Couples' Three-Day City Escape to Budapest

Take a taxi or bus from Ferenc Lizst Airport to your hotel in the city center, Hotel Gerlóczy. This recently renovated boutique hotel provides modern elegance in a historic building. Once you have settled, depending on time of day, you can have lunch or a snack in the downstairs Gerlóczy Kávéhás before starting to explore this energetic city.

In the afternoon and evening, walk down Andrássy Út, often referred to as Budapest’s Champs-Elysees. The first half in filled with upscale stores and restaurants – I love window shopping here. The second half is quieter, lined with embassies and mansions. Enjoy the architecture -- this is one of my favorite walks in the world!

At the end of Andrassy Ut is Heroes Square, with the Millenial Monument at its center. Walk across this grand plaza into the sprawling City Park. If you’re visiting during colder times of the year, I recommend a spin around the ice skating rink. Make sure you take time to wander the Romanesque Vajdahunyad Castle. If you have time, you can also take a dip in the famous Széchenyi Thermal Baths.

As you return down Andrássy Út to your hotel, I love stopping by Hisztéria Cremeria for its delicious ice cream and variety of local cakes. For dinner that evening, I recommend one of two locations of Café Vian, a perfect blend of French bistro and Hungarian regional cuisine.

After a hearty breakfast at your hotel café or something lighter at one of the many bakeries, lace up your walking shoes for Buda – the half of the city which is west of the Danube River. You can take a cab if you’d like, but I enjoy walking across the Chain Bridge.

Once you get across the river, either climb up the hill or take the funicular to the castle at the top. Allow yourself hours to wander the beautiful architecture at the top of the hill. There are great photo opportunities, especially when exploring the fairytale towers of the Fishermen’s Bastion. And I think this is the best vantage point for photos of the gorgeous Parliament Building.

You can make your way back down, once again, either by foot or the funicular. Go back to the Pest side of the city – east of the Danube, where you’ll find more stores and restaurants. Just a few blocks from the water, stroll down Váci Utca, Budapest’s main shopping street. Head down to its south end to explore the Central Market Hall, where you can buy everything from spices to textiles. There are also some food booths, which provide a great place to stop for a late lunch. I love the goulash and the chicken paprikash in a little stall in the northwest corner of the market’s second floor.

If you have time after exploring the market, head just under a mile north to the Jewish Quarter. This is home to a variety of sites ranging from the Holocaust Memorial to international restaurants. Here, you will also find ruin bars – pubs and restaurants constructed out of former abandoned buildings. If you’re into nightlife, you may return to this area later, but be warned that they can get quite crowded.

There are many good restaurants along the streets of the Jewish Quarter, pick on that strikes your fancy for dinner. Stay for the nightlife, if you want!

If you’re lucky, your return transportation will be departing later in the day, so you can enjoy this beautiful city for the first part of the day. Visit a trendy restaurant for breakfast, such as the vegan Flow Café or enjoy more traditional food at a variety of cafes such as Kaptafa. After breakfast, you can visit the famous New York Café, with its gorgeous Renaissance-style ceilings. I recommend eating breakfast somewhere else, and just having a coffee in the New York Café, as it can be quite expensive.

If you have a few more hours, marvel at the architecture just by wandering around the streets. Then, on your trip home, start planning your next adventure to this amazing city – I always do!