So it turns out that I'm really bad at keeping this little blog updated, but I went on another solo city break to Budapest at the start of the month and had the best time. For some reason, I imagined the city to be some-what run down, and have lots of traces of its communist past; so it was a nice surprise that the architecture was beautiful and it definitely had the same feel as other old cities. Luckily, I stayed in a hostel opposite St. Stephen's Basilica, so getting around the city was very easy on foot, ensuring that I managed to cram lots into the three days that I was in the city.
What to Do
I was surprised at how much Budapest had to offer, and kinda wish I could've stayed longer in order to have time to do more things. Walking up to Buda Castle and FIsherman's Bastion were great, and the views were fantastic. I especially loved the Bastion, it looked like something out of a fairytale, and the whole setting is so picturesque. I'd also recommend visiting the Church by the Rock inside Gellért Hill, it has its own interesting history, which you learn about inside (especially in relation to the communist regime), and services are still held inside to this day, and the whole concept of it being a church inside a cave was pretty cool. Climbing to the top of Gellért Hill, to the Citadella, is breath-taking (quite literally) but definitely worth the views.
In Pest, there are plenty of museums that are fun to visit. The House of Terror Museum was interesting, the building itself is a sight to see, as it was used by the Arrow Cross Party and the Hungarian secret police so was the perfect spot to highlight the horrors in recent Hungarian history. I had a few issues with some of the content as I had studied some of it before so thought they possibly whitewashed some aspects of the terror. However, it was still insightful, and the basement was very eerie, as it showed some of the cells that political prisoners were kept in. The Hungarian National Museum was cool too, I preferred the artefacts from the twentieth century, especially seeing the broken Stalin-hand from the 1956 Revolution (I really hope it was real, as I did get a little bit excited seeing it...)
The Parliament is also a beautiful building, I was in awe walking along the Danube River because of how picturesque it was. Especially at night, when the parliament and Széchenyi Chain Bridge were lit up. It was one of the prettiest things I think I have ever seen (which is something I say a lot, to be fair) but I really mean it.
And, of course, I visited Szechenyi Baths (I mean, did you even visit Budapest if you don't visit the Baths?) I loved the thermal pool, it was so relaxing and was a great way to spend a couple of hours after a hectic day of being a tourist. I also thought the whirl pool was fun, and reminded me of Doncaster Dome's outdoor whirl pool, but was definitely more fancy. Nearby, I ended up finding Vajdahunyad Castle, which also looked like something out of a fairytale, I didn't spend long enough there to wander around the grounds, but it's definitely worth a visit if going to the baths. The Heroes' Square is also nearby and is also worth a visit, even if the visit is just to appreciate how aesthetically pleasing the symmetry is of the monument.
Obviously, there were lots of other things to do, too, but sadly I didn't have the time (or energy) to do much more which is a shame. I would've like to visit Margaret Island, and the spa in Gellért Hill if I had had more time to do so. Szemlő Mountain Cave also looks pretty cool, and I would've like to have gone inside St. Stephen's Basilica.
Where to Eat
Being the thrifty (read: tight with money) person that I am, I loved Budapest for the fact that you could eat a three course meal for around £15. It was nice to be able to eat out so often, especially considering that eating out in Copenhagen usually costs an arm and a leg. Whilst Hungarian food probably won't be added to my list of favourite foods anytime soon, there were some great restaurants in Budapest that I visited. For breakfast, I only visited a small cafe around the corner from the hostel I stayed in, Pöttyös Bögre Bisztró, it was very cosy and the staff were so friendly. Their cheese and ham breakfast croissants were great to start off the day. Hummus Bar is a great stop for lunch, even though it is a chain, as there are loads dotted around the city and the prices were incredibly reasonable. I also loved the burgers at Meatology, although I ended up going to the one in the centre, rather than the one next to my hostel because I'm an idiot. I also had the best pancakes at Bálna Terasz, I had the Nutella and banana ones and they were delicious - especially since they layered the toppings between the pancakes too for an added treat. They also did great lemonades and the price in total was great, when compared to what you would pay for the same thing back int he UK. I'd also recommend checking out the food stalls on the upper floor of the market, they smelled so good but seemed a bit too busy for me.
I don't have any more trips planned at the moment, but my grandparents are here for a few days at the end of the week so will become a Copenhagen tourist again, which will be fun.
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