new beginnings; budapest

‘a shabby yet chic wonderland with a sense of international identity’

budapest

budapest, hungary: my first destination as a solo traveller. the start of a new chapter and the beginning of, well, a new version of life. the capital of hungary is definitely a place that will forever remain close to my heart. however, please don’t see those facts as biased whilst you read this very conclusive passage detailing why you should absolutely check out budapest!

situated in central europe, budapest has become increasingly popular for tourists. a shabby chic wonderland with a sense of international identity; the diverse and forward thinking hub of hungary. a city full of contrasting architecture, history in abundance, tranquil thermal baths and a diverse nightlife that’s unrivalled in eastern europe. this city has something for anyone and everyone.

divided by the river danube, budapest is split into two main parts. the west side belonging to buda and the east side belonging to pest. the differentiating regions provide a healthy advertisement of the cities assorted appearance whilst showcasing the cities eclectic nature well.

buda

the buda side is home to the fishermans bastion, budapest castle and the citadella. the region of budapest dressed in elegant architecture, holding a calming royal ambience and providing breathtaking views of the city. it’s refinement being a large nod to it’s renowned title as the ancient capital of hungary.

pest

in contrast there is the edgy, rugged and bustling pest side. riddled with narrow streets, graffiti and brutalist/gothic architecture. quarters to incredible food, ruin bars and where everything goes down after the sightseeing and serenity had in the buda region. this larger side of budapest is home to the hungarian parliament building, st stephens basilica, the széchenyi thermal bath and many parks (szabadság tér being my favourite).

the budapest experience

a city that has so much to endure, enjoy and revel in:

bask in the beauty and serenity of the buda side of the city as you wander across the stunning chain bridge. hike up or take the buda funicular up to the top and enjoy the beautiful views on offer from both the citadella and castle viewpoints. stroll around the castle area and enjoy hungary’s take on disneyland. a fantasy-like area resembling that of a fairytale story with its magically ornate appearance and majestic nature; a UNESCO world heritage extraordinaire.

ponder, reflect and reward yourself with a coffee from the panoramia cafe & bar as you begin to finish up your time on the west side of the city.

if views are what you’re really after, be sure to bop over to the cities citadella. a fortification located upon the top of gellért hill on the buda side. gaze upon the city from yet another viewpoint and enjoy some lunch on the vast green space.

once you’ve absorbed the picturesque views that buda has to offer, head back towards pest. opt to take the maragaret bridge back across (if you fancy an excursion) and grab a ‘bubi‘ bike to explore budapest’s margaret island: the tranquil getaway within the city, conveniently lodged between both regions.

aimlessly cycle around and get lost amongst the abundance of nature flourishing on this special part of the city. enjoy the flowers, parks, japanese garden, water fountains and summer entertainments available.

weave between pests gothic and brutalist architecture whilst you navigate the intricate maze-like streets of pest. admire this part of the cities decorated walls and it’s edgy atmosphere. on a gloomy day bare witness to the cities appealing gritty nature. during the summer days appreciate the cities vibrant yellow nature intensify. especially during the golden hour sun as its jagged rays gaze down upon the historic city walls.

wander by the parliament building and climb st marys basilica’s unique spiral staircase. enjoy the architecture of both and simultaneously tick off two of the cities hottest spots.

pick up a traditional lángos and indulge in a chimney cake at ‘KARAVAN‘, the cities street food court, before heading to ‘PONTOON‘. an outside bar overlooking the iconic chain bridge. chill here, catching a vibe to the live music, often jazz and wash down your lángos with a soproni beer.

as the evening approaches, it’s time to tour the ruin bars. the most quintessential being budapests ‘szimpla kert‘. an edgy, atmospheric bar that’s riddled with vintage charm and vibrant colours. once the night arrives, it’s time to get your best bathing suit as you head to budapests famous ‘SPARTY‘ at the széchenyi thermal baths. a late night spa party where you bathe, drink and party until the early hours; not to be missed!

points of interest

danube river (shoes on the danube bank memorial)
parliament building
basilica of st stephen
fishermans bastion (budapest castle)
budapest castle hill funicular
széchenyi chain bridge
szabadság tér (liberty square park)
citadel
budapest bath ‘SPARTY’
margaret island
szimpla kert ruin bar
‘KARAVAN’ street food
gozsdu udvar (markets & restaurants)
budapest eye

living and costs

when it comes to accommodation, budapest is well equipped for all travelling desires. home to a catalogue of party hostels, relaxed hostels and a plethora of airbnb’s; the city caters for a hectic budapest weekend, a itinerary filled city break or a relaxing get away.

from experience, the hive party hostel is £10-£25, wombats city hostel £11-£20 and vitae hostel £8-£20 for mixed dorms during peak summer periods (available on both hostelworld & booking.com). airbnbs vary but rest assured they’re both affordable and in fantastic locations dotted around the centre.

the currency is hungarian forint (roughly £1 to 400HUF). you can typically pick up a beer in one of budapests ruin bars for around 500HUF.

ending thoughts

yellow, lots of yellow. soft yellows and vintage oranges paired with warm brick to create that authentic budapest summer feel. two colours i’ll forever associate budapest with. metaphorically echoing its vitality and warm youthful spirit.

margaret island, another gem. here is where it became apparent the life i was living didn’t have have to be temporary. my travel companion at the time, turning to and guiding me through this freeing revelation. these joyous moments can be had despite societies oppression and formulated social constructs. this life, the nomad kind, can absolutely be a present continuous lifestyle and is totally in my control.

budapest, the city of adventure that will forever remind me of a youthful european love story. having my wallet stolen by a homeless man and experiencing my first bee sting whilst exiting a flixbus upon arrival to budapests népliget bus station; simply won’t unhinge that. the memories from each of my trips to budapest, curated with people there, are worth their weight in gold.

my first taste of that fellow traveller kindness, journeys with new friends and old, stolen wallets and paused moments reading on park benches. mesmerising sunsets, disgustingly good postcard views, wild bike rides, one hectic spa party. endless laughter and some english footballing success.

a city i started my wanderlust with in 2018 and have since returned to numerous times. a country i hope to uncover more of in the future.

budapest, i love you!