• home
  • about me
  • latest
  • brooke beyond

  • destinations
    • WORLD MAP
    • Africa
      • Botswana
      • Morocco
      • Namibia
      • South Africa
      • Zambia
      • Zimbabwe
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Indonesia
      • Laos
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Aus + NZ
      • Adelaide & South Australia
      • Brisbane & Queensland
      • Hobart & Tasmania
      • Melbourne & Victoria
      • Perth & Western Australia
      • Sydney & New South Wales
      • New Zealand
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Czech Republic
      • France
      • Germany
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Netherlands
      • Poland
      • Slovenia
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • UK
    • Latin America
      • Mexico
        • all Mexico
        • Baja Peninsula
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Panama
      • Peru
    • USA
      • Arizona
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Hawaii
      • Idaho
      • Montana
      • Nevada
      • New Mexico
      • Oregon
      • Utah
      • Washington
      • Wyoming
  • hiking guides

brooke beyond

Europe / Hungary

Hungary for the holidays: the best Budapest experiences

November 14, 2016

After only a few days in Hungary’s wonderful capital, I can conclusively say that I absolutely love Budapest. It has really stolen my heart, and I think that the beauty and magic of the city is only compounded by the contagious holiday spirit floating around. It’s cold, trees are lit up, everyone and their cousin is selling mulled wine and kürtőskalács (the best dessert of all time), the lights along the river look marvellously festive, and, most importantly, Christmas Markets (!!). It’s hard to imagine visiting any other time of the year! Here are my 6 favourite ways to enjoy Budapest around the holidays.

Take in views from Fisherman’s Bastion

For sweeping (and free) views of the city, head to this awesome lookout point in Buda, just walking distance from M2 station at Batthyány tér. The bastion was built back in the early 1900s and apparently much of it was specifically designed to offer views of the city for residents. Matthias Church, sitting just in front of the Bastion, is absolutely spectacular, as well! Cal reckons Budapest even beats out Paris in terms of most beautiful cityscape, and I think I may have to agree.

Take a Danube River dinner cruise

So we decided to be fancy and go on a dinner cruise, which I thoroughly recommend to anyone wanting to see all the beautiful buildings along the river at night, especially during winter since it’s dead cold outside. Student tickets were 14200huf and adult tickets only a bit more for the 7pm dinner cruise that lasted 2 hours; we booked through a tourist information office.

It was probably one of the fancier experiences of my life, which is great considering it was only $30 each. I justified this splurge because we hadn’t eaten since breakfast and got to gorge ourselves on Hungarian specialties at the marvellous buffet, plus we got several glasses of wine, and already that’s half the ticket price used up to have dinner on land at a restaurant. Then you throw in the great vantage point to see several dozen important landmarks on the Danube, all lit up beautifully at night, over 2 hours of boat fun.. It practically pays for itself.

Splash around in Szechenyi Thermal Bath

We couldn’t visit Budapest and not visit a bath, so we spent several hours lolling around in the hot water at Szechenyi baths in the City Park. It’s not the cheapest attraction at 4700huf ($20AUD), plus another 1000huf for the towel hire (and the 2000huf deposit that is returned to you when you leave), but it is super fun. And the hot water is really good on a freezing winter day, except for getting out into the cold air. We are cheap and only hired one towel, so of course princess Callum got it and I had to run back to the locker room in 2C in my bikini, but no matter. Builds character.

Stroll around and take in the sights

We spent a few afternoons just wandering about the city and ogling all the impressive buildings and towering castles. Some favourites include: St. Stephen’s Basilica, particularly when it’s all lit up at night like a giant candelabra; Hungarian Parliament, perching on the bank of the Danube and probably the most beautiful government building I’ve ever seen; Hősök tere, a square near City Park featuring such exciting statues as “Seven Chieftains of the Magyars”; and Vajdahunyad Castle, a particularly picturesque castle also located in City Park.

Be festive at the Budapest Christmas Market

The undeniable highlight of winter in Europe is the holiday markets and Budapest has a huge one in Vörösmarty Tér (easily accessible by the metro stop of the same name) that is fantastic. Definitely heaps bigger than the market we visited in Vienna, this market has stalls on stalls on stalls selling Christmas ornaments, art, china, leather goods, fur hats and gloves, soaps.. the list goes on. I would have bought heaps more if I wasn’t so low on Hungarian forints and not wanting to change more euros over.

The holiday atmosphere was absolutely amazing, with decorated Christmas trees and lights all over the square and holiday classics playing over the speakers. Not to mention dozens of food stalls selling the most delicious winter food and drink, like mulled wine (mulled wine!!!) and hot cocoa and goulash in bread bowls and bratwurst..

Binge eat Hungarian food

Who knew it was so delicious!? Definitely a top experience of being in Budapest was enjoying the local food, which was all the more inviting in the cold weather. Firstly, and probably most importantly, kürtőskalács. They roll dough into a long snake and twirl it around what looks like a rolling pin and then set it on some sort of rotisserie over a fire. The result is a spiral donut in the shape of a chimney that is hot and crisp on the outside and doughy as all get out on the inside, basically nothing short of heaven on earth.

And then the platter-sized potato pancakes topped with sour cream, cheese, onion, and this amazing chicken. The beef goulash served in bread bowls and bratwurst overflowing with toppings and pork straight off the spit… drooling. Then add in hot chocolate, a dozen varieties of hot spiked punch, apple cider, and—the ultimate—mulled wine. Hungarian food was some of the best we’ve had so far and my belly was certainly sad to move on.

Read more from our Europe trip

12 TIPS FOR BACKPACKING EUROPE

OMG, WE SAW THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND

DISNEYLAND PARIS: THE HAPPIEST PLACE IN FRANCE

EXPLORING UNDERGROUND PARIS: LES CATACOMBS

AUTUMN IN THE CITY OF LIGHTS: OUR FAVOURITE PARIS EXPERIENCES

VENICE, THE WORLD’S GREATEST MAZE

BIKING AROUND LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA

BIKING AROUND LAKE BLED & VINTGAR GORGE

ADVENTURING TO POSTOJNA JAMA & PREDJAMA GRAD

IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS IN VIENNA

HISTORY LESSONS IN KRAKÓW: VISITING AUSCHWITZ AND KAZIMIERZ

COUNTING DOWN TO CHRISTMAS IN WROCŁAW, POLAND

PLANNING A TRIP TO POLAND

OUR TOP 5 PRAGUE EXPERIENCES

OUR TOP 5 BERLIN EXPERIENCES

POFFERTJES, VESPAS & ANNE FRANK: THE BEST OF AMSTERDAM

TAGS:BB2city escapescity guidesculture shocklocal food & winetravel guides
0 Comments
Share
brooke brisbine

I've spent the last decade exploring the world— everything from solo trekking in the Andes to overlanding in Zambia, all while completing a PhD in Biomechanics, teaching at a university & securing permanent residency in Australia. In 2020, I finally fulfilled my dream of becoming a full-time nomad! Whether it’s vanlife in Mexico, scuba diving in the Galápagos, ticking off incredible US National Parks, or climbing in the Dolomites, I hope this blog will inspire your future adventures & help you find wonder in every corner of the globe. xx bb

Leave a Comment Cancel Comment

You May Also Like

November 24, 2016

5 awesome things to do in Prague, Czech Republic

July 8, 2017

En route to Geneva

July 11, 2017

Tour du Mont Blanc Day 2: Les Contamines – Col des Fours – Les Mottets

hi, I’m brooke!

I've spent the last decade exploring the world— everything from solo trekking in the Andes to overlanding in Zambia, all while completing a PhD in Biomechanics. In 2020, I finally fulfilled my dream of becoming a full-time nomad! Whether it’s vanlife in Mexico, scuba diving in the Galápagos, ticking off incredible US National Parks, or climbing in the Dolomites, I hope this blog will inspire your future adventures & help you find wonder in every corner of the globe. xx bb

read my story
currently exploring

currently exploring

northern italy

img

travel resources

flights ✈️ Skyscanner

hotels 🏨 booking.com

adventure gear 🥾 REI

travel essentials 📸 Amazon

travel guides

hiking guides

vanlife resources

moving to australia

trip itineraries

recent posts

  • UPDATE: 1 million views & blog under construction

    May 17, 2022
  • Sierra Chincua Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary Michoacan Mexico

    Sierra Chincua Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary: how to see millions of migrating butterflies in Mexico

    February 26, 2022
  • Sierra Chincua Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary Michoacan Mexico

    Vanlife diaries #50: Santiago de Querétaro & Sierra Chincua Monarch Butterfly Bioreserve, Michoacán 

    February 23, 2022
  • Guanajuato Mexico vanlife

    Vanlife diaries #49: Tlaquepaque & Guadalajara, Jalisco to Guanajuato & San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

    February 16, 2022
  • A complete guide to visiting Cabo Pulmo National Park in Baja California Sur, Mexico

    February 15, 2022

On Instagram

Follow @brookearoundtown

travel beyond the ordinary

Explore my travel guides, custom itineraries & blog posts with an interactive world map ✨

all destinations

@brookebeyond_
  • home
  • about me
  • latest
  • destinations
  • hiking guides
  • moving to Australia
  • vanlife resources
  • contact

COPYRIGHT © 2022 BROOKE BEYOND. TRAVEL BEYOND THE ORDINARY. Site Powered by Pix & Hue.