Budapest, Hungary
Length of Stay: 3 days
Time of Year: March
Hotel: Callas House (free because we redeemed Amex points)
Flight: RyanAir
Transportation: bolt app and bus
Bus 100E from the airport heading to Deák Ferenc Tér
Things we’ve done:
- Buda castle
- Castle Garden
- Shoes on the Danube
- Matthias Church
- Parliament Building
- Opera House
- Fisherman’s Bastion
- Day trip to Bratislava
- Szechenyi Thermal Bath
- Heroes’ Square
- River Danube Sunset Cruise (dinner, hungarian music, dancing)
Favorite Restaurants:
- Lunch at Mazel Tov
- New York Café
- 360 bar for lunch
Day 1:
After arriving in Budapest, we hopped on Bus 100E from the airport, heading towards Deák Ferenc Tér in the city center. Our hotel, Callas House, was conveniently located within a short walk from the bus station and within walking distance of all the major sights. We redeemed our Amex reward points for our stay, and breakfast was complimentary.
On our first day in Budapest, we walked to Buda Castle, the fairytale-like Fisherman’s Bastion, the Castle Garden, the Shoes on the Danube memorial, the stunning Matthias Church, the Parliament Building, and the Opera House.
For lunch, we stopped at Mazel Tov, a beautiful restaurant in the Jewish quarter of the city. In the evening we got on a River Danube Sunset Cruise, where we ate Hungarian delicacies, enjoyed live music from a local band, and traditional Hungarian dancing. While eating dinner, we had the perfect vantage point to see all the major sights of Budapest at night through the windows of the ship.
Day 2:
The following day, we boarded a train to Bratislava. (Stay tuned for a separate blog post detailing our trip in this beautiful city!)
Back in Budapest, we went to Mythos the Greek for dinner and then walked around the old town at night.
Day 3:
On our last day in Budapest, we went to the Szechenyi Thermal Bath, a relaxing oasis in the center of the city. The Szechenyi Thermal Bath is a must-do when in Budapest. They have 15 indoor pools, three outdoor pools, multiple saunas, and steam rooms. It was built in 1913 and is the largest medicinal bath in Europe.
After a few relaxing hours at the spa, we walked to the New York Café, considered the most beautiful café in the world. We chose to walk instead of taking a taxi because we wanted to make a stop at the famous Heroes’ Square.
We then stepped into the opulent surroundings of the New York Café, which first opened its doors in 1894. Inside, musicians played live music as guests enjoyed their meals and coffee. Because we came in the morning, we didn’t need to make a reservation.
They offered a great selection of breakfast and brunch options. However, we had lunch reservations at a rooftop restaurant, so we simply enjoyed a cup of coffee here. I opted for their famous Cappuccino with 24 Karat Gold.
For lunch with a view, we stopped at 360 Bar, where panoramic views of Budapest created a perfect backdrop for our lunch.
We flew home around 6 pm, so we had plenty of time to make the most of our last day here. We thought three days was the perfect amount of time to explore the city and relax at the spa. Budapest, with its timeless charm and warm hospitality, has quickly become one of our favorite cities in Europe.