Budapest, Hungary
- May 11
- 3 min read
I arrived in Budapest in the middle of the night via train and outside of the first fifteen minutes, I was surprised the entire time. Now in defense, getting anywhere at night is often a bad idea but it just kept getting better and better. I took an Uber to my hotel and while in the back I could not believe I had not visited this gem before.
I stayed at the Four Seasons Gresham Palace. The hotel is centrally located and was on my list for quite some time. The building was immaculate. Tall doors, lenghthy hallways and opulence you had not seen in ages. This building had to be one of the crwon jewels of the Hungarian Austrian Empire. A great three course dinner was all I needed to retreat to bed.
The next day, I hustled to St. Stephen's Basillica to meet my walking tour. We walked around the city, taking in the history and sights of the town. She carefully explained what each statue was and what it meant to the local people. The buildings in Budapest are by far the most impressive i've seen in a while and it was only getting started. We took the tram to the Danube and switched to the bus to head to the Pest side of the city. There we got to see the changing of the guards at the Royal Palace as well as explore many buildings in the Old City. When in the old city, a bite at Ruszwurm is needed for the true local experience but be ready to wait. This is by far the best pastry shop in the city.
The next day i did something I don't normally do, I went shopping while on vacation. This particular street had all the high end shops and I snagged an item off my wishlist for 30 percent less than I would have paid in the states. I then had lunch at the W Hotel. I return to the hotel to drop off the bags and then walk the Danube. The task for the night was take the Ludwig boat up and down the Danumbe for a tour. The city is a spectacle at night with all the lights and is best seen from the water. Dinner tonight was at Elso Pesti.
The next day I finally saw the tragedy known as the Shoes on the Danube Bank. I walked around the city visiting the places I saw on the walking tour some days before and spending time visiting each monument on my timeline.
For the final day, I spent it in the hotel. Buffet breakfast, amazing lunch and an incredible dinner. In between I would go up to the spa and pool and enjoy a hot tub without the outside temperatures and then in the afternoon visit the Christmas market in front of the St.Stephen's church.
Budapest really knocked me off my feet and I can't wait to return. The city looks like a vibe in the summer time and the outdoor seating for most places will be open. It also gives me a chance to visit the many thermal pools of the city.
Editors Note: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any parties mentioned. None of the entities mentioned has reviewed, approved or endorsed the content listed in this post.
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