The Pearl of the Danube

The Pearl of the Danube Budapest is an enchanting city in Europe, with many green parks full of natural beauty, museums that inspire you and a vibrant nightlife. The city consists of two different areas, Buda and Obuda in the western part of the Danube, the site of the royal residence and Pesta in the eastern part. The Buda Fortress and the Danube shores were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987, and the beauty of these places is one of the reasons why Budapest is known as the Pearl of the Danube. After a while, both cities merged into one - called Budapest. Buda and Pest are connected by the magnificent bridge of Szechenyi, known as the "Chain Bridge." Crossing the bridge, where two gigantic lion statues watch over both ends of the bridge, to the plague district. The palace with neo-Gothic architecture on the east coast of Danube is the Parliament Building completed in 1904. It was built to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the founding of Hungary, along with St. Stephen's Cathedral, one of the largest in Budapest, bearing the name of the first king. In the night time it is necessary to cruise the Danube River on a boat, to see the amazing illuminated royal palace, parliament building and pearl necklace, which are breathtaking. The royal palace on the hills of Budapest, the symbol of Budapest, has been the residence of the Hungarian king since the 13th century and still boasts neo-Baroque majesty. Matthias Church, which features a mosaic roof, was built at the same time as the royal palace and is the place where the coronations of successive kings were held. It is an incredibly beautiful city, with thermal pools, incredible markets, with impressive architecture, with hills that offer you a complete and beautiful panorama of the entire settlement, with monuments, buildings and streets that seem to tell a story just by the way it looks, ancient Baroque quarters, the ancient fortifications of Buda, theaters and palaces that have been preserved in their bronze, green domes, the majestic parliament building, beautiful at any time of day or night. Budapest can be extremely affordable, according to your budget. Budapest is a budget traveler's dream, with affordable accommodation and plenty of free stuff to see. Budapest has everything you need: architecture, stunning outdoor space, good food, bars, laid-back town atmosphere, unique streets and what's best of all, is that prices are low! Save money by choosing to use public transport. Public transportation in Budapest is not expensive. On your visit to Budapest, you have to know, there is a special card available for 1 day, 2 days and 3-day card in Budapest, which allows you to travel free and visit free museums. With the same card, you can get discounts in shops, bathing houses, restaurants or bicycle rental offices. If you have a tight budget, you can save money by choosing to walk instead of using public transport. This way, you can explore walking the major attractions. A free walking tour is a great opportunity to get a local view of Budapest. Prices are cheaper than in other European cities, so 5-star hotels can also be cheaper. Accommodations There are many accommodations in Budapest, but if you have a budget, you can save money by going to the hostel. It is a great way to meet fellow travelers at a low cost. Pack as light as you can and carry all that you need on your back. You will find it so appealing to stay in a fancy resort or a high-end hotel, but you can save so much money by not doing so. There are rooms that can fit 3-8 people, depending on the hostel.A huge blessing with kitchenette accommodations is that you usually have your own kitchen so you donât have to eat out all the time. In super touristy places, that can be a huge weight off the budget. You can set a daily budget, this way it will let you know if you exceed the daily expenses. A lot of accommodation options become available for budget travelers at very affordable prices and finding the best budget accommodation is the key when you try to save money on your travels. The most important thing when choosing accommodation is the budget. We have carefully selected accommodation with high reviews, with good cost performance. Amber Gardenview Studios was built in 1890 and is a great location, with good value for your money. It is located in the center of Budapest, 400 m from the Great Market Hall and 350 m away from the bank of the River Danube. Each of 11 guestrooms or units is self-catering accommodation well-equipped, with kitchenware, where you can cook your favorite meal and healthier food, it comes with refrigerators, stovetops, microwaves and dishwashers. The accommodations also offer free WiFi, air conditioning and features flat-screen TV, linen and towels are provided. There are several restaurants, grocery stores, bars and cafes around the property. Amber Gardenview Studios also features a garden, laundry facilities and express check-out. Parking is available for a fee. Housekeeping is offered weekly and irons/ironing boards can be requested. It is surrounded by many old churches and several historical buildings. Hotel Charles, located in Budapest, just two kilometers away from the city center, offers spacious 32 square meters air-conditioned rooms, all equipped with a kitchenette. This 3-star hotel offers tasty and delicious dishes of Hungarian cuisine, a rich buffet breakfast from 7 am, at the excellent onsite restaurant Janos Restaurant. There are no breakfast and accommodation charges for children up to 8 years who occupy the same room as their parents. It also features a telephone, a safety deposit box and a large flat-screen TV. WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge. If you want the best price, then booking directly from their website and choose the package that suits you most: Deluxe Studios, or refurbished and cozy Standard Studios. Hotel Charles offers rooms with a terrace overlooking the terrace. The hotel has 70 studios, most double (with the possibility to add an extra bed or baby-bed), but there are triples as well. If you are a pet owner, pets are welcome, with a limit of 1 per room and there's a charge of EUR 15 per pet, per night. The hotel Charles is a budget hotel but its standards are much higher than many budget hotels. Vagabond Broadway Apartman Budapest places you in the heart of Budapest and is offering 40 nicely furnished rooms to stay in. The aparthotel features a flat-screen TV, a private bathroom with free toiletries, a hair dryer, bath or shower, they offer a kitchen in some of the units equipped with a dishwasher, an oven, a microwave and coffee machine. You can choose a cozy one room studio flat, or all the way to the spacious living room and two bedroom apartment with balcony, with bathroom, a living area and a basic kitchenette with a microwave, small hob and dishwasher. Each apartment also includes built-in air conditioning, a dining area, washing machine, private balcony, free internet access. Every apartment sizes, furnishings and standards can vary. You can accommodate in one of more than 100 apartments, a self-catering accommodation located near the center of Budapest, Maple Tree Budget Apartments, which offers a high standard of service and amenities to suit the individual needs of all travelers. All units at Maple Tree Budget Apartments feature a flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi in all rooms, 24-hour front desk, facilities for disabled guests, fully equipped kitchen and bathroom, modern furniture, washing machine, hair dryer, iron, vacuum cleaner, microwave, electric stove, toaster, kettle and tableware. Some units boast air conditioning at an extra cost. There is a garden with a playground and a roof top on the top of the building ,where you can enjoy the city view. You can choose between the types of apartment: fully equipped flats with 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms. The apartments are non-smoking! They are pet-friendly so dogs and cats are allowed to bring with you. The service comes with an extra fee. Agape Aparthotel central located in Budapest, is a self-catering accommodation. The hotel offers 40 accommodation units in total, all brand new, spacious, modern, stylish and cozy apartments. The Agape aparthotel is ideal for families, groups or those looking for longer stays with a low budget. All the units feature complimentary WLAN Internet access and every apartment has a well-equipped kitchen with fridge, microwave, coffee machine, cooker, kitchen utensils, crockery and cutlery. Rooms have a double bed, TV and some apartments also contain washing machines. There's a fee for air-conditioning. The bathroom has a bathtub, a hairdryer and towels. You can choose between studio, one and two-bedroom apartments, all with dining areas, living rooms, and full kitchens. The accommodation offers daily buffet breakfast. Make yourself at home in one of the 48 rooms, with balconies overlooking trees and a little garden. Rooms are equipped with air-conditioning, featuring kitchens with refrigerators and stovetops. You can choose fully furnished 2 bedrooms , a studio or 1 bedroom. The rooms feature free WIFI access, 55-cm flat-screen televisions, tea and coffee making equipment, and iron/ironing board as well as guest bathrooms. You can also enjoy a daily continental breakfast during your stay at their restaurant on site, from 6:30 AM to 10:00 AM and on weekends from 6:30 AM to 11:00 AM for a fee. Supermarkets Budapest has got all the big names such as the most popular in Hungary: Tesco, Aldi, Lidl and Spar but if you want to check out the "local" Tesco, CBA and Real are great grocery stores. Being on vacation with a budget, groceries are the most essential one. Cook your own meals much healthier to an effective cost, including groceries that offer better deals and high quality products. Most supermarkets in Hungary are open from 10 am to 6 pm from Monday-Friday, and from 10 am to 1 or 2 pm on Saturdays, and are closed on Sundays, except for large malls and popular tourist destinations. Shopping in Budapest, no matter if you prefer luxury or budget,you will find something for everyone. The Great Market Hall (Central Market Hall) in Budapest is a popular tourist attraction. It was built in 1897, and is the most beautiful, is the largest and oldest covered market in Budapest within walking distance of the river and the Liberty Bridge. It is a place where you can have a cup of coffee in the morning while looking at the historic buildings. Vibrant and alive, the Great market sells a wide variety of fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables, meat, cheese and spices, dairy products, salamis, pickles, fresh fish, Hungarian paprika, Tokaj wines, various souvenirs, bags, clothes, pans and pots, and even home style meals, or Hungarian snacks like Langos. Hint: Avoid going to the top floor. There are many shops selling products at high prices for tourists. Prima is one of the most popular supermarkets in Hungary and has many outlets across the town. Shopping is much more convenient with these outlets that are operating 24 hours for you to buy things that you need in the middle of night by walking to the nearest Prime Supermarket. Their prices are reasonable and you can absolutely find everything. The fruits and vegetables are so much fresher and quite cheaper. The supermarket stocks a wide range of high quality fresh foods, drinks and daily essentials. Prime Supermarket also sells quality organic products as well other organic groceries, halal foods and meats. You can choose any items that you want to purchase online before going down to the Prime Supermarket outlet to collect your stuff and it is absolutely free of charge, you will only be charged on the items you purchase, no additional charges will be imposed. CMAK orosz bolt is a Russian grocery store in Budapest, with prices, quality and a huge range of goods. The store also delivers to other delicatessens and restaurants and also sells products in Germany and Belgium. Cmak started as an online webshop, moving into the store a year later, in 2009. The shop is located in the nearby Orthodox Church of the Assumption and is visited by many Russian believers, who enjoy a tiny detour to the shop selling food from their homeland after the liturgy. You can select goods in the small shop such as: Russian cooked pasta specialties stuffed with meat, caviar, salamis and delicious-smelling smoked fish, canned vegetables, condensed milk, kvass- a fermented cereal drink, drinks from all member states of the former Soviet Union,sweets and many groceries. They offer home-delivery service as well! The first SPAR Supermarket opened in Hungary in 1992. Spar is another grocery chain that has branches all over Budapest. You can find good buffets in each SPAR and they offer a wide range of Hungarian cuisines and fast foods at a moderately reasonable price. Among the fresh goods offered, should be highlighted: fruit and vegetables, dairy products, bakery products, meat products, confectionery and cold kitchen products, etc. SPAR stores represent the high standard and excellent quality, but you should know the prices are slightly higher than other places. Real Elelmiszer Bolt has a large selection of goods: fresh meat, bakery and vegetable goods, fast and kind service, and home delivery! The product family available in the Real and Real Pont stores, marketed under the name Real, is Real's own brand, but at a significantly lower price. Real offers products of the same quality as the manufacturer's brands at significantly better prices. They are open from Monday till Friday from 6:00 AM-8:00 PM, Saturday 6:30 AM-2:00 PM and Sunday is closed. One of the smallest market halls of Budapest is Hunyadi Square Market with a radiant pleasant atmosphere and is listed as a national treasure. The hall was built in 1897, by the designer Czigler Gyozo. In 1988 the building burned down and by 1991 it was rebuilt. Here at the Hunyadi Square Market you will find out that the market consists of two parts: The farmer's market on the outside at Hunyadi Square and the regular market on the inside. The farmer's market on the outside has some great syrups, flowers, spreads, fruits, bacon, honey,sausage and vegetables. The Square market is open Monday 07:00-17:00 and from Tue â Sat:07.00â18.00 and Sunday is closed. Pancs Bolt is a mini market, you can find important products, such as flours, cheeses-goat cheese, parenyica, camembert, meat products, hams, salamis, sausages, pates, juices, mustards, sauces, eggs, fresh breads and pastries, baked goods are divine, as well as vegetables and fruits products are sourced from market producers, fruit yogurt, homemade butter and homemade milk. Other goods such brown cane sugar, chia seeds, tapioca, sundry seeds are weight and are perfect to garnish a meal, various kinds of rice, buckwheat, walnut kernels, almonds, oatmeal and popcorn, a wide range of spices, star anise, coriander and chili. The wine options are limited but good and local. They are open from Mon-Fri 8am-7pm, Sat 9am-2pm. Kashmir Bazar Budapest is an Indian grocery store, in the heart of Budapest. The shop has a huge variety of Asian and middle eastern ingredients. They are open on most days and for long hours. They have pretty much everything ranging from spices, sweets, fresh fruits and vegetables at very reasonable prices. They have lots of seasonings, a fresh meat counter, some frozen items, and even habanero peppers, condensed milk, peanut butter, custard powder, and popped rice. Budapest has more than twenty markets, some of them are very touristic. Rakoczi ter Market is one of several large markets in Budapest, but less crowded and full of great food. Various meats, fresh vegetables, fruits, and all sorts of dairy, this market has everything you could need to prepare your great meals. Rakoczi Market Hall is a market hall in a semi-public space, multi-functional spot. In the 1980's many rich people lived there, and the neighborhood was once infamous for crime and prostitution, but nowadays the place is an architectural treasure. The locals come for their daily grocery shopping of fresh meat and vegetables. The market has all the usual basic products: meat, fruits, vegetables, sausages, pasta, cheese and baked goods. This is a great place for a budget, and to grab a bite of typical Hungarian dishes, snacks and beverages. Selection is wide, healthy and the ingredients can be reached easier and in a higher portion than in shops. A must try are palacsinta-Hungarian crepes and the langos-crispy, golden brown on the outside,and chewy inside. Inside the market you can get an incredibly cheap wine stall right from the barrel and all you have to do is to bring a bottle and they fill it up for you. You can go grocery shopping from Mon 6AM-4PM, Tue-Fr 6AM-6PM, Sat 6AM-2PM. Where to eat Finding a place in the center of Budapest for every taste and budget, where you can eat inexpensively is not difficult. Budapest is a city with a surprisingly varied gastronomy, rich in quality ingredients and creative recipes and is famous for its friendly customer service. Hungarian cuisine is rich in meat dishes and dishes with pepper-paprika. Many restaurants and eateries cook beef stew (porkolt), stuffed cabbage (teletott kaposhta), thick soup (goulash, or gulyas), fish soup (halaszle), soup cooked in a cauldron over a fire (bograch), pasta with sour cream, cheese and bacon ( pasta with sour cream, cheese and bacon) and many other delicious dishes that need you to discover. But you cannot miss the Hungarian sweets such as: Dobosh cake, Esterhazy cake, Shomloi dumplings, palacsinta pancakes, Makosh (poppy cake), ratesh (or strudel), the plum cake from Szatmar, kurtoskalacs is an empty delicious tube of dough. The tip is not left on the table-this is considered stupid and rude. You need to ask beforehand if the service is included in the note, as some places practice this. If the service is included in the note, there is no need to leave a tip. Otherwise, you have to give the money to the waiter and tell him the amount you want left over or give him the money directly for the note plus the tip you want to leave. If you are not satisfied with a certain service, you shouldn't leave a tip. The message will be received very clearly. Do not use euros to pay, change into the national currency of Hungary, which is the forint. If you want to change money, avoid foreign exchange offices and use banks instead. Banks close around 5-6 p.m. We would like to introduce you to the restaurants you should definitely try when you visit Budapest. Kicsi Mama konyhaja, translated as Little mama's kitchen, located in the center of Budapest, close to Kalvin Square, is a cozy self-service fast food restaurant and pizzeria. The menu is renewed daily, almost 40 kinds of food prepared according to the recipes of Hungarian and international cuisine and fast service. They also pay attention to the vegetarian guests, who can choose from several vegetarian dishes and pizzas every day. The food is delicious and not so expensive. Students get a 10% discount and if you really want to save money, everyone gets 25% off all food after 5pm. Inka Grill Bistro offers a menu that combines Peruvian and international cuisines, who brought their own recipes and ingredients to the restaurant. Peruvian cuisine is considered one of the best in the world, fresh, spicy and uses local ingredients, such as various types of corn, colorful peppers, fish and about 2,500 types of potato. One of the main ingredients is the Peruvian yellow pepper, mainly ground and spiced called aji amarillo. A must try is the specialty of anticucho- a beef- hearted skewer, that was a food of African slaves introduced during the time of the conquerors. Inca grill gastronomy is extremely diverse, influenced by Spanish, Italian and Oriental cuisine. Busulo Juhasz restaurant is located very close to the city center in one of the most impressive parts of the capital, on the side of Gellert Hill, with a magnificent panoramic view of the city and fascinating scenery looking like the capital lies at its feet. The restaurant offers Hungarian cuisine with popular dishes and chef creations. The duck leg, goulash soup and goulash is what many guests recommend. Also the dessert shouldn't be missed because it is homemade such as chocolate ice cream, parfait and panna cotta. You can indulge your taste buds and many other dishes to moderate prices. The restaurant is a place where it is always a pleasure for a light lunch, delicious coffee or tea, a cozy dinner, while enjoying the panorama of South Buda. Klauzal Cafe & Restaurant initially was a cafe in 1996 but in 2013, they transformed from a cafe into a restaurant. The cafe restaurant located in the heart of downtown, is a lovely family restaurant with a variety of food and friendly service and a perfect place to start your morning coffee in the sunshine on a little terrace, but also dine in a restaurant with a great atmosphere while tasting authentic Hungarian dishes. You can find everything in one location here: cozy, homely ambiance, homely dishes, excellent service. The owner of the Klauzal cafe and restaurant is friendly and prepares their menu so that you can always find something to delight your taste buds. Their quality of the food is tasty and very good, the price is fair prices and they serve typical Hungarian meals in the style you would expect from an experienced Hungarian grandma. Aran bakery is a pricey craft bakery in Budapest's hip Jewish Quarter run by Kinga and Attila Pecsi. Basic and seasonal bread and pastry and other products changing on a weekly basis. A must try is the kalacs, a sweet roll, almond croissants, muffins, assorted other pastries and madeleines which are even better than the french one. They also serve tasty vegan sandwiches. They sell a variety of tasty, warm and crusty bread which is the specialty here at the bakery. The owners, Kinga and Atilla, pay attention to the ingredients they use for their sandwiches. The flour they use is 100% additive-free from Garat Malom in Mohacs and their coffee comes from the One Eleven roastery in Sopron. They're open from Monday to Friday from 8.00 am to 6:30 pm and Saturday from 8.30 am to 3.00 pm. Claro Bisztro is a family business open since 2006 serving a varied menu of traditional Hungarian and international cuisine, at affordable prices in a lively pedestrian street in the center of Budapest, with a wide selection of wines. The recommendation is bbq beef rib-very tender and flavorful. The daily menu is announced at the beginning of the week and displayed on the front door. The interior is pleasant, with cinema posters adorning the wall, antique thonet chairs and leather sofas, variegated upholstery covering the tables and 40-year-old polished marble floors and they also have an outdoor patio on both sidewalks. From spring to late autumn, two garden rooms await visitors. Kis Fecske Presszo you can discover the recipes and ingredients of Hungarian and Italian cuisines. You can have breakfast, lunch and even dinner in the evening in this friendly place. Kis Fecske Presszo is also popular as a bar in the evenings. In summer you can also enjoy your favorite food and drink on the terrace. The inside is an intimate cellar room with fair and attentive service, which ensures that the consumers there feel good and count, which is unfortunately quite rare nowadays. They also have separate rooms for smoking and nonsmoking, so that you don't even inhale the smoke if you don't need it voluntarily. Kiosk Budapest, located in a wonderful location at the foot of Erzsebet Bridge and the oldest church of Budapest, is the gate of the Danube Promenade. The place offers you an open-air bar with nice wine selection and a large, cozy terrace where you can feel the breezes from the Danube. They mark with some small symbols in the menu which dish is vegetarian, lactose-free, or gluten-free. Their cuisine offers fresh Hungarian cuisine where you will always find what you are looking for and can enjoy lunch or dinner with friends or family. Kiosk also has its own bakery where you can taste special desserts and classic Hungarian sweets reinvented. The estimated price per head starts from $35 and can reach till $200. They are open Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from noon until midnight and on Friday and Saturday until 1:00 am and they are pet-friendly. Rakoczi Restaurant is a corner restaurant that serves up great Hungarian dishes. You'll find dishes here like turkey or pork stuffed with cheese and broccoli, the well known Hungarian dish of Porkolt, as well as veal and fish. vegetarian dishes can be found among Hungarian specialties. Some of the recommendation such as goulash, the crispy veal schnitzel, desert as turos palacsinta-crepes filled with sweet-tart cottage cheese. The restaurant has a low-priced menu where everyone can enjoy themselves. At The Rapaz restaurant, a cool place in one of the busiest parts of the city where you can find a wide selection on the menu and drinks. Rapaz is open all year round. Two good friends working in a talented and enthusiastic gastronomy decided to start their own business. The service at Rapaz is perfect - everyone has a kind word - and they are pretty good in terms of food as well. They offer 3-4 soups, fish and chips, caprese, fried chicken sandwiches and french fries come in 4 flavors ,made exclusively from quality and fresh ingredients. The prices are very fair, the portions are great, the flavors are varied, the selection is great and the family atmosphere is excellent and kind,which is adding great value for the restaurant. Tourist attraction What can you visit in Budapest? The legacy of the centuries is, the one that attracts the most, the admiration of visitors. Many of Budapest's most iconic attractions are totally free. St. Stephen's Cathedral, Fisherman's Fortress, Heroes Square and Chain Bridge can all be seen without admission, but the exterior of Buda Castle and the Hungarian Parliament is also freely admired. Budapest offers several dozen adventures. Budapest is really special jumping from one location to another. Budapest is the city of Spas and thermal waters were first exploited here by the Romans, then much later, by the Ottomans. Gellert Thermal Bath is one of the most famous spa complexes in Budapest, but the capital has many more. The bath is a beautiful spa and historical experience. You can visit the main hall free of charge, or spend a whole day of relaxation in the "Palace of Baths." The thermal baths also have a Finnish sauna, steam cabins and a naturist solarium for women and families. They also offer a wide selection of treatments and Thai foot massages: pedicures, wine therapy, chocolate treatments,champagne, just to list a few of them. A primary attraction is therapeutic spas and the medicinal water, actually prescribed by doctors for medical treatment. Gellert Bath is open every day from 6 am to 8 pm. The love for pinball machines is widespread in the world. The Pinball Museum (Flippermuzeum) might be an unusual attraction,but for the pinball fans it is no strange at all. Here you can find the first pinball machines from the end of the 19th century and at the most modern pinball inventions. Kids and adults can also learn the history of the game and play it at one of 130 pinball tables on nearly 400 square meters. Children under the age of 14 can spend their free time at the gallery but only accompanied by parents. The estimated time for you to have fun and visit here is 2.5 hours. The chocolate lovers can enjoy the taste of a variety of chocolates on a tour to Budapest and visit Budapest Chocolate Museum. It is one of the attractions you will not want to miss at the Museum. The Chocolate Museum is owned by the Szamos family and they will let you see and learn how our favorite chocolate is made. It is said the museum was a hunting Castle of Count Wagner in 1902 in the midst of a wildlife area. Because there are many organized programs as well you should contact them before visiting. There are different tours or programs, the Praline tour, the Regal tour and the Deli'Do program. There are six rooms, outlining the history of chocolate, the growth of cocoa and the production of chocolate, and the technique of chocolate molding. You can pick up a Marzipan or chocolate ball, hold it under the flowing chocolate and eat it and the adults can taste palinka. The entrance to the museum is through the confectionery that attracts you with brightly colored and beautiful sweets made of marzipan. Tour Schedule is Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday from 1:00 pm, Thursday- Friday from 11:00 am and Saturday- Sunday from 12:00 pm. Another beautiful attraction should be on your list is St Stephen's Basilica in Budapest. St. Stephen's Basilica is the biggest church in Budapest and is dedicated to Hungary's first king, St. Stephen. The church hosts the relic of St. Stephen's mummified right hand. The 6 bells of the St. Stephen Church definitely worth a mention. The great bell of the south tower is the biggest bell of the church, with its 9 tones and two and a half meters diameter being the largest bell of Hungary. It is generally open to the public during Mondays to Sundays. During weekdays, it is open from 9:00 in the morning to 5:00 in the afternoon. During Saturday, it is open from nine in the morning to 1 in the afternoon. The admission to the church is no fee of charge. If you want to expand your view of the entire city, you only need to go up the cupola and viola. With a small fee, you would have a 360 degree view of the city of Budapest. Built between 1854-1859 by the Neolog Jewish community of Pest, Dohany Synagogue is a monumental, magnificent synagogue and is the biggest Hebrew temple of Europe. The Jews played an important part in Hungary's history. The western facade boasts arched windows with stone-carved decorations and brickwork in the heraldic colors of Budapest: blue, yellow and red and the main entrance has a stained glass rose window above it. The towers, with a height of 43.6 meters each, feature stone carvings of geometric forms and clocks. More than two thousand of those who died in the ghetto from hunger and cold are buried in the courtyard of the synagogue. The castle Buda has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, today it houses the National Gallery, the History Museum and the National Library, and cultural and gastronomic festivals are organized in its immediate vicinity. The castle is also known as the Royal Palace, as it was previously where the Hungarian kings lived. The main building is a huge green dome, visible from a distance, and the huge columns and majestic statues are impressive. The castle Buda is Hungary's magnificent symbol, along with the Chain Bridge to which it is linked, gives a breathtaking view at night when the overpass and the Castle are lit up. Buda Castle sits at the top of Castle Hill and offers an impressive panoramic view over Pest and the river. The building can be visited at any time, its gates being wide open for visitors at any time of the day and you can access the Royal Palace through two main entrances: first is ascending the Habsburg Staircase through the 1903 ornamental gate and second the Corvino Gate. Visitors will get to see artifacts like Gothic statues of courtiers and 14th-century Hungarian tapestries. There are also ceramics, textiles, utensils, rare documents, and more. In the Royal Chapel, guests are treated to a number of significant Gothic sculptures, as well as a lovely 15th-century triptych. The exterior of the castle is also fascinating to be explored. You'll spot an assortment of Turkish gravestones. In front of the domed building at the heart of the castle, you'll find an equestrian statue. This statue commemorates Prince Eugene of Savoy, who fought against the Turks. The program of the National Gallery and the History Museum is limited between 10:00 to 18:00 from Tuesday-Sunday. Mythical ruin pub with a vibrant atmosphere, original decoration, cool ambience, clubbing,charming bar, Szimpla Kert Ruin Bar, literally means Simple Garden, offers fresh bakery products, home made style street foods, and delicious warm meals too. Szimpla Kert originally was a stove factory. Instead of taking it down, the owner decided to revolutionize it and turn it into a super cool bar! The smokers can head to the open-air smoking section and enjoy their cigarette. You can find a huge range of cocktails, beers and wines, even food such as sausages, sandwiches. On Sundays, between 9 amâ2 pm there is also a farmer's market in Szimpla where 30-40 sellers bring their home grown products to the tables. Fisherman's Bastion, named after the fishermen who protected the region in the Middle Ages, is one of the most popular attractions, with an architecture that resembles battlements and modern structure. The Fisherman's Bastion was built between 1901 and 1903 in the exact place where until then there had been an ancient fishing village. Fisherman's Bastion has two terraces and the seven towers, which symbolize the seven Magyar tribes that conquered the region in 896 to become Hungary and offer stunning panoramas of the Danube River, Margaret Island and Pest. Behind the Bastion, is the equestrian statue of St. Stephen, the first Hungarian king on horseback, a commemorative symbol of his past. The Fisherman's Bastion was listed by UNESCO in 1988 as a World Heritage Site. The Fisherman's Bastion is open all year round, day and night and there is entrance fee: free balconies combined with fee paying top turrets. Right next to the Fisherman's bastion is the beautiful Matthias Church. The church was built between 1255 and 1269 at the command of King Bela IV of Hungary and in 1541 it was one of the many churches in the city that was transformed into a mosque by the Turks. In its 700-year history it has seen two royal weddings, of Mattia Corvinus and his two coronations. Here you can see sacred relics and replicas of the royal crown and jewels on display. Vajdahunyad Castle was built on an island and can be accessed via one of four bridges. The castle is surrounded by the water of the boating lake of the City Park. The castle is a complex consisting of a group of buildings and objects of architecture combining some of the best buildings of historical Hungary into a single eclectic Palace. Vajdahunyad castle combines parts of 20 buildings including elements scattered around the territory of Hungary and Romania. The high tower of the castle imitates the Corvin Castle from Romania and served as a prototype for the tower which borrowed the name "Don't be afraid". The legend says this is the place where Count Dracula, Vlad Tepes, Prince of Wallachia, was held captive in the original Transylvanian Castle, and while being behind bars it's said to have committed his crime, killing his father, Vlad II Dracul. The castle also hosts several festivals, concerts and the exhibitions of the Hungarian Agricultural Museum. They are open from TuesdayâSunday between 10 amâ5 pm, and closed on Mondays. The Szechenyi Chain Bridge is the 170-years-old cast-iron suspension and stone structure connecting Pest and Buda that was renewed and strengthened in 1914. During World War II, the bridge was blown up by Germans in January 1945. Only the towers remained standing but the bridge was reopened after extensive reconstruction in 1949. The bridge is considered to be the most beautiful and most famous bridge and the gigantic four lion statues stand guards placed there in 1852, lying in front of the Lanchid bridge. The bridge is 375 meters and 16 meters wide, with a center span between the pillars of 202 meters. The House of Terror Museum is unique in the world, presenting the two dictatorial regimes that fell on Europe, as well as the horrors described its oppression in Hungary under the Nazi and Communist regimes. The Nazis tortured and killed hundreds of people in the cellar beneath the street. If you are claustrophobic then it's not the place for you. With black painted walls, bespoke grim music and claustrophobic corridors, the House of Terror museum will give you a taste of what it was like back in the regim times. The museum spreads around the four floors, containing artefacts, original footage of the nazi regim, torture cells and execution apparatus, and you can hear recordings of personal testimonies. During the horrific and unimaginable interrogations, lasting for weeks, many of the victims ended up dead. The building, a monument to the victims of nazi regim, pays tribute to the victims by hosting the institution's permanent exhibition on the horrors spent here, personalizing on the outside, a painful emblem for Hungarians. Since 2002, this street has been a UNESCO objective, being remarkable for its architectural beauty. Kobanya Mine is a labyrinth of limestone passages that were left behind by limestone miners, when the mine was finally closed in the 1890s, after a series of roof collapses. The limestone extracted was used for many famous buildings and monuments such as the Fisherman's Bastion. The underground complex is 35 kilometers long, boasting 180,000 square meters of space. If you plan to pay a visit to the Kobanya Mine on weekends and explore the Mine, we suggest you book your dives at least 4 weeks before your arrival, because the Mine is usually crowded if you arrive on working days and it is much easier to find a free spot. Kobanya Mine is an abandoned cellar which is now flooded and those rooms can be accessed by diving into them. Kobanya Mine is a world-famous dive site with an average depth of 15 meters. The mine is partly flooded with water,so you will dive in there in the corridors and chambers. The official website of the cave states that visitors are not required to be certified cave drivers, but you need to have at least advanced open water diver certification and have to be experienced divers. If you are planning to explore Budapest with children in your upcoming vacation, we recommend Children's railway which has been declared the world's longest railway of its kind by the Guinness World Records with nearly 12-kilometer-long. The traffic is managed by children aged 10-14, under adult supervision. The children are not allowed to drive the train, so the engineer not only drives but he oversees the children and teaches them all about locomotion. The railway was built in 1948 and was called the Pioneer's Railway during the communist era. Hospital in the Rock (Sziklakorhaz) located underneath the Buda Castle district with approximately 6-mile (10-km) stretch of interconnected caves and cellars beneath Buda Castle Hill, is one of the most unique and fascinating attractions of Budapest, which serves as a grim reminder of the horrors and suffering it brings upon the people, through during the second World War. In the year 2007 was finally opened as a museum to the visitors and today is a great insight into a chunk of history that is very close to Budapest. The hospital nowadays it's the biggest Hungarian waxwork exhibition with more than 40 figures, and a lot of original machinery and furniture that are still in working condition. The hospital can be visited only with a guided tour and the duration of the guided tour is 60 minutes. Visiting is not allowed under 6 years old. The museum is open from Monday - Sunday between 10 am to 8 pm (the last tour starts at 7 pm). Budapest eye is the largest ferris wheel in Europe and one of the most famous Ferris wheels in the world with a total height of 65 meters which opens fascinating and unexpected views of the Hungarian capital. The giant wheel is located in the heart of Budapest on the largest green space of the Erzsebet Square.The ferris wheel has 41 air-conditioned, closed cabins with 8 persons occupancy and 4 VIP cabins. You can reserve a special VIP cabin with privacy glass available for â¬100 for a longer 30 minute ride with three of your friends while sipping on champagne. The capacity of the wheel is over 332 people. The wheel is open every day from 10.00 am to 24.00 and a ride lasts about 8-10 minutes. Many ferris wheels operate in cities all around the world and are known for their high popularity, especially among tourists. Budapest is a touristic city and the free walking tours are not to be missed, being an excellent way to get a glimpse of the city and to know the historical context. Hoping we helped you to compose your itinerary of things to do in Budapest and let us know about your wonderful visit! Connect with us: BackpackGo is a product of Privacy policy Remove stored cookies www.backpackgo.net Our story: aka about us Your story: who this app is for