Many travellers have yet to commit to Budapest due to old fears. Its part of Eastern Europe so people tend to have misconceptions of what to expect. English is very commonly spoken, and I assure you there is no communism here. It’s a must visit for tourists looking for something a little off the beaten path.

Here are a few quick notes for those who are thinking about visiting Budapest, followed with my Budapest travel blog through pictures further below.

The Budapest basics

Accommodations – Although accommodations in Budapest are pretty reasonable, I recommend Airbnb since they offer incredible value. I was able to find an apartment in District V for about 50% of the cost of a hotel.

My preferred booking site is booking.com since it lists hotels, apartments, B&B’s, vacation homes and inns. In addition, they price match and you’re not required to pay until after your stay for almost all accommodations. After five bookings, you become a member of their Genius program which gets you an extra 10% off on selected properties.

Transportation – Budapest has an extensive transit network which features subways, trams, and buses. Public transportation is inexpensive and is quite easy to navigate. Since the city is relatively small, many attractions are within reasonable walking distance of The Deák Ferenc square e.g. 30 mins to get to Castle hill or Heroes’ Square

Eat and drink – I was amazed at how little it cost for meals and drinks. A spritzer was $1.50-2.50 Canadian, while a pint of beer was on average $2.50-4. We also had quite a few meals for under $20 per person. Cafes are very popular and a must do since some of them are like taking a step back in time.

Attractions – Budapest is home to a few UNESCO heritage sites so there are many things to see. Most of the attractions are bunched together making it easy to see the city in just a few days. The three main areas being; Castle Hill, Pest (east of the Daunbe), and Heroes’ Square.

Discount tickets – The 24hr/72hr Budapest card gives travellers unlimited use of  public transportation, free entry into 8 museums, and entry into the St Lukács Bath– purchase it through my affiliate link to save an extra €4.50. Check out the full list of tours you can purchase at a discount through my affiliate including: The Hop On Hop Off bus tour and the Budapest parliament tour.

Here’s my Budapest travel blog as told through pictures:

Buda Castle is the most famous landmark in Budapest

Chain bridge spans the river Danube and connects Buda to Pest

Castle Hill is the historic area of Budapest and overlooks the Pest side

Buda Castle is now home to the Budapest History Museum and Hungarian National Gallery

Matthias church is also located in castle hill and was originally built in 1015

Like many older Roman Catholic churches, the interior is stunning

located directly across from Matthias Church is Fisherman’s Bastion which was built in 1895

If you get tired, stop and have a drink , and enjoy the view

The Hungarian Parliament Building. It was built on the Pest side to give the city some balance

Coffee shops are very popular in Budapest and have stunning architecture. This one is Central Kavehaz

Budapest has a booming nightlife with many restaurants and bars

Plenty of ruin bars are in Budapest. Find an old building, add some art and cheap alcohol then watch the people come

Also famous in Budapest is the thermal baths. Here is Szechenyi bath where locals and tourist come year round

Heroes’ Square is a world heritage site and a popular gathering spot for locals whenever something political is going on

Vajdahunyad Castle is located close to Heroes’ Square and houses the Museum of Hungarian Agriculture

St. Stephen’s Basilica is considered the most important church in all of Hungary

The view from above the basilica offers sweeping views of Budapest

The Great Market Hall is popular for both locals and tourists but it really is just a market

On the 2nd level, there are many food stalls, here they are preparing a local delicacy called Lángo