Nevertheless She Travelled

From Vienna, we took a quick 2.5-hour bus ride to Budapest on the bus line Regiojet which was surprisingly comfortable and efficient for such a cheap price!

We stayed in a super cute Airbnb “The Nest” which was cozy and conveniently located on the Pest side, walking distance from all major sites. I would recommend staying on the Pest side because of its livelier atmosphere, full of restaurants, bars/clubs, and sightseeing opportunities.

As soon as we arrived that first night, we headed straight to the famous Szimpla Kert Ruin Bar. Ruin bars originated in the 2000s when a run-down building was saved from demolition by a group of entrepreneurs looking to open up a bar, and you can now find them all over the city. Beer is super cheap, and I would suggest going for a typical Hungarian draught.

The next day, we explored the city on foot with our first stop being the Parliament Building, a can’t-miss sight on the bank of the Danube.

Not far below that are the Shoes on the Danube memorial, a moving tribute to the victims of the Holocaust.

Also close to Parliament and the Széchenyi Chain Bridge (connecting Buda and Pest) are 2 super fun bars, Pontoon and Raqpart. They’re a 2-minute walk from each other right on the riverbank with a great view of Buda Castle. Pontoon also has great live music every night.

Another must-see spot in Budapest is Central Market Hall, full of Hungarian food and souvenirs. This is where we ate lángos (fried dough traditionally topped with garlic butter, sour cream and shredded cheese). We opted to add fresh mozzarella cheese to ours and it was both extremely filling and delicious!

On the walk back from Central Market Hall (the best thing is that you can walk pretty much everywhere), we stumbled upon an ice bar where we paid for an experience that included a winter-themed shot, a warm poncho to wear while inside the ice room, and fun photo ops. It’s smaller than other ice bars so you probably won’t be in there for long but definitely a fun thing to do if you happen to be near there.

Later that day, we headed to the famous Széchenyi Thermal Bath which is probably the most popular and touristy of the thermal baths. We paid an admission fee that gave us access to the 15 indoor and 3 outdoor pools as well as locker use to store clothes and belongings. I recommend going during sunset for golden hour. There’s no need to purchase tickets in advance.

For dinner we went to Mazel Tov, and I am not exaggerating when I tell you this was some of the best Israeli food I’ve ever had.

The next day, we ventured across the Chain Bridge to the Buda Castle where you can take the funicular to the top and back for a super cheap rate. From the top, you get a great view of the Danube and Pest on the other side.

If you, like us, are craving Italian food no matter what country you’re in you must go to Bottega di Brontolo where you can have delicious gnocchi, cacio e pepe (made right in front of you), and (of course) wine. It’s a bit pricier than the other places we ate at in Budapest but worth it for a little splurge.

Our final stop before grabbing our bags from the Airbnb was Gozsdu Udvar, a lively street with bars and restaurants and plenty of outdoor seating. I suggest bar hopping up and down the street and choosing from the variety of restaurants once you’re hungry. I went for Jamie Oliver’s Pizzeria while Coco went to the pasta bar next door.