If you've been on social media this summer (in particular, Instagram) then you know that travel has finally returned in a lot of our lives. And being that Elisa and I started this blog right as Covid hit Malta, we've never really had the chance to properly write about travel. Until now!
I've recently been to Budapest, Hungary - and I'm here to tell you that it's a city full of gorgeous architecture and breathtaking views. If you're ever visiting Hungary, these are the 5 things you just cannot overlook:
1. Margaret Island
An island in the Danube River, Margaret Island is a lovely park that's perfect for a quick escape from the hustle and bustle of the main streets of Budapest. You can rent a bike or even a golf cart-like mini car and explore the area (amidst fits of laughter), or even just sit on a bench and watch a mini fountain show set to music. Our time at Margaret Island was definitely the highlight of the trip for me.
2. Thermal Baths
There are so many to choose from; our group specifically went to Scéchenyi Thermal Bath. And it was lovely. The hype is there for a reason. Note that the temperature happened to be about 15°C that day, and we used the outdoor baths - but even the race back to our towels didn't make it any less of a great experience!
3. Hungarian Parliament Building
Now, I personally went there thinking, How great could a parliament building really look? The pictures I looked up were great, sure, but I was almost certain I was going to find it a bit too overhyped. I was so wrong. Both in daylight and at night, the building is a work of architecture that cannot be called anything less than art. The lights at night make it look magical - and the inside is also incredibly beautiful. Highly recommend adding a tour of the Parliament to your Budapestian itinerary.
4. Fisherman's Bastion
If you're looking for the views, this is where you need to go. Overlooking the Danube River and the Parliament, this is the spot to whip out your phone or camera to take some exceptional photos. It also happened to be relatively quiet when we were there, making it a great place to just chill, as well.
5. House of Terror
This place... Just thinking back on it is reminding me of all the emotions that crept up inside me as I walked through the halls and rooms depicting the horrors that 20th-century fascist and communist regimes inflicted on their victims. A room that particularly struck me was one full of old files, some containing what looked like typewritten case files - they, of course, weren't in English, but seeing them made it all seem even more real than it already felt.
Bonus: Chimney cake!
Okay, let's end on a sweet note ;) If you're ever in Hungary, try out their local chimney cake. You can have it sweet or savoury, and although it wasn't my favourite, everyone else was raving about it (though most of the time we couldn't remember it's name and ended up calling it anything from 'chimney sweep' to 'fashion cake') so I thought I should mention it!
Here's hoping that travelling is here to stay now. I had missed it so much, and I feel like Hungary was a pretty great option to travel to this summer. Have you managed to go abroad yet?
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