Budapest in 3 Days
Budapest in 3 Days
Budapest has been in my bucket list for a long time. In June 2018 I finally had the chance to visit it for 3 days days and I regret not having been there before because it was one of the most surprising and vibrant cities ever.
I only had 3 days to explore it, but I managed to organise my time and to visit the main highlights of this city located at the shoes of Danube river. I was lucky with the weather as it was June and the temperatures had risen around 30 degrees, but I’m sure it must be charming in Winter as well with a snowy blanket and Christmas markets: a great reason to go back!
In this blog post I will share with you my selection of 7 Top Places to visit in Budapest.
St. Stephen’s Basilica
This Basilica, the largest church of Budapest, is located at the heart of the city in a square with a lot of restaurants, bars and gift shops. Walk into the Basilica to admire its beautiful Neo-Classical architecture. Don’t miss the stunning views from the tower. You have to pay to climb the tower or to take an elevator to the top but it’s worth it and you will have a 360 view of the city.
Even if the Basilica square is one of the most touristic areas of Budapest, the area nearby it’s nice to have a walk around, and there are nice options for a meal or a drink.
Parliament
Hungarian Parliament is probably the most known building in Budapest and it embodies the landscape of the city. You can visit the Parliament and buy your tickets online. Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough time to visit it, but I had mesmerising views of the building from the other side of Danube River. The best location to admire it from outside and take beautiful pictures is from Batthyány square (there is a metro station so it’s quite convenient to get there).
Buda Castle
At the heart of the Castle District, the castle building currently hosts the National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum. You have great city views from there and it’s a good experience to walk in the neighbourhood around. To get there you can take the funicular which connects the banks of River Danube with the Castle.
Fisherman’s Bastion
If I had to select my favourite place in Budapest it would definitely be Fisherman’s Bastion. It stole my heart and I loved it so much that I went there twice.
This viewing terrace next to Matthias Church, only 5 minutes walking from Buda Castle, is the perfect scenario for a fairytale movie. It was built in the 19th century to serve as a lookout tower for the best panoramic views in the city.
Chain Bridge
Budapest has several bridges that cross Danube River and connect Buda and Pest, the west and east side of the city. But my favorite one was without any doubt Chain Bridge with its pairs of lions at each of the bridges’ abutments and its beautiful view of the city.
Go there to see the most beautiful sunset in Budapest. You can walk from the centre of the city and St. Stephen Square to the bridge in less than 10m.
Great Market Hall
The perfect spot for a Saturday morning. At the market you can find all types of Hungarian goods, from traditional meals to the typical souvenirs.
Szechenye Thermal Baths
Probably you have already seen pictures of outdoor thermal baths in Budapest surrounded by beautiful yellow buildings. Thermal baths are indeed very popular in Budapest and I decided that I couldn’t leave this beautiful city without experiencing at least the most popular ones, Szechenye, considered the largest baths complex in Europe with 21 pools.
If you like thermal baths you will love it, but be prepared to a crowded venue, especially if you go on a Saturday afternoon, as I did. Buy your tickets online in advance to avoid the queues at the entrance.
Leaving Szechenye towards Andrássy Avenue, you will find the famous Heroe Square with statues featuring Hungarian leaders and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
