BUDAPEST
If you guys haven't seen my travel guide for Hungary , make sure you check it out by clicking HERE. Though I got to visit other places in the country that had no tourists (shoutouts to my local friends for taking me to these places), I spent the majority of my time in the city of Budapest. A city filled with beautiful architecture, amazing nightlife, delicious food, a ton of history and so much more. Without further a do, here's the list in no particular order.
HISTORIC SITES
As I mentioned, the country is filled with a lot of history. The Hungarians were quite the innovators. They invented the ball pen, low-level laser therapy, Rubik's Cube, and the electric motor just to name a few. Unfortunately, not all are positive. The Shoes on the Danube Bank is a memorial site to honour the jewish men, women, and children that were killed during the 2nd World War. I remember coming here when the sun was going down to pay respects, and there was a heavy feeling but also a sense of peace as I walk down the bank. It was a feeling that I can't really explain. I highly recommend taking a moment here and soak in whatever experience it brings you. The statues in Heroe's Square and visiting the Hungarian National Museum are also worth checking out.
THERMAL BATHS
I would say this is the number one thing to do in Budapest. Not going to a thermal bath while in the city is like saying, not visiting a temple in Thailand. It's a must. There are several thermal baths in the city but my top recommendations would be Széchenyi Thermal Bath or the Gellért Thermal Bath. Széchenyi is the biggest natural hot spring bath in Budapest, in fact in all of Europe. This is a popular spot that is over a 100 years old. There are a total of 18 geothermal pools both inside and outside. Aside from this you could also get in a sauna, get a massage, and/or just enjoy a beverage by the pool.
VISIT CASTLES
Fisherman's Bastion is a beautiful castle that offers amazing views of the city. This place gets really packed throughout the day. If you'd like to avoid the crowd, you're going to have to wake up super early. I can say that it's worth waking up early and catching the sunrise here while having the castle all to yourself. Another castle worth mentioning is the Vajdahunyad Castle.
WALK ON BRIDGES
In case you didn't know, the city is split by the Danube River. One side is called Buda, the other is called Pest. There's a lot of history and stories behind the two but nonetheless, both are linked by several bridges each having a story of its own. I'll quickly run through some of them without getting in to too much detail. All of the bridges are beautiful and worth seeing if you're in the city. If you don't have the time to visit all or would like to be selective, I suggest visiting The Chain Bridge (the first bridge built in the city), Elizabeth bridge (one of the newer bridge), Margaret Bridge (the second oldest public bridge in the city that also links a local favourite Margaret Island to the banks) and last but not the least, The Liberty Bridge.
ADMIRE THE ARCHITECTURE
The buildings are impressive, photogenic, and worth the time standing right in front of it for you to admire. Personally, I enjoyed taking the photos of the sites in Budapest as they are something I've never seen before nor were they something I expected. The Hungarian Parliament Building is a great example. Parliament buildings are typically ''proper'' so to speak in terms of their structure. Not to say that the Hungarian Parliament Building is not "proper", it's just unique in its own way by having a gothic look to it.
The ruin pubs are also great examples. There are quite a few abandoned places within the city that were turned into well decorated, cool looking bars. Budapest is known for its nightlife so feel free to visit several places after a day of adventuring in the city. Two places I suggest you visit are Szimpla Kert and Instant.
Moving on to more impressive buildings, St. Stephen's Basilica. One of the most well known church's in the city. Matthias Church is another church that you must see in the city. Two of these buildings are beautiful inside and out.
To see my complete travel guide for the country, click HERE to read all about it. I hope you found my "What To Do In Budapest" guide useful and if you have any feedback or questions, I'd love to hear from you so drop your comments down below. Safe travels everyone!