THE BUDAPEST BEAT

Having only heard incredible things about the city, I finally made the trip to Budapest, Hungary, (back in February before COVID!) to experience it for myself. I haven’t often travelled by myself, but I felt confident that I would enjoy wandering through Budapest on my own, and perhaps meet some people along the way.

Honestly, when I first arrived, I was a bit skeptical. I had heard so much about the beauty of Budapest and how stunning it was. Within the early hours of my trip, I could really only notice the age and ware of old abandoned shops. But then… I looked up! Seeing the skyline and the tops of every building I passed, I immediately regretted my initial thoughts, and realized that despite its age, Budapest has an inmate beauty that cannot be ignored. In fact, it is because the city is so old that is houses the most incredible old European architecture. Seriously, every building you pass has a story that visually captivates and demands your attention.

I really wanted to take a boat tour around the river to get a closer look at some of the most famous sights, but unfortunately the weather on both days I went were not conducive to safe boating. I did then opt to take a hop-on hop-off tour bus, but I would advise against it. The bus had two stories, the first having one side of clear windows, and one side of windows with a sticker overlay that obstructed the view. The second story had uncomfortable seating and the windows were not glass, but rather a plastic sheet that was clearly added on to protect travellers from weather… but unfortunately, these plastic sheets also obstructed the view! So I took the bus to the stop closest to my hostel and considered it more of a ride than an actual tour. If you can grab a boat tour, you definitely should do it, but on land, just walk around yourself to see the views!

I found eating (due to my dietary restrictions) rather difficult. I did research vegan restaurants and cafés in advance to my trip, but it was actually the places I stumbled upon that offered me more options. Here are some great spots for plant-based eaters:

If you do have the option, I would also highly suggest cooking for yourself.

On my final morning in Budapest - because when in Hungary, do as the Hungarians do - I visit the famous Széchenyi Thermal Bath. I went very early so as to avoid crowds (7:30am!) and there was still a decent turn out from locals and few travellers. I am not much of a swimmer and going to the pool is not my favourite activity of all time, but I will say that it was something to see. Even if it is not your thing, spending some time soaking in the heated outdoor pool is rather nice, and was a solid end to my brief trip.