taborii on Unsplash

·         Central Market Hall: The Great Market Hall in central Budapest is Budapest’s most famous marketplace.  many locals still use the market hall as a place to buy their groceries, the market is incredibly popular with the tourists too.  Locally grown fruits, vegetables, and locally sourced meats are found on the lower floors, and souvenirs including lace, chess sets and leather goods are available in the upper floors.

·         Andrássy Avenue: This wonderful boulevard takes visitors from Elizabeth (Erzsébet) Square in central Pest, out to the City Park.  It was declared a World Heritage Site in 2002.  Taking a leisurely walk down Andrássy is a great way to see a number of Budapest’s different architectural styles, including the Hungarian National Opera House, neo-renaissance townhouses and mansions, and a number of different national embassies.  This is also one of Budapest’s well known “shopping streets” with designer boutiques… sort of like the Fifth Avenue of Budapest.

·         Matthias Church:  or in Hungarian, Matyas Templom is one of the top attractions in Budapest. Matthias was not named for St. Matthias, but rather the first name of the Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus, the son of John Hunyadi. He was not a saint, but a fair king, whose remembrance lives on in popular Hungarian cartoon films: Matthias the Fair. The interior of Matthias Church is quite unique with elaborate gilt walls. Despite being a Gothic Catholic church, the atmosphere is more mesmerizingly oriental and mystically exotic rather than the customary Baroque or Renaissance church interiors you would see in Europe.  Be sure to stop by a restaurant near church overlooking Danube and enjoy a Strudel.

Some quick and quirky facts about King Matthias Corvinus (from the website Top Budapest):

·         Matthias became the Hungarian king at the age of 15 with no dynastic ancestry and relationship (later on also Bohemian king and the duke of Austria) – unprecedented in the history of Hungary before. But his father, John Hunyadi was a remarkable statesmen and strategist.

·         King Matthias spoke several languages, Hungarian, Latin, Italian, Czech, etc. “Besides the learned languages, he was acquainted with most of the living tongues of Europe.” (Wikipedia)

·         King Matthias was knighted at the Siege of Belgrade where his father, John Hunyadi died of plague in 1456

·         The first wife of King Matthias was forced on him by the Bohemian king – the king kept Matthias hostage and released him under the condition of marrying his daughter (and he was already a widower at the age of 12 before his first marriage at the age of 20)

·         King Matthias was a great promoter of Italian Renaissance all over the kingdom of Hungary and Bohemia

His first wedding was with a Bohemian (Czech) princess, Katalin Podjebrad (Kateřina z Poděbrad) in 1463. The princess was 15 years old, King Matthias was 20. After the wedding she soon got pregnant, but unfortunately, she died in child bed fever in 1464, and so did the baby boy.

He didn’t hurry to get married again. 12 years after his first wedding he married the daughter of Ferrante I, the king of Naples. His second wedding to Beatrice of Naples in 1476 was childless and he decided to leave the throne Janos Corvin, his illegitimate son. But Beatrice thought that it was she who should be the rightful successor. In the end, neither of them became the Hungarian ruler in 1490, when King Matthias died. Instead it was the Bohemian (Czech) king, Vladislas II (originally Polish and the son of Elisabeth of Austria, Hungarian princess) who successfully advance his claims to the Hungarian throne supported by Beatrice of Naples.