I knew we were going to love Budapest before I’d even booked the flights. Everyone who had visited had tipped it off as one of their favourite European cities to visit in January and predicted it would be right up our street – they were certainly right! It was the best weekend celebrating my fiancés birthday. It’s got a ‘romantic’ feeling like Paris with it’s beautiful Parisian-style streets, perfect for sipping lattes and eating croissants. Not to mention it’s emerging food scene and stunning architecture around every corner you turn. It’s a winner for sure.
Here’s my round up of my time in Budapest, should you be lucky enough to ever find yourself taking a trip to that part of Europe. Also, just want to say thank you for all your recommendations it really did make a difference in helping us decide what to do.
How To Get Around
I managed to find flights from London Stansted via Ryanair which took around 2 hours 15 minutes each way. The flights in total cost around £60 each for a return trip. Budapest doesn’t have Uber, they have something similar called Taxify. We downloaded the app and it works in the same way Uber does. You order and pay from your phone. We opted for a bus from the airport to our hotel as it seemed straight forward from what I’d heard. We got bus number 100E to the centre from the bus stop outside the entrance to the airport and it cost the equivalent of £2 each.
Once we were there we found ourselves doing a lot of walking as sometimes it’s the best way to see the city, on foot. Our hotel was centrally located and within easy reach, which was a bonus. They also have the trams that run regularly that you can hop on and off, if you want to save those legs!
Where To Stay
This is my favourite part when planning a city break, finding a hotel. I booked us in to Hotel Collect via booking.com. I couldn’t recommend it enough. We had the suite bedroom, with a balcony overlooking the park. It was one of the most Instagram-able places I’ve stayed. It was beautifully decorated throughout, was warm, cosy, had the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept in and serve the best coconut lattes, fact.
Where To Eat/Drink
Eating & drinking is generally one of my favourite parts of visiting a new place. In fact, it’s my favourite part of the day at home as well. I always have a rough idea of places I’d like to visit before hand, it saves time when you get there deciding on where to eat and avoids disappointment.
Stika Budapest – Known in Budapest for their incredible brunches, we were lucky enough to get a seat. However, be prepared to queue on the weekend as it’s fairly small inside. I chose the crispy eggs which included two poached eggs, crispy bacon, hollandaise sauce on two english muffins. We continued to feast on the pancakes with maple syrup which were equally as wonderful. I’d highly recommend stopping by here, it was my fav brunch whilst in Budapest.
Espresso Embassy – We stumbled across this popular coffee shop to hibernate from the cold for a short while. Serving delicious coffee and banana bread, ideal for an afternoon pick-me-up.
Deryne Bisztro – A more luxurious setting for brunch. Dreamy interiors, a live band and a good hearty breakfast.
New York Cafe – One not to be missed. They seriously serve the best hot chocolate, I mean it was the most expensive hot chocolate I’ve ever had but totally worth every mouthful. The interior is decorated with marble tiles, with brass decor, with silk and velvet and there are gorgeous galleries, staircases, chandeliers and paintings as well.
Stika 
Stika 
New York Cafe
Fekete – This busy cafe is packed with locals, which is a reflection on the delicious food they serve up. It’s the perfect spot for a quick breakfast or lunch and has a selection of quiches, cakes, pastries and pancakes.
Doblo Wine Bar – A recommendation from a few of you lovely people on Instagram. If you’re in to cheese, wine and live music this spot it just for you.
Rabbit Hole – You’ll need an invite to head to this speak easy bar. Head to Doblo wine bar like we did and ask the bartender for an invite and information. She will then give you a playing card to access the bar nearby. They serve amazing cocktails and there’s someone playing the piano, it sure makes for a fun night out.
Comme Chez Soi – Unfortunately this place was fully booked whilst we were there. I’d book in advance for a table, I’ve heard great things. With over 3000 reviews on trip advisor all being 5*, it’s got to be worth a visit.
Good Spirit Whisky & Cocktail Bar – If you’re heading out for drinks then don’t miss this place. They have some pretty crazy cocktail combinations and have over 500 different spirits to try. They have a vast choice of gin-based cocktails .
Cirkusz – This is a crazy, popular brunch spot. Great coffee, fresh orange juice and I was more than happy with what I ordered (poached eggs, aged ham, guacamole on sourdough bread). You definitely get your moneys worth.
Cafe Kor – You’ll find authentic hungarian food here. Be sure to make a booking here. Everything we had was delicious.
Mazel Tov – Found in the Jewish Quarter a Middle Eastern restaurant serving Israeli inspired dishes. Beautifully decorated with hanging plants and open kitchen. Really enjoyed the sharwarma plate and the falafel & hummous.
Madal Coffee – One of the most popular coffee spots in town with a total of three branches across the city. They roast their own coffee every week in Budapest, serving a lovely flat white.
Mazel Tov 
Madal Coffee 
Cirkusz
What To Do
Gellert Spa – Built in 1918, this thermal bath features four thermal – therapeutic pools, six other indoor pools and two outdoor pools. Expect to pay around £20 for entrance and a cabin or locker rental. Be sure to take a towel and some flip flops with you as they do tend to charge extra. We purchased our tickets online before we went, however tickets didn’t come available to book until the day before, just a heads up.
Visit Fisherman’s Bastion – If you’re looking for views in Budapest, look no further than Fisherman’s Bastion. We made our way up to here after a fare few steps. This neo-gothic terrace is named after the medieval guild of fishermen who protected Budapest from invasion. It’s situated on the Buda bank of the Danube, on the Castle hill, and is probably in my opinion the most beautiful part of Budapest. You can pretty much see a panoramic view of the city,
Experience a Ruin bar – Szimpla Kert is one of the coolest, most famous ruin bars in Budapest. So unusual and fun! They came about after the neighbourhood was damaged and neglected after World War II. The owners of the bars usually didn’t have enough money to furnish or decorate them properly so they were filled with anything they could find – cheap old furniture, free artwork and graffiti on walls . The bars looked so run down that’s where the name ‘Ruin Bar’ came from. A must see if you’re in Budapest.
Crossing the Chain Bridge – This was the first permanent stone-bridge connecting the Buda and Pest across the Danube river. It’s a great photo opportunity and one not to be missed.
Explore the city centre on foot – Budapest is the sort of city which can be easily explored on foot. We managed to rack up thousands of steps each day just wandering around the streets and alleys.
