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Hindi actor Raveena Tandon is holidaying with her daughter in the captivating capital city of Hungary, Budapest. Steeped in history with many stunning buildings and monuments that nod to its Celtic, Roman, Ottoman and Magyar heritage, Budapest is magnificently beautiful. Its festivals and fairs, thermal springs and cuisine attract visitors throughout the year. Furthermore, it is less expensive to visit than other European destinations which makes it easy on the pocket.
Follow this three-day itinerary and holiday like Tandon when you’re in Budapest.
Start by visiting the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site of Buda Castle, once the home of Hungarian kings. First completed in 1265, the massive Baroque palace now houses the Hungarian National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum. Take a tour of the lavish rooms inside the castle, take photos with the Matthias Fountain on the western forecourt, check out the Monument of Prince Eugene of Savoy, circle The Fountain of the Fishing Children on the Danube terrace, and enjoy the panoramic views of the city from Castle Hill.
Next, visit the nearby Church of the Assumption of the Buda Castle, more commonly known as Matthias Church. The present building was constructed in the late Gothic style in the second half of the 14th century and was extensively restored in the late 19th century. The coronation of two Hungarian kings took place within its walls. The Matthias Church is home to the Ecclesiastical Art Museum and contains several sacred relics and medieval stone carvings, along with replicas of the Hungarian royal crown and coronation jewels.
The Halászbástya, or Fisherman's Bastion, is another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its seven towers represent the seven Magyar tribes that settled in the Carpathian Basin in 895. From the towers and the terrace, visitors can delight in panoramic views over the Danube River, Margaret Island and Gellért Hill. Behind Fisherman’s Bastian, there is an equestrian statue of King Saint Stephen, who was the first king of Hungary. The building suffered extensive damage during World War II but has since been restored. Tourists love coming here because of the sprawling views of the cityscape from the turrets, including the splendid Hungarian Parliament Building, which is where you will go next.
The Hungarian Parliament Building is the seat of the National Assembly of Hungary and is situated on the eastern bank of the Danube. This magnificent building was built over 17 years from 1885 – 1902 and has become the symbol of Hungary and its capital. No expenses were spared during its construction. For instance, forty kilograms of 22 - 23 karat gold were used for the building’s decorations. The building itself is a mixture of various architectural styles and motifs: the floor plan is Baroque, the façade bears Gothic ornamentation and the ceilings are decorated in the Renaissance style. It is open nearly every day of the year for visits led by trained guides who speak numerous languages.
Afterwards, relax in the green environs of Kossuth Lajos Square. There are sculptures of Hungarian icons, an underground lapidary and a memorial to the victims of the Kossuth Lajos tér massacre of October 1956.
All that walking around would have left you craving a relaxing massage or spa experience. Look no further than the Gellért Thermal Bath, part of the Hotel Gellért. It was built between 1912 and 1918 in the Art Nouveau style but has a much longer history than that. In the 17th century, the site was named Sárosfürdő (mud bath) because of the fine spring silt that was pushed up together with the spring water and settled at the bottom of the pools. Choose from a medical pool for recovery, an indoor swimming pool, an outdoor wave pool, an outdoor thermal pool and the sauna, or simply visit them all. Wrap up your evening with a refreshing massage from the attendants.
Your first stop today will be the Central Market Hall, the largest and oldest indoor market in Budapest. A variety of stalls ply their wares across three floors. Most of the stalls on the ground floor offer produce, meats, pastries, candies, spices and spirits. Many of them have items that are popular with tourists like paprika spices, Tokaji wine, Túró Rudi, kolbász sausage and salami. The second mezzanine floor has eateries and tourist souvenirs. The basement houses fishmongers, vegetable stalls and a few specialised butcher shops. Take the walking tour as it provides informative insights into the building's history and traders.
Next up is the Hungarian National Museum which was founded in 1802 and is the national museum for the history, art and archaeology of Hungary. It has seven permanent displays which you can spend a whole afternoon trawling through. The general history of Hungary is covered in two sections: the prehistory to the Avar period till 804 and the period from 804 to modern times are on the first floor. The ground floor's permanent exhibit is focused on medieval and Early Modern stone inscriptions and carvings. The final permanent exhibit in the basement is given to the Roman Lapidary collection of ancient Roman stone inscriptions and carvings.
Check out St Stephen’s Basilica, named in honour of the first king of Hungary. Stephen is Hungary’s patron saint and his feast day is celebrated on August 20. His right hand is housed in the reliquary. The church was designed in a neo-classical style but now has a neo-Renaissance style due to its rebuilding after 1867. The church’s dome can be accessed either by an elevator or 364 steps for a panoramic view of the city.
Afterwards, visit the Jewish Quarter of the city. It is home to the Dohány Street Synagogue complex which consists of the Great Synagogue, the Heroes' Temple, a graveyard, a memorial and a museum. The Moorish-style Great Synagogue is one of Budapest’s most eye-catching buildings. Built in 1859, the distinctive structure, with its crenellated red-and-yellow glazed-brick façade and two enormous towers, stands next to the Hungarian Jewish Museum. In the courtyard is the sombre Holocaust Tree of Life Memorial, designed by sculptor Imre Varga.
Wrap up your second evening in Budapest with a visit to Citadella, a fortification located upon the top of Gellért Hill. Constructed in 1851, the fortress is a U-shaped structure built around a central courtyard. It is 220 m long, 60 m wide and 4 m tall, with a complement of 60 cannons. Next to the Danube-facing longitudinal wall of the Citadella, there is an open-air display of a small collection of Red Army weaponry, most of them from World War II. The place is a visual marvel at night when it is all aglow.
Your final morning in Budapest should begin with a visit to Vajdahunyad Castle. Built in 1896, it was originally intended to be a temporary structure and was constructed out of wood and cardboard. However, it proved to be such a hit with locals and visitors alike that a more permanent structure was built in 1904. The castle itself is divided into four sections showcasing Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance and Romanesque architecture. Within each section are smaller buildings which are linked together. The castle also houses the Museum of Hungarian Agriculture.
Next, visit the Museum of Fine Arts on the grounds of Vajdahunyad Castle. Opened in 1906, it displays treasures of international and Hungarian art spanning ancient times to the end of the 18th century. It has six collections and a library. Whether you are interested in Egyptian antiquities; Classical antiquities; Old Master paintings; more than 600 sculptures ranging from the Renaissance to the Gothic style; prints and drawings from the 1300s to the present day; or Hungarian paintings, sculptures, architectural carvings and tombstones from the 11th century to 1800, you will find them all here.
Visit the tree-lined Andrássy Avenue, a boulevard bursting with neo-Renaissance mansions and townhouses featuring fine façades and interiors. It is also one of Budapest's main shopping streets, with fine cafés, restaurants, theatres, embassies and luxury boutiques. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to Heroes' Square, the Hungarian State Opera, the harrowing House of Terror Museum and the Franz Liszt Square, among other notable places. Shop, eat, walk and take photographs in this beautiful place.
Soak in the afternoon sun at the Széchenyi Thermal Bath, one of the most popular thermal spas in Europe with three outdoor pools and 15 indoor pools. There are also swimming pools with water jets that will hit all the right spots to give you a truly indulgent experience.
After refreshing yourself, choose from a river cruise along the Danube to see the city’s landmarks glittering at night or take a leaf from Raveena Tandon’s trip and visit The House of Houdini for your final evening. The latter is a private theatre which houses the largest permanent exhibition of artefacts in Europe belonging to Hungarian-American magician Harry Houdini. There is live magical entertainment and interactive features for visitors.
Take a flight from any Indian airport to a Gulf city like Doha, Abu Dhabi and Dubai or a European city like Frankfurt, Munich or Copenhagen for onward connections to Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD).
