Budapest was dubbed the second most beautiful city in the whole world by American website World Chacha this year and 14th best big city in the world in Conde Nast 2018 reader's choice awards. It is straight out of storybooks and has a very infectious charm about it. I can't emphasise enough how beautifully aesthetically pleasing and bewitching Hungary's capital city is. Every corner you turn will make you smile so darn much and that's just a fact.
Allow me to plug 15 must dos and must sees below:
1) Fatigue your fingers from all the flipping at the Pinball Flipper Museum, Europe's largest museum dedicated to Pinball housing 130 odd machines and counting. You mightn't be a pinball wizard but you're sure to be accidentally awesome at some! What's cool about this joint is that you pay a set entrance fee and can then play the night away as none of the machines require coins to operate.
Opening Hours:
Wednesday to Friday: 4pm - Midnight
Saturday: 2pm - Midnight
Sunday: 10am - 10pm
Mondays and Tuesdays = CLOSED
Address: Radnoti Miklos utca 18. Budapest, 1137
Entrance fee: 3000 HUF (or a discounted admission cost of 2000 HUF if you show an ID card to prove you're under 26 or over 62)
2) Astound your retinas with the beauty of panoramic views from up St Stephen's Observation Tower, smack dab in the heart of the city centre. 364 steps on a spiral staircase lead you to a reward which cannot disappoint. I'm not particularly skilled at photography but with this backdrop, any image you capture will be BUDA-ful.
Opening Hours:
From October 1st - June 30th: 10am - 4.30pm
From July 1st - September 30th: 10am - 6.30pm
Entrance Fee: 500 HUF for adults or 400 HUF for students and Seniors
Address: Szent István tér 1, Budapest 1051
3) Immerse yourself in all the horrors of House of Terror, the former HQ of AVH (Communist Secret Police) where thousands were detained, tortured and murdered in its confines :( If you don't come away a tad traumatised by the commemorative exhibits of the victims of tyrannical oppression, your blood will run cold due to the ruthless EVILness at the very least. It is harrowing, creepy and highly disturbing to walk in the dark basement where so many were imprisoned in revolting conditions. It's almost sickening that this building on Andrassy Avenue has become a tourist attraction.
Opening Hours:
Tuesday to Sunday: 10am - 6pm
CLOSED on Monday
Entrance fee: 3000 HUF for a standard adult ticket. Please refer to this website for further ticket cost information:
http://www.terrorhaza.hu/en/visitor-information
Address:Andrássy út 60, Budapest 1062
4) Feel the earth move under your feet on the grass near Szecheyni Baths. The exhilarating rumblings of the ground shaking is caused by the world's second oldest metro underneath. You could while away an entire day in the city park itself where tranquillity abounds. Also worth checking out on the park grounds: Vajdahunyad Castle, the artificial lake, Budapest Zoo, Museum of Transport, the circus and Amusement Park.
The park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week but the various attractions in its confines have differing opening hours and entrance fees.
Address: Kós Károly stny., Budapest 1146
5) Take the obligatory tourist selfie with the insanely lavish and photographed by all Parliament Building. This Neo Gothic jewel of the city once had a red star above it during Hungary's Communist era. You can go on a guided tour of the third largest parliamentary building worldwide; if that's your jam. Apparently there are 691 rooms inside and 20 kilometres worth of stairs - not that you'll be granted access to all of them!
Visitor Centre Opening Hours:
1st April - 31st October: 8am - 6pm (Monday - Sunday)
1st November - 31st March: 8am - 4pm
Entrance Fees:
EU citizens adults - 2400 HUF
EU citizens between 6 and 24 - 1300 HUF
Non EU Citizens adults - 6000 HUF
Non EU Citizens between 6 and 24 - 3100 HUF
Under 6 years old: Free of charge
http://latogatokozpont.parlament.hu/en/important-information
http://latogatokozpont.parlament.hu/en/dress-code-and-code-of-conduct
Address:Kossuth tér 1-3. Budapest 1055
6) Drive all over Margrit Island in a funky egg shaped vehicle, hitting up the historic hotspots as you go. The magnificent formerly known Island of Rabbits is essentially an enormous, naturally stunning park where you can visit the: rose garden, Monastery Ruins, Water Tower, Palatinus Baths, Light Garden and Sound Garden but can no longer hunt bunnies! This 2.5km green haven of serenity is just a ticket for a break from the partying.
There are varying opening times and entrance fees for the respective attractions on the island.
Address: Margitsziget, Budapest 1138
7) Get serenaded by the Musical Fountain which croons enjoyably in the summer months, as jets of water spurt in synchronicity. In my humble opinion, Budapest's answer to Vegas' Bellagio is best enjoyed after the sun goes down when hundreds of technicolour LED lights are aglow. Different sources cite conflicting show times for the fountain but there are several a day starting on the hour.
8) Step into a fairy tale setting at Fisherman's Bastion. Firstly, soak in the saintly splendour within Matthias Church named after the King who wed there twice. This dreamy destination was first built in 1015 and rebuilt in the 14th century and is the perfect place to pause and ponder. The Bastion is Buda's crowning glory built to celebrate the 1000th birthday of the Hungarian State but it was never intended as fortification. This startingly spectacular communal look out terrace is infiltrated by 4 million + sightseers a year who come to check out the sublime scenery. The 7 Princessy turrets are impressively imposing and ornate symbolising the Magyar tribes.
Matthias Church visitor information:
https://www.matyas-templom.hu/VISITORS.html
Fisherman's Bastion opening hours:
http://www.fishermansbastion.com/opening-hours
Fisherman's Bastion ticket prices:
http://www.fishermansbastion.com/fishermans-bastion-prices
Address: Szentháromság tér, Budapest 1014
9) Take on a devil of a hill up and up and up all 235 metres of Gellert Hill offering such exceptional views, the otherworldly vistas themselves would be insulted were you to not appreciate them. You must sometimes suffer to be spellbound by beauty! At the top traipse to the Citadella, Liberty Statue, grab a slushie refreshment and browse the souvenir stalls. Its reputation for being a fave sunset spot also proceeds it.
10) Lose the sense of sight for 60 minutes at Invisible Exhibition for an unforgettable experience being without vision. Its a complete immersion in the dark where you'll walkthrough six everyday scenarios in a guided group as you feel your way around. This simulation will fill you with newfound awe and respect for the vision impaired, pledging to no longer take sight for granted as it is very confronting to say the least to be without it if only for an hour.
Visitor Information:
https://www.lathatatlan.hu/en/
Address: Invisible Exhibition
Millenáris B csarnok
1024 Budapest, Kis Rókus u. 16-20.
11) Luxuriate blissfully in hot springs at Szechenyi thermal baths, the largest medicinal baths of its kind in all of Europe. If you pay a slightly greater entrance fee, you'll also have exclusive access to your own personal cabin where you can change in privacy and stow your possessions. There's a total of 15 indoor and 3 outdoor pools of varying sizes and temperature, plus a couple of saunas to get a bit lively in. Not even the sulphur pong can detract from the pool party atmosphere, best enjoyed after sundown when the night lights increase the joyousness tenfold. So should you feel the burning need to dip, float or swirl with absolute strangers, this is the place to be!
Opening Hours: Daily 6am - 10pm
Entrance fee listings:
http://www.szechenyibath.hu/prices
Address:Széchenyi Gyógyfürdő és Uszoda, H-1146 Budapest, XIV. kerület Állatkerti körút 9-11.
12) Bargain for odds and ends at Central Market alongside the locals and tourists alike. This popular indoor market is a sea of spice and meats with lotsa hustle n' bustle. Might I suggest you pick up paprika from one of the vendors here as it is comparably cheaper than other tourist stores in the city.
Opening Hours:
http://budapestmarkethall.com/budapest-central-market-hall-opening-hours
Address: Vámház krt. 1-3, Budapest 1093
13) Take a relaxing meander down the irresistibly gorgeous Danube Promenade, stopping for frequent photo stops. Be sure to pause at Shoes on the Danube for some silent reflection - 60 pairs of iron shoes styled after 1940s style commemorate the 20,000 or so Jews who were lined up on the embankment, told to remove their shoes (as these were valuable belongings) and then shot into the River by fascist Arrow Cross military during WW2.
14) Guzzle a beverage of your choice at Szimpla Kert Ruin Bar. Szimpla sparked the trend of ruin bars and is a landmark full to the brim with all manner of zaniness and mismatched bric-a-brac. This converted factory is creepily post-modern and is something that has to be seen with your own eyes.
Visitor Information: http://en.szimpla.hu/szimpla-garden/contact/faq
Address: Kazinczy u. 14, Budapest 1075
15) Sail along the glitzy Danube at dusk on a Silverlines 75 minute sightseeing cruise, passing fantastical surroundings and touristy landmarks. Aurous shimmering reflections off the water in this golden city of magic and mayhem is unimaginably exquisite and far too enchanting. Commentary and upbeat tunes, of course including George Ezra's namesake anthem 'Budapest' enhance the ambiance as the stars gleam overhead. I honestly believe you'll be hard-pressed to find a more sublime river cruise for this price.
Ticket details: https://silver-line.hu/sightseeing-cruise-budapest/
Budapest gets lovelier with every passing hour so make the most of all she has to offer on a big, fat, fabulous getaway. Whatever you decide to see or do, you're bound to have a HOOT and it'll pain you to leave somewhere so spectacular. *Just casually booking my next trip to bond some more with Buda* xx
13) Take a relaxing meander down the irresistibly gorgeous Danube Promenade, stopping for frequent photo stops. Be sure to pause at Shoes on the Danube for some silent reflection - 60 pairs of iron shoes styled after 1940s style commemorate the 20,000 or so Jews who were lined up on the embankment, told to remove their shoes (as these were valuable belongings) and then shot into the River by fascist Arrow Cross military during WW2. 
