Budapest…a city steeped in history, beauty, and culture divided by a chain bridge that you’ll be sure to cross a time or two, and capture in photos. The city is divided by the Danube river, a clear boundary between the once separate cities of Buda and Pest. The Buda side is full of hills and ancient history offering dynamic views. Just a short walk over the bridge to the Pest side, you’ll find amazing historic landmarks like the Hungarian parliament, along with a variety of modern restaurants, hotels, and entertainment. I won’t share details of every single landmark because there are just too many to count. If you’re traveling to Budapest, be sure to take some type of tour so that you can fit in as much of this city’s beautiful history as possible.
Gellert Hill
High above the bustling streets of Budapest, the best views of the city can be seen from this iconic landmark. We rode the Hop Off Hop On tour bus up, and there was a short uphill walk to get to the main summit. Be sure to take in all the gorgeous views on the way up. They are plenty of places to stop and admire. My husband got a pretty good workout pushing the double stroller up with all 3 girls inside. We were both relieved to see a snack cart with cold beverages and snacks at the top.
The statues on the hill are massive, and girls enjoyed posing with them for our mini photo shoot. I was in awe of the incredible views from every direction. Each time I thought I had captured the best shot, we wandered to another area that was even more breath taking.
Don’t forget your selfie stick or collapsible tripod. You will get some of your best photos here and you want them to look amazing!
Holy Trinity Column
Right in the middle of Castle Hill stands the famous Holy Trinity. It was built to celebrate the end of the plague in hopes that it would protect them from any future outbreaks. Be sure to make a circle around the entire structure to take in every angle and capture some great photos of the saints and angels.
Danube River
My absolute favorite part of the Danube was the bridge after dark, hands down. The massive structure with huge lions flanking both ends of the bridge was magical once all the lights twinkled across the river. The views from the bridge are incredible both day and night. Be sure to take photos in daylight and evening.
The Parliament House has been deemed the architectural jewel of Budapest with 691 rooms and staircases stretching over twelve miles. I enjoyed photographing this building from Fisherman’s Bastion and the Danube River.
Budapest Street Food
After a long day of touring, we came across a really cool outdoor market full of street food vendors serving up everything from traditional Hungarian cuisine to gourmet desserts! We sampled food from three different places as we chatted with a couple from Germany that we shared a table with.
We really enjoyed the live music on a nearby stage as we devoured our food. The entire scene was enough to excite the senses. The cooks working the grills, the delicious smells, and electric energy was like watching an orchestrated show.
Do yourself a favor and find a street food market at least one of the days you’re there. Your tummy will thank you!
New York Café.
We happened to be celebrating my birthday while in Budapest, so the one place I really wanted to go was New York Café. I’m a sucker for fancy chandeliers, live classical music and intricate ceilings, so this place was right up my alley!
We went on a Sunday morning around brunch, so there was a bit of line but we didn’t have to wait long since I had made a reservation earlier in the week. Word of advice: if you plan to go and be seated, book through their site and be sure to have your reservation confirmation on your phone as proof.
I was a little concerned about how the kids would fit into such a fancy setting, but our table was in the perfect spot, and they rather enjoyed the french fries we ordered for them!
I hadn’t planned to order food there as I was only interested in the cappuccino and dessert plate, but my husband opted for a burger and it was really good!
The reviews seemed to turn some people off with the comments about food being overpriced for the taste and the waiters not being very friendly, but our experience was the complete opposite. I’m so glad we made the reservation and kicked off my birthday at this beautiful café!
Fisherman’s Bastion
This mock bastion was built in the 19th century for Hungarian millennium celebrations. Today it serves as a great source of historic beauty and amazing views for tourists. There are several places within the Bastion that make for great photos, but what stole the show for me was Matthias Church. The neo-gothic and neo-romanesque design was such a gorgeous sight. My favorite detail was the gleaming intricate tiles that made up of the rooftop of the church.
Heroes’ Square
I really wasn’t all that interested in checking out this monument, but I’m so glad my husband was. The sheer size of the statues is overwhelming. We enjoyed walking around looking at each one admiring all the detail that had gone into them. Statues of kings and other historical figures line the top of the colonnades, but the Millennium Monument in the center takes the cake. You’ll find archangel, Gabriel front and center holding the holy crown and double cross of Christianity. The seven chieftains who led the Magyars to Hungary are on the stand right below Gabriel.
Just a short walk up the street from the square was a beautiful park with tons of people sunbathing or taking paddle boat rides along the river. It was literally a picture-perfect way to spend an afternoon. We walked past on our way to tour the castle grounds.
If you have time to spare, pack a light blanket and a few snacks to lounge in the luxurious city park so you won’t end up like us, wishing you had. Maci begged us to lie out on the grass, but thankfully she ended up being okay with having a snack on the castle steps.
Vajdahunyad Castle
Nestled within the walls of ancient architecture are some magnificent views. There were beautiful tulips surrounding a statue, a church chapel steeped in history, a castle with several tour options, and immaculate grounds to hang out and enjoy.
We took time checking out each of the features here before grabbing flatbread pizza from a snack cart just outside the castle. We sat on the castle steps and shared our snack before heading back to catch our bus back to the city center.
Everywhere you turn in Budapest is another beautiful historic sight to behold. This is undoubtedly how it stole my heart and earned a place in my top 5 destinations.
My most valuable takeaways from Budapest are that comfy walking shoes are more important than vanity, and allow yourself plenty of time to explore the many landmarks, eateries, and events that this amazing city has to offer!
Wow! Budapest looks so beautiful. What a perfect way to spend your birthday!