After arriving in Budapest in desperate need of a shower and a bed, I took it easy the first night. The next day, I explored the city, taking a tour and walking around on my own a bit. Budapest reminds me a lot of Prague, situated along a river and overlooked by a castle on top of a hill. The famous chain bridge, seen in the picture, leads directly to St. Steven’s basilica, probably my favorite church I’ve seen so far. Before attending mass, I went to the Terror House, a museum depicting the oppression of the Hungarian people by both the Nazis and the Soviets. The museum sits directly above some of the prison cells and interrogation rooms. Very powerful.
Budapest is famous for its many baths throughout the city. I spent one afternoon lounging around in the couple dozen pools of varying temperature and smells. It was a perfect day of relaxation, even with the big crowds at the baths. One of the saunas was so hot that my chain started burning my skin! Luckily, there was a big bowl of shaved ice just outside that cooled me down a bit.
Another unique aspect of Budapest is the Ruin Bar concept. Bars located in run down old buildings are filled with strange sculptures, plants, and themed rooms. One room was completely upside down, with a living room and kitchen attached to the ceiling. Another looked like a jungle, while one bar had a giant wooden transformer looking creature climbing a tree in the courtyard. If everything was a little too overwhelming, well you could always sit in the bathtub turned love-seat in the corner of one room.
Budapest is full of character, with a lot to offer for every kind of traveller.