let's go to Budapest

Travel is much more than sightseeing – it's small, personal stories that get under your skin and stay in your memory forever. For Mia and me, Budapest has become a place we will never forget. From the first moment we arrived, the city welcomed us with open arms. Romantic, colorful and somehow just ours.

Our accommodation was located about 2 kilometers from the center - which turned out to be perfect, as we were walking all the time. The city is best explored on foot. Walking through streets that breathe history, but also modern life, we felt the rhythm of Budapest at every step. Except for the last day, when we used the metro - and that was an experience in itself. The metro is clean, fast and completely easy to navigate, which was especially important to Mia, who was in this city for the first time.

The first day was relaxed - we settled in, rested and went for a leisurely walk. First stop: restaurant Oggi, where we were rewarded with burgers that we will remember for a long time. After that meal, we had the strength to tour the city - and from the heart: the Basilica of St. Stephen.

Basilica of St. Stephen

This monumental building is the largest church in Budapest and is named after the first king of Hungary, Stephen I, who is responsible for the Christianization of the country. The basilica was built over 50 years, from 1851 to 1905, and can accommodate about 8,500 people. A special attraction inside the basilica is a relic - the mummified right hand of King István, known as the Holy Right Hand. The interior is richly decorated with mosaics and frescoes, and the dome offers a panoramic view of the city.

After the Basilica, we went to the Chain Bridge - the symbol of Budapest. Although we didn't cross it right away because we were still tired from the journey, standing in front of it at dusk was a special moment.

Chain Bridge (Széchenyi Lánchíd)

This is the first permanent bridge over the Danube that connected Buda and Pest, built in 1849. The initiator of the construction was Count István Széchenyi, and it was designed by the English engineer William Tierney Clark. The bridge is a symbol of the modernization of Hungary and its unification. It is recognizable by the huge stone lions at both ends and is spectacularly illuminated at night.

The next morning - fresh, rested and full of energy - we set out to fulfill what we had not achieved the day before. We crossed the Chain Bridge and headed towards the Fisherman's Fort, but on the way we passed one of the most impressive buildings in the city.

Synagogue in Dohany Street

The largest synagogue in Europe and the second largest in the world. Built in 1859, it has an Oriental-Moorish style and accommodates about 3,000 believers. Next to the synagogue is the Jewish Museum, as well as the monument to the victims of the Holocaust - the famous "Tree of Life" with the names of the martyred Jews. The atmosphere is deeply emotional and historically powerful.

We then reached the Fisherman's Fortress, where we spent perhaps the most magical moments of the day.

Fisherman's Bastion

Although it looks like a medieval fortress, this fairytale building was built at the end of the 19th century. It got its name from the fishermen's guild that defended this part of the city in the Middle Ages. Its seven towers symbolize the seven Hungarian tribes that settled in the Pannonian Plain in 896. The terraces offer a spectacular view of the Danube, the Parliament and Pest.

We spent the afternoon leisurely - gyros, coffee in front of the Basilica, people around us, easy pace... perfect. And in the evening, a new adventure – a night walk and a very specific dessert.

While walking past the Hungarian State Opera, we stopped to buy a pancake. However, we did not expect what we got - the pancake was in the shape of a male genital organ! At first shock, then laughter that did not subside for a long time. It became our internal stunt for the rest of the trip.

The next day we were greeted by rain, but it didn't bother us. We sat down at Starbucks, drank hot coffee, ate another burger and continued our walk - hand in hand, under an umbrella, enjoying the sound of drops on the streets of Budapest. In the evening - something special.

Danube cruise

Budapest at night is a completely different face - mysterious, elegant and unreal. A boat cruise on the Danube offers a view of the Parliament, the Chain Bridge, castles and churches illuminated by golden lights. The wind, the stillness of the water and the illuminated architecture made us feel like we were in a movie.

Hungarian Parliament Building

One of the most impressive buildings we saw during our stay in Budapest was without a doubt the stunning Hungarian Parliament. It is located right next to the bank of the Danube, and with its size and architecture, it seems as if it belongs to another world - fairy tale and unattainable.

The construction of this neo-Gothic building began in 1885 and was officially completed in 1904. Architect Imre Steindl drew inspiration from the British Parliament, but gave it a special size and elegance, characteristic of the Central European area. The building has as many as 691 rooms, 27 entrances and a huge central hall under a 96-meter-high dome — a number that symbolizes the year 896, when the Hungarians founded their state.

We walked past it in silence, observing the details on the facade, the statues, decorations and the tower disappearing into the sky. The day was sunny, so the whole Parliament was soaking in the water of the Danube, leaving you breathless. It was one of those scenes that is remembered forever.

Buda Castle

One of the most beautiful experiences in Budapest was our ascent to Buda Castle — not on foot, but by riding the old Buda Castle funicular. It is a short but magical ride that lasts only a few minutes and gives the feeling of traveling through time. As the cabin glided quietly up the hill, past wooden rails and lamps twinkling along the path, I held Mia's hand and we smiled at each other — we knew we were in for something special up there.

At the top, we were greeted by the Buda Castle, a historic royal residence that dominates the panorama of Buda. Although it has been demolished, rebuilt and rebuilt several times over the centuries, it still exudes the dignity and silence of the past. It was built for the first time in the 13th century, after the Mongol invasion, and its present appearance is due to reconstructions from the period of Habsburg rule.

In the complex itself, there are several sights that kept us busy for hours. We were especially delighted by the fountain of King Matthias Corvinus, also known as the "deer hunt", which looks like something from a fairy tale - with realistic sculptures of the king, hunters, dogs and deer, all caught in motion, frozen in a bronze moment. Although the fountain is from the 20th century, it fits perfectly into the atmosphere of the castle and is one of the most photographed places in the city.

Inside the castle, we visited the Hungarian National Gallery, where the works of Hungarian artists from all eras are exhibited, and the Budapest History Museum, which tells the story of the city's turbulent past - from the Middle Ages to modern times. We walked through the exhibits slowly, absorbing the atmosphere, and each exhibit drew us deeper into the spirit of this place.

But what left us breathless the most was the view from the terrace of the castle. The whole city spread out below us – the Danube shimmered in the evening sun, bridges connected Buda and Pest, and the Parliament on the other side of the river seemed to float. We were silent for a while, leaning on each other, just looking at that scene that words cannot fully describe.

It was the place where the past and the present meet, but also the place where Mia and I, at least for a moment, felt as if time stood still.

The last two days were reserved for the most beautiful part of our stay.

Heroes' Square (Hősök tere)

An impressive square built on the occasion of the thousandth anniversary of the arrival of the Hungarians in the Pannonian Plain. It is dominated by a 36-meter-high pillar with a statue of the Archangel Gabriel, surrounded by statues of the seven leaders of Hungarian tribes, as well as rulers from Hungarian history. The square is a symbol of national pride and an important place for festive events.

Vajdahunjad Castle and Park

Right behind the square is the huge City Park, and in it – Vajdahunjad Castle, which looks like something from a fairy tale. The castle was built as a copy of different styles from Hungarian architecture and looks like it was drawn by a child with a wild imagination. We spent hours in the park. The best memories are connected to this place - Mia met an adorable corgi. He was cute, smiling and immediately stole her heart. From that moment on, every dog ​​in town was under Mia's watchful eye.

On parting, we visited a few shops - Mia bought a beautiful dress and souvenirs for her parents, and I bought a t-shirt, shorts and a magnet for mine. All the little things that now at home smell of Budapest.

On the way back, on the bus, White Noise played again. We slept next to each other, tired but full. Not only impressions, but also something deeper - the feeling that together we created a memory that we will keep forever.

I found everything about the history of these sights on the Internet. Without him, I wouldn't know anything to tell you about these sights :D