Sailing with my husband down the Danube River one evening with a glass of champagne in my hand, it was easy to see how people fall in love with the beautiful city of Budapest. Paris might have dominated the title of the City of Love for over a century now, but the romance of Budapest can certainly give it a run for its money. Floating along the river through the city infused with rich historical beauty, it felt like we were sailing through a movie set.
On one side of the river, you have the Buda side, known as the Castle district, with historical monuments as far as the eye can see. The other side, Pest, is more lively, featuring some of the city’s most famous attractions. The Danube River, connecting the two halves, flows like the beating heart of the city.
IN ROYAL COMPANY
In Budapest, history comes to life right before your very eyes. Vestiges of the Holy Roman Empire can still be found near signs of the 17th-century Turkish occupation. Of course, the Austrian Hapsburg dynasty’s reign over the region figures prominently in Pest’s architecture. The historic Jewish districts tell the story of World War II, and remnants of Communist rule remain in the austere design of buildings from the 1980s. Still growing, the city is working on adding a series of modern buildings to its skyline.
Hollywood is quite familiar with Budapest’s allure and has shown the city a new wave of tourism. The Grand Budapest Hotel, set in the fictional Republic of Zubrowka, sent people to the city searching for similar experiences. Likewise, the July film release of Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris is also set in Budapest. Travelers visiting Budapest will undoubtedly enjoy soaking up the culture and quite literally relish a soak in one of the city’s famed thermal spas. I dipped my toes in both on this Eastern European adventure.
FOUNTAINS OF YOUTH
In the spirit of adventure, I set out to discover Pest, the city’s more vivacious half. Here, delightful restaurants and cocktail bars are tucked into repurposed ruins, along with fabulous shopping and, of course, Budapest’s crown jewels, the thermal spas.
The Szechenyi Spa Baths are the most luxurious way to spend a day in Budapest. It was an easy way to escape real life as the naturally warm water swirled around us for hours. However, if you are a regular spa-goer, Szechenyi will be quite a different experience. There is no soft woodwind music playing in the central area, and the thermal treatments are enjoyed in large shared baths.
Despite the communal ambience, the spa offers highly personalized attention. Attendants graciously helped us find our way around the enormous spa. Szechenyi is one of the largest spa baths in Europe, with 15 indoor baths, three outdoor thermal pools, and a stunning gold-colored palace containing rows and rows of private cabins.
A world-class indulgent experience like Szechenyi draws more than just travelers. Locals, too, swear by the water’s healing powers ,and many go out of their way to enjoy a daily soak in the thermal pools. Our local guide couldn’t wait to tell us stories of the people she knew who had been healed by the baths. From infertility to cancer, these magical waters potentially have restorative properties for everyone. In fact, as a healthy-looking woman walked past us in her bathing suit, our guide asked me to guess her age. I thought she was about 55. But the truth is she was in her seventies and had been soaking every day for 30 years. So, if you’re looking for the fountain of youth, you may find it in Budapest.
If it is not the pools that heal you, it just might be the massages. Szechenyi has a rooftop VIP lounge with massage rooms and relaxation areas for more privacy. The deeply soothing Harmony Aroma massage was perfect for me, while my husband opted to spend time in one of the facility’s many saunas.
TO DINE–SO DIVINE
It was hard to say goodbye to the relaxing waters, but the call of our stomachs demanded to be answered. The food scene in Budapest is one we didn’t want to pass up. With a myriad of renowned restaurants and a food culture centered on meat, the hearty use of paprika, and lots of baked desserts, my husband and I knew we could both find something to love.
The Michelin-starred Onyx Restaurant offers a take on Hungarian food that is almost too pretty to eat, with the presentation being just as important as the food itself. The tasting menu was the perfect sampling of what they had to offer. Onyx also shares a roof with the world-famous Café Gerbeaud confectionery, an added bonus for anyone with room left for a sweet treat after their meal.
Robinson Restaurant in City Park, down the street from the Szechenyi Baths, is the best place in Budapest to get a great steak. The restaurant’s sommelier, Masciuch Béla, really knew his wines and offered fantastic recommendations. Monk’s Bistrot, located just off the bank of the Danube River, is the place to enjoy a dish of lamb or suckling pig. The cozy atmosphere was great for conversation.
A TOAST TO BOAST
Hungarians have a lot to be proud of, yet there is nothing they pride more than their wine. The vast majority of the vineyards and winemakers do not export wine out of the country, so it is a luxury not many foreigners get to enjoy. For the best wine tasting experience in Budapest, there is simply no better spot than Faust Wine Cellar.
Tucked away underground in Buda’s castle district, behind the stunning Matthias Church, and underneath the Hotel Hilton Budapest, Faust Wine Cellar is an exclusive experience. With only five tables and two reservation times per day, getting a seat at the cellar can be difficult. But the intimate setting ensures just the right amount of personalized attention and, even better, access to the most exclusive vintages.
Hungarian wine is the stuff of legends, literally. While sipping a bold red wine, properly called Bikavér, but commonly known as Bull’s Blood, my husband and I were regaled with tales of how the wine got its name. According to one legend, the name came about while the Turks were trying to invade the town of Eger. To give themselves the strength and courage to fight during the siege, the people of Eger drank red wine. The red color of the wine stained their beards and armor, and the invading Turks thought they had been drinking the blood of bulls. The Turks withdrew in fear, and the Hungarians prevailed. Sitting underneath the historical Castle district and drinking a cup of “Bull’s blood,” Budapest made me feel like a fierce warrior ready to take on anything.
FLOATING ON A DREAM
But for a city that always leads back to the water, we realized we had eaten all of our meals on land. So on our last night in Budapest, we decided to try one last unique experience. We booked a candlelight dinner cruise down the Danube River on the Legenda Boat and watched the sunset over the water, illuminating the city’s famous landmarks against the night sky.
Our time in Budapest had flown by too quickly. As dinner ended and the Legenda started back to the dock, I wished the boat would slow down. I wasn’t ready for our trip to end. Drifting along with the current, I replayed memories of our trip in my head as we passed back by each location…the Chain Bridge, Hungarian Parliament, Buda Castle. Each one made me smile, and I knew I would be sharing memories about this trip for months to come.
I also knew I couldn’t let this be my last time in Budapest. My husband was thinking the same thing. “When we come back here,” his next sentence started. I was grinning too hard to register the rest of his sentence fully. I only had one reply, “I can’t wait.” So, give yourself the pleasure of experiencing Budapest. You, too, will soon find yourself planning a return voyage to this magical city.
