Location: Budapest, Hungary

Method of Travel: Flew from Orlando, FL

How Long: Four Days

When: Mid-May

Accommodation: IBIS Budapest City Hotel

Method of Transport at Destination: Metro

Highlights of the Trip: Statue Park, Hungarian Parliament, Szentendre

Amount Spent: 500 Euros

Overview:

I went to Budapest as part of a study-abroad with my University. We had a set itinerary that included the following sites;

• The National Museum
• Statue Park
• Hungarian State Opera House
• Danube boat ride and Szentendre
• Hungarian Parliament

While Budapest is probably most famous for its baths, my favorite part of visiting the city was the Statue Park. When the Soviet Union pulled out of Budapest, the city took all of their old statues and placed them in a park. It’s eerie to walk among the old monuments, but also very memorable. I would recommend it over most other sites.

The Hungarian Parliament is the most ornate (and expensive) parliament building in Europe. The interior is as beautiful as the exterior. Definitely incorporate it into your itinerary, and book your tickets in advance.

If time allows, book an opera at the Hungarian State Opera House. Every seat has a stunning view. No trip is complete without a boat ride on the Danube. You can travel up to Szentendre which, while touristy, is enjoyable. Especially their cheesy and fun marzipan museum.

There’s plenty else to do in the city, but don’t miss the Statue Park and the Parliament building. The IBIS where we stayed was nice, but kind of out of the way. The metro ran extensively through Budapest, but it wasn’t the most enjoyable metro I’ve experienced. Stay somewhere close to the sites and walk everywhere that you can.