48 hours in Budapest – Weekend Edition
Budapest In Less Than 48 Words
Budapest has often been called as the “Paris of Eastern Europe”—a praise well-deserved for its scenic nature and colorful culture. Over the years, though, it has slowly taken the role of being the “party town of Central Europe” with its cosmopolitan attitude.
A view of the Royal Palace's romantic lights at night. (Photo by Markiza)
First 24 Hours
Your introduction to Budapest comes in the form of the Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (www.bud.hu), the city’s primary hub for international arrivals. It is located some 16 kilometers southeast of the city center. However, its terminals do not have a direct train or bus link to the city. Take a shared shuttle bus direct to the city hotels which will set you back €20, or hire a private taxi for roughly the same amount. A cheaper way for those on a strict budget is to take a short walk to the Kobanya-Kispest metro station.
Budapest was formed from the merger of two cities located by the opposite banks of the Danube River. On the west is Buda – hilly and ancient, while on the east is Pest – flat and commercial. You can learn more about the city by heading to its main tourist office (Liszt Ferenc ter 9-11; www.hungarytourism.hu), which is open between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. during weekdays, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
HOTEL PALAZZO ZICHY: Check in and get your bearings
The modern and spacious facilities found in Hotel Palazzo Zichy's Junior Suite. (Photo from Google images)
Once in the heart of the city, you can rest your tired mind and body at Budapest’s excellent hotel and accommodations. One of the best in the city is the Hotel Palazzo Zichy (Lorinc pap ter 2; +36 1 235 4000; www.hotel-palazzo-zichy.hu), which lives up to its reputation: modern and clean facilities, and an easily accessible location. If you’ve got the money to burn, pamper yourself at the Corinthia Hotel (Erzsebet krt 43 – 49; +36 1 479 4000; www.corinthia.com), with its spectacular amenities and attentive staff promising you a grand and luxurious stay. A worthy alternative is the InterContinental (Apaczai Csere Janos utca 12-14; +36-1-3276333; www.ichotelsgroup.com/intercontinental/en/gb/locations/budapest), whose rooms offer fantastic city views of the city.
VAROSLIGET: Let’s take a hike
Start your 48 hour visit to Budapest with a bang – go hiking at the Városliget Park (Northern end of Andrássy Út, adjacent to Heroes’ Square). You can reach it by riding a train on the Metro 1 orange line up to the Hösök tere station. It has a large collection of sights and attractions inside its premises, which will take up most of the day to explore.
The first attraction you will see is the Heroes’ Square at the end of the Andrassy Avenue, which serves as the entrance to the park. It is one of the city’s major landmarks, and is dedicated to the outstanding leaders of Hungarian history. You will also see seven statues of the leaders of the seven tribes that had founded Hungary back in the 9th century. The monument is flanked by the Museum of Fine Arts and the Palace of Art (Dozsa Gyorgy ut 41 Hosok tere), where you can take a gander at some of the country’s art masterpieces.
The Museum of Fine Arts' exterior, home to the best of artworks from around the world. (Photo by skrivanet)
After taking in the sights, you can continue on your hike to the main body of the park itself, a 302-acre area filled with trees, gardens, and interesting attractions. Relax and go for a picnic by the grass, or ski at the world’s largest artificial ice surface located near the middle of the park. A little way down, you will see the impressive Vajdahunyad Castle, whose design was patterned after the famous castle of the Dracula at Transylvania, Romania. Inside is an agricultural museum you can explore.
The park also contains the Széchenyi Medicinal Bath, one of the largest in Europe. The building is an attraction by its architecture alone, but to fully appreciate the site, you will have to take a bath at its thermal springs. The hike isn’t done yet, though. Head next to the Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden, the oldest zoo park in the country. It is a nature reserve where you can see and interact with around 733 animal species. You can even see a few Art Nouveau buildings inside.
GUNDEL: End your hike with a bite to eat
Conclude your exploration of the Városliget Park by recharging at Budapest’s top-class restaurants. One of the best is located right inside the park – Gundel (Állatkerti út 2; (361) 468-40-40 www.gundel.hu). First opened in 1910, it is one of the most popular eating venues in the city. It has an excellent and diverse menu, but its signature dish is the Gundel palacsinta, a unique crepe delicacy filled with raisins, walnuts, rum, and lemon zest, which is then served drizzled with chocolate sauce.
The Vajdahunyad Castle, one of the picturesque, historical sites located around Városliget Park. (Photo by Kieran Lynam)
Outside the park are a number of good restaurants you can choose from. Try the Klassz (Andrassy ut. 41; www.klassz.eu), which offers a fantastic Hungarian wine selection and delicious menu choices at reasonable prices. A taste of Italy in Budapest can be experienced at Ristorante Krizia (Mozsar utca 12; +36 1 3318711; www.ristorantekrizia.hu) and Fausto’s (Szekely Mihaly utca 2; +36 1 877-6210). A fitting alternative is the Café Kor (Sas utca 17, St. Stephen’s Basilica; www.cafekor.com), offering a unique and extremely tasty experience of Hungarian-Irish dishes.
SPINOZA: Drink the night away
Cap your first day in Budapest by going to its vibrant bars and clubs. One of the most popular is Spinoza (Dob utca 15; +3614137488), which offers a stable of excellent local wines in a 1920s setting. You can also head to the Club Inside (Jókai tér 5; +36 (1) 210 4872; www.clubinside.hu), an Old West-themed bar with an extensive cocktail menu of 50 kinds of whiskies. An alternative is the Barokko Club & Lounge (Liszt Ferenc tér 5; +36 1 322 0700; www.barokko.hu), which features three levels of restaurants, bars, and lounges, featuring music from internationally-renowned DJs. Dance the night away at the Alcatraz Club (Nyár utca 1; + 36 1 478 6010; www.alcatraz.hu), with its diverse playlist and live band performances.
Next 24 Hours
The second day can be treated as a chance to explore Budapest’s other attractions. A truly macabre experience is offered by the so-called “House of Terror” (Andrássy út 60). It is a museum dedicated to the crimes perpetrated by the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and Fascist Hungary. Inside, you can see various exhibits culled from the country’s relations to the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. The structure itself is a memorial to all the victims of these regimes, as well as those who had been tortured and killed inside the very building.
ST. STEPHEN’S BASILICA: See the city from up high
You can also visit the St. Stephen’s Basilica in Pest, one of the tallest buildings in the city at a height of 310 feet. You can admire its neo-Classical style façade, and see the mummified right fist of Stephen (first king of Hungary) at its reliquary. Climbing up to its dome by taking a lift or braving 364 steps of stairs will reveal a stunning 360-degree view of the cityscape.
MARGARET ISLAND: Explore an island of history
The Fisherman's Bastion or Halászbástya, located on Budapest's Castle Hill. (Photo by mararie)
Margaret Island is one of the most popular tourist hubs in the city. It lies in the middle of the Danube River, and is made up of landscaped parks, historical sites, and is a veritable recreational area. You can reach it by crossing the Margaret Bridge from the south, or the Árpád Bridge from the north.
One of the island’s most recognizable landmarks is the Centennial Memorial of 1973, built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Budapest’s reunification. After snapping a few photos, proceed to its Japanese Garden, where you can find some fish from its pond. See exotic waterfowl in its small zoo, and then visit the island’s UNESCO-protected sites: the Music Fountain and the Water Tower. You can also play sports at its facilities, such as the Palatinus water park, Alfréd Hajós sports pool, an athletics center, and a tennis stadium.
BUDA CASTLE: Have a UNESCO World Heritage Site experience
You can continue your tour of the city by visiting the Buda Castle, located on the southern tip of Castle Hill (Szent Gyorgy Ter). Built in 1265, it was the seat of power for the ancient Hungarian kings, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inside, you can find a lavishly-decorated interior, with ballrooms, chapels, and crypts. You will also see an array of works of art, such as the Matthias Fountain, Horse Wrangler, Turulbird, and the Monument of Prince Eugene of Savoy. In the castle’s southern wing, you can enter the Budapest History Museum (Szt. György tér 2; www.btm.hu; +36-1 487-8800) a four-floor structure displaying artifacts from the city’s early history to the end of the Communist era.
THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE: Jewish remembrance
A solemn way to conclude the day is to visit the Great Synagogue (Dohany u. 2-8 Budapest VII). It is the largest of its kind in Eurasia, and is a center for Neolog Judaism. Its Moorish-revival style of architecture, and you’ll likely want to snap a few photos of this impressive structure. It is a particularly moving location, as it is found by the borders of the Budapest Ghetto, where Hungarian Jews were killed by the Nazis.
Budapest's Great Synagogue beaming light come nightfall. (Photo by Omar A.)
Beside the synagogue, you will see the Jewish Museum, which contains religious relics of the Jewish Burial Society and Shabbat, as well as a Holocaust room. You will also see the Heroes’ Temple, a memorial to the Hungarian Jews who lost their lives in World War I. Don’t forget to pay your respects at the Raoul Wallenberg Holocaust Memorial Park (Dohány utca 2-8; 36-1 342-8949), a tribute to the more than 400,000 Hungarian Jews exterminated by the Nazis. The memorial resembles a weeping willow, with the names of the victims inscribed on its drooping leaves.
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I visited Budapest last year and I had a very nice time there. I would suggest everybody to go to Budapest. We visited the most of the above mentioned sights, the city is very beautiful. We stayed at the famous Danubius Hotel Gellert. The Hotel was great, the staff was friendly and helpful. We had dinner also at the above mentioned Gundel Restaurant, it was fine.