🇭🇺 Budapest – Fairytales, Spas, and Surprising Adventures
Budapest — or “Budda” as we call it — completely surprised us. The city is beautiful, clean, and welcoming, and from the moment we arrived, we were excited to explore.
🏨 Hotel and First Impressions
Our taxi driver from the airport was friendly, and the hotel was the cheapest we stayed at on our travels — yet surprisingly charming. The room had artwork on the walls that felt homemade, patched on with care, giving the space personality and a cozy feel.
Hungry from the journey, we took a quick walk and found a really cool eatery, which set the tone for our culinary adventures in the city.
🌊 Spas and Winter Walks
One highlight we had been dreaming about was visiting the famous Budapest spas. It was winter, and the idea of a hot soak sounded perfect. Unfortunately, we didn’t have swimming hats, so we couldn’t use the big swimming pool — only the smaller, warm chilling pools. The space felt a little run-down, but walking there and exploring the area was part of the experience.
🏛️ Architecture and Fairytales
Budapest is full of stunning sights. We were impressed by the Parliament building, and crossing the river to the castle tower felt like stepping into a fairytale. The sunny weather made walking along the bridges and streets even more magical.
We had a quick coffee at a very old-looking café, soaking in the atmosphere, then continued exploring.
🕯️ Reflective Moments
On our way back, we passed the Shoes on the Danube, a moving memorial to the Holocaust. The energy of the place was heavy and thoughtful, and we took a quiet moment to reflect. It was an emotional pause amid the city’s charm.
🍲 Food Adventures
After walking through the city, we got hungry and I wanted to try street food from an old lady, which was delicious and authentic. Later, we enjoyed a meal at a traditional Hungarian-style restaurant, complete with murals and statues in town that made the experience visually rich and inspiring.
🗺️ Places We Visited
Parliament Building – stunning architecture, intricate details, and winter sunlight reflections
Castle Tower & Buda Side – fairytale vibes and panoramic city views
Bridges over the Danube – walking across the river, seeing the city from different angles
Shoes on the Danube – emotional and reflective memorial
Café Loki-style cafés / Old cafés – cozy stops for coffee and local treats
Traditional Hungarian Restaurant & Street Food Stalls – authentic flavours, murals, and street art
💛 Memories of Budapest
Surprising beauty and cleanliness
Parliament building and castle tower — fairytale moments
Street food adventures and cozy restaurants
Reflection at the Shoes on the Danube memorial
Murals and statues around the city adding artistic inspiration
Budapest will always remain a city of surprises for us. Initially hesitant, my husband and I left truly happy, carrying home both memories and inspiration.
