'Hungary' for adventure?

George Ezra hit the nail on the head about Budapest with his song lyric, 'my hidden treasure chest'. The charismatic city is truly a treasure of the world bursting with underrated landmarks and attractions.

As a city break lover, Budapest has been on my list for quite some time now. I have heard many mixed reviews about the historic city but have always lived by the rule that everyone has to make up their own mind about a place, therefore this did not stop me from pressing 'confirm booking' on the travel website. Is it just me who becomes riddled with excitement from this moment on?

Budapest is truly a fascinating, cultural and surprisingly clean city full of history and majestic architecture everywhere you turn. I found myself staring in awe at buildings after buildings of grand structure and quirky cobbled side streets. Some resembled the streets of Paris while others made me feel like I had stepped foot in Barcelona again; both cities which also ooze character and history.

There are many things to do and see while in Budapest, however, tourists tend to stay for 3-4 nights giving them limited time to explore. Don't panic! Despite its land area reaching 525 square kilometres making it the tenth largest city in the European Union by population, surprisingly the main points of interest are within a close proximity of each other. My top 5 must see sights can be reached on foot (if you're a keen walker), by the city's public tram transportation or the easiest in my opinion, the sightseeing bus tours that take you directly to all the landmarks where you can hop on and off as you please.

Parliament

Parliament of Budapest is a magnificent building and the third largest Parliament building in the world!

It rests along the river Danube at 879 ft. long and 404 ft. wide making it noticeable from many points around the city. The buildings structure is somewhat gothic like and looks grand from every angle and viewpoint. An ideal photo spot for Instagram lovers is at the entrance of the building which is located in the square on the east side of the structure. Another 'Instagramable' photo opportunity for the length of Parliament is from the Danube River. There are several river cruises that you can do: one that I would highly recommend is the 2pm buffet lunch cruise as it was such an enjoyable experience. The cruise includes a glass of fizz, glass of wine and lunch in the style of a buffet which hosts an array of Hungarian dishes and desserts.

Szechenyi Thermal Baths

The thermal baths are not to be missed!

I had seen many photographs and reviews about the thermal baths that made me unsure about visiting. Images showed tourists crammed packed like sardines and reviews informed that it smelled and was dirty. Nonetheless, for me I had to see it for myself and have the famous thermal bath Hungarian experience; whether I enjoyed it or not. On the day, the sun was shining and clouds were nowhere to be seen. We could not have chosen a better day to say it was February. At the baths, it is obligatory to wear flip flops so to save money, pack a pair in your case along with a towel. There are many different thermal baths throughout Budapest but the Szechenyi Thermal Baths is the biggest and most popular in the city. This fact may be the reason for the crammed tourists, however for me, we arrived at 9:30am and it wasn't half as busy as the photos appeared so to beat the crowds, go early and you'll have the best relaxing time!

Heroes Square

Known in Budapest as Hosok Tere, Heroes Square is an impressive square featuring the seven chieftains of the Magyars, important Hungarian national leaders and a memorial stone of heroes. This sight is a definite for culture, heritage and history of Hungary. On my quest for landmarks and Instagram worthy shots, this one definitely foots the bill. On a last note, Heroes Square is located within a 5 minute walk away from the Szechenyi Thermal Baths which is ideal for planning your day trips. Budapest Zoo is also within walking distance from the square.

Shoes along the Danube and Chain Bridge

I have put both these sights together due to the fact that the iron casting shoes are located along the edge of the river Danube, right where you will find the Chain Bridge (see photo to the left). The iron casting shoes are a memorial in Budapest to honour the Jews who were killed in Budapest during World War 2. The individuals were marched down to the Danube by local fascist groups and were forced to remove their shoes before being shot. The memorial is truly remarkable and thought-provoking despite an eerie atmosphere due to the historic tragic event.

The Chain Bridge is another main sight of Budapest and took me back to strolling along the Brooklyn Bridge in New York; with obvious differences but a resemblance was there. Budapest is made up of Buda and Pest which are separated by the Danube River. The Chain Bridge connects both and is a short walk to the other side. I stopped in the Pest side, as it is known Pest is best. It certainly lived up to the rhyme. Both are beautiful and have their own landmarks and views to offer (my favourite is actually on the Buda side which I will come to next) however, Pest has the most attractions and things to do. On the other side of the magnificent iron and stone structure, in Buda you will find the beautiful Buda Castle and the mesmerising Fisherman's Bastion.

Fisherman's Bastion

Fisherman's Bastion on the Buda side of Budapest offers endless amounts of charisma and spectacular panoramic views of the Chain Bridge, Danube River and the Pest side. The gothic style fortress opened in 1902 but looks as modern as ever with its white washed buildings and mosaic pattern style roofs. I personally found this grand structure to be my favourite place in Budapest. I was in awe and felt like I was on a film set in a picturesque palace.

Even though there are plenty more landmarks and attractions to see and do, those are my top 5 to visit while in Budapest. Adhering to one of its many nicknames, the heart of Europe, Budapest truly has my heart. 

Fact Section

What to eat: Goulash is a traditional Hungarian dish that can be served as a beef stew or as a soup. Very tasty. Another treat to try is a Chimney Cake! This is a sweet dough that is rolled out onto a wooden roller, rolled in sugar then baked in the oven. You can have them with Nutella and ice cream inside - yum!

Where to stay: The Mango Aparthotel is located in the centre of Budapest. It hosts self-catering apartments surrounded by many bars and restaurants that are priced from £57 per night.

What to experience: The 360 rooftop bar with spectacular views and igloos for seating.