Let’s do some travel math. Here’s an equation some might not know: Buda + Pest + the Danube River = Budapest! A city made up of the three aforementioned places is bound to delight! Buda is the hilly area where castles and cathedrals astound, while Pest is flat and full of boulevards. Between the two is the romantic Danube River, flowing underneath ornate bridges of sheer excitement as people stroll across, marveling at the lion statues and grandiose details.
Budapest is a city of daily celebration. Restaurants along the Danube River are filled with people simply gawking at the beauty cresting on the Buda hillside. Riverboats glide by with passengers surrounded by “two cities in one,” Buda and Pest, where one side feels modern and the other feels historic. Whatever your mood fancies, just go there; Buda for castles and a town of yore or Pest for places like Andrassy Avenue with its boutiques and taverns.
Distinct features like the Opera House and the thermal baths make Budapest the epicenter of culture that it is. In fact, the opera house motif happens elsewhere in the city at cafes and hotels. The mind-blowing New York Cafe is a three-story restaurant designed as an opera house with Venetian chandeliers. People pose on various perches there for photos to celebrate the glamour. This travel writer enjoyed a Cortado coffee beverage with gold leaf sprinkles, a famous menu feature. Not only was the beverage delicious but the resulting gold lips afterwards made it a memorable moment. Reportedly, the Dalai Lama has even dined there.
Imagine starting your Budapest adventure with mystery … like at the Mystery Hotel. Entering the boutique hotel, there’s a magic carpet suspended from the ceiling over the front desk. Instantly, you’re in the mood for something special. The elevator doors are designed to look like stage curtains and the elevator interior has “portraits” of famous royals from floor to ceiling. A massive piece of art hangs over the bed. The room has red velvet everything, from the banquette to drapes covering the bathroom and closet areas. You are literally draped in the glamour of an opera house or art museum. Best of all is the “Turkish bath” experience in the spa where a sauna and whirlpool await you within a solarium. The opera-like restaurant even has a balcony.
All this luxuriating is helpful for your vigorous strolls. You won’t leave Budapest without a stunning outfit or two. After dinners of goulash or other local food, have a beverage at the Callas Cafe across from the Hungarian Opera House in homage to Maria Callas. After all, what is more opera than the diva herself?
Walk into Buda over the iconic Szecheny Chain Bridge, a symbol of unity of the two cities, and take the funicular or tram that ascends the steep hill. You’re instantly transported to historic times as you gasp through buildings within the castle complex. Enter the St. Matthias Church where the gonging bells lift you up into heavenly heights. The palace isn’t only glorious, but it also has interactive experiences like the sketching room where visitors can engage in art activities.
Luckily, there are cafes where you can catch your breath and recharge with refreshments overlooking the Danube River and the city in one fell swoop. The Ottoman influence and Hungarian style in the architecture puts its stamp on the landscape. The gothic, massive Parliament building dominates the rivers’ edge and serves as the centerpiece of the city.
Feast your eyes on Budapest. It’s a travel buffet that leaves you Hungary for more.
