TOP: LA LIGNE MARIN STRIPED WOOL AND CASHMERE-BLEND SWEATER (ALWAYS THANKFUL FOR NET-A-PORTER’S 2-DAY SHIPPING AND BEAUTIFUL PACKAGING) | PANTS: MADEWELL 9” MID-RISE SKINNY CROP JEANS IN PURE WHITE (30% OFF WITH CODE OHJOY, I BOUGHT THEM ON SALE LAST YEAR TOO AND IT WAS SUCH A STEAL, LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY $39.99 ON SALE VERSUS $128 FULL PRICE, YOU’LL THANK ME LATER) | SHOES: TRETORN RAWLINS 3 SHOES | SUNGLASSES: KAREN WALKER SUPER DUPER STRENGTH ROUND ACETATE SUNGLASSES.
WHAT TO DO.
DAY 1: Direct flights with Eurowings at great prices. You can leave on Friday afternoon and get there on time for a late dinner, get the Bolt Taxi app (it’s the Uber version in Hungary and very reliable), otherwise you’ll be standing in line for the airport taxi forever. If you get there on Friday late evening and need food past 10 PM, head to the ruin bars area and restaurants there are open until late. With only two full days, here’s what we did.
DAY 2: Started at Buda castle, the gardens, walked to Fisherman’s Bastion. Gellert Baths, the slippers, rope, towel, entry package for 2 people was about USD$100 but you can go for as long as you want and enjoy the thermal baths, pool, saunas, steam rooms and outdoor heated pools and Jacuzzis.
Checked out the Ruin bars or Ruin Pubs area to see the nightlife and walk off the dinner, Szimpla kert is the most famous one, the line was two blocks long.
DAY 3: We went to St. Stephen’s Basilica, went inside, walked around the area, they were setting up Christmas markets, which was lovely to see this time of the year. Then we headed to Dogany Street Synagogue and the Jewish Quarter, very historic and a must-go on your tour list. Next, we walked through Andrassy Avenue, which is the Fifth Avenue in Budapest with all the high-end shops, then went to the Hungarian State Opera House, the Parliament building which is beautiful in the day and evening, with all the lights across the bridge, it was one my favorite landmarks to visit. The Danube promenade (from Elizabeth bridge to Chain bridge is where you’ll find the famous shoes on the Danube), then walked to Heroes Square, and the Vajdahunyad castle and the Szechenyi thermal baths.
WHERE TO EAT: Highly recommend having lunch at Halaszbastya Etterem for a great view of the city, Goulash soup, wine and a lovely warm goat cheese salad, no reservations but just smile, be nice and the wait is not long, it was the perfect pause when it began to rain. Mercatino Enoteca and Restaurant was lovely, it makes you think you’re in Italy for a moment, I tried the lentil soup, mozzarella and tomato appetizer, risotto with beef and mushrooms and tomato pasta plus the place is beautiful. Dinner at Leo Bistro, great ambiance, live music, good service and good food, and Twenty Six, a cool, plant-filled venue with a Mediterranean eatery & a coffee shop, the DJ was great and the atmosphere was fantastic. Go for a cocktail at the bare minimum. Tokio was another great recommendation.
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