Budapest - Most Photogenic City in Europe

Courtesy :- Google Images

Budapest is the largest city and capital of Hungary has a diverse range of tourist attractions, from museums, galleries, churches and thermal baths and spas. Budapest has a rich culture and history which makes you want to know more about it.

The Danube river divides this magnificent city into sides with buda on the west of the bank and pest to the east. Buda is the suburban part of the city, with simplistic houses and streets. You are more likely to stay on the Pest side of the city as a tourist as this is where most hotels and hostels are. Pest is the eastern flat land, which is where some of the most important structures reside such as the Hungarian Parliament, Heroes' Square. The city offers a range of things to do for all kinds of people, from things to do for the history enthusiasts to things to do for the food enthusiasts and party enthusiasts. Parks, majestic synagogues, intriguing museums, churches, islands and thermal baths, Budapest has it all. You might love Budapest for different reasons, but you definitely will love Budapest.

Currency in Budapest :-

Euros can be used for the major tourist attractions in Budapest, but Forints are needed for the smaller shops and roadside eateries. Credit Cards such as Visa, MasterCard and American Express are widely accepted at most restaurants and shopping centers, however, you need to carry cash to smaller markets.

Exchanging Money in Budapest :-

There are many options of exchanging currencies in Budapest. Many currency exchange kiosks can be found in the tourist areas and near shopping centers, usually offer the best exchange rates. Money can be exchanged at banks at a surcharge. ATMs are easily found in Budapest, these dispense money at your bank's daily exchange rate. Currency exchange at airports is possible at at a significant surcharge of about 10% - 15%. CorrectChange and Northline are two of the popular currency exchange booths, current exchange rates are published online along with the location of these booths in Budapest.

Nightlife in Budapest :-

One of the places cited for its great nightlife, Budapest is also called the party capital of Hungary. The city gets into its party mode from Wednesday through Saturday. Budapest has plenty of bars and clubs spread over the entire city. There are also plenty of clubs where you can let loose your hair and enjoy on the dance floor. Most of these are open till late in the night. Some Budapest specific patry options are the ruin pubs, spa parties, night party on the Danube. The ruin pubs have been opened in some old buildings and factory outlets on the brink of destruction. The spa parties are hosted at the thermal baths only during summers and have great light shows.

Shopping in Budapest :-

One of the main shopping area is Central Market Hall, Kepesbolt possibly the most famous in Budapest. Budapest also has the best collection of wine which is a famous souvenir. Hungarian sweet wine is to die for.

Restaurants and Local Food in Budapest :-

The Hungarians pride themselves on their ability to eat spicy food. A lot of the local Hungarian dishes are heavy on paprika. Budapest has a number of cafes and restaurants of all price ranges. Among Hungarian street food the most popular dish is the langos, which in its most basic form is a fried bread with garlic and cream. They have also borrowed from their neighbouring country, Greece, its gyros which is ubiquitous on the streets of Budapest. A unique dish of Hungary is a kind of cold fruit soup. Other popular dishes include Chicken Paprikash (roast chicken in red pepper sauce with homemade noodles), goulash (stew of meat and vegetable seasoned with paprika) and kurtoskalacs (chimney cake). They also love their desserts and a popular ingredient in most of these desserts is poppy seeds. Hungarians love a glass of wine along with all their meals. Palinka is a special alcohol in Hungary which is essentially a very strong fruit brandy. These are not to be mixed with any other drink and to be had bottoms up.

Sightseeing :-

1.  Szechenyi Chain Bridge

2.  Buda Castle

3.  St. Stephen's Basilica

4.  The Parliament House

5.  Faust Wine Cellar

6.  Great Market Hall

7.  Danube Promenade

8.  Hungarian National Museum

9.  Varosliget

10. Schenzyi Thermal Bath

11.  House of Terror

12. Heroes Square

Best time to visit :-

The best time to visit Budapest is during May to September. The crowds are minimal and the prices are within budget. Moreover, the city springs to life and offers a colourful and magical vibe. The pleasant weather conditions also make it an ideal time to explore the city on foot and to take part in outdoor activities. The summer months from June to August, see a surge in tourism. The heat combined with the excessive crowds makes for an uncomfortable trip. If you do plan to visit Budapest in the summer, then it is recommended to make your bookings well in advance. The winter months witness the least amount of tourist crowds. The weather conditions can get quite chilly and most attractions and public places remain shut throughout this season. You can consider a trip during winter if you wish to indulge in a cold and quiet city atmosphere. Apart from the seasons, Budapest hosts a ton of exciting events and activities that should make it to your to-do list.

How to Reach Budapest from India :-

All major Asian and European airways have connecting flights to Budapest or You can also take direct flight to Budapest from New Delhi, may be it can be a 0little expensive and then reach Budapest by either bus or tram or cab or metro.

VISA :- 

Indians require visa to travel Hungary. The Schengen visa needs to be obtained from the applicable embassy/consulate. It costs 60 euros.

Essential Tips :-

1. The weather gets cold at night, so keep warm clothes with you.

2. Wear comfortable footwear as you will be walking a lot.

3. Buy a travel pass that is valid across all public transportation for a hassle-free traveling.

4. Buy tickets, if any, before visiting the place to avoid queues.

Feel free to mail me to hazraniladri1997@gmail.com for more information and sample itinerary.