Budapest in February – Cultural Re-Treat

This post is coming as a love letter to one of the most beautiful cities I have seen – Budapest.

Budapest as Personality

Sometimes I imagine cities as personalities. Ones are bright, energetic and endlessly romantic, others are modest, rational and practical.  Third – gentle and philosophical. Budapest, on the other hand, is aristocratic, well-mannered and very artistic.

Unique and picturesque, it has plenty to offer – ancient baroque quarters, luxurious castles and museums, splendid palaces and theaters, beautiful natural parks and restaurants for all tastes. Wherever you go, you can feel the spirit of the grand empire in small details – elegant facades, tall arched windows and doors, impressively carved staircases. No matter if you walk the central streets or less known roads, the baronial buildings are everywhere.

Buda side of Budapest

My journey has started in Buda, tranquil district with imperial grandeur. Located on the Castle hill, it offers the sweeping panoramas of the city and grants easy access to most city landmarks. My legs thanked me for a pleasant daily promenade, and my phone was happy to capture the charm of every little corner. Given a chance, I would not trade this location for any other!

Exploring

After a long refreshing sleep, I was full of energy and will to explore the city. The first sight I discovered strolling around the streets was the colorful Matthias Church. Tall, bright and elaborately decorated with colorful ceramic tiles, it looks like a cake on the porcelain plate. Isn’t it pretty?

Right behind, sits the Fisherman’s Bastion. The construction itself looks so romantic that I would rather compare it to the castle from a fairy tale than call it a bastion.

Perched atop of the hill it opens the awe-inspiring panoramic views of the city, Danube and a Parliament. Make yourself a favor and come by night. I promise, you won’t regret it.

Amazing experience during the day time, it becomes even more special and vibrant at night. The chaos and noise are gone, together with the crowds. You are staying in the tower, watching the sky grow dark and thick. Slowly city lits up and its streets turn into a long chain of golden beads. The life starts in sleepless Pest.

Palaces and Castles

I am continuing my journey. The cobblestone roads bring me to the presentation palace, where I accidentally catch changing of guards. The short show is well worth stopping. Few meters away I can see the splendid Buda Castle. When there, stay for the moment to appreciate the beauty of the ancient gates, leading inside. The entrance is the masterpiece on its own.

The castle complex is impressively vast and hosts several museums and a gallery. I haven’t visited the inside, however outside of the castle is worth coming on its own.  The grounds are lovely to walk and enjoy the breathtaking views of Pest and the river. It looks even better during night time when illumination highlights every detail of the building.

Walking the path down the hill, you can reach another beautiful spot – the peculiar house with the stately tree nearby. Have you noticed the building looks exactly the way small children draw houses? Small bricks, triangular terracotta roof, and a chimney. What a fantastic location for the picnic!

My Love

I want to introduce one more sight which has a special place in my heart. No trip to the city would be complete without visiting a charming Vajdahunyad Castle and its surroundings. Built hundred years ago and stylized as a knight’s fortress, it is a real jewel of the city. History and architectural grandeur complement the natural beauty of this place.

I fell in love with every detail of the Castle – it’s ancient walls covered with wild ivy, vitrage windows, carved portals, and stone arches. I want to spend hours and even days discovering this place. I would like to see how the lake, which is an ice rink in winter, surrounds the castle in the summertime, how the grass turns green and birds are chirping their songs.

Can you believe that this beautiful building is a museum of agriculture? I can’t either.  However, it is indeed.

Thermal Baths

Few minutes walking from the castle you can find the famous Széchenyi Thermal Baths. Be ready- it’s fully packed. Not fancy, but fun to try.

Budapest by Night

As you might have already understood, Budapest is magical during the day, but even more at night.

None of the pictures can reflect the sensation you get from night walks — strolling along the Danube banks, watching the last trams, disappearing in the fog, admiring the grandeur of magnificent buildings, stopping by the most beautiful Parliament in the world and not being able to walk away.

Budapest, you won my heart. I will miss you ♥ !