Sunday, January 25, 2015

Top 10 Things to Do in Budapest

Budapest is often called the Paris of the east, and as you will hopefully discover in this post, there is a big reason why it is that way. Only, one shouldn't really compare the two. There is so much beauty in Budapest, that I often wonder if Paris shouldn't be called the Budapest of the West.

In our extensive, 6-part travel series to Budapest, I pretty much showed everything that we did in the one week that we visited this amazing city. But I never really spoke about my favorite places that we saw and things that are an absolute must. In this post, which is sort of an extension of the series, I will list my personal Top 10 Things to Do in Budapest.



1. Explore the Danube River Front



This is a no-brainer. Budapest has many striking skylines, that are best explored from the Danube river. Weather you take a guided tour on one of the many cruisers docked along the Danube, or you snap some shots from the Buda Castle, this is the most prominent part of the city and not to be missed.


2. Visit the Budapest Zoo


Looking for a break from the busy city life? Take a couple of hours off and stroll casually through the Budapest Zoo. For a small entrance fee, you can see everything the zoo has to offer, including traditional food and drinks inside the zoo.


3. Enjoy a Trip to the Vajdahunyad Castle



Only around 100 years old the Vajdahunyad Castle looks like something from the middle ages. There is a special history to this place. Thought by many to be the home of Count Dracula, it was once a part of the Hungarian state (the Austro-Hungarian Empire).


4. Get around on the Metro


The Train and Metro system in Budapest leaves nothing to be desired. Getting around the city is a breeze and all the major attractions are connected with the underground as well as the above ground train system. But there is a reason I'm including a transportation system on this list. Budapest has one of the oldest Metro systems in Europe, and exploring the many lines (a 4th line has been adapted last year) and their stations really is a tourist attraction all by itself.


5. Explore Budapest by Night



If there is one thing you have to do while visiting Budapest, then it's definitely exploring the city by night. Budapest transforms at night. Not one single corner is not attractive in the elaborate light set up. The warm glow of the lights, really sets you in a calm mood, while the view of the Danube from the Fisherman's Bastion at night is breathtaking.


6. Buda Castle and Fisherman's Bastion


No list about Budapest would be complete if it didn't include these two iconic sights. Located one next to the other, the Buda Castle, with it's many museums, squares, cafes and restaurants and the Fisherman's Bastion that glistens above the city with all of its Gothic charm. The view from both of these places is simply amazing. You have whole Budapest at your hand.


7. Visit the Liberty Bridge and Great Market Hall


The Great Market Hall or Central Market Hall is the largest and oldest indoor market in Budapest.It's located right next to the Liberty Bridge. Most of the stalls on the ground floor offer produce, meats, pastries, candies and spices, so if you are on the lookout for authentic Hungarian food, this is the place to go. If you are not hungry, you can still enjoy the sights!


8. Take a trip to the Heroes Square

This is really a short stop on your way to the Budapest Zoo or Vajdahunyad Castle, but definitely one worth taking. The central site of the hero's square, as well as a landmark of Budapest, is the Millennium Memorial (also known as Millennium Monument or Millenary Monument) with statues of the leaders of the seven tribes that founded Hungary in the 9th century and other outstanding figures of Hungarian history.


9. Roam the Streets and Parks in Budapest


Many of the most wonderful sights we discovered in the city, we did so by roaming through the city. We visited the obvious tourist attractions (some of which are listed in this post), but we always made sure to venture out into the side roads, explore further. Often, when the night had set, we walked around the various city parks. Getting lost in this city is definitely an advantage.


10. The House of Terror in Budapest

Budapest, like most cities in Eastern Europe is undoubtedly linked to the Iron Curtain in Europe and it's fall. Then there are many parts of the city where you will discover remnants from World War II. One of them is the House of Terror, dedicated to the Jews killed here during the war. But it also contains exhibits related to Hungarian organizations such as the fascist Arrow Cross Party and the communist ÁVH (which was similar to the Soviet Union KGB secret police). Part of the exhibition takes place in the basement, where you can see examples of the cells that the ÁVH used to break the will of their prisoners. You can see more from the House of Terror on this blog as well.



What part of Budapest speaks most to you?


46 comments:

  1. Wieder besonders tolle Fotos diesmal wieder! Ich weiß gar nicht welches mein liebstes ist. So toll unterschiedlich auch. Wirklichwirklich genial! GlG Anne

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  2. Hello Mersad, thank for taking me on this tour of Budapest.. I love the shots of the river and the zoo. The night shots are lovely.. Gorgeous photos from your trip! Have a happy day and week ahead!

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  3. Lieber Mersad,
    deine Bilder sind traumhaft schön. Ihr wart auch noch im Zoo?? Es ist eigentlich gar nicht typisch, bei einem kurzen Stadtbesuch auch noch Zeit für einen Zoo zu haben. Super, der wurde in den letzten Jahren sehr viel renoviert und erweitert und erneuert, es lohnt sich ein Besuch wirklich.
    Ich freue mich total, daß euch Budapest so gut gefallen hat und mein Herz schlägt immer ein bißchen schneller, wenn ich meine Stadt in einem anderem Blog so gelobt sehe.
    Liebe Grüße

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    Replies
    1. Wir waren eine Woche in Budapest, deshalb konnten wir alles sehr gut erkunden. Liebe Grüße!

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    2. Ahh, so, ich dachte, nur 3 Tage...:-)

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  4. Shadow-watching is also something to do in Budapest, it seems!

    Cobbled Shadows

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  5. the only thing i would skip is the house of terror.. the rest i would really love to see. my first choice would be the zoo, 2nd the castle, it is so beautiful. you are right, in calling Paris the Budapest of the West..

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Sandra. So glad you enjoyed the article.

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  6. Thank you for taking us on a tour of Budapest. The photos are awesome.

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  7. All parts are just breath-taking. Love it all!

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  8. Wandering about at night, the parks, the castles, the museums, the water, the bridge...all of it. :)

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  9. your night scenes are always welcoming. :)

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  10. Thanks for the tour! I'd have to attend a concert by the Budapest Festival Orchestra--one of the finest orchestras in the world! Love all of your shots!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Bill. I think that you, as a radio host, would thoroughly enjoy it.

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  11. Terrific post and photos as always, Mersad! Such a beautiful city and so much fascinating history! Thank you as always for sharing your world with us!! Have a great new week!!

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  12. The river front is so very beautiful. I would be drawn to there for sure!

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    Replies
    1. I was charmed by it as well. I guess that's why it popped in my mind at first when I was making the list.

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  13. Stunning architecture.Thanks for sharing these images,as this is a place I will likely never get to visit in person.

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  14. Visiting the castle would be top on my list.

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  15. You did so many more things in Budapest than I did, but I was only there for two days. I think I can check off about half of the places on your list.

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  16. Nice variety of pictures from Budapest, looks like there is much to see and do there!

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  17. Mersad, you should be working for the Budapest Tourist Bureau with your wonderful photos and descriptions. Now I want to travel there myself to see these impressive sights. Your models, Selma and your sister, add to charm of your pictures.

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  18. This is a wonderful place. You have made a magnificent job of it.
    When are you going again?

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  19. I've been in 45 countries but I've not made it to your lovely country. At 70, I've been spending 15 months of the past three years in India, with one more trip there planned. I would so love to see Budapest but I think it's not in the cards for me, not in this lifetime, anyway. So glad to experience it through your beautiful photography.

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  20. Pisao sam na svom blogu detaljno o tome šta vidjeti u Budimpešti, ali ovdje je na jednostavan i slikovit način sažeto skoro sve što se treba vidjeti. Ima tu naravno još dosta toga što ovaj grad nudi, a ovoj listi bih neizostavno dodao Margaret's Island.

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  21. Wow1 Very beautiful. All of your photos are perfect. Danube front,old castle ,bridge and women,All of them are very cool. Thanks for sharing.

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  22. I have heard that it is a beautiful city and your photographs really bring it to life. If I was actually there I don't think I could face the House of Terror.

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  23. This is on my bucket list of places to see, for sure!!

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  24. Du zeigst wieder einmal tolle Eindrücke der Stadt! Großartige Fotos! Da muss ich auch unbedingt mal hin! Steht ohnehin schon lange auf der "Liste"!

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  25. What a gloriously beautiful city! The Blue Danube is certainly blue! :) I see what appears to be a suspension bridge, too. Here in Cincinnati we have the John D. Roebling Bridge, the prototype for the Brooklyn Bridge. The bridge in your image has the same style and wonder if it is from the same time period.

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  26. Mersad, your photographs have brought back so many wonderful memories of my time spent in Budapest. It is a truly magnificent city and you have captured it beautifully....

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  27. I would love to visit Budapest one day, Mersad! I am pinning your tips to Pinterest so I will be able to fin it when I visit.

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    1. Thanks Pat. You will also be able to find this on my blog any time under:
      Travels > Hungary.

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  28. Such a beautiful city. Thank you for sharing.

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  29. What a fabulous place -- definitely on the travel bucket list.
    :-)
    Traci

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  30. Hello Mersad. Thanks for the visit and commenting. I am particularly drawn to Budapest ,so your extremely artistic photo essay is so attractive to me personally. I think the night photos are my favorites. The tourism industry there should hire you based on these wonderful images!

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  32. Mersad, your photographs have brought back so many wonderful memories of my time spent in Budapest. It is a truly magnificent city and you have captured it beautifully.... Security Guards

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