I will admit, before booking our trip, I knew very little about Budapest. It wasn’t anywhere on my radar. In fact, we only chose to visit Hungary because of it’s proximity to Prague in the Czech Republic. It should have been the other way around! Budapest turned out to be the highlight of our trip. We can easily say Budapest is the most underrated city in Europe.

There is a lot to see and do so you have to manage your time wisely if you want to experience everything Budapest has to offer. You should spend more than 2 days here, but if that’s all you can muster, here is what you should do.

City Walk

Whenever you arrive in a new city, it’s best to get out and just wander before committing to one attraction. If you can get a guided walking tour that’s even better. Not only will it help familiarize yourself in your new surroundings but a guided tour will also give you some background on the cities history and culture. For more budget-conscious travelers, you can take a self-guided stroll using a guidebook. I’d recommend doing the walk found in Rick Steve’s Orientation Walk in his Budapest Guide.

The walk will take you past some of Europe’s most impressive structures. Around 70% of Budapest was destroyed during WWII. In the rebuilding process, the architects would mix in several different eras of design from Roman to Art Nouveau. The modernization of Budapest also means fewer cobblestone streets which your feet will be thankful for.

If you are a big fan of Christmas and you are trying to decide which European Country has the best markets during this merry time of year, the answer is Budapest. Some would argue Prague is King of Christmas. We visited Christmas markets in both cities and were far more impressed with those in Budapest. The markets were larger and had a better variety of food and activities.

Hungarian Cooking Class

Everyone’s gotta eat right? Hungarian cuisine is a delicious mix of hearty meats and starches. Known famously for its Paprika and Goulash, Budapest is a culinary capital of Central Europe. The cities food will no doubt leave a lasting impression in your taste buds memory, but wouldn’t it mean that much more to you if you were taught how to make it? There are several places to take cooking classes.

We put our culinary skills (or lack thereof) to the test at Chefparade Cooking School. The instructors spoke perfect English and were very patient. The food turned out surprisingly well although I didn’t care for the poppy seed turnover. Hungarians have a strange love affair with Poppy Seed. So much so that you should avoid taking a drug test for awhile upon your return home.

Hungarian State Opera

While purposely not as impressive as the Vienna Opera House (There was some bitter jealousy from the Emperor during its construction), the Hungarian State Opera house is considered one of the most magnificent Opera houses in the world. Take a tour and admire the large marble pillars and long grand staircases. If you have the option to see a performance you absolutely should.

Fisherman’s Bastion

Start by taking the local bus up the winding hill until you reach Buda Castle. The view overlooking the slopes of the Buda side is impressive, but the best pictures are taken at Fisherman’s Bastion. Much like a bowl of plastic oranges placed on a lovely dining room table, the Bastion serves no other purpose than to just look pretty. If you have come on a clear day, you can see miles across the Pest side. If it’s dark and gloomy outside, you can still enjoy the beautiful architecture of the turrets.

Matthias Church

It’s hard to miss the looming Gothic church steeple located next to the Fisherman’s Bastion. The ornate design on the outside is equally as impressive on the inside. It wasn’t always the embellished interior you see today. Religious wars brought several different theological leaders to repurpose the Mattias Church for their personal deities. When the Turks invaded Budapest, they painted all the walls white and chopped the heads off any stone figures. Muslims were not allowed to praise figures of man in their holy places.

In 1686, The Hapsburg empire successfully took back the city and returned the church to Catholicism. It is said that during the battle, cannon fire struck the church as the Muslims prayed inside. The blast knocked down a section of the wall uncovering a hidden statue of the Virgin Mary, which terrified those inside the church. Word spread of Mary’s sudden appearance, and it slowly but surely broke the will of the defending Turkish Soldiers.

Scenic Boat Ride

As you may have noticed Budapest is divided into two districts which are split by the Danube River. A fun way to see both of these sides at night is to take a nice relaxing river cruise. If your visiting in Fall or Winter, look for a boat tour that has enclosed seating otherwise you’re going to need a remarkably thick coat. We booked through Legenda, and the ride was terrific. The audio guide was a bit cheesy but they give out free champagne, so it evens out. But nothing will create a more lasting memory of Budapest than seeing the Hungarian Parliament Building lit up at night.

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Our Experience

Originally we had planned on being in Budapest for 3 days, but unfortunately, our trip was cut short by illness. But we had such a great time here that we are already planning our trip back. Our return trip will definitely include taking a dip in Thermal Baths, grabbing a pint at a Ruin Pub and watching how strudel gets made at the First Strudel House of Pest. If you have visited any of these places, let us know your tips and suggestions!