A city that suits spring and summer just as much as autumn and winter, Budapest is brilliant whenever you visit. On the one hand, there are art deco bath houses, grand cafés and boulevards dressed to impress. And on the other hand, you’ve got Eastern Bloc architecture and memories of a turbulent past, making it a real cultural melting pot to explore.
Hungarian
Hungarian Forint (Ft)
+1hr
£1.40
£24.60
3.5hrs
Let’s start with the banks of the River Danube, where you’ll find the spectacular spires of the Hungarian Parliament Building, the epic Chain Bridge, and Buda Castle looking down from its hilltop home. Make sure you tick off Heroes’ Square and St Stephen’s Basilica too. Then check out the ‘ruin’ pubs, which make use of rundown spaces with things like vintage furniture and fairy lights.
Spring sees the Easter Markets take over town, while summer’s events calendar hots up with big-name festivals like Sziget. And you can treat yourself to an open-air soak in the sun at Széchenyi’s thermal baths. While winter’s all about hillside sledging, followed by a warming steam at Gellert Baths and hot bowls of spicy goulash.
Budapest sparkles over Christmas, when hundreds of bustling stalls move in to celebrate the season. Vörösmarty Square sets up shop as one of the largest Christmas markets in Europe, complete with a giant advent calendar and carol singers. If you have a sweet tooth, don’t miss the sticky honey cookies.
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