{"id":611,"date":"2013-10-20T14:46:02","date_gmt":"2013-10-20T14:46:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travelcake.site\/?p=611"},"modified":"2025-04-10T18:04:43","modified_gmt":"2025-04-10T18:04:43","slug":"how-to-spend-the-weekend-in-budapest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/en\/how-to-spend-the-weekend-in-budapest\/","title":{"rendered":"How to spend the weekend in Budapest (when you’ve already done the sightseeing)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Off the Beaten Path in Budapest: A Different Kind of Day<\/strong><\/h3>\n

You’re in Budapest and you’ve already ticked off the main tourist attractions \u00e2\u20ac\u201d or maybe you’re just not in the mood. It happens… and that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s totally okay! Especially in a city like Budapest, where there are plenty of meaningful ways to spend your time without feeling like a lousy traveller. So, how do you still soak in the culture and history?<\/p>\n

Walk by the \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcShoes on the Danube Promenade\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/h3>\n

On the Pest side, along the banks of the Danube, there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a deeply moving memorial honouring the Jewish people who were killed during WWII. Victims were ordered to remove their shoes before being shot at the water\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s edge, their bodies swept away by the river. The bronze shoes left behind are a haunting and powerful reminder of the atrocities, and well worth a detour.<\/p>\n

\"shoes<\/a>
shoes on the danube promenade<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cure Yourself at the Thermal Baths<\/h3>\n

Treat yourself to a soothing \u00e2\u20ac\u201d and possibly therapeutic \u00e2\u20ac\u201d afternoon at one of Budapest\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s 15 public thermal baths. The city has been known for its medicinal hot springs since the Roman Empire. To this day, locals use the bathhouses to heal, unwind, and catch up with friends, family, or even a chess partner.<\/p>\n

\"<\/a>
locals playing chess<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Some complexes date back to the 16th and 17th centuries. Pick your favourite and enjoy hot and cold pools, saunas, steam rooms\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 Most also offer massages. I spent a snowy afternoon at Sz\u00c3\u00a9chenyi Bath<\/strong>, one of the largest spa complexes in Europe. Shuffling between 39\u00c2\u00b0C baths while it was -5\u00c2\u00b0C outside was a challenge, but the contrast of steaming hot water and icy air made it unforgettable. I mean, how often do you get to bathe while it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s snowing?! (It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s supposedly great for circulation, too.) Of course, you can also opt for indoor bathing if cold air isn’t your thing.<\/p>\n

\"budapest\"<\/a>
warming up on a grey day<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Afternoon Tea at a Historic Caf\u00c3\u00a9<\/h3>\n

There are several renowned caf\u00c3\u00a9s in Budapest that have been around for decades. The most iconic are Gerbeaud<\/strong> and Ruszwurm<\/strong>. Be warned: prices are steep. But in return, you get a slice of cake perfected over 80+ years. Order a coffee or hot chocolate if afternoon tea isn’t in your budget. Sit back, soak in the atmosphere, and let yourself drift back to the 19th century.<\/p>\n

\"\u00e2\u201a\u00ac8<\/a>
\u00e2\u201a\u00ac8 hot chocolate<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sunset at the Parliament<\/h3>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153More beautiful from the outside than the inside\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u201d normally not a flattering phrase, but in this case, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a compliment. The Hungarian Parliament<\/strong> might just be the most photographed building in the city. Its architectural grandeur is best admired from across the river. Bring a drink or snack and watch the fa\u00c3\u00a7ade change colours with the setting sun. Fair warning: you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll be close to a busy road, so don’t expect it to be peaceful.<\/p>\n

\"budapest<\/a>
sunset on the parilament<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"dusk<\/a>
dusk on the parliament<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Shop for Paprika and Souvenirs at the Central Market Hall<\/h3>\n

As a market lover, I was in heaven wandering the aisles of Budapest\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Central Market<\/strong>. Nothing beats getting lost among stacks of produce, cured meats, cheeses, spices, pastries, and every imaginable form of paprika. Wandering through this market is a fantastic way to taste and learn about Hungarian cuisine. Head upstairs for handmade crafts, embroidered linens, and the occasional tacky souvenir.<\/p>\n

\"central<\/a>
central market hall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"budapest\"<\/a>
table deco<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"meats<\/a>
meats<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Have a Couple of Drinks at a Ruin Bar<\/h3>\n

A ruin bar<\/strong> (or kert<\/em>) is a temporary watering hole set up in an abandoned building or factory. Think underground pop-up bar meets eccentric flea market. Some are seasonal, others stick around for years. Expect mismatched furniture, quirky artwork, and a healthy dose of graffiti. These spots have a unique edge and are loved by locals and travellers alike. One place served carrots with our drinks \u00e2\u20ac\u201d \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Why not a healthy snack with your beer?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d the waitress said. Touch\u00c3\u00a9!
Szimpla Kert<\/strong> is the most famous of the bunch. Up-to-date info on all kerts can be found\u00c2\u00a0here<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>
healthy beer snack<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"<\/a>
one of the rooms at szimpla<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"<\/a>
drinks in a bathtub<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pizza at Marxim<\/h3>\n

Ever wonder what it felt like to be part of \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcthe resistance\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 during communist times? Enter Marxim<\/strong>, a pizza restaurant\/bar on the Buda side, where the entire theme is delightfully tongue-in-cheek communism. Try the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Pizza \u00c3\u00a0 la Stalingrad,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Red October Pizza,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Papa Marx\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Favourite.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d The d\u00c3\u00a9cor is all-out Soviet, and with a little imagination, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll feel like you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve stepped back in time \u00e2\u20ac\u201d though I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m fairly sure they didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t eat pizza back then.<\/p>\n

\"booths<\/a>
booths separated by chicken gauze and barbed wire<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"making<\/a>
making revolution plans<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/h3>\n

Hang Out at Fisherman\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Bastion<\/h3>\n

Sure, this is one of the classic sights, but it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s so beautiful that it deserves more than a quick photo stop. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s perfect for a romantic rendez-vous<\/em>, a game of hide and seek, a dreamy photo shoot, or a stroll through the charming neighbourhood. Bundle up in winter \u00e2\u20ac\u201d the wind up there is no joke.<\/p>\n

\"view<\/a>
view from my hiding spot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"romance,<\/a>
romance at fisherman’s bastion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Spa-rty at a Historic Thermal Bath<\/h3>\n

If partying is more your scene, don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t miss the Sparties<\/strong>. Organised by Cinetrip<\/strong>, these audio-visual parties take place inside ancient bathhouses. Picture lasers, DJs, smoke machines, and sweaty dancing \u00e2\u20ac\u201d all in a 200-year-old Turkish bath. These events are fast becoming iconic. Not my cup of tea (anymore?), but if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re curious about aqua-twerking… this is your moment.<\/p>\n

\"sparty<\/a>
sparty time<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Discover Hungarian Cuisine and Wine<\/h3>\n

While Hungary might not be known worldwide for its cuisine, I found it surprisingly satisfying. Even something as simple as fried mushrooms with rice turned into a delicious plate. The food is rich, hearty, and packed with flavour \u00e2\u20ac\u201d weight loss isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t likely here. Hunt down restaurants serving authentic fare or take one of the many available cooking classes.
Must-tries: goulash soup<\/strong>, chicken paprikash<\/strong>, and stuffed savoury cr\u00c3\u00aapes<\/strong>. Oh, and don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t skip dessert \u00e2\u20ac\u201d pastries are divine and often cheaper than in France. I especially loved the cherry strudel<\/strong>.\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"caviar<\/a>
caviar tartines, goulash soup, pastry galore, mushrooms and rice<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"cherry<\/a>
cherry strudel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/h4>\n

Have you been to Budapest? Have you done any of these activities while there?<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

The post “How to spend the weekend in Budapest (when you’ve already done the sightseeing)<\/a>” first appeared on Travel Cake<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Off the Beaten Path in Budapest: A Different Kind of Day You’re in Budapest and you’ve already ticked off the main tourist attractions \u00e2\u20ac\u201d or maybe you’re just not in the mood. It happens… and that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s totally okay! Especially in a city like Budapest, where there are plenty of meaningful ways to spend your time […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":628,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[109,121],"tags":[11,47,44],"country":[227],"class_list":["post-611","post","type-post","status-publish","format-image","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-europe","category-hungary","tag-europe","tag-hungary","tag-top-things","post_format-post-format-image","country-hungary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/611","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=611"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/611\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4409,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/611\/revisions\/4409"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/628"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=611"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=611"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=611"},{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=611"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}