{"id":247,"date":"2019-03-13T15:29:14","date_gmt":"2019-03-13T15:29:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/?p=160716"},"modified":"2019-03-13T15:29:14","modified_gmt":"2019-03-13T15:29:14","slug":"visiting-budapest-suggested-itinerary-what-to-see-do-and-where-to-stay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourfunjourney.com\/index.php\/2019\/03\/13\/visiting-budapest-suggested-itinerary-what-to-see-do-and-where-to-stay\/","title":{"rendered":"Visiting Budapest: Suggested Itinerary, What to See & Do, and Where to Stay"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nPosted<\/strong>: 3\/13\/2019 | March 13th, 2019<\/p>\n

Before I first visited, I imagined Budapest<\/a> to be this rundown former Communist capital with little to do.<\/p>\n

But I was wrong.<\/p>\n

Dead wrong.<\/p>\n

Budapest turned out to be a vibrant city with a rich history, beautiful parks and buildings, bustling food halls, cool underground bars<\/a>, and centuries-old thermal baths. <\/p>\n

There was indeed a lot to do.<\/p>\n

Since then, I\u2019ve been back many times and have even led tours there.<\/p>\n

I love how Budapest\u2019s drab exterior hides an inner warmth. It\u2019s hip. It\u2019s cool. There is so much more to the city if you can look beyond its concrete fa\u00e7ade. Do that, and you\u2019ll be rewarded with a visit to one of the best destinations on the continent. <\/p>\n

Budapest<\/a> is actually two cities straddling the Danube: Buda on the west side is hilly and classy, while Pest (pronounced \u201cpesht\u201d) on the east is its flatter, wilder neighbor. (A third, \u00d3buda, merged with the others in 1873.)<\/p>\n

Each part has its own personality as if the river not only divides the city geographically but metaphysically too. <\/p>\n

To help you plan your visit to this marvelous Central European capital, I\u2019ve created this itinerary with the best things to see and do in Budapest, taking you on \u2014 and off \u2014 the beaten path so you not only check out the main sights but you also get to know the locals and culture too.<\/p>\n

Visiting Budapest: Day 1<\/h3>\n

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\nSince Budapest is so neatly divided, it\u2019s best to tackle each half separately. Today, we\u2019re going to start with the Buda (west) side of the Danube. This is the upper-class, ritzy area \u2014 complete with a castle \u2014 and it\u2019s filled with lots of museums, historic streets, parks, and regal homes. <\/p>\n

To kickstart your trip, start your visit with a free walking tour!<\/p>\n

Take a Free Walking Tour<\/strong>
\nI love free walking tours. If you\u2019ve read some of my other posts, you probably know that already, since I\u2019m always recommending them. They give you a wonderful way to get an overview of a place, learn about its culture, and orient yourself. Budapest has a number of good tours. Check these out (and be sure to tip your guide!):<\/p>\n