I am fresh off an amazing week in Europe.  Most of the week was spent traveling down the Danube with Viking River Cruises. We chose to spend the weekend prior to our departure in Budapest. Budapest is an incredible historic city divided by the Danube into two distinct sides Buda and Pest.

 I reached out to Margaret de Heinrich, a friend of a friend, living in Budapest shared some wonderful suggestions. She and her husband own of world renowned skin care brand Omorovicza and the beautiful Racz Spa in this stunning European city.

I am going to share a mixture of her suggestions and my own sprinkled with my images. 

To Do:

Buda:

Thermal Bath, a must! Highly recommended was the Rudas but makes sure you go on the Co-Ed days (some days are co-ed, others just men, etc).  If that is not possible, head to the Gellert (bring bathing suit, flip flops and your own towel).

Fisherman’s Bastion and The Var

Visit Matthias Church which is a design dream full of more pattern and color than you can imagine. There is a great wine store where you can have your own wine tasting, Hungarian House of Wine 

  

 

Buda Castle – we just walked the beautiful exterior and the incredible view to Pest

Pest:

St. Stephen’s Basilica – the interior is breathtaking.

Dohány Street Synagogue – A Moorish beauty with incredible history.

Opera House: take a tour of this amazing building – ask them to include you in the private concert.

House of Terror: This is a must-see museum about the communism

The main food hall, vasarcsarnok, at the end of Vaci utca/street, in a massive 19th century steel building, upstairs there are great gifts and chic peasant shirts to take home. Try the Langos for lunch upstairs too. 

Restaurants:

Dinner:

Café Kor– traditional Hungarian food, excellent casual atmosphere and in the center of town

Derryne – lovely lowkey bistro with nice vibe and lots of locals.

Lunch:

Gerloczy is a charming, locals’ spot where you can sit outside

Bars:

Try the famous “ruin bars”; not fancy but really cool, they spring up all over the place, on demolition sites or where buildings were pulled down. 

Ankert

Fogasház

Szimpla kert

Instant

Wine Bars:

Doblo in the historic Jewish quarter

Di Vino – Cool and lively

Ötkert –  fun, young, open very late, bar, night-club

Platz

Stay:

The Four Seasons Gresham Palace Budapest – Stunning

  

Corinthia– another historic beauty of a hotel. 

Be sure to wander the streets too…

We also went on the Sziget Eye in Erzsébet Square poorly practicing the selfie.

  

Then on the the lovely Viking Cruise which I will continue to share. 

I highly recommend a night cruise on the Danube.  There is no better way to see many sights. 

See many more tips and guides for beautiful Budapest HERE and stay tuned for more of my wonderful week with Viking. 

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