Egészségére! Cheers from Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is split by the Danube River, on one side you have Buda and on the other you have Pest. Both sides include gorgeous architecture, parks, squares and monuments. I was in Budapest in 2019 and really loved the city, so decided to come back and see some more. This time around I met some amazing people at my hostel who made this city that much more enjoyable.

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Castle District - a magical area on the Buda side, that when walking through feels like you’re walking through Disneyland. On the south side sits the Palace and on the north are the Fisherman's Bastion, The Matthias Church and a few other buildings. Castle hill can be easily reached by a vintage funicular or by walking up.

Széchenyi Thermal Bath - there are many thermal bath houses in Budapest, and Széchenyi is one of the original in Pest, built at the start of the 20th century. There are 18 different “pools”, all varying in temperature. This Bath house is just outside the city centre and so I took metro line 1 (the first underground metro in Budapest) for an authentic experience.

Jewish quarter - One of my favourite neighbourhoods in Budapest, fitted with many hip restaurants, cafes, vintage shops and street art.

Shops in Jewish Quarter- Printa shop – an environmentally conscious brand designing and selling clothes, jewelry, posters, home décor and a variety of souvenirs. Ludovika Vintage shop - just one of the many vintage shops in the area selling some trendy finds. Art on Me - a clothing and shoe shop, selling designed and made in Hungary products.

Eats in Jewish Quarter - Blue Bird Cafe - a local coffee shop, serving up delicious coffee, lemonade and breakfast items, not to mention the interior décor is fun and tropical. Dobrumba - a Middle Eastern + Mediterranean restaurant, with the best falafel and hummus. Their turmeric lemonade was the perfect combination of sweet and spicy.

Dohány Street Synagogue - the biggest synagogue in Europe and second biggest in the world, built between 1854-59, of course located in the Jewish Quarter. There is also an exhibit outlining the history of Jews in Budapest and how they made a large impact to shaping out the city.

Hungarian Parliament - a huge building along the Danube river, which can be spotted from almost everywhere. This is home to the Hungarian national assembly and a very big tourist attraction.

St. Stephen’s Basilica - a beautiful and significant basilica dedicated to the founder of the Hungarian state - St. Stephen. Completion of the church was not until 1905, almost 60 years after construction began in 1846.

Ferris wheel - located in the heart of Buda, surrounded by a park, lots of skateboarders and vendors selling Hungarian souvenirs. I didn't ride the ferris wheel but I'm sure the panoramic view would have been nice on a clear day.

Shoe Memorial along the Danube - there are 60 pairs of shoes made of steel placed along the river honoring Holocaust victims who were persecuted and shot into the river during the Arrow Cross terror. I also saw some blue and yellow ribbons for Ukraine and a few flowers + candles paying tribute to the victims.

Tasty treats - Langos, is a Hungarian street food, consisting of fried dough, topped with sour cream, cheese and other meats or vegetables. Gelarto Rosa, an ice cream shop near the Basilica with a variety of rotating flavours, such as sour cherry, kiwi banana, basil lemon, mango, classic chocolate and many more.

Gettó Gulyás - a Hungarian restaurant in the Jewish district, serving traditional classics. Make sure to reserve a spot online or come early as the place gets booked up quickly! We didn't have a reservation but came early and were placed at the bar. The staff were so friendly and the food was very tasty.

*Duck + paprika spread (complimentary)

*Goulash soup

*Hortobágyi pancakes

*Lamb paprikash stew + egg dumplings

Elizabeth bridge - only one of the eight bridges connecting Buda with Pest. The original Elizabeth bridge was destroyed during WW2 and so a new one was built in the 1960's. It's the most elegant bridge in Budapest and is the perfect spot to see the sunset over Buda.

Szimpla Kert - a huge bar also know as "ruin bar" with a variety of décor, a second floor and garden. In addition to the range of cocktails and beers, they also serve "pálinka" a traditional Hungarian fruit spirit, with an alcohol content ranging from 42% to 85%. Two other night life venues we checked out included Instant Club and The Hive, both with great music and tons of pálinka.

Boat cruise - one of my favourite parts is seeing Budapest glowing at night. We took a short cruise down the Danube river to spot some of the city's key buildings all lit up.

#StandWithUkraine - Although the Hungarian government might not be in full support of Ukraine and remains close with Russia, the people in Budapest show their support in various ways. Walking by a bookstore I noticed all the current books in the window are about Ukraine and the fall of the Russian empire. Walking outside of the train station there was immediate support for Ukrainians providing them shelter and clothing and other necessities. I also joined a photo protest in front of St. Stephen’s Basilica, showing the harsh realities of what Ukrainians are living through just on the other side of the eastern Hungarian border.

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P.S. Budapest has some of the prettiest sewage caps (maintenance hole covers) I've ever seen. It's rare that I look down while exploring a city, as I am usually mesmerized by the buildings' design, but I guess it's time to start paying attention to art, not just on walls but on the ground as well.

Thankful for the people who explored the city with me - Jeanine, Phil, George, Saffron, Will, Ronan, Amanda + Bianca. See you all soon!!