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What Budapest Leaves Us With

When we arrived in Budapest for our Erasmus experience, we were excited but also a little nervous. We knew that spending one month in another country would be different, but we didn’t expect to learn so much from this experience. Now that our month here is almost finished, we can say that Budapest has left us with many memories, new friendships and a different way of looking at things. The things that surprised us One of the things that surprised us the most is how international Budapest is. During our stay, we met people from many different countries and had the opportunity to communicate in English every day. At first, speaking English all the time was a little difficult, but after a few weeks we became much more confident. We understood that you don’t have to speak perfectly to communicate with someone. We were also surprised by how beautiful Budapest…

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Travel

Italy vs Budapest: discovering the differences

When I arrived in Budapest for my Erasmus experience, I knew that living in another country would be different from living in Italy. But I didn’t expect to notice so many differences in everyday life. After a few weeks here, I started comparing the two countries, not only in terms of food and traditions, but also the way people live, spend their free time and interact with each other. A different way of living One of the first things I noticed is that Budapest feels very different from the city where I live in Italy. Budapest is a big and international city. There are people from many different countries, especially students, and it is very easy to meet someone new. Since I arrived, I have met people from Spain, France, Germany, Hungary and many other places. In Italy, I am more used to smaller communities where people know each other…

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History

House of Terror: a journey through Budapest’s darkest history

Walking along Andrássy Avenue, it is impossible not to notice the large black TERROR sign above number 60. This is the House of Terror Museum, one of the most intense and unusual museums in Budapest. The building itself is part of the exhibition: it was once used by the Hungarian Arrow Cross movement and later by the communist political police. Today, its rooms tell the story of these two dictatorships through original objects, documents, videos and immersive installations. Inside the museum The visit starts on the upper floors and follows Hungary’s history during the Nazi occupation and the following communist period. One of the first impressive areas is the central courtyard, where a Soviet tank stands in front of a huge wall covered with photographs of victims. From here, the exhibition becomes increasingly immersive. Several rooms are dedicated to the Arrow Cross Party, the Soviet occupation, deportations and forced labour…

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Active tourism

Hockey in Budapest: a different kind of Friday night

When I think about my Erasmus experience in Budapest, I think about all the new things I get to discover almost every week. Sometimes it is a new place, sometimes a new food, and sometimes, like last Friday, a completely new sport. On Friday evening, I went to the Tüskecsarnok in Budapest to watch an ice hockey game between FTC-Telekom, the local Ferencváros team, and Milano HC. It was my first time watching a real ice hockey match, so I didn’t really know what to expect. A new sport for me The match was part of the ICE Hockey League, an international league in which teams from different Central European countries play. Milano HC is actually a new team in the league this season, and before coming to Budapest they had won their first three games. As an Italian student living in Budapest, seeing Milano playing here was also quite…

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Active tourism

Puskás Aréna: a different side of Budapest

If you have been in Budapest for Erasmus for more than a few days, you have probably already noticed the Puskás Aréna. It is one of the most impressive buildings in the city and, even if you are not a big football fan, it is definitely worth seeing. The stadium is located quite close to the city centre and can host more than 67,000 people. It opened in 2019 and is named after Ferenc Puskás, one of the most famous Hungarian football players in history. The stadium tour One of the coolest things about the Puskás Aréna is that you can actually visit it even when there is no match. There are guided tours where you can explore the stadium and see places that are normally closed to visitors. You can walk around the stands, discover the areas behind the scenes and get an idea of what happens inside the…

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Active tourism

The Moon of Budapest: a little piece of the sky in the city

If you have been in Budapest during the summer, you have probably noticed that the city is full of unusual things to see. But one of the most unexpected ones is definitely the giant inflatable Moon that appears in the city. The first time I saw it, I honestly had no idea what it was supposed to be, but it immediately caught my attention. As an Erasmus student, I have started to realise that Budapest is a city where you can find something interesting almost everywhere. And sometimes, you don’t even have to look for it. The Moon The giant inflatable Moon is basically exactly what it sounds like: a huge Moon installation that you can see in Budapest during special events and exhibitions. It looks like a giant version of the real Moon, complete with all its craters. During the day it is already quite impressive, but when it…

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Active tourism

The Prince of Buda and the Princess of Pest: a Budapest legend

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…

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Active tourism

Buda Castle: A Free Afternoon in Budapest

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…

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Active tourism

Red Bull Ládaderbi: Budapest’s Craziest Race Takes Over Tabán

Yesterday, 20 September, Tabán looked very different from usual. Instead of people relaxing on the grass, the hill became a race track full of strange vehicles, costumes, music and thousands of spectators. It was the Red Bull Ládaderbi, probably one of the funniest and most unusual events we have seen in Budapest. But what exactly is Ládaderbi? The idea is quite simple: teams build their own vehicles and race downhill using only gravity. There is no engine. The cars have to be handmade, but apart from some safety rules, creativity is almost unlimited. And this is what makes the event so entertaining. Some vehicles actually look fast and well designed, while others look like they should never move at all. This year there was everything: a racing bathtub, a giant anvil, a Nimbus 2000 broom, a rocket launcher, a dinner table and even a kayak transformed into something similar to…

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Active tourism

The Best Danube Cruise with Unlimited Drinks in Budapest

If you are in Budapest for Erasmus, going on a Danube cruise is definitely something you should try. The city looks completely different from the river, especially in the evening when all the buildings and bridges are illuminated. There are many different cruises to choose from, but if you are looking for something fun and not too expensive, an unlimited drinks cruise is probably one of the best options. Here is the one we tried and why we liked it. Bud By Boat Bud By Boat offers a 75-minute cruise on the Danube with unlimited drinks. The ticket is currently around €24.80, which is quite reasonable for an Erasmus student, especially because you don’t have to pay for every drink separately. The cruise goes along the centre of Budapest, so you can see some of the most famous places from the river, including the Parliament, Buda Castle, Gellért Hill and…

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