Budapest - The Pearl of the Danube
Hungarians who know their country as the ‘Land of Magyars’ are unique among the nations of Europe in that they speak a language that is not related to any other major European language. I got a glimpse of it as I explored through the streets of Budapest that are laid out with interesting facts about the history and past of the country. The buildings, the castles, the architecture, the bridges, the Christmas markets, the food, the people, the language, the caves, the thermal baths and even the trees in the woods are an amalgamation and reflection that mark the evolution of time and the influence of different civilizations that make Hungary what it is today. Knowledge of the first Celtic tribe settlements coming to Hungary and then handing the reign to different monarchies, like the Romans and Ottomans, is only a scratch of the Hungarian history that I was able to gather during my visit to Hungary around this time. In this blog, I have shared the not so touristic and less talked about places I visited and unique experiences I had during my four-night stay in this eclectic city.
After a sumptuous Champagne breakfast on our first day at the Kempinski Corvinus, we headed to the largest and the biggest Christmas Market in Budapest at the Vorosmarty Square which is just a stone’s throw away from the hotel. We were required to show our vaccination cards and a face ID to enter the market. Our culinary tour at the market began with a taste of Kürtoskalács, a traditional Hungarian chimney cake. The aromas of spicy, meaty, hearty, colourful and delicious Hungarian cuisine filled the air as we walked around soaking in the Christmas atmosphere at the market. Wandering around the Vorosmarty Square we came across a quaint little Christmas store called the Philtanthia. This store is a dream for every Christmas fanatic. From the well-travelled street food at the Christmas market, we headed for a sit-down lunch at the first-ever Spago Restaurant by Wolfgang Puck in Europe at the majestic building of Matild Palace. By the end of the Culinary tour, we soon picked up on the word “Egészségedre”, introduced to us by our local guides. In Hungary this is said when raising a glass in a toast, means “to your health”, i.e. may the content of the glass turn into good health for you. Our afternoon was jam-packed exploring the panoramic views of Budapest atop from the Buda Castle District then followed by a luxury boat experience on the River Danube in the evening. Our day ended recapping the highlights of the day over dinner at the St. Andrea Restaurant.
The next day was all about immersing ourselves in the local culture. We started our day with a Herendi workshop at the exclusive Herendi Porcelain Palace which is just a few minutes walks from the Kempinski Corvinus. What is Herendi? Luxury porcelain is a popular collectable amongst the royals and aristocrats of the world. We got messy crafting porcelain rose and attempted to hand paint the Queen Victoria pattern on a plate. Did you know? Some well-known patterns of Herendi art are named after their first customers. At lunchtime, we headed to Leo, a charming restaurant at the cusp of Chain Bridge and Tunnel Bridge. With floor to ceiling glass windows, this restaurant has the best aerial view of both sides of the city Buda and Pest with River Danube flowing through in between the two cities. The most awaited experience of this itinerary was the indulgence at the Szechenyi Bath for a thermal spa experience which was planned for the evening. We drove past the Andrassy Street lit up with the most spectacular festive lights for Christmas. At the roundabout of Heroes Square, we caught the glimpse of the largest outdoor skating rink in Europe where skaters glided away in harmony on the ice. At the curb of the City Park is where the Szechenyi Baths are located and soon we found ourselves escorted by the spa host for a ‘sparty’ which is a spa + party that takes place every Saturday at the baths. Just like a goulash is incomplete without seasoning of Paprika, no visit to Budapest can be complete without a visit to its Thermal Baths & Spas. The experience of dipping into the outdoor thermal baths with the outside temperature being 6 degrees and the water temperature of the baths around 28 degrees made it a unique experience to keep warm.
Our program for the last day was an off the beaten track kind of adventure. We headed to the Matra Mountains that lie on the outskirts of Budapest. If you are a hiker, maybe you have heard about the most famous Hungarian trail, the National Blue Trail (Országos Kéktúra) that runs between Írottko and Hollóháza. Kekesteto is the highest point in Hungary at 1014 m and is part of this legendary Blue Tour (Kektura) route. The hiking trip to the Matra Mountains, surrounded by nature, was definitely the highlight of my four days in Hungary. The possibility of encountering the Yeti, a legendary myth that wanders around the woods of the Matra, was another interesting bit of local folklore that I picked up along the way. However, the scene that was set up by the nature for us with the weather being foggy and misty on top of the mountains created a once in a lifetime experience that will never be forgotten.
Buda and Pest are like the Yin and Yang. The first offering the relaxing vibe for those seeking solace and the latter has the buzz for those seeking the eclectic vibe of the city. Budapest is now one of my top favorite cities in Europe. I am definitely returning back to explore more for what this country has to offer. If you want to explore deeper and explore farther, then I recommend planning a trip that is at least a week long if not more.
Koszonom!! Budapest for amazing memories...