Budapest (Hungary) – the little, hip sister of Vienna

The western part of the city is situated on a hill on which Budapest's Castle Hill is located. This can be reached by a historic funicular, which takes you directly up to the castle after crossing the Chain Bridge. However, since the climb isn't too far, you can also easily reach the castle on foot and enjoy the magnificent view of the flat side of the city as you go. On the other, flat eastern bank is the district of Pest. On this side is the actual city center of Budapest, with many shops, bars, restaurants, and shopping opportunities. That Budapest is a very young and hip city and that many students live there becomes apparent when you stroll through the Old Town and the narrow streets of Pest. There are many unusual cafés, small boutiques, and unusual restaurants there.

The motto "live in Buda and live in Pest" applies here. The renovated, baroque quarter on the Buda side and Castle Hill, with its many bungalows and villas, is a popular residential area for Budapest's wealthy upper class. Pest, on the other hand, is the lively district for students, workers, artists, and merchants. Theaters, bars, clubs, and even the magnificent Budapest Parliament building can be found here. You should visit this magnificent neo-Gothic building after dark. The Parliament, located directly on the Danube, is illuminated at night, making it even more majestic than in daylight. This is a great place to take some great photos ;-).

During the day, it's worth taking a short stroll along the Danube from here. You might come across some shoes standing directly on the banks of the Danube. These 60 pairs of shoes are a memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. After your stroll, you should definitely visit one of the city's many beautiful coffee houses. Like Vienna, Budapest is known for its coffee house culture, and that's not without reason. In the 19th century, the Austrian Emperor Franz Josef I was crowned King of Hungary in Matthias Church in Budapest. He wanted to make Budapest a city that would surpass Vienna in splendor and beauty. With his many magnificent buildings, he therefore had a profound influence on the architecture and cityscape of Budapest. For example, the Budapest Opera House resembles the Austrian model in Vienna. Since in many places in the city you have the feeling that you are not in the Hungarian, but in the Austrian capital, Vienna, we would call the city "Vienna's little sister." But this is not just because of the city's size. If you dare to take a look into the less visited streets of the city, you'll quickly notice that the city isn't as polished as its role model. You might well find a ruin right next to a building with a magnificent facade. But that's precisely what makes Budapest so appealing!

If you visit the city's Jewish Quarter , for example, you'll come across many dilapidated houses and ruins of buildings. These have now been converted into cool bars, hip restaurants, and clubs. Street art lovers will also find their money's worth in this alternative district, where unusual modern art blends with dilapidated buildings. You can browse through secondhand shops and soak up Budapest's young, hip scene.

We also have an insider tip: Budapest offers so-called "Free Walking Tours." On these tours, locals (mostly students) guide you through the city and show you hidden gems for free, far from the overcrowded tourist attractions. Since you'll be doing a lot of walking on such a tour, you should bring a leather city backpack with you, in which you can pack a drink and a small tip for the tour guide.

It's very important to note that Hungarian currency is used in Hungary. While you can now pay with euros in many shops and restaurants in Budapest, it's considerably more expensive than using the local currency. Therefore, it's best to exchange a few euros into forints . However, you don't need to overdo it, as a major advantage of a trip to Hungary's capital is that it's still very affordable. For example, you can buy a delicious langos (traditional Hungarian specialty) or a sweet tree cake (both Hungarian specialties) for just a few euros.

Budapest is a beautiful European city you should definitely visit. There are many great sights here that you can visit even during the coronavirus crisis. Once travel restrictions are lifted, the city is definitely worth a visit! Just like in Germany, you'll need to maintain social distancing while traveling in Hungary, and don't forget your mask. ;).

We wish you a pleasant trip to Budapest!

Your myBagFactory team