Budapest was on my list of places I wanted to go this year (via this post).  I didn’t think I would actually be able to go this year.  While we were staying in Bratislava last week, our friends asked us if we were interested in going to Budapest for the weekend.  It’s only a 2 hour drive from Bratislava to Budapest so it was an easy getaway.  It was a last minute trip but with a little research and guidance from an old college friend, we made our way through Budapest.  I would first like to say that Budapest is gorgeous.  Budapest is split into 2 parts by the Danube River.  The Buda side is the side that looks like a hill while the Pest side is the flatter side.  I’m embarrassed to admit that we found out we were on the Pest side halfway into our trip.  What you notice right away about Budapest is the amazing energy of the city.  We saw people enjoying themselves by the Danube and in the town squares and you wanted to be a part of it too.

When you have a day and a half in Budapest, you have to do it right.  I loved the Central Market and eating their famous langos bread which is basically fried dough with your choice of topping.  I had mine with sour cream and cheese; breakfast of champions.  We walked across the chain bridge to Castle Hill and Fisherman’s Bastion.  The architecture looked like something out of Disney World.  For lunch, we sat at a restaurant by the Danube River on the Pest side and had Hungarian goulash which was not as thick and heavy as I thought it would be.  It was a broth based stew which was very flavorful.  We took a river cruise to see Budapest at night which was even more gorgeous than during the day.  We ended the night at Szimpla Pub, a ruin pub in the Pest side.  You definitely don’t see a bar like this in the States.  At first glance, it looks like you entered a junk yard and you wonder what you’re doing there but as you walk through the many twist and turns, it feels like a fun house.  The tchotchkes or junk depending on your view add a quirky touch to the place.  I wish we had time to go to the many thermal spas in the city but there’s a reason to go back.  These are some highlights from the trip through photos…

{Central Market Hall}

{Hungarian sausages}

{Lángos with sour cream and cheese}

 {Chain bridge view from Buda}

{Matthias Church}

 {View of Parliament}

 {Fisherman’s Bastion-doesn’t it look like a sand castle?}

 {Hungarian goulash}

 {Dried fruit and candies}

 {Shoes on the Danube}

{Parliament at night}