I had been to Hungary before, as a little girl, accompanying my parents on a trip. Unfortunately, I don’t remember much about this trip. However, friends from time to time raved about subsequent visits to this country, so I finally wanted to visit it again after many years. When the decision was made, I was most focused on visiting Budapest – its centuries-old monuments, interesting places, but also a return to the taste that I still remember well – a warm langosh on which the cheese simply melts. However, man does not live by langoustine alone – after all, Hungary has much more to offer!
What to see in Budapest? The Royal Castle for sure!
On the first day of my stay, after breakfast, I went on a trip to explore the very center of Budapest. I especially enjoyed the option of getting to know the capital from a water perspective. I paid about 16 euros for the pleasure of a boat trip. However, it would be worth every cost for these beautiful views. Monuments in the morning sun look fantastic. When the cruise came to an end, together with other tourists I set off towards the Castle Hill. In every guidebook about it, they devote a mention to it, so I couldn’t miss such an important point. You can climb the hill on foot or take the historic railway (I chose the first option). From the top there is a beautiful panorama of the city – I spent a lot of time to catch it in the frame of the camera and I managed to do it.
Then, together with the trip, I set off towards the gates of Budavári Palota, i.e. the Royal Castle. Some also refer to it as Buda Castle. Just see how impressive it looks!
Budapest Metro – a good option for the tired
Budapest is famous for its very good communication between individual districts. You can easily reach the most important monuments on foot. However, if you want to venture further or your legs just hurt after hours of sightseeing, I recommend you to use the metro. You can choose from a single ticket, a 24-hour ticket or a package of 10 tickets. The last option costs about HUF 3,000 (about PLN 40), so the price is reasonable.
Országház – A Parliament worthy of the dignity of the office
There is a lot to be said about the monuments in Budapest, but one of them is completely unique. Usually, the term “government seat” does not evoke positive emotions in me 😊 In the case of the Hungarian parliament building, the situation is completely different. This monumental monument, located on the Danube in the Pest district, is not only the second largest state building in Europe (behind it only the one in Romania), but also the largest building in the whole country. Suffice it to say that it measures 17 thousand square meters, which translates into 691 functional rooms. The országház, erected for 17 years and designed by the architect Imr Steindl, resembles a neo-gothic (with baroque decorations) emperor’s palace rather than an official seat. The outer part is already stunning – especially at night. The interior is equally grand. Walking down the corridor, I felt as if the road was leading me to the coronation hall. Which is not such a distant association, because you can admire the exhibition with the coronation insignia, such as the crown of St. Stefan. Ticket prices start from around PLN 25.
Matthias Church, one of the most important attractions of Budapest
Wandering around the beautiful streets of Budapest, I couldn’t miss one of the more famous monuments, the Matthias Church. There is no saint there, because the name of the temple was given in honor of King Matthias Corvinus. This charming building, once fully Gothic, has undergone many changes over the years. The turbulent history of the city meant that in the 14th century the Turks organized a mosque in it. Later, the temple was affected by fire, which consumed most of the load-bearing walls and key elements. What we see today is almost entirely a reconstruction. But how successful – the church after the reconstruction took on a neo-gothic form.
Interesting places in Budapest: Gellert Baths
Bathhouses are something quite exotic in Poland – at least for me. Apart from intimate cabins in resorts and private (in some houses) I did not experience anything that could be remembered. In Hungary, they often play a leisure and entertainment role, as in our SPA or swimming pools. Therefore, they are also connected with such objects. One of the most interesting attractions of this type are the Gellert Baths (Gellért Gyógyfürdő), which not only relax the body, but are also a real attraction for lovers of Art Nouveau architecture. Admittedly, even if – like me – you are not necessarily interested in “coupling”, viewing the interiors is an end in itself. The hotel complex located on the Danube offers a number of saunas of various types, as many as 10 indoor thermal pools and three outdoor pools, available in the summer. Going there, it is worth buying a ticket online in advance to avoid the queue. There are three types of tickets on offer. Those with a private cabin or a locker in a shared changing room are similarly priced at around PLN 88. The entrance ticket with a set of bathing accessories costs about PLN 240. Interestingly, when you buy it, you get – for free – the opportunity to pick you up from your place of accommodation by private transport. Those interested can also buy optional massages.
TRIVIA: • The effect of incorporating smaller towns and villages into the administrative area of Budapest is the presence of many streets with the same names, repeated even several times. District numbers are used to distinguish them. The record holders are the streets of Kossuth and Szechenyi appearing in 17 places. • It is widely believed that the Hungarian language is complicated. To avoid pronunciation mistakes, it is worth remembering the rule that “s” is pronounced as “sz” and vice versa. The best example of this is the original spelling of the capital – Budapest. • Hungarians use about 1,000 varieties of paprika in their cuisine.
Best Langos in Budapest!
What would a trip to Hungary be without trying the local langosz 😊 For those who don’t know: langosz is a pancake based on wheat flour, yeast, milk and potatoes, fried in deep oil. Oh, years have passed since my last visit to Hungary and I have to tell you that I missed this taste a lot. I looked for it in vain in Krakow, and finally I came across something that had nothing to do with real langosh. Since then, I gave up trying and decided to hold off until I left for Hungary. Waiting only increased my appetite, because when I got a hot cake with olive oil and garlic on a paper tray, I don’t know when I devoured it. Perhaps because, guided by the opinions on the Internet, I got to – supposedly the best place – Retro Langos Bufe. I chose the classic version – with olive oil, garlic, sour cream and cheese. Mmm, yummy!
And when it comes to the place itself, on the colorful board you will find plenty of langosh options to choose from. Phew, it’s hard to choose just one. Hungarian pie is typical street food and in such urban circumstances it is best to eat it 😊 In front of the premises, the owner has set up a few tables where you can crouch down after the hardships of sightseeing. Where: Retro Langos Bufe (Podmaniczky Frigyes tér 4) For how much: from 290 to 790 forints (depending on add-ons)
A tasty trail, i.e. a visit to Street Food Karavan
The fashion for food trucks has also come to our country, which I am extremely happy about. Their idea matches what I think about food. I like authenticity, the use of good ingredients, but also experimentation. I also like eating on the move, urban spontaneity and a bit of slack. That’s why when I saw only the wooden Street Food Karavan gate, I was overjoyed! And I quickly wished I had a bigger stomach. Oh, there was definitely a lot to choose from here – Mexican cuisine, food trucks with hummus, but also traditional Hungarian dishes (stop at Budapest Langosz – one of the best according to the rankings, delicious langos) and many more. They also offer great seitan burgers (fully vegetarian, with a cutlet made of so-called vegetable meat). Decent taste – I recommend trying it if you are ever in the area. Where: Street Food Karavan Budapest (Kazinczy u. 18)
Szimpla Kert
Szimpla Kert is an extraordinary hub of pubs and bars, located in the ruins of an old tenement house. The very location gives it a great atmosphere. It is especially beautiful here in the evening, when the darkness is illuminated by thousands of small lights. Here you will taste dishes from many countries around the world. Where: Szimpla Kert (Kazinczy u. 14)
Market hall in Budapest
I decided to use my free time while visiting Budapest to visit the Central Market Hall. If you have been following my previous blog entries, you know perfectly well that I really like to discover the country from the inside out – literally and figuratively. For me, trade fairs are places full of authenticity – real flavors, local people and joyful buzz. When I entered the hall, the paprika preserves (decorated with dried pepper and garlic braids) immediately caught my eye, and of course foie gras, which is popular in Hungary. There is a typical market part here, where residents shop (stands with cold cuts, roast pork knuckles, pork fat, kabanos sausages, spices), but also stands typically focused on tourists, for example with Tokaj or lavender souvenirs. I brought some paprika paste from my trip – for myself and for my family. They are not expensive here, I paid about PLN 7 per piece. Where: Central Market Hall (Vámház krt. 1-3)
I could walk around Budapest for a very long time… If only to visit the hot thermal springs and indulge in true relaxation. Or to sit longer in charming wineries and sip local wines. My stay is inevitably coming to an end. However, I am not leaving Budapest forever. I will definitely come back here! 😉
