Budapest in 24 Hours

Traveling with someone else is very different than traveling solo. This trip to Budapest (and Vienna) was my husband’s idea. With little planning (if you read my last post, you know how I like to plan my solo trips), we left Istanbul to visit Budapest and Vienna. My husband wanted to get out of town for a few days. I aimed to determine if our first stop, Budapest, was one of those places I wanted to return to for a more extended stay.

Having only three days, we decided one was for Budapest and the rest for Vienna. Twenty-four hours is insufficient for learning any city well, but it did give me the ability to feel the city’s vibe, all I need to know in deciding a future return visit.

Leaving the airport, we took the Airport bus 100 E just outside the airport doors. If a city has decent public transportation, we use it and forego renting a car. Budapest has good public transportation that you should use if you visit. The ride took forty-five minutes into the city, dropping us five minutes away from the hotel. We paid for the ride on the bus using a credit card for about $6.50, and the trip from the airport allowed us to see the neighborhoods around the city.

My first view of the city included a McDonald’s and a guy walking past in an LA Laker’s t-shirt. For a second, I thought I was somewhere other than Budapest. East LA, maybe? No, not quite there either, as there was little graffiti. The misspelled Chinese t-shirts sold in Turkey aside, frequent travelers quickly learn that marketing is the same worldwide, even though the Budapest McDonald’s hamburger might not taste the same as the one you are used to. The bus continued past Soviet-era apartment blocks and other depressingly gray structures until we reached the city center, a definite upgrade in scenery.

St. Stephen’s Day — The State Foundation Day of Hungary

Arriving in Budapest on August 20, which is Hungarian National Day, Europe's largest fireworks are held dramatically over the Danube River in the evening. They were magnificent, and you can watch them here and here.

The park by the river was set up with tents and food vendors, with crowds camping hours early to watch the fireworks. The Chain Bridge was closed to pedestrians even though the fireworks were not scheduled for hours. We decided to roam the city, and for me, the architecture in Budapest was the best part of the trip. I spent most of my day looking up.v(Traveling hint: As a frequent faller, looking up anywhere for extended periods of time isn’t a good idea.)

If you want a deeper dive, visit the World Traveler website and take a video walking tour of the city (I don’t like to walk and video) here.

As usual, I took a lot of photographs. I’m giving you only a sample here: The Four Seasons Gresham Palace (above) and the towers in the Jewish Quarter (below). For the complete gallery of photos, you can visit my website here.

Budapest has more green space than I expected. The streets provide outdoor cafes and comfortable places to meander, even in the heat of August. But it was hot. While tourists packed the Pest side of the city, it was empty when we were on the Buda side. Because of the heat? Or because there was little to see or do during the day. Again, with no planning, I had no idea. But it was calm, and I liked the neighborhoods.

My future travel will have to be in the spring or fall to avoid the crowds and the heat. While the temperature here was the same as in Istanbul, the humidity was higher, causing it to be a bit miserable during the day. If you can avoid the crowds and the heat of the summer, you should plan to do so.

The W Hotel Budapest

My husband has a knack for finding the newest hotel in any chain, a product of his employment years ago when he traveled extensively. This trip was no exception. The magnificent hotel sits directly across the street from the Opera House.

The extensively redesigned hotel in the Drechsler Palace building has been open for only a month. As we checked in, the lobby was filled with security personnel we later learned were for someone important from Qatar. Once we wound through the hotel up to our room, I also felt like royalty.

The entryway into the hotel (above) and our fifth-floor room (below) with windows where we could also watch part of the fireworks.

When we travel, we order food from that country in the restaurants, and my husband likes to go to a concert. We saved the concert for Vienna but found traditional Hungarian dishes, such as goulash and a glass of red Hungarian wine, at Belvárosi Lugas Restaurant. Both were great but a bit heavier in the heat, better for a fall or winter trip.

We had breakfast at the hotel the following day since we were off to Vienna. While the food was excellent, the price was extreme for non-royal visitors like us.

My Impressions

For me, a different trip to Hungary would include something other than Budapest. I want to visit the towns along the Danube River or take a riverboat tour (maybe, even though I’m not much for tours) in the spring or fall. The architecture alone is worth a visit, but do yourself a favor and plan your visit to see more of the city, the outskirts, and less of the tourists.

The Hungarian State Opera House.