We decided to mark our 6th wedding anniversary in the lovely Budapest. We chose this destination because we knew in advance that this would be a ‘mini vacation’ (since our son remained in Latvia this time + with ongoing apartment furnishing expenses, we aimed for a budget-friendly trip. By the way, you can follow our renovation adventures under #liepiņuremonts).
We aimed for a destination neither of us had explored before — a country where the cost of living isn’t too high and where a short stay would suffice to take in the sights. While I usually prefer nature retreats that warrant a longer stay, our urban choice meant we spent a total of 4 days here, and it seems that we managed to see the main key attractions on our list! Overall, we really liked it here.
The first location we visited was the Parliament building in Budapest. Initially, we admired it up close, but the following day, we also looked at it from across the Danube River, which offers a full-fledged, majestic view of this building. We can also recommend taking a boat trip along this river in the evening and enjoying the city and this beautiful structure from the river as well.
Fisherman's Bastion — this beautiful place once served as a lookout tower for soldiers, enabling them to spot potential dangers from afar. Its name originated because it stood above a fishing village, where fishermen sold their catch right in the square near Matthias Church, which is next to the beautiful towers. I'd suggest visiting this location early in the morning or in the evening to avoid the tourist crowds.
New York Café Budapest — often hailed as the most beautiful café in the world. I don't know if I would say that it's the most beautiful, but it's undoubtedly the most luxurious one I've ever experienced! The prices here are equally 'beautiful,' to put it mildly!
Therefore, we opted for a modest selection — coffee, sweets, and pancakes. It was tasty, but not enough to keep me coming back for the food. The emphasis is definitely not on the food, but on the luxurious space. We didn't make a reservation in advance, and we were actually very lucky to have free seats available.
Trip with tram nr. 2 — here's a local insider tip — instead of taking the tour bus, hop on the second tram and enjoy the ride through the city. You'll traverse a lengthy stretch along the same route as the special tourist bus.
Ervin Szabo Library — such an interesting experience! I felt almost like I was visiting a museum while witnessing students quietly studying in such splendid rooms. Although the building is sizable, all the beauty lies on one floor (4th floor), with an entrance fee of 5 euros. If I were a local student, I would definitely visit this place quite often.
Vajdahunyad Castle — his castle is surrounded by a beautiful park area with a charming church nestled within its grounds. While there's currently a museum inside the palace itself, we found ourselves more drawn to exploring the palace garden, which was a beautiful and meticulously maintained place for walking. This place is located close to 'Szecheyni Spa', one of Budapest's most popular public spa areas.
The 'land of spa' or the 'spa capital of the world' is what this city is called, because Budapest is really rich in hot water springs, which are located right under the capital. There are several impressive spas in the city, and here are a couple of them that I recommend you consider visiting:
- Gellert Spa — one of the most luxurious and popular spa destinations in Budapest, recognizable by its expansive pool area surrounded by elegant colonnades.
- Szechenyi Spa — among the largest spa complexes in Europe, renowned for its warm outdoor pools which are particularly inviting during the winter months, as the water temperature is 37 degrees Celsius.
- Rudas Baths — popular for its Turkish pools, this spa is especially favoured by those seeking a romantic evening on the rooftop spa with a view of the illuminated city.
And although we didn't try any of these, they would still, in that order, have been my alternatives if we hadn't gone on our own quiet spa time!
— @mysteryhotelbudapest spa area. Why didn't we choose the public and bustling spas in the renowned spa land? We travelled to Budapest with our little
Romija, who was only 5 months old at the time. Although we hadn't even planned to let her swim anywhere, we didn't fancy navigating through the crowds and noise during what we intended to be our moment of rest! As parents, we haven't slept much in the last few months, and we both still have a lot of work to do. We realized that what we truly craved was to escape the noise and simply relax. Then I found this spa. We decided to visit at a time when most people typically opt to explore the city, and we were the only ones there! The spa was incredibly beautiful, quiet, and clean. We were able to put our little Romija down to sleep next to us and enjoy some uninterrupted time together. I even indulged in a massage and truly felt myself "disconnecting" from the whole run. If we were traveling without Romija, we'd probably have tried the more popular public spas. But this time it was exactly what we needed!
Let's talk about cafes, breakfast places, and small 'mocktail pitstops' because there truly is an abundance of them here. Let's start with lunch and dinner spots:
— @mazeltovbudapest — delicious Israeli cuisine in an extremely beautiful and spacious setting, with the option to also dine on an outdoor patio.
— @leorooftopbudapest a rooftop restaurant overlooking the parliament building. This was also a great spot, boasting a completely different atmosphere. While the portions weren't overly large, the side dishes came in generous sizes! Nevertheless, it was delicious and truly beautiful.
— @twentysixbudapest this was the only place I specifically chose to visit based on its positive reviews and stunning aesthetic. We ultimately decided not to dine there as we found a slightly more authentic, less touristy spot nearby with a wider range of food options. Still, I couldn't resist taking a look inside.
— @dobrumba we ended the evening here, where the food was served in a very interesting way, arriving in pots with big lids reminiscent of scenes from movies. We also indulged in some snacks and sweets, all of which tasted fantastic.
Let's continue with breakfast:
— @blueberrybrunch we went here for breakfast on the first day! It was conveniently close to our accommodation, and the food was absolutely delicious.
— @honeybudapest we ate here the next day. This time, I chose the sweet breakfast, and it was delightful. The prices are similar to everywhere else, but I would definitely recommend it.
— @cookiebeacon this place was absolutely brilliant! If I had the chance to visit again, I would definitely return here! Both the food and the coffee were the best we had throughout our trip! I opted for a waffle with avocado, bacon, and cheese, and I paid the same as everywhere else. I wholeheartedly recommend it!
Small pit stops:
— @parisipassage — we stopped here to take a breather. Each of us indulged in our own 'mocktails' — a very fancy, beautiful place. The cocktails are delicious, and the ambiance truly transported us to Paris. While it was a bit pricey, if you're just stopping in for a coffee or a cocktail, you get to enjoy the beautiful place.
— @newyork_cafe_budapest — this is the site I mentioned earlier. Extremely expensive, extremely beautiful! I see it more as a unique 'dear diary' moment where you can savor your latte in style.
Overall, that wraps up our beautiful wedding anniversary trip.
We wholeheartedly recommend enjoying the charm of Budapest, and we look forward to seeing you on our next trips!