Budapest, At Daylight

Every tourist in Budapest has to do at least three things: to have breakfast in a café the with luxurious interior, to see The Parliament and to visit some Mineral Bath.

So, lets start in the proposed order.

For the breakfast I have stayed in the café right opposite the Opera House. Big mirrors, old furniture, high ceiling and glass chandeliers - all this make a grand atmosphere from the past.

Now I am full, in good mood and ready to start observing the city.

My next stop is near The Parliament, located on the Pest side of the city.

The Hungarian Parliament Building in Budapest was built in Neo-Gothic style and completed in 1904. Its symmetrical facade, soaring spires and central dome make it one of Europe’s most recognizable legislative buildings. Yesterday I saw it illuminated at night, from another bank. Both looks are very impressive.

Now I am on the way to another landmark, the Rudas Bath, located on the Buda side of Budapest, near the Elisabeth Bridge.

The Rudas Bath is one of Budapest’s most iconic Turkish baths, originally built during the Ottoman occupation in the 16th century. Its centerpiece is the traditional octagonal pool set beneath a large dome punctured with star-shaped multicolored skylights that cast atmospheric light onto the water.

The bath combines authentic Turkish architectural elements, thick stone walls, arches and dimly lit chambers, with modern wellness facilities such as saunas, steam rooms and therapeutic pools.

The Rudas is also known for its rooftop thermal pool, which offers panoramic views of the Danube and the city. I have tried it as well. To my taste, nothing special.

I have spent four hours in the bath. And honestly, it was more than enough. Still, the whole day ticket cost me around 37 euros. One piece of advice for visitors of this place - take a towel with you (and maybe the slippers). Otherwise, you would need to buy a towel there for 17 euro.

And now I am coming back to the city centre through the bridge, taking some amusing pictures on the way.

How could I forget about the fourth important thing while staying in Budapest. Of course, it is about trying Langos!

Langos is a Hungarian deep-fried flatbread, crispy outside, soft inside, usually topped with garlic, sour cream and cheese. It is made from a simple yeast dough, very similar to basic white bread dough, but a bit wetter and softer and fluffy. I have added extra toppings, which were beacon and onion.

It was quite a generous piece of food, and honestly that was enough for the entire dinner. To burn some calories I went for walking around the night Budapest.

Indeed, it was a very interesting and diverse trip to Budapest. My conclusion is that I should come back. And next time I would like to check some ruin bar, which I have not visited during this visit. A ruin bar (romkocsma in Hungarian) is a uniquely Budapest-style pub built inside some abandoned, run-down building, often old apartment blocks or factories. People say, it is completely exceptional and uncommon experience. So, next time!

Budapest, At Night

Budapest became one city in 1873 when Buda, Pest and Obuda joined together on the banks of the Danube river. These days it is famous for its numerous natural hot springs, which is why people call it the "City of Spas". The city also mixes old castles, colorful Art Nouveau houses and many other grand buildings, giving the city a unique and memorable look. All of this I want to see with my own eyes.

Early in the morning I had to catch the train, which delivered me to Budapest only in 7 hours.

Budapest Nyugati is one of the three main train stations in Budapest and one of the most beautiful. It was designed in the late 1800s by the Eiffel Company - the same firm behind the Eiffel Tower - so the building has a striking iron-and-glass facade. Nyugati is a major hub for domestic and international trains, and it is also right next to a busy shopping area and the WestEnd City Center mall.

My apartment is located just in 7 minutes of walking from the Nyugati station. Very convenient!

Unfortunately, after such a long trip and early waking up I felt dramatically tired, so I decided to have a power nap, and only after that to get out to observe the surroundings.

At first glance the night city looked majestic, but a bit scary. Still, my first destination point is the restaurant, which I found in the recommendations from my host. 

Goulash, some Hungarian specialties, one glass of wine and water. All in all I paid around 35 euro. To my surprise, the tips were automatically added. But the service was very friendly and I loved the vibe of the place. 

The weather is a bit warmer than in Prague. So, it was comfortable to walk along the night streets.

First landmark, which I wanted to see, was the famous Chain Bridge. I do not know why, but the pictures with this bridge always came to my mind when I was imagining Budapest.

In fact, The Chain Bridge was the first permanent bridge connecting Buda and Pest, opened in 1849. Its massive iron chains were considered an engineering marvel at the time, and the bridge was designed by the Scottish engineer William Tierney Clark. At night, the bridge is beautifully illuminated, and its stone lions at each end have become iconic guardians of the city.

Moreover, there is a nice view on the building of Parliament from the bridge.

Now I am on the other river bank. And I decided to continue my walking to another significant spot. It is the Castle Hill, where located the Buda Castle, which was once the residence of Hungarian kings.

The castle sits roughly 70–80 metres above the river level. And across the water, you would see the Hungarian Parliament Building, which dominates the skyline with its ornate neo-Gothic design.

It was quite a long night strolling, but it was absolutely worth seeing Budapest at night, when all landmarks were magically illuminated and the city was feeling calm and easy to explore. The riverfront, bridges and squares look especially clear and impressive under the lights!

But tomorrow I want to see the city at daylight and maybe I will visit some spa places as well.