From our Travel Explorer magazine, 2020 Edition.

In my opinion, the Hungarian capital is arguably, not only the most culturally rich but also the most beautiful city in Eastern Europe. The city of Budapest, comprised of the hilly ‘Buda’ district on the west side of the river Danube and the flat ‘Pest’ side on the East, was born in 1873.

Within this creative city you can experience everything from the historic treasures such as the glorious Citadel right up to contemporary art including modern selfie museum’s and futuristic cinema’s. The list is endless and although I researched online, the best research was taking information from locals who I found were very warm and accommodating.

I already had an expectation of what to take from my city break to Budapest, having travelled around Europe before, so I was surprised when the usual hustle and bustle of a noisy city was not the case. I did not find any build-up of traffic noisily bumbling around the streets or myself squeezing past other tourists to get the best view of the tick box sites, everything was calm. I really appreciated this.

My first visit to Budapest was in December 2019, giving the perfect opportunity for my partner and I to get into the Christmas spirit. We found the city frosted with Christmas lights, busy with markets and the smell of mulled wine surrounding us. It was exactly as we had hoped.

What were my highlights?

The Széchenyi Thermal Baths were fantastic. With its three outdoor pools, it was so lovely to warm up after our cold walks around Budapest. With the authentic architecture and misty waters, I found the baths romantic and extremely relaxing. If it were up to me, I would have stayed in the pools for hours, but of course, they sadly advise against this. There are also many baths to explore indoors which are lovely.

Another highlight for us was the City Park Ice Rink, which was so picturesque and magical, especially in December, with the backdrop of the Vajdahunyad Castle. They had Christmas music playing out across the rink and after spending a strong thirty minutes trying to keep up with the locals, we sat down with some tasty mulled wine and admitted defeat.

When we ventured over to the Buda district, we decided to tackle the steep Gellért hill up to the Citadel. Now, for my partner who is extremely sporty, this was an absolute highlight, however for myself, I would describe it as more of a struggle… but the views are most definitely worth it! The Citadel/fortress offers you panoramic views of Budapest which are really beautiful.

I was also really surprised to find that Budapest is a foodie’s destination. Every meal that we ate was fantastic, especially the traditional Hungarian dishes (I recommend eating at the restaurant Rustico, the food is divine!) Eating out in Budapest offers great value for money.

The city is peaceful, calm and it made me feel safe, which I always think is important as it allows you to focus on taking in your destination.

I would recommend Budapest for a long weekend break. Direct flights are available from a number of regional airports. Although a long weekend will not be enough for some, you could easily go back time and time again. Budapest would not disappoint you.

BUDAPEST FOR FAMILIES

My Joint MD, Nathan, and his wife Kelly took their little ones Cole (2) and Harry (6) to Budapest for their first city break last summer. Nathan was keen to introduce the children to a foreign city with history and culture and a different way of life. At the same time, as a young family it was important to visit somewhere that was convenient and didn’t raise too many barriers for them, after all it needs to be a break for Mum and Dad too!

Nathan put Budapest to the test and discovered it was a sensible choice with two boys in tow. On arrival they had a private vehicle to take them to the Kempinski Corvinus Budapest Hotel, a 5* property right in the heart of the city. It was easy to explore the city from the hotel, which also featured its own indoor pool which helped entertain the boys at the end of a day sightseeing. They explored the city on foot with a guide on the first day which was ideal to help get their bearings. Their guide assisted with the most suitable metro stations for pushchairs, and the most scenic part of the city to explore on food with things to entertain Cole and Harry as they walked around.

Needless to say, the trip was a great success and the whole family really enjoyed their first city break adventure!

EXAMPLE BUDAPEST BREAK

Enjoy a short break to Budapest staying at the 5* Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest, where Nathan stayed with his family.

• Return flights from Birmingham, East Midlands, Manchester or Leed Bradford
• Return private transfers
• 3 nights in a Deluxe Room
• Rebecca & Nathan’s top tips for enjoying the city
• All from only £799 per person.
• Please contact us for up to date prices and confirmed details.

Contact us to plan and book your holiday to Budapest on 01543 258631.