For this quick guide, we are excited to feature Brianna from Home Base Hungary! Through her blog and Instagram, she shares beautiful photos of her family’s adventures living abroad in Europe. She recently moved to Belgium, but joins us to share her favorite places and top things to do in and around Budapest, the capital of Hungary, where she previously lived.
MEET BRIANNA
Originally from Maine, Bri is a licensed mental health counselor. She moved from the Northeast across the Atlantic to call Europe home for the last several years. Her husband’s service as a U.S. Air Force pilot has allowed her family to have all sorts of adventures in countries like Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Belgium and Portugal. Along with her three kids, she shows that it is possible and a lot of fun to explore Europe with little ones. They are also big Disney World fans like us!
Being based in Hungary for a couple years have given Brianna’s family plenty of opportunities to learn more about what this Central European country has to offer. And now without further ado, she will share her top things to do in Budapest!
TOP THINGS TO DO IN BUDAPEST
Why should someone visit Hungary, especially Budapest?
“Hungary is amazing! Not only does it boast the amazing ‘Paris of the East’ in Budapest, but it also has great hiking, delicious food, fascinating history, awesome thermal bath culture and the largest lake in central Europe… all at super affordable prices!”
What is a touristy attraction you recommend and why?
“When in Budapest, you need to walk around and see all the amazing architecture. Part of the wonder of the city is that it was once two cities (Buda and Pest). In 1873, the cities combined into one, making the world-famous bridges even more important. So definitely walk along the Danube River, across the Szechenyi Chain Bridge and up to either Buda Castle or the Fisherman’s Bastion to gaze upon the incredible Parliament building, all for free! You also have to visit at least one of their famous thermal baths!”
What is a touristy attraction you don’t recommend and why?
“You can skip the Budapest Eye. If you’re a die hard Ferris Wheel fan, go for it. But otherwise, you can get better views from climbing to the top of St. Stephen’s Basilica and walking out around the dome!”
What is an attraction that is not as well-known that you would recommend and why?
“If you’re a history buff, check out Memento Park just outside the city. It is a chilling Soviet-era graveyard for statues from all over Budapest during the Soviet occupation of Hungary. If local culture is more your thing, visit the ruin bars near Szimpla Kert in District VII. They’ve got their own vibe and really come alive at night!”
What is a must-visit restaurant and why?
“How can I choose just one? There are SO MANY great restaurants! But if I have to recommend one, it’s Dobrumba. Overall, it’s not fancy, but the food is amazing. Also, get reservations! Really everything in District VII (the former Jewish quarter) is terrific. And I can’t talk about food without making sure the following are on the ‘must-try’ list!”
- Kürtőskalács: a type of cake made on a rotating spit.
- Pörkölt: a hearty meat and vegetables stew.
- Paprikás: a classic Hungarian dish of paprika chicken.
- Lángos: a fried bread that can feature a variety of toppings.
- Gulyas/Goulash: a brothy soup with meat and vegetables, not to be confused with American Goulash (macaroni, ground beef and pasta sauce).
MORE TRAVEL TALK WITH BRIANNA
A huge thanks to Bri for sharing her recommendations for Budapest! We wanted to learn more about her European travels, so we had a few more questions for her:
Where is your favorite destination you’ve ever traveled to?
“This is a tough one because every place I go leaves a little impression on my spirit. But one of the biggest impressions was Slovenia! It’s so beautiful and has so many amazing natural wonders. We have been there many times and it never gets old.”
What is at the top of your travel bucket list at the moment?
“Now that we live in Belgium, we want to try to get to places closer to us, such as Norway, the Baltics and Ireland. But top of that list are the Faroe Islands!”
Lastly, if you could only share one travel tip, what would it be?
“I think it’s important to be open minded and flexible as a traveler. People who expect the experience to happen to them will end up being disappointed no matter where they go. Instead, with a resilient, positive attitude, pretty much anything can turn into an adventure… even major fails!”
CONNECT WITH BRIANNA
We want to thank Brianna again for sharing her tips on the best things to see and do in Budapest. Be sure to connect with her at @homebasebelgium on Instagram and at HomeBaseHungary.com.
Have you been to Hungary? If so, share your favorite things to see and do in the comments below. As always, thanks for reading, and don’t forget to check out our other Trips and Tips!