After a low key and for the most part uneventful stint in Bratislava, we made our way to Hungary where we would be staying in Budapest for 8-9 days. As we make our way East the less and less touristy the places became which is fun because that means the more we are surprised when we arrive and explore. Unlike Prague where we were just a bit outside of the area we maybe would have preferred (due to prices), in Budapest we couldn't have chosen a better location. We were located in the Jewish quarter which is the new hip neighborhood that has the majority of recommended bars and restaurants. Not only this but the train, tram, and subway were right outside our front door. We've said it before but the cheaper the city is, the more we are able to get out and experience. Budapest was one of the more affordable places we have been. Examples of prices:
- Our AirBnb with a full kitchen, massive room and bathroom, in an incredible location was $256... for 8 nights. That's $32 a night.
- Beer at a pub runs about $1.35 a pint and $0.85 at a store.
- We ate in most nights but the last evening we went out and had a really nice, large meal with two drinks for $22.
- We bought two 7 day transport passes that covers all subways, trams, and busses for $36.
Back to Budapest and some of the highlights!
- Caitlin got her tooth fixed! If you read our last post you saw that Caitlin lost a filling in Bratislava so that required some dental work in Budapest. A lot of people are curious about this process. It's actually really easy and simple. Caitlin looked up recommended dentists, sent an email, and they set her up with an appointment the day after we arrived. When she got there, they asked for some basic information and had her fixed up within 30 minutes. It ended up running about $100. Simple as that.
- Parliament Building. We have seen a lot of cool buildings and structures but for some reason we just couldn't take our eyes off the Parliament building. It's right on the banks of the Daunbe and we could not stop taking pictures. It's so impressive.
- Ruin Bars. We like to drink and we like to drink in cool places and nothing is cooler than drinking in bars that used to be abandoned buildings. Budapest is known for their ruin bars and we took a liking to the Szimpla Kert (original and most popular) and Anker’t Romkocsma (more laid back vibe).
- Baths. The other thing Budapest is famous for are their baths. Budapest is located on some fault lines so for whatever scientific reason that affects the water. These very impressive baths are built throughout the city. Just think of these places as a cross between a public pool and a spa. You can of course pay to have add-on services (Caitlin got a massage from an elderly woman). The whole experience is part of the culture in Budapest. We went to the Széchenyi Baths (most famous) and the Gellert Baths (little more low key).
- Fisherman's Bastion/ Castle District - This area felt like its own little town on top of a hill overlooking the main area of Budapest. Because of this panoramic view, it’s become one of the most popular attractions. We enjoyed the Fisherman’s Bastion monument, which honestly looked like either a huge sandcastle or just some building that belongs in Aquaman. Also the St. Mathias Cathedral was very impressive and towered over the hilltop.
- House of Terror - House of Terror is a museum located at Andrássy út 60 in Budapest, Hungary. It contains exhibits related to the fascist and communist regimes in 20th-century Hungary. It is also a memorial to the victims of these regimes, including those detained, interrogated, tortured or killed in the building. Interesting and powerful.
- Pinball Museum. The name of the place says museum so if that's the case then this is the most fun museum I've ever been to! It's a basement that houses over 100 pinball machines (new and old) along with other classic arcade games, and for $15 you can play them all for as long as you want. Caitlin gravitated to the Shrek machine while I was stuck at the Simpsons one. We must have been there for a while because I am embarrassed to say, my wrists hurt the next day.