If you have been in Budapest for Erasmus for more than a few days, you have probably noticed that this city is full of legends. One of my favourites is the story behind the statue of the Prince of Buda and the Princess of Pest, because it is basically a love story that explains the relationship between the two sides of the city. The statue is located on Gellért Hill, not far from the Citadella, and from there you also get one of the nicest views over the Danube and the whole city. The legend According to the legend, the Prince of Buda and the Princess of Pest lived on opposite sides of the Danube. They fell in love with each other, but there was a problem: the river separated them. The Prince lived on the Buda side, surrounded by the hills, while the Princess lived in Pest, on the…
If you are in Budapest for Erasmus, visiting Buda Castle is definitely something you should do. It is one of the most famous areas of the city, and the best part is that you can explore most of it without spending any money. How to get there for free The easiest way is to walk. From Pest, you can cross the Chain Bridge and then walk up towards the Castle District. It is a bit uphill, but it is completely free and the views along the way are really nice. You can also take public transport and walk the last part. If you are trying to save money as an Erasmus student, we would skip the funicular and use the money for something else later. What should you see? The Castle District is quite big, so you can easily spend a few hours walking around. Start with Buda Castle and…
Budapest is one city, but it is actually made of two very different parts: Buda and Pest. They are separated by the Danube River and connected by several bridges. When visiting Budapest, it is interesting to spend time on both sides because they have a completely different atmosphere. Buda: hills, views and history Buda is the quieter and more panoramic side of the city. It is built on hills, so walking here can sometimes be a little tiring, but the views are definitely worth it. One of the most famous places is the Castle District, where you can find Buda Castle, Matthias Church and Fisherman’s Bastion. This area is full of historical buildings, small streets and viewpoints over the Danube. From Fisherman’s Bastion, you can see one of the best views of Pest, especially the Hungarian Parliament on the other side of the river. It is beautiful during the day,…
The Citadella is one of the best places to see Budapest from above. It stands on the top of Gellért Hill, on the Buda side of the city. From here, the Danube seems to divide Budapest perfectly in two, and you can recognise many of the most famous places in the city. Getting to the top Getting to the Citadella is part of the experience. One of the nicest options is to start from St. Gellért Square, near Liberty Bridge, and walk up through the paths of Gellért Hill. The climb takes some effort, especially when it is warm, but there are several places where you can stop and already get a good view of the city. Another easier option is bus 27, getting off at Búsuló Juhász. From there, the north entrance of the Citadella is around a six-minute walk away. There are also walking paths starting from the…
The Fisherman’s Bastion is one of the most famous places in Budapest. It is on the Buda side of the city, next to Matthias Church, and from its terraces you can see the Danube, the Parliament and a large part of Pest. It is especially popular because of the view, but the atmosphere can be completely different depending on the time you visit it. We decided to see it in two different moments: at sunrise and just after sunset. It almost felt like visiting two different places. Sunrise: quiet Budapest Visiting the Bastion early in the morning means waking up very early, but it is worth it. At sunrise, the first thing we noticed was the silence. There were only a few people around and we could walk through the arches and terraces without the big crowds that normally visit the area during the day. The light also changes everything.…
Hot chocolate is one of the simple pleasures that turns the cold weather more enjoyable. We found a hidden gem on the Buda side, a little cafe with wide selection of hot chocolate where you can also try the popular pumpkin spice latte and many other specialties. The leaves are already falling, turning brilliant shades of red and gold, and the air is getting cooler in the early hours, so we’ll be taking our morning coffee indoors rather than out on the café terrace. There is one wonderful drink that also signals the arrival of autumn and winter, and that is hot chocolate. Whether sipping it from a paper cup after an outdoor adventure or sitting in an elegant café, it’s all about creamy, rich flavour, the kind of hot chocolate we imagine based on Willy Wonka movies. The history of hot chocolate goes back to ancient Central American civilisations:…





