Budapest: The Thermal Bath City That Became Europe's Most Exciting Destination

Budapest is two cities — Buda (the hilly, castle-topped western bank) and Pest (the flat, grid-patterned eastern bank) — united by the Danube and by a grandeur that makes it the most beautiful Austro-Hungarian imperial city after Vienna. And at current prices, it costs roughly half.

The Architecture

The Chain Bridge (Széchenyi lánchíd, 1849 — the first permanent bridge across the Danube) connects Buda and Pest. Cross it on foot at sunset — the views of both sides of the city from the bridge are extraordinary.

Buda Castle: The Royal Palace complex on Castle Hill. The Hungarian National Gallery and Budapest History Museum occupy the former royal apartments. The 13th-century Matthias Church (bright Zsolnay ceramic tiles on the roof) and Fisherman's Bastion (neo-Romanesque, extraordinary Danube views) are adjacent.

The Parliament Building: Completed 1902, the third-largest parliament building in the world. Tours of the interior (including the Hungarian Crown Jewels displayed in the dome hall) are available; book ahead. The view from the Danube at night — the parliament illuminated against the river — is Budapest's most dramatic image.

The Great Market Hall: The 1897 covered market on Vámház körút. Upper floor for tourist souvenir hunting (excellent paprika, pálinka, embroidery); ground floor for genuine market shopping (pick up smoked sausage, Mangalica pork products, fresh produce).

The Thermal Baths

Budapest sits atop one of the richest geothermal systems in Europe — 123 hot springs supply the city's bath culture. The thermal bath tradition here is 2,000 years old (the Romans built baths at Aquincum, still partially visible in the north of the city).

Széchenyi: The largest and most famous. An outdoor pool complex with chess tables in the water (the bathers who sit playing chess while steam rises around them are a Budapest image). Open daily; evening "sparty" events (spa party) on Saturdays.

Gellért Baths: The most architecturally beautiful — an art nouveau building with stained glass windows. The outdoor wave pool operates in summer.

Rudas Baths: The most historic — Ottoman-era (1566), with a central pool under a 10m domed skylight. Co-ed on weekends; sex-segregated on weekdays.

The Ruin Bars

Szimpla Kert is the original — a bar built inside a deteriorating apartment building in the Jewish Quarter, now a labyrinth of courtyards and rooms each decorated with found objects, graffiti, and local art. It opened in 2002 and launched a genre.

Other excellent ruin bars: Instant, Fogasház, Anker't, Mazel Tov (rooftop, Middle Eastern food). The Jewish Quarter (Kazinczy Street and surrounding streets) is the center.

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Food and Wine

Hungarian cuisine is hearty, paprika-forward, and deeply satisfying:

Gulyás (goulash): Beef and potato soup seasoned with paprika and caraway. The Hungarian original is a soup — not the thick stew served internationally. Excellent at any Hungarian restaurant.

Lángos: Deep-fried dough topped with sour cream and cheese. The signature Hungarian street food. Available at the Great Market Hall and outdoor markets.

Kürtőskalács (chimney cake): Sweet pastry rolled on a wooden spit and roasted, then rolled in cinnamon sugar, walnut, or vanilla. The Christmas market version is canonical.

Hungarian wine: The Tokaj wine region (northeast Hungary) produces Tokaji Aszú — one of the world's great sweet wines. The Eger region produces Bull's Blood (Egri Bikavér), a full-bodied red. Both are available throughout Budapest at excellent prices.

Palatinus: The restaurant scene in the Jewish Quarter has improved dramatically. Bors Gasztrobár does extraordinary sandwiches. Borkonyhá (Wine Kitchen) has one Michelin star and serves modern Hungarian cuisine with an exceptional wine list.

[Book tours and experiences in Budapest](https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=Budapest&partner_id=PARTNER_ID) — the river cruises and Hungarian cooking classes are highlights.

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