bath time in budapest, hungary

I ended up taking the night train from krakow, Poland (considering this was a ten hour expedition, I would say the night train was a great decision) to The train station, which ended up being about a one mile walk to our hostel (wombat: Budapest). Now, I have rule when it comes to international travel… if you can’t schlep all of your luggage for at least one mile then you have packed too much! So on all of my international adventures I only end up taking a carry on suitcase (yes, I know this is very impressive. Ill take all the kudos you’ll give me).

the first thing we did was to check into our six bed mixed gender hostel, lock up our stuff, and start exploring our surroundings. This particular hostel was in such a prime location, right along the main artery of the city and fairly close to the Danube river. You first notice how huge the Danube is. And I mean huge. The széchenyi chain bridge across to the other side is a decent trek, so get those walking shoes on. We ended up starting with a perfect brunch along the river… I highly recommend a glass of champagne in hand while planning out your days adventure. “bubbles in buda!” And damn did we have a lot of bubbles…

*Ally afoot advice: utilize the resources the hostel provides. It’s a great starting off point for highlights of the city you’re touring. In addition, many hostels offer free walking tours (just make sure to tip your guide at the end!).

the first thing we did was cross the massive river and wander through the town on the other side. Take a minute to stop into a quaint cafe to slow down to enjoy an espresso and take in the locals leisurely pace and community. We happened to come across the most gorgeous church I’ve ever seen called, “matthiaskirche”. Literally just stumbled upon it, so don’t worry you’ll get there eventually. The city just happened to recently power wash the exterior of the church so the white tiles were pristine with even more multicolored vibrant tiles towards the top. unbeknownst to us, This is a huge attraction for crazy selfie addicts, photographers, and tourists, so expect some foot traffic. There are also cafes/restaurants next to the church; these are a bit touristy but the views are very impressive and overlook the parliament building across the river (the parliament building is another stunning piece of architecture). That night we opted for a dinner cruise on the river… yes these are quite abundant/very popular/touristy but I wouldn’t go as far as to say they’re a tourist trap. you do really have a spectacular view of the city lit up at night.

The next day we woke up bright and early to go on a free walking tour of the city (guided through our hostile); you truly get such an in-depth look into the history, culture, and community of the city you’re touring. In addition, most of the tour guides are students often specializing in history/art history in their studies. Some highlights of the tour included:

St. Stephen’s basilica, shoes on the Danube, széchenyi istván tér (park), klauzál tér (park), the grand synagogue, and endless amounts of paprika. Yes, paprika! it’s the national spice, you’ll see it at about every street corner, it’s used in almost every dish I came across, and Hungarian paprika is a bit sweeter than in the states.

At the end of the tour they also gave us some recommendations for the Budapest night scene…  Budapest has this very unique area named the Jewish quarter. “ruin bars”. These are essentially vacant pre-war buildings that been revitalized into different bohemian bars. Many of the ruin bars are rich in art and have permanent art installations on the walls. The most popular ruin bar in the Jewish quarter hands down is “szimpla”. When you first walk in it’s a bit overwhelming to say the least… old bicycles hanging from the ceiling, hookah rooms with the crazy cat from Alice and wonderland dangling over you, license plates coating the walls and bar, and treasures/relics from throughout the city filling every other gap position. In addition to the clutter, there is a huge open air courtyard carved into the revitalized building with gnarled plants and branches surrounding you. Drinks are fairly cheap, the music is always bumping, and each room has its own vibe. I recommend taking some time to actually explore the building! it’s quite the gem in of itself.

although, this area is known for its party scene try to check out The restaurant scene as well. The area has a hipster atmosphere with some amazing farm to table food in a variety of different Types of cuisines.

The next day was heavenly and one I was so looking forward to… exploring a thermal bath! Budapest is known for these thermal baths; locals frequent them like we would the gym, swearing by their healing properties, and medicinal qualities. From what I heard, Its a chance for locals to socialize and catch up on the latest neighborhood gossip. There are about a dozen baths in the city so do your research before you go to one. The bath we chose was the century-old “Gellért Thermal bath” because it has both indoor and outdoor dipping pools. Wow. architecturally stunning. Domes with colorful glass, countless sculptures, mosaics on both the bath floors and ceilings, and breathtaking city views outside. This bath was massive so make sure you give yourself a couple hours to thoroughly soak yourself in the local customs.

Please respect each other’s privacy, no photos.

After this experience we discovered a small trail right behind the thermal bath entrance and walked up the mountain to the citadella look-out spot. Such a lovely sunset to close out our budapest wanderings. The next day was back to the train station to continue our journey to austria, stay tuned for that adventure!

Logistics:

-four days/ three nights.

-hostel, wombat, Budapest: $25 a night, three nights, 6 bed mixed dorm room, clean, 1 mile walk from train station, located in the main artery of the city, spacious common area.

-night train from krakow, Poland: ~10 hours, $70 for sleeper car.

recommendations/reviews:

-gellért thermal bath: $25, indoor/outdoor.

-ruin bars: most popular is szimpla, but explore the Jewish quarter.