If you are heading to Hungary, you can hardly miss out on the capital city. The question that plagued me while I was planning was, is Budapest worth visiting? I asked around and I was given such a mix of opinions. It is pretty unsurprising since Budapest is a capital city and has such a diverse environment.
I’m a strong believer in experiencing a place for yourself. This is because everyone has such unique experiences when they visit a city. Since we were heading through, I decided that we would not lose much if we stopped. Plus there were plenty of cool day trips from Budapest that we could head out on if we did not like the city.
Luckily for us (or maybe unluckily because we were constantly short of time!) Budapest ws amazing. Our five days were packed to the brim with things to do. Budapest does have its charms but I can see why for many, it does not always live up to their expectations.
So is Budapest worth visiting? I’m going to tell you why we loved it and a few things that we did not like about the city too.
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Table of Contents
Is Budapest Worth Visiting: The Pros
Let’s talk about why Budapest is so amazing first shall we? My mind is literally brimming with points because we got back from this trip recently and the city just took me by surprise. I think, I really wasn’t sure what to expect from it.
You know how you can watch video after video and still feel like you haven’t caught the essence of a place? That’s exactly what Budapest felt like to me. That was till I reached there. Here’s why I fell in love with the city.
1. It’s The Capital Of Hungary
So yes, I get that it is a totally odd statement to make when it comes to answering the question, is Budapest worth visiting? But hear me out… The capital cities of every country tend to reflect the culture of the country as a whole. They tend to have a mix of residents from all over the country and it is a great place to start out on a journey.
Budapest is no different. It is a fun, busy, bustling city that is filled with people to the brim. You will find food from all over here and I don’t mean just from Hungary.
2. Budapest Is Lively
Is Budapest worth visiting? If you love lively towns with plenty of nightlife, you will find that it is. Budapest was one of the most bustling towns that I have visited.
The vibe however is very different when compared to cities like Amsterdam and Paris. The city has a slightly slower pace.
Nightlife in Budapest is particularly active. The streets change after dusk and you will find that locals and tourists alike head out to party.
The main center of the city has loads of places where you can check out the party scene.
Some of the popular places are the ruin bar, the rooftop bars like the 360 bar and even just the restaurants. We did not head to these places. Instead we found ourselves a nice wine bar which was built in an old cellar. It had a nice ambiance and we enjoyed the music while we were there.
3. It Has So Much Art On Display
Budapest has a lot of art on display. You don’t even have to head into the museums to catch a glance of these pieces. One of the places that I really loved walking along was the banks of the river. Here there are numerous sculptures that are installed.
Have you heard of the ‘Shoes On The Danube’? It is a memorial to the Hungarian Jews who died here. This took place in the winter of 1944-45. The Arrow cross men forced them to remove their shoes before killing them and letting the waters of the Danube wash away their bodies. This was so that they could use or trade the shoes that were left behind.
There are lots of other sculptures that have been installed but the one above really strikes a chord when you think about the history it is linked to.
Another particular piece that I liked was that of a painter with his canvas. The sculpture is so expressive and the positioning of it is just perfect.
4. The Buildings Are Stunning
While we are on the topic of art, I have to talk about the buildings in Budapest. Most of them are works of art in themselves.
There were many buildings that caught our eye while we were in the city, some of the most prominent ones were the Hungarian Parliament building (one of my all time favorites to photograph!) Matthias church, St Stephen’s Basilica and the Central market hall.
You can see why I love the Hungarian parliament building. Even though the skies were grey and the rain was pouring on our heads, the blurry photograph that I clicked still manages to look majestic!
5. It Is A Foodie’s Paradise
Budapest is a true foodie’s paradise. There are loads of great restaurants, cafes, bars, etc that you can head out to. Each one caters to their own specific clientele. Plus, you will find that there are speciality restaurants, so if you are craving for Indian, Thai, Italian or any other kind of cuisine. Odds are you will find a restaurant that serves the authentic deal in Budapest.
Now the cost of food does not have to bore a hole into your wallet. There are plenty of local markets where you can buy some great snacks. These are at a very reasonable price. The trick is to head out of the main touristy part of the city.
6. The City Is Budget Friendly
Budapest is very budget friendly for a European city. This is especially true when you consider that it is a capital city. You can easily find budget accommodation which is very important as far as I’m concerned. The street food and local stalls provide a nice variety of local food options which are very pocket friendly and getting around on foot is super easy.
So is Budapest worth visiting? If you are looking for a bustling, happening budget friendly city in Europe then this is the place to be.
7. It Is Walkable
One of the things that I really loved about Budapest is that the city was walkable. Now bear in mind that for most part we pushed a double stroller through the town because we had a 2 year old and a 4 year old in tow. We usually tend to walk 15-20 kms in a day so this was the kids to hop in whenever they wanted and it gave them a chance to snooze too.
Most of the city was walkable. We did find a lot of places along the embankment of the Danube that needed extra maneuvering or had steps that we had to carry the stroller down so it was not always accessible for anyone who isn’t walking. We faced the same issue when we headed up to Buda castle.
Overall I would say that the city is walkable. So is Budapest worth visiting? If you love a lively walkable city then this will fit right in. You can see why this city just fit with our vibe.
8. Public Transport Is Great
Budapest is also well connected with the rest of Europe. You could take a train and get here which is pretty convenient. There is a central airport that connects it to both Europe and beyond which is great. Plus there are even cruises that will take you along the Danube to cities like Vienna! But that’s how the city is connected to cities and countries outside the borders of Hungary.
Even within the city you will find that the transport is pretty extensive so if you don’t want to wear out your shoes walking everywhere, try out the local transport system.
9. It Has Loads Of Museums
If you have done your research on all the things to do in Budapest, you have probably realized that there are loads of museums in the city. To someone who loves history and art like me, it makes Budapest a virtual paradise. The only drawback is that you can’t really visit them all in a short duration so you have to pick and choose!
Is Budapest Worth Visiting: The Cons
Now I don’t claim that Budapest is a perfect city. Far from it. It has its quirks and you just need to know if you can deal with those quirks. These were a few things that I noticed.
1. The City Is Crowded
One of the reasons why many people may avoid Budapest is because the city gets very very crowded.
Now we traveled during shoulder season and still found the crowds a bit intimidating. If you travel during summer or during the Christmas season then the crowds really pick up.
The Christmas markets in Budapest are one the biggest attractions in the city. Mind you, during the peak season, the cost of everything from accommodation to food rises a lot!
2. Finding Parking Is Near Impossible
One of my pet peeves is that the parking in Budapest is almost non-existent. Okay, I may have exaggerated a bit there but hear me out. Street parking is almost impossible to get especially if you arrive during the busy hours of the day. This is particularly true if you have booked accommodation in the center of the city. Your best bets are parking lots which are very expensive.
3. Souvenir Shops Are Very Expensive
The souvenirs are pretty amazing in Budapest but if you think that you can walk into just any souvenir shop in the center of the city and get a decently priced souvenir, you are mistaken.
I have found that almost all the souvenir shops in the center have really extortionate prices.
The best thing to do is to head out a bit further and do your shopping.
So as you can see, Budapest is a hotpot of activity. There is always something going on. If you aren’t a fan of the activity then Budapest may not be your favorite place to be. On the other hand if you love museums, art, history, architecture, food, festivals and loads of activity, you will find that Budapest has it all.