1-Buda Castle, Castle Hill

Castle Hill offers a variety of activities to suit any tourist. You have a vast liberty of choice; take the historical Funicular Railway up the hill or enjoy a leisurely ten minute climb. From here you can peruse the historic Buda Castle as well as breathtaking views of the Danube, Chain Bridge, Gresham Palace, the Changing of the Guard at the Hungarian Presidential Palace and the Hungarian Parliament from atop this grand hill. If you can tear yourself away from these views why not relax in the esteemed 19th Century Cafe Ruszwrum, explore Matthias Church or indulge in over 50 regional wines at the Faust Wine Cellar or Royal Wine House. The choice is yours!


2-Heroes’ Square

Heroes' Square features the epic historical equestrian statue complex; the Hungarian Millennium Monument. What's more this square is located near two of the finest arts museums which host an array of historical delights; from mummies to collections of fine Raffaello art! Choose from the classic Museum of Fine Arts or the contemporary Hall of Arts to view both historical wonders and exhibitions of international arts. Heroes' Square offers a unique combination of cultural education and historical fascination.

3-Danube River Cruise

Perfect at night, Budapest offers guided river tours of the Danube river. Relax on one of their glass covered panorama boats for sightseeing mingled with opulence. There are a multitude of different cruises from which to choose; cocktail, wine or beer cruises, party or operetta cruises, lunch or dinner cruises, and even special celebratory cruises at Christmas and New Year's Eve!

4-Budapest Baths

Budapest hosts an array of relaxing baths, facilitating an immensely therapeutic experience set within some of the most historic and opulent Turkish baths. From baths to massages, you have a variety of choice as there are plenty of these luxurious facilities throughout Budapest; the Szechenyi Baths, Rudas Baths and the Gellert Spa to name but a few. Depending on which bath you choose, each hosts a range of thermal and swimming pools of varying size with the additional indulgences of unique drinking cures as well as massage therapies delivered to the high standard of Spinal Care Clinics. Perfect for jet lag relief or after a long day of tourist exploration!

5- Music in Budapest

For the ultimate musical experience, Budapest is the place to be! There are concerts to suit every musical taste. Visit the beautiful Hungarian Opera House to marvel at its operas, or enjoy classical concerts at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music. Alternatively, if you favour jazz and world music, you can be serenaded at the Palace of Arts (MUPA).

6-Vibrant nightlife

Indulge your party animal instinct amongst Budapest's thriving nightlife! With a myriad of bars, clubs and festivals, Budapest truly comes alive at night! Check out the wide choice of pubs for some of Hungary's finest craft beers, such as Szimpla kert, Otkery and Corvinteto but to name a few. Alternatively, you can dine whilst accompanied by live swing and jazz acts at some of their finest restaurant venues. You can even bask in a starlit Budapest bath, some of which stay open until 10pm.

7-Chain Bridge

Chain Bridge offers beautiful views throughout the day and on into the evening and a prime location in between several tourist hotspots. If you are travelling in the summer, Chain Bridge hosts festivals almost every weekend. You can also visit the Bridge Master of Budapest, a man who has devoted his entire life to the Chain Bridge and from whom you can glean exclusive historical and social insights.

8-Fine dining

Hungary boasts some truly opulent feasts to suit every palate. Try Hungarian delicacies such as Hungarian pork; Mangalitsa. Hungary are also famous for their Dobos and Flodni cakes as well as mouth-watering strudels from Retesbolt. There are a wealth of different cafes and restaurants throughout Budapest so that you can tantalise your taste buds with some of the region's finest foods, irrespective of your holiday budget!

9-Houses of Parliament

When the National Assembly is not in session you can discover the Hungarian Houses of Parliament via a series of guided tours. Each tour is 45 minutes and takes you throughout Parliament, even offering a glimpse at the Hungarian Crown Jewels!

10-Central Market Hall



Perfect for picking up some unique souvenirs, Central Market Hall is the largest indoor market in Budapest. Built at the end of the 19th Century, the market hall is a haven of local treasures; from local foods on the ground floor to handicrafts, clothing, embroidery, food vendors and other souvenir trinkets on the floor above. There is also a fish market in the basement as well as an Asian grocery store, a supermarket and even a small drugstore! This market hall has everything you could possibly wish for and if you venture there on a Friday or Saturday, you have the additional benefit of experiencing their International Gastro Days where they feature the food and cuisine of different foreign countries.

Words by Bradley Taylor for XpatLoop.com

Bradley is a freelance writer from Derby, England, a motoring enthusiast who loves writing about cars and everything automotive but he is versatile and he also writes across a variety of other topics.
You can find him on Google+ and follow him on Twitter.