Budapest, Hungary: 3 must-visit cities for nightlife lovers
#travelguide #budapesttravel #budapestnightview
If you love night views, Budapest is a must 💜
While your stay in Vienna, Austria is short, you should definitely make a day trip to Budapest, Hungary, one of the world's top three nightscape cities. You'll regret it forever if you don't!
🚉 Take the OBB from Vienna Hauptbahnhof Station to Budapest Keleti Station
When traveling in Europe, I focused on saving time and convenience over price, and the OBB was by far the most comfortable and enjoyable mode of transportation. I also used the OBB to travel from Vienna Central Station to Budapest Keleti Station.
The station was only a three-minute walk from my accommodation, so I had breakfast at Vienna Central Station and left with plenty of time to spare! It took about two and a half hours to reach Budapest Keleti Station from Vienna. This area is famous for its beautiful historic buildings with 1800s architecture.
Since this was a day trip, I didn't have much time, but I knew I'd be moving around a lot, so I bought a 24-hour transit pass at Keleti Station to avoid any hassle.
💒 St. Stephen's Basilica & Andrássy Avenue
Day trips are always limited by time. I couldn't visit all the sights in Budapest, like Heroes' Square and the Széchenyi Baths, so I decided to choose a few must-see spots.
My first stop was St. Stephen's Basilica! I sat at an outdoor table at a cafe in front of the cathedral and ordered coffee. Thanks to the mild temperature and humidity, and the clear weather, the beautiful cathedral and Andrássy Avenue were breathtakingly beautiful just to look at.
Andrássy Avenue is a 2.3km street modeled after the Champs-Élysées in Paris and was designated a World Heritage Site in 2002.
🎡 Budapest Eye
On the way to the Central Market, I stopped by Elizabeth Square Park to see the Budapest Eye. Its large, round shape blends perfectly with the lush green park.
The Budapest Eye, overlaid against the deep blue sky, made even more beautiful by the bright sunlight, leaves nothing but beauty in its wake! Even though it was only a brief stop, it was worth it.
🩷 Great Market Hall
A 10-minute bus ride takes you to the Great Market Hall. It's Budapest's largest indoor market, a popular spot for grocery shopping and souvenirs. The architecture is truly stunning.
I should have checked the Great Market Hall's operating hours before I arrived, but that was my mistake. It's usually open from 5 to 6 PM on weekdays, but it closed at 3 or 4 PM on the weekend we visited. How could that be? Isn't that the peak time?
The time left moves faster than anyone else. The Great Market Hall is divided into three floors. The first floor houses various grocery stores, including vegetables and meat, while the second floor houses souvenirs and restaurants. Oh my, I love markets like this!
It feels so good to finish a satisfying shopping trip within 3 o'clock. :)
💜 Vaci Street
Even if I skipped one tourist attraction, I can't go hungry. I came all the way to Hungary, so I had to try a restaurant there. I left the Great Market and arrived at Vaci Street.
Every neat street has outdoor tables set up in front of restaurants. I love this open, airy atmosphere, where you can sit wherever you like without feeling awkward.
We sat at an outdoor table in front of a store with a pretty red floral tablecloth and ordered a beer, goulash, and pasta. Hungary is the home of goulash, so I ordered one last time, but it was a very soupy soup, completely different from the goulash I've had in the Czech Republic and Austria.
And this is just a personal preference, but the pasta I've tried in Eastern Europe three times has always tasted different from what I expected. :)
🌉 Elisabeth Bridge & Széchenyi Chain Bridge
On the way to Fisherman's Bastion, passing Elisabeth Bridge, the Danube River stretched out in a refreshing breeze. I wanted to cross Elisabeth Bridge and head to Gellért Hill, which offers a panoramic view of Budapest, but I felt like I wouldn't have enough time, so I gave up and, with regret, turned back.
It's not a short distance, but if you keep walking, you'll see Buda Castle. However, my destination wasn't Buda Castle, but Fisherman's Bastion. I was focused solely on the night view of the Parliament Building.
On the way from the Great Market Hall to Fisherman's Bastion, I passed three bridges, the last of which was Széchenyi Chain Bridge, the first connecting Buda and Pest. It's not a flashy bridge, but it has a certain atmosphere, and it's truly romantic when lit up at night.
🏰 Matthias Church & Fisherman's Bastion
The first thing I saw upon arrival was the uniquely architectural Matthias Church. Matthias Church, where Hungarian kings were once crowned, felt quite unfamiliar. Its unique patterns and colors, and the changing appearance from every angle, are a rare sight in a cathedral, making it intriguing.
Buying a ticket and climbing the stairs to Fisherman's Bastion offers a panoramic view of Budapest. It's a magical time, casting a spell over the Budapest sky. It's not a blazing red sunset, but a subtle, pastel orange that creeps in, creating a subtle, emotional sunset. It's truly beautiful.
I feel like Budapest, Hungary, makes up for all the sunsets and night views I missed in the Czech Republic and Salzburg.
🩷 Parliament Building at Night & Angelika Étterem és Kávéház
Darkness fell on the way down from Fisherman's Bastion. I think I'll finally get to see the night view of the Parliament Building I've been waiting for. With a joyful heart and light steps, I steadily headed toward my destination. The clear, deep blue night sky, the streetlights, and the vibrant colors illuminating the cathedral and other buildings made it look like a beautiful picture book the more I looked at it.
We decided to start with a meal at a restaurant near the National Assembly Building. I stumbled upon this restaurant by chance, and it was the perfect place to dine while taking in the nighttime view of the National Assembly Building across the street. The clear, nighttime view of the National Assembly Building was so beautiful, I was thrilled the whole time.
The perfect spot to admire the nighttime view of the National Assembly Building, the friendly waiters, the delicious steak and salad, and the refreshing draft beer—everything was fantastic. This made my Budapest trip perfect!
After ordering, we headed out to see the nighttime view of the National Assembly Building. Seeing the beautiful nighttime view of the National Assembly Building, gleaming as if covered in gold, I finally realized I had made the right decision to come to Budapest, even if it was just for a day trip.
🚉 Taking the night train from Keleti Station to Vienna Central Station
This was my first time on an overnight train, and I was thrilled. Unlike the open-air trains we'd been on before, this was a cabin with separate luggage compartments and doors, which was a novelty. My companions were a cute pair of K-pop fans.
Because the train was delayed, I couldn't sleep, constantly checking Google Maps to see when we'd arrive in Vienna. I was afraid I'd fall asleep and miss the train station. We finally arrived at noon.
I'm impressed by my foresight in booking a hotel just a three-minute walk from the train station. The train ride was longer than expected, and I was tired, but the lingering memories of our exciting time in beautiful Budapest lingered in my mind, and that night, it felt like a happy dream. :)