{"id":28404,"date":"2024-10-18T14:24:19","date_gmt":"2024-10-18T03:24:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/?p=28404"},"modified":"2025-01-10T10:14:10","modified_gmt":"2025-01-09T23:14:10","slug":"things-to-do-in-budapest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/things-to-do-in-budapest\/","title":{"rendered":"Budapest and Beyond: 11 Things to Do in Hungary"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Museum-palaces, riverside cruises and some of Europe’s most spectacular baths \u2013 here\u2019s how to discover Budapest\u2019s best.<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From cave-fed hot springs in Art Nouveau bathhouses to fairy-tale castles, Hungary\u2019s capital \u2013 the convergence point between ancient Obuda, cosmopolitan Pest and the royal city of Buda \u2013 is packed with three cities\u2019 worth of things to see, eat and do. Read on to discover our guide to having the best time in Budapest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

1. Soak in a Budapest thermal spa <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hungary is blessed with more than a thousand thermal springs, with over 120 located in Budapest, aptly known as Europe\u2019s \u2018City of Spas.\u2019 The city\u2019s love affair with hot springs dates back almost two millennia, shaped by the thermal culture of Celtic tribes, Roman legionnaires and Ottoman invaders, with many of the latter\u2019s spectacular sunlit hammams remaining today. Most baths operate year-round, and many are architectural masterpieces \u2013 Gell\u00e9rt Baths\u2019 Art Nouveau stained-glass windows, marble columns and vivid mosaics make for a breathtaking backdrop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Cruise the Danube River <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Europe\u2019s second-longest river ambles through Budapest, offering the perfect chance to sail through the capital at night, beneath historic bridges and past the city\u2019s illuminated monuments, including the Hungarian Parliament Building and Buda Castle. Day cruises offer a convenient, unobstructed way to see the city\u2019s twin faces, the royal walled city of Buda and once-independent Pest, formally divided by the waters of the Danube. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Explore caves in the Buda Hills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Budapest\u2019s western hinterland offers picturesque walking trails, grand castles and a vast network of caves, sculptured over centuries by thermal spring water bubbling to the surface. For first-time explorers, Szeml\u0151hegyi Cave is a must-see: easily explored in about an hour, the cave dazzles with its brilliant crystals and unique, flower-shaped mineral formations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Admire the riverside Hungarian Parliament Building <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Big, bold and beautiful, even in a city as jam-packed with spectacular architecture as Budapest, the Hungarian Parliament Building stands triumphant. Still the largest building in the country, this Gothic Revival masterpiece sits on the bank of the Danube river and is well worth seeing in person (especially from the comfort of a river cruise). Inside, you\u2019ll find the Holy Crown of Hungary, used in coronation ceremonies for almost a millennium. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Head out to the Etyek-Buda wine region <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Drive just half an hour west to see Budapest fall away, replaced by rolling hills and traditional villages. The region has been renowned for its red wine for centuries: today, sandy slopes, fertile loam soils and a cool environment make it a white wine powerhouse. Vineyards like Etyeki Kuria make for a wonderful place to sample the region\u2019s abundance of remarkable chardonnays, pinot gris and rieslings.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. See a real-life fairy-tale castle in \u00d6reghegy <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Bory<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Architect and sculptor Jen\u0151 Bory is best known for his spectacular concrete masterpiece, Bory Castle, the result of four decades of tireless labour. While seemingly plucked from another time, the castle is an ingenious blend of traditions, styles and influences, with countless mythological and folkloric references peppered throughout. Less than an hour\u2019s drive from Budapest, the castle and surrounding fortresses make for an enchanting day trip. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Explore Hungary\u2019s largest Baroque palace <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

G\u00f6d\u00f6ll\u0151 Royal Palace has seen a lot of history: built by a 16th<\/sup>-century aristocrat and presented to Emperor Francis Joseph I for use as a springtime royal retreat, it later served as Soviet barracks before restoration and conservation began in 1985. Today the palace holds permanent exhibits dedicated to the palace\u2019s illustrious past, including its time under the German-Austrian Habsburg ruling family, its use as the country residence of Hungary\u2019s Queen Elisabeth and its role during wartime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Peruse art at the Hungarian National Gallery <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Located within the massive Buda Castle, the Hungarian National Museum is the largest public collection of works on the development of the country\u2019s fine arts. Exhibits range from 11th<\/sup>–<\/sup>century stone carvings to contemporary oil paintings and sculptures by Hungarian masters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Taste everything from traditional goulash to modern Michelin-starred cuisine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s more to Hungarian cuisine than goulash, though you\u2019d be wise not to sleep on the country\u2019s paprika-fueled national dish. Budapest\u2019s position as an emerging culinary wonderland is backed by seven Michelin-starred restaurants, including Salt (one star), plating spectacularly minimalist takes on Hungarian classics. The bar scene is just as good, with marble-and-copper speakeasy Black Swan boasting its very own Vintage Negroni Room, filled with hard-to-find and unique spirits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. Step back in time at a living museum<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The riverside town of Szentendre \u2013 located just a 40-minute train ride from Budapest \u2013 offers the largest open-air museum in Hungary, and the rare chance to see how local villages lived centuries ago. A wealth of authentic buildings have been relocated from across the country to build the exhibit, including an entire market town from the country\u2019s northern mountain ranges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

11. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Holl\u00f3k\u0151 village <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The deliberately preserved old village of Holl\u00f3k\u0151 is a startling example of life in Hungary before the agricultural revolution. The historical site features a medieval castle, orchards, vineyards and a church, with many peasant houses and old buildings now operating as shops, museums or restaurants (the artisan cheese shop and doll exhibition are must-sees). Admittance to the site \u2013 just a two-hour drive from Budapest \u2013 is free.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Discover Hungary<\/h3>\t\n\t
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