Weekender: Spellbinding Budapest

Earlier this week, I gave a sneak peak into the weekend getaway to spellbinding Budapest with which I had surprised Raphael for Christmas.  The city was a special choice for me because a) Hungary is a country that neither of us had ever visited, b) their Christmas markets are amongst the few that last past Christmas Eve in Europe, and c) I had read so many beautiful & magical things about the city that I wanted to share the experience with someone I love.

We had such a fantastic time in the city that I wanted to further share the experience with those of you out there who are thinking of doing a trip to Budapest sometime soon!  Here are just a few glimpses of our winter visit there, and my top recommendations for where to stay, where to eat, and what to do.  For those of you who have never been before, there are so many things to see & do that a 3-day weekend won't be enough, but it will suffice to give you a flavour for one of the most spellbinding cities in Eastern Europe.

1 :: Where to Stay

Budapest sits on two sides of the Danube River, with Buda Hills to the west and the Great Plains to the east.  Buda Hills has the key historical attractions whilst flat Pest represents the more modern part of the city.  I'd recommend staying in a central location in Pest, ideally in the Belváros quarter which is the perfect launching pad from which to explore the rest of the city on foot.  For mid-range hotels in the area, check out Sofitel which overlooks the magnificent Chain Bridge or Continental Hotel Zara which is modern & chic and close to many boutiques & restaurants.

2 :: Where to Eat

Hungarian cuisine does not necessarily have international renown, but I think the Hungarian cuisine that most of us have in mind is that of 20 years ago.  I've read a lot about the Budapest restaurant scene undergoing a renaissance of sorts, and found that modern Hungarian cooking is, in fact, quite excellent!  Don't forget to try out the country's amazing selection of wine: being very different from the French wines that Raphael and I are used to, it was a great experience of discovery for us.  Here are my top 3 addresses for restaurants to check out in Budapest:

1. Tigris Restaurant :: 1051 Budapest, Mérleg u. 10. :: Did you know that Hungary is the world's 2nd largest foie gras producer and the largest exporter?  France is the principal market for Hungarian foie gras, which is mainly exported raw then rebranded as French.  (Funny that, huh?)  If you're a foie gras fan, do not miss Tigris, which specialises in it and has a great foie gras sampler!
2. Csalogány 26 :: 1015 Budapest, Csalogány u. 26 :: Named by Hungary's premier food critic as the city's best restaurant, this eatery offers a great 3-course prix-fixe lunch menu for less than €10.
3. Klassz :: 1061 Budapest, Andrássy ut 41 :: Considered by many to be the city's top wine restaurant, this modern & chic place has both excellent vintages and food.  They take no reservations so be prepared to wait for a table.  But as my favourite restaurant out of all that we visited, I can tell you that it is definitely worth the wait!

3 :: What to See (my top 5 picks for a weekend)

1. Royal Palace @ Castle Hill (the most visited monument in Budapest)
2. The Danube and its many bridges (especially the stunning Chain Bridge at sunset!)
3. Parliament and Basilica St. Stephen (which are near each other)
4. Kerepesi Cemetery (which easily rivals High Gate of London and Père Lachaise of Paris)
5. Heroes' Square

 4 :: A Couple of Other Budapest Things to Do

Whatever you do in Budapest, do not miss out on the city's thermal spas!  Budapest lies on a geographical fault, with more than 30,000 cu of warm to scalding mineral water gushing from more than 100 thermal springs.  "Taking the waters" is a very Budapest thing to do.  The most beautiful spa to check out is Gellért, which has a shared large indoor pool, a shared spa pool, and single-gender spa baths, saunas, steam rooms, and more.  There are also a number of outdoor pools for summer use.  Don't forget to bring your bathing suit, sandals, and if possible, a towel and cap (which you can also rent once inside the pool areas - so bring forint currency).

To warm up on a cold winter day whilst you're walking around Castle Hill, stop by Ruszwurm, which is famous for its cakes and had the best hot chocolate that we had during our visit there.  Apparently it is impossible to get a seat inside during the summer, but we found it easier to do so during the winter time.  With its plush chairs and cosy interiors, it's the perfect stop during a winter walk in Budapest.

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That's all for my Budapest weekender!!  I wish we could have spent a couple more days in this spellbinding city, but I guess it also means that there will be more new things for us to experience the next time we go there - something I look forward to in the coming years.  ♥  If you have any questions about our trip, or have any further recommendations to share on Budapest, please don't hesitate to leave them in the comments section below.