Budapest, Hungary
The city of baths
The day I got accepted to NYU Paris, in my study abroad craze, I immediately made a wishlist of all the wonderful places I would NEED to visit while in Europe. Needless to say, Budapest did not make the list nor did I even think it was a place that I would visit, but much to my delight it turned out to be one of the most charming cities I have ever been to. While I was abroad, people were beginning to rave about Budapest and what a great city it was. So I decided to check it out and see what I was missing out on!
Day One: I arrived early to our Airbnb in the heart of Budapest and we set out to our first stop, Buda Castle. Since we were lucky enough to get particularly warm weather in March we enjoyed a sunny walk over the bridge and to the castle. The castle sits on a hill overlooking the medieval city and was home to the Hungarian kings that ruled Budapest. We were then led to the Fisherman’s Bastion, which was named after the fishermen that defended this part of the castle, and saw a breathtaking panorama of the city. We enjoyed the warm weather and walked around for the rest of the day. On our way back home, the Széchenyi Chain Bridge lit up the night sky with its twinkle.
Day Two: We started our next day by taking a bath at the famous Széchenyi natural baths! These baths were overflowing with people of all ages, each hanging out and doing their own thing. Some people were playing chess in the pool, others were doing aerobics, and some were just chatting. It was incredible to see how these natural springs formed this bath that became a place to socialize for all of Budapest. We ate lunch outside the baths and returned at night, ready for the bath party. I had heard everyone talk about these bath parties in Budapest that you could go to any night of the weekend as long as you bought a ticket. It seemed that all of Budapest had the same idea as us that night and came to the baths. I had never seen so many people in one area let alone in a pool. It was a wild experience but I doubt I would do it again because it was quite packed and a bit crazy for me. We ended our last day with a visit to the Hungarian Parliament Building right next to the water, which was an architectural masterpiece. Then right before we had to head to the airport, we visited the House of Terror Museum that showcases the atrocities of the Cold War and honors the victims.
By the end of the trip, I was captivated by Hungary’s beauty and I knew that I would need to put it on my list as some place I would NEED to return to someday
Recommendations: Buda Palace, Széchenyi Chain Bridge, Fisherman’s Bastion, Széchenyi natural bath, Hungarian Parliament Building, & House of Terror
3/31/2017
Buda Castle in the background
Széchenyi Chain Bridge by night. This bridge was the first connection that was made between the seperate communities of Buda and Pest in 1873.
Széchenyi Thermal bath~ is built atop 2 natural springs that are said to have healing qualities
Széchenyi Thermal bath
Széchenyi Thermal bath
Széchenyi bath party
Hungarian Parliament Building