Budapest, Hungary (June 2026)

Kristin and I planned to take our first river cruise with Gate1 Travel. It starts in Budapest and goes upstream to Regensburg, Germany. I flew from ICN Korea to Budapest and Kristin flew from Atlanta, for us to meet at the airport. We spent a few days in Budapest. 

Budapest is a beautiful city. It is often called the Spice of Europe, the Pearl of Europe, or Paris of the East. The city was created as a result of combining two major cities and another small one. The two major cities were Buda and Pest. These two cities were located on both sides of the Danube River. We explored the city using a 48-hour Hop-on Hop-off bus program. 

The first stop was at Gellért Hill on the Beda side (the hilly side). This hill overlooks the river and both cities. At the top, there was a statue called the Liberty Statue. The name Gellért originated from Saint Gerard, who was thrown to his death from the hill. 

One of the famous things to do in Budapest is the thermal bath. The most famous one is Széchenyi. We went there to enjoy the thermal bath. It was very crowded outside, so we stayed inside. We could rent a locker to keep our valuables. 

Near the hotel we stayed was Dohany Street. There was Street Food Karavan and Szimpla Bar. We just passed by. 

Nearby was Dohány Street Synagogue that stood out among the low-rise buildings surrounding it. It is the largest synagogue in Europe and a powerful symbol of Jewish emancipation, cultural integration, and Holocaust history. We could not get in because it was Saturday, their Sabbath.

The River Danube flows right through the middle of the city, and there were many statues of interest, including this statue of an artist. 

 

Along the River Danube, a street train was running. It would be a good idea to take this train to experience the beauty along the river.

On the Buda side were many churches, palace buildings, and the famous Fisherman's Bastion. You could see them across the river on the flat Pest side. 

Budapest's most significant landmark is the Parliament building right along the river. It is one of the most beautiful parliament buildings in the world for its Neo-Gothic style architecture. At night, it is lit, and its glowing beauty is magnificent. 

Another landmark not to miss in Budapest is the Great Market Hall. Its building is gigantic and houses 180 stalls and shops. You can buy traditional Hungarian paprika, Pick winter salami, and traditional food like Langos. 

Another famous landmark in Budapest is New York Cafe. It is often called the Most Beautiful Cafe in the world. Its magnificent Belle Époque architecture presents a very elegant atmosphere inside the cafe. 

Buda is hilly. If you do not want to climb up the stairs, you may use a funicular that runs from the ground level to the top.

Once you reach the top, there is a wide-open area where you can find many buildings, such as Fisherman's Bastion, St. Matthias Church, St. Stephen's Basilica, and Buda Castle. 

On the street, you could easily spot Hungary's famous food, like chimney cake, shown below, and Goulash.  

The signs are pretty well posted here and there, making it easy to walk around.

Over the River Danube, there are several bridges. Famous are the Liberty Bridge, Chain Bridge, and Elizabeth Bridge. The most famous one is the Chain Bridge shown below.

The Pest side is flat and packed with shops and restaurants. We stayed on the Pest side. Naturally, we spent more time exploring the Pest side. One of the famous recent landmarks is the Museum of Ethnography. It is an open cultural space where past and present converge. Its architecture is quite unique. There is a park on its sloped roof, and people can walk and play.   

Probably, one of the most famous places to visit on the Pest side is Vajdahunyad Castle. It is located in the City Park close to the Hero's Square. It houses the Museum of Hungarian Architecture.

Near the Vajdahunyad Castle was the famous Heroes' Square. Around the square were a couple of large museums. The square shows the statues of the country's heroes, including the Saint Stephen. 

As the cruise ship began sailing in the evening, we were able to see the night scenery of the city landmarks. How beautiful were they?

We have been to Budapest, but it remains a city where we want to live for a month to explore more. Bye bye, Budapest! - Jeffrey