Bath and Barhop in Budapest
Budapest is a city full of culture, history, food and recreation. I was lucky to travel to Budapest in August 2017 when it was quite warm during the day and pleasant at night. August through September is the perfect time to visit. Great weather! The party scene is fabulous in Budapest. A ton of bars, clubs and yacht parties. There are many restaurants and sightseeing spots with so much history. Walking is the best way to explore the city but Hop-on Hop-off is an easy alternative. Budapest is divided into districts. District V and District VII are definitely the most happening. Remember to buy some Paprika - the city is famous for its spice! Read on to see how I spent 3 days in Budapest (and would totally go back again).
Baths
If you are reading about Budapest, you will read about thermal baths. It is known as the City of Baths. Who doesn't like baths and spas? From relaxing pools to more energetic bar baths, you'll find them all in this amazing city. One of the most famous bath parties was Szechenyi, which is a must. If you have time for just one spa, this is it! Szechenyi is also uber popular and well known for its night parties on the weekend. If you're seeking to refresh then do the baths towards the end of your trip after tiring yourself from sightseeing, partying, and eating.
Ruin Bars and Parties
Beside the baths, Budapest is also famous for the Ruin Bar Crawl and great bar scene with awesome music, friendly people and amazing cocktails in District VII. Make sure you order the locals' favorite 'Palinka'. This bar tour is a great way to explore the best bars and costs around 10-15 Euros. They take you to a ton of bars and your fee includes a drink or two. Some famous bars include - Szimpla Kert, Kuplung, and Instant. For bar fanatics, make sure you visit Gozsdu Udvar. We were lucky to find a super party happening just under the Chain Bridge. This restaurant converted into a club with a great DJ playing the best 90s tunes. Also visited Akvarium, a glass bottom pool bar where people cooled their feet in the water while enjoying drinks and admiring the city views.
History and Culture
Budapest Parliament
Budapest Parliament building is the third largest in the world and very beautiful! It's one of the highlights of the city and perfect for memorable pics. It's just as stunning at night so plan an hour long walk to take in the night sights. Follow the route by the river and walk to the Chain Bridge after the Parliament.
Buda Castle - Hike or take the elevator up this castle for an amazing view of the city from the top. You can see most of the city from here. A must visit!
Citadella - The Buda Castle area has three structures like you haven't seen before. The Citadella is one of them and according to history was an important military fortress. The view of the night sky makes for a dramatic backdrop and memorable visit.
Fishermans Bastion - Usually folks drive up or take the elevator and combine this with the Buda Castle tour. But I took a different route. Very few know about these hidden stairs that take you to the Bastion. The hike was so green so I recommend doing this just before the sunset. It's quite a bit of stairs - so be prepared to get a little breathless if you are like me who doesn't have the best stamina in town :) The Bastion has cute little shops, restaurants and coffee shops. The panoramic view and the castle-like structure is a stunner!
Food
No vacation is without delicious food. There are tons of restaurants in Budapest. My personal favorite was the New York Cafe. Beautiful interiors, live music, and their amazing food and coffee make this cafe a must-visit. Remember to make reservation if you're part of a large group.
Some local delicacies include - Golash, Langos, Fozelek, Somloi Galuska. Enjoy these before you leave!
Skip
Do everything but the cruise that is included with the Hop-on-Hop-off. It is a major waste of time. I recommend skip it unless it is a fancy dinner cruise that's well worth the money.
Hope you enjoyed reading this post! The above itinerary should keep you busy for good 3 days in Budapest. It's a city for everyone but particularly perfect for millennials who are experience seekers and bar lovers. Leave your comments or questions below. Would love to hear from you!
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Guest Author
Karishma Gupta is a Software Engineer by degree, Technical Marketing Engineer by profession and blogger by aspiration! Read more from her at www.chicandconfused.com.
