The Adventure

Like Wien, I was told that Budapest would be one of the most beautiful cities I visit. My first impression, however, was the opposite (don’t worry, it gets better). The train I had taken dropped me off seemingly in the middle of nowhere. I was close to a small mall, but otherwise couldn’t identify anything noteworthy or worthwhile checking out.

I decided to walk towards a hill I found by the river, figuring I could get a nice view from up there and see if there was any particular direction worth heading in. The park on and around the hill was pleasant, and there were some cool statues and what seemed to be ruins in the area. From atop the hill, I finally found that there would be plenty to see in Budapest once I crossed the river. After crossing to the east side of the river, I saw more of the impressive and well-known attractions, such as old offices and churches. Finally, I found myself by the Budapest Parliament building, an impressive large building by the river. I found it hard to move on from the parliament building to what I had planned next. Unfortunately, my consistent lack of planning in my travels caught up with me in Budapest. I hadn’t planned to spend a full day in the Hungarian capital, and had a train to catch to Bratislava in the afternoon. I ended up in another mall area, from where I caught my train. Now that I have been to Budapest, I know that it will require another trip to explore it fully.

Highlight

The Budapest Parliament was easily my favourite building in Budapest. It is impressive at both a large and small scale. The building itself is massive, but filled with intricate details that make it stand out. It was not dissimilar to many of the churches and cathedrals that I encountered in my travels. Pointed arches, tall towers, and ornate details all brought the parliament building to life. I did think that it was unique though, since it was not constructed like a church, merely incorporated comparable architectural features. It’s shape, form, and purpose were different. The roof also stands out to me, having a distinct red colour. Even though it is not a bright red by any means, appearing really more brown, the tint was enough to make it stand out for me.

Cost

The only money I spent in Hungary was 1800 Hungarian forint ($7.17 CAD) on another souvenir flag. I was tempted to buy some local food as well, but I couldn’t bring myself to spend any more money that day. I guess I’ll just have to go back someday.

Concluding Thoughts

Though short, I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Budapest. I look forward to revisiting sometime. I would like to see the parliament building again, see some new highlights that I didn’t manage to see this time, and try some Hungarian food.