After three days in Krakow, I flew to Budapest on a Wednesday landing at 1pm. I departed early Saturday morning. I was nursing a cold I had picked up in Poland, so my energy level wasn’t quite what it normally is. Still, I was able to see and do many of the things I had originally planned.
HOTEL Casati Adults Only near the Opera House. The location was fantastic, the staff were helpful, and breakfast was wonderful. I had a lovely room facing the courtyard. However, there is a large construction project literally next door. While it was pretty quiet at night, the construction noise started around 8:30am and continued until about 4pm. So, if you’re planning to rest at the hotel during the day, this may not be the best option.
WHAT I VISITED: I loved Budapest but wasn’t able to fully explore it as I had intended because I was tired and dealing with this cold and cough. I enjoy photographing architectural details, so I was in photography heaven in Budapest. Every building, every corner, the yellow trams… what a stunning city! Here are some of the places I visited:
- St. Stephen’s Basilica: Wow! What a beautiful church. I paid for the full package and visited both the main hall and the tower. It was 95F that day, so I spent a good amount of time inside the main church, admiring all the details and listening to the live organist and cantor.
- Parliament Building: I didn’t have tickets for a tour, but I walked around for a while, admiring its grandeur from up close.
- Shoes on the Danube: I walked to the memorial site and was struck by sadness thinking about the individuals of all ages who were forced to remove their shoes.
- Chain Bridge & Liberty Bridge: I enjoyed walking across both bridges. They are so beautiful in their own ways. But I was appalled by people ignoring the signs and climbing onto the rails for pictures.
- Market Hall: I spent a rainy morning inside, browsing the booths. There were so many different options and prices, from fresh fruits and vegetables to pastries and all kinds of condiments. There were also plenty of interesting souvenirs to bring home.
- Opera House: I just walked inside the main lobby area, which is free to visit, and got a little taste of the beauty of the place.
- Fisherman’s Bastion: This was “influencer Disneyland.” The place is stunning, but it was overtaken by Instagrammers looking for the perfect shot and acting as if they owned the place. I found a little quiet corner and watched the sunset while the Parliament building lit up.
- Matthias Church: Unfortunately, my stamina was low that day, so I just walked around briefly.
- Pharmacy: After realizing I had forgotten some medicine back home, I paid a visit to the local pharmacy and got some cough suppressant medicine and nasal spray.
- Budapest Wine Festival at Buda Castle (details below).