A European City on Foot and Affordable: The Filipino Traveler’s Guide to Budapest

Budapest, also known as the “Pearl of the Danube”, is the capital of Hungary. This city stretches on both sides of the Danube and stands out for a variety of things, such as its striking, ancient architecture beyond an ancient empire, hot springs and cultural richness. heritage. Budapest once again two positions, Buda and Pest. La unification of the two took position in the 1870s. Fast forward to today, this colorful city is now a popular tourist destination with much to offer tourists.

It is imaginable to take a day of vacation from Vienna or stay only two days. However, I stayed less than a week in Budapest, but I felt like I was just scratching the surface. The city is also one of the shipping centers in Hungary. I was able to take a few days of vacation thanks to convenient exercise and bus connections to other cities and towns.

Hungary is part of the Schengen area, which means that getting a visa from any member country allows you to enter them. I included Hungary in my itinerary when I was given my visa through the Austrian Embassy.

If you plan to download a Schengen visa through the Hungarian Embassy, you can apply for VFS.

This is at the discretion of the embassy if it grants you a single, double or access visa.

Hungary has land borders with several countries such as Slovakia, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria and Ukraine. The cheapest way to succeed in Budapest is by bus or by exercising as part of a long adventure through Europe. There are also many flights from other European cities to the Hungarian capital. If Hungary is your first port of entry, there are also flights from Manila with a stopover in the Middle East or Europe. You can search for flights through Skyscanner, WayAway, and other aggregation sites or e-books through the airline of your choice. From the airport you can take the 100E bus to the city center. The fare is about 900 Hungarian guilders or P125.

I travelled by bus from Zagreb, Croatia as it is the most affordable option (and I had time to spare). I would propose to take FlixBus; you can buy tickets on their website. Alternatively, if you plan to move to Budapest from Vienna, you can take the exercise (or also the bus). You can purchase exercise tickets through OBB.

Like other European cities, Budapest is “within walking distance”. It is convenient to see all the stalls of interest on foot. There is also an extensive public transport network consisting of buses, trams and metro. To save money and time, you can purchase a transport pass of 24, 48, 72 hours or more. . You can purchase this pass at the ticket machines near the bus and metro stations.

Budapest has a lot to offer tourists with diverse interests. The city is full of cultural and ancient sites, old cafes (some have been in town for decades), hot spring baths, streets covered with beautiful buildings and much more.

It is imaginable to do Buddha and Pest in a full day, however, you will feel rushed and exhausting. I would recommend splitting your itinerary into at least two days to get a better concept of any of the parts of the city. However, you can distribute Take advantage of your vacation and load more days to see a little more of the country and the city. Budapest is a perfect base for day trips to other cities due to its extensive network of trains and buses.

*This itinerary assumes that it starts with a full day.

Day 1

You can start your day on the Buddha side of the city. This component is easily recognized as you will see some of the city’s best-known landmarks, even on the Pest side. Once I was fired at the tram stop, I walked to Buda Castle. You have the option to take the funicular; a one-way ticket costs 1,200 Hungarian guilders (HUF) for adults and 1,800 HUF for a circular journey.

The Buda Castle complex is huge. There are also beautiful classic buildings nearby that add to the atmosphere of the area. The castle dates from the eighteenth century and has more than a hundred rooms. The castle was left in ruins after World War II. However, recovery projects over the decades have come under control to repair the castle’s former glory. The entire complex is inscribed on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The park and the exterior of the castle are free, but you have to pay an upfront payment to make a stopover in the Hungarian National Park. Gallery and the Budapest History Museum.

No Buda Castle is the fortress of fishermen. This stunning design has towers, courtyards, walls and colonnades that are over a century old. This domain is a prominent tourist destination due to the city’s prospects below. You can see the Parliament building, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Chain Bridge and other beautiful city buildings from here.

You will immediately see Matthias Church once you are in the Fisherman’s Bastion. It’s hard to forget about the church’s spires and its beautiful exterior. From 1541 to 1699, the occupying Turks remodeled the church into a mosque. The Church of Matthias, the scene of the coronation of the kings. King Charles I of Hungary and Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria were crowned there. You can enter and climb the tower for 4,200 HUF. La tower offers visitors more panoramic views of the city (higher than those of the Fisherman’s Bastion). There is a food stall selling sausages with dressings just outside the church. I tried a massive portion of Hungarian sausage with some dressings for an appropriate value. Normally I wouldn’t eat at stalls or institutions outside the doors of major tourist attractions, however, value for me smart cost for money.

You can seamlessly end part of a day or more exploring Buda Castle, Matthias Church, Fisherman’s Bastion and the surrounding area. I also went to some churches on the way up the hill and prevented them quickly. It is a lovely walk along the river with perspectives of the city. If you need to walk a little more, you can walk to Gellert Hill to get more perspectives of the city. You can end the day at one of the many restaurants, fast food chains, and cafes in town.

Exploring the domain of Buda Castle and nearby places is a convenient way to spend your first full day in the city.

Day 2

After a day exploring Buddha, it’s time to spend a day in Pest. Start with the city’s most iconic structure, which is the Hungarian Parliament building. It is one of the largest parliamentary buildings in the world. Its striking façade is perfect. Its inauguration took place in 1886. Many hikers pass through here every time they are in Budapest. You can sign up for an indoor excursion as long as there are no passing activities. The Parliament building is also home to many attractive architectural works. You can also stop by the Gerbeaud-Haz Café, near the Parliament building, for a snack or a drink.

Take a leisurely stroll along the Danube promenade to enjoy beautiful perspectives of the cityscape on both sides of the river. As you walk, you will see several pairs of shoes. The “Shoes on the Bank of the Danube” is a monument commemorating the position where the Nazis shot dead the Jews of World War II.

Head to the Basilica Saint-Étienne. La cathedral is dedicated to the king of the country and founder of the state, St. Stephen. It has a stunning exterior and a interior comprising devout icons, relics, and artwork. I left a donation of two hundred HUF. Je did not climb the dome, however, you have the opportunity to do so on your visit.

After your prevention in the cathedral, head to the city’s Jewish quarter. The synagogue on Dohany Street is a notable addition to your itinerary. The prepayment is 7000 HUF. La synagogue is the largest in Europe and has beautiful interiors. The complex also includes the cemetery, memorial, Temple of Heroes, Great Synagogue, and Jewish Museum. The complex gives you insight into the Jews who lived in Budapest and their lives in the Holocaust. There are a few restaurants in the Jewish Quarter where you can have lunch and rest. .

If you are already (still) hungry after so much walking, head to the Central Market. It is one of the largest and oldest markets in the city. Its history dates back to the late 1890s. You will also find many souvenir shops, local food stalls and restaurants here.

End your day with dessert at the New York Café, one of the most charming cafes I’ve been to so far. I was lucky enough to have a table as an walk-in customer. It was winter and one of the COVID outbreaks in Europe. At any other time, you may want a reservation. Go to their online page to book. The ice cream I ordered was average and too expensive for what I got. However, the atmosphere and the view from inside the café made up for it. It was like being inside a museum with its beautiful frescoes and décor.

Day 3

Eger is a day you can take to take a break from exploring Budapest. It is a fairly old little town just a few hours away by train. Its main sites are close to each other, which makes it easy to discover. The first charm As you walk towards the old town, you will see the magnificent Eger Cathedral. This beautiful design with yellow tones dates from 1837. Once in the old town, you will see the Church of San Antonio. I climbed the ruins of the castle to have a breathtaking view of the old town. Eger Castle has an advance payment of HUF 2,400.

How to get there: You can board an exercise from one of Budapest’s exercise stations. The ticket price to Eger costs 2394 HUF and the return ticket costs 2520 HUF.

Day 4

Explore more pests by stopping at the Szechenyi Municipal Park and Thermal Baths. Both places and other attractions are within walking distance of each other. Széchenyi is one of Budapest’s most prominent attractions. Depending on when you go, there will be many other people who dive into the bathrooms. You can check their online page for pricing and more information. Consider looking at the bathrooms at night; costs are lower at this time and on weekdays. While in the park, you can make a stop at Heroes’ Square and the Millennium Monument and Vajdahunyad Castle. Other attractions come with the Museum of Fine Arts, the House of Music and budapest. You can spend more time here, depending on how much you like zoos and museums. Alternatively, you can take another small day for Szentendre.

Szentendre is available by train, making it a popular addition to Budapest itineraries. It’s small but pretty. It stands out for the historic architecture of its buildings and as an artists’ district. Here you will find galleries, souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants.

How to get there: Start at Batthyany Square subway station, then look for HEV station. You can buy price tickets at ATMs or ATMs. A previously priced ticket costs 620 HUF.

Day 5

If you’re in a position to do another day trip, add Esztergom to your itinerary. Despite its small size, Esztergom has a past rich in history. It was the Hungarian capital from the tenth century to the middle of the thirteenth century. Also locate the largest church in the country, the Basilica of Esztergom. Esztergom was another lovely getaway from the big city. I walked most of the time during my stay here.

How to get there: Exercise at one of Budapest’s fitness stations. I paid 1064 HUF from Budapest to Esztergom and 1120 HUF for the return ticket.

Day 6

You can spend your sixth day relaxing in the city. Return to your favorite spots, cafes, and restaurants and soak up the city’s prospects before you leave.

Budapest is a bustling city that deserves more than a day trip. There is plenty to see and do your stay. I have met travelers who have been to the city several times and rarely stay more than a week. Six days is enough just to see the highlights of the city and take some day trips to observe more of the country. Budapest’s affordable value and charm make it a remarkable addition to your European travel itinerary.

* Many buses serve other parts of Hungary from Budapest. However, I prefer to do the exercise when I travel from this city. It is imaginable to buy tickets directly at the station on the Buda or Pest side. I regularly check this page online for schedules and from which season the exercises depart.

* Some of the city’s main attractions and buildings are illuminated at night (Buda Castle, Parliament Building, Fisherman’s Bastion, St. Stephen’s Basilica, Matthias Church and others), making it a great walk at night.

*Budapest is also known as a party destination. There are many clubs and bars in exclusive ruins. The latter are institutions that use abandoned buildings and give them a new life. Some of the ruined bars come with Szimpla Kert, Instant and Fogas, Doboz and Mazel Tov.

I found myself spending a bit more on food, fancy cafes and restaurants during my stay in Budapest, although everything was more affordable compared to other cities I’ve been to in Europe and even Asia. I spent about 14,400 HUF (that sounds like a lot), about 35. 6 euros, or about 2,000 P per day, not including flights. You may have spent less if you hadn’t splurged from time to time on the city’s chic cafes and restaurants or if you hadn’t gone through day trips.

Budapest is a very affordable city. If you are a budget traveler, you can find a bed in a bedroom for around 700 to 900 pesos per night (weekdays). Private rooms aren’t that expensive either; you can find a room for around P2,500-P3,000 depending on the night. You can still save a lot of money if you share the percentage with some other day. You’ll spend more a day depending on where you eat, stay, and the things you do. Even if you don’t stay in a dormitory, get a smart price for cash both once and both times you eat out or do activities in Budapest.

Budapest is an affordable city where you can stay a few more days. Here are some tips you can follow to save money on your trip:

– Rappler. com

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