Budapest is not one city, but two: hilly Buda lies on the west bank of the Danube River, while metropolitan Pest to the east is where you’ll find the majority of the area’s city life. Points of interest such as the Hungarian Parliament Building, Central Marketplace and St Stephen’s Basilica are all architectural wonders to explore while roaming the streets of Pest. Overlooking these, from Buda’s hills, are some of the most historic sites of the city, including Buda Castle, Citadella Fortress, and Fisherman’s Bastion.

Budapest has been famous for its thermal baths for thousands of years. Remains of ancient Roman public baths can be found in the north of the city, many hammams from the Ottoman Empire are still functional today, and some of the most famous and most visited spas date back to the Austro-Hungarian Golden Age at the beginning of the 20th century. There are actually 123 hot springs scattered across both Buda and Pest, as well as 9 medicinal baths. The thermal waters rising up to the surface from deep underground have long been thought to have healing properties, so make sure to visit a few different baths during your visit – it’s good for your health!

Thermal Baths of Budapest

The biggest baths in Budapest, in fact the largest natural hot spring spa complex in Europe, is the Szechenyi Baths, with 3 huge outdoor thermal pools and 15 indoor pools. You can also enjoy a gym, sauna, and a variety of treatments including an underwater aqua massage. This complex is over 100 years old and has always been one of Budapest’s most popular baths, meaning it can get very busy. Go on a weekday when it opens at 8 am to get the best experience. Gellert Thermal Baths are the most beautiful, with art-nouveau architecture and turquoise tiles throughout the spa. The indoor pools are bathed in sunshine through the skylights, while the outdoor pool is located on a terrace with stunning views of the Buda hills. For a less touristy experience, try the Veli Bej Bath. It’s rarely crowded here, and much cheaper than the bigger, more famous spas in town.

Fisherman’s Bastion

Fisherman’s Bastion is one of the most beautiful buildings in Budapest, if not in the whole of Europe. The Bastion was originally part of the fortifications of Buda Castle and was destroyed and rebuilt many times throughout history due to the many wars and attacks on the city. Despite its medieval style, today’s building is only just over 100 years old, having been rebuilt in 1902 to celebrate 1000 years of the Hungarian State. The present-day turrets and spires are a magnificent addition to the city skyline, and the lookouts offer panoramic views of the Danube, the Hungarian Parliament building, and the rooftops of Pest beyond. Whether looking up at the Fisherman’s Bastion or out from it, this place is a photographer’s dream. Go at sunrise to escape the crowds and get the best shots.

Citadella

The Citadella is another fortification located on the Buda hills, and this one is the highest point in the whole city. It is a bit of a hike up, but you will be rewarded with incredible views every step of the way. At the top of the fortress, you will find the Liberation Monument, a statue commemorating Hungary’s fight for independence and those who lost their lives. A tour inside the fortress includes a visit to a WWII bunker, which covers three floors and is absolutely fascinating. If this doesn’t entice you, though, skip the entrance fee and simply enjoy the unmissable views from the panoramic terrace.

Retró Lángos Budapest

Langos is a famous Hungarian street food made of fried dough topped traditionally with sour cream and cheese. Nowadays, though, you can find every possible topping combination to suit your taste, and even sweet versions if you fancy it as a dessert. The most famous langos shop in town is Retro Langos Budapest. Here you can find all manner of toppings, as well as lactose-free and gluten-free options. You can also get a stuffed langos, as a twist on the classic. Another favourite spot to grab a langos is at Ligeti Langos in the City Park. The portions here are large, so go with friends, find a sunny spot amongst the greenery and enjoy your Hungarian treat picnic style.

Szimpla Kert

Something fairly unique to Budapest is its ruin bars – drinking holes that popped up inside abandoned old buildings, mostly in the Jewish quarter. These unusual bars are now filled more with tourists and students than with locals, but they remain a classic Budapest experience and a fun spot for a night out with friends. Szimpla Kert is the most well-known of Budapest’s ruin bars, filled with mismatched furniture, artsy graffiti and quirky decorations. The makeshift bar can be hard to reach through all the people, but the prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is enchanting. There is sometimes a server wandering around selling raw carrots – no one really knows why, but why not embrace the weirdness and grab yourself a healthy snack to complement your beverage? For a mellower vibe, I recommend Csendes Vintage Bar & Café, which again has many weird and wonderful decorations filling the space of a grand old coffeehouse. Alternatively, if you want your night to include some dancing, head to Instant & Fogas Ház, the largest of Budapest’s ruin bars with plenty of space to move your feet.

Bear Farm

Not actually within the city limits, this attraction should nonetheless take a spot on your Budapest itinerary. The Veresegyház Bear Farm is the biggest bear sanctuary in Europe, and a tour allows you to get up close and personal with these lovable creatures. You can even feed them! The sanctuary sells fruit and honey for you to offer up to the bears on a stick, but you can also buy some honey in town for much cheaper and take it in with you. Veresegyhaz is also a wolf sanctuary and houses a few other animals such as lions, llamas and deer. But it is not a zoo, and the focus is very much on rescuing animals from circuses and harmful captivity and giving them as much space and freedom as possible. If you take a bus to the sanctuary and don’t need to use the car park, entrance is actually free. There’s no entrance ticket that you can purchase separately if you don’t need to park.

SPARTY – Széchenyi Bath Party

If you’re looking for a unique party, Sparty is truly one of a kind. Every Saturday night, Budapest’s largest public baths, the Szechenyi Baths, play host to a pool party like nothing you’ve been to before. With lasers and light shows, DJs playing dance music into the early hours, and the sensation of being in a large hot tub on a cool night, you’re sure to have an epic time. Go with an open mind. There will be alcohol spilling into the pool from multiple sources, glitter and makeup washing off into the water, and sweat from thousands of dancers enjoying the vibes – this is very much not the medicinal experience I previously described! Also, go prepared. You will receive a drinks card to top up that you use at all the bars, but you can only top this up with cash. Drinks are expensive so keep track of what you’re spending. You will receive a towel but this will most likely get used by someone else if left by the pool, so make sure to leave it or another one in the locker room. And then just enjoy! You’re in a hot spring spa, in Budapest, living it up with thousands of other partiers, with an absolutely electric atmosphere. Truly a night to remember.

Shoes On The Danube Bank

The Hungarian Parliament Building is a magnificent example of Gothic and Renaissance architecture. It is the country’s largest building, and I recommend walking around the entire place to take in the grandeur from every angle. An unmissable part of visiting the Parliament however is not the building itself, but the monument outside it, on the banks of the Danube. Between 1944-45, the fascist Arrow Cross Party murdered around 2000 Jews on this very spot, forcing them to remove their shoes before shooting them so that their bodies would fall into the river and be carried away. Since 2005, 60 pairs of shoes have lined the Danube in a chilling tribute to these victims. The iron sculptures are exact replicas of 1940s-style shoes, reflecting the various ages, genders and occupations of those killed, including a tiny pair of children’s booties.

Memento Park

This open-air museum displays statues from Hungary’s communist period, all of which were toppled as the country transitioned to democracy. While many similar statues across Europe were torn down and destroyed, Budapest has maintained the enormous monuments, creating a unique and slightly eerie tourist destination. Memento Park is a sort of statue graveyard of over 40 sculptures, and tours here provide an interesting insight into life under dictatorships. It’s definitely not a fun visit, but extremely thought-provoking and a worthwhile experience, particularly for those interested in politics.

Kató Néni Finomságai Downtown

Chimney cakes are made of sweet dough, pulled into long strips and then wrapped around a spit and baked, resulting in a cylinder shape that resembles a chimney. The local name is Kürtőskalács. Chimney cakes can also be found in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, but they are in fact the official dessert of Hungary. They are usually coated in cinnamon, coconut, chocolate or crushed nuts, but you can also find more interesting flavours and try them with an ice cream filling at shops such as Kató Néni Finomságai. If Kató Néni Finomságai is just a little too far and your craving needs to be satisfied, don’t worry! You never need to search for long for a chimney cake stall. You will find kiosks on many street corners, and you will always smell them before you see them. The scent of caramelised sugar will from now on always remind you of Budapest.

House Of Hungarian Palinka

Supposedly, after a famine swept the country, it was forbidden to use valuable food such as wheat and potatoes to make liquor. The Hungarians had to come up with another method for creating alcohol, and after fruit proved to be successful, Palinka was created. It was found to have many positive impacts on the human body, as well as being a highly effective mood booster! Palinka is officially Hungarian property according to international law and must be made using only Hungarian fruits and bottled only in Hungary in order to be called Palinka. So trying it while here is a must! Head to House of Palinka to learn more about the history of the drink and its importance throughout the country, or to taste in a more relaxed setting I recommend Grandio Bar, which has many different flavours to try (the plum is the best!).

Ronald Reagan Statue

You’d be forgiven for not expecting to see a statue of US President Ronald Reagan in the center of one of Budapest’s main squares. This lifesized bronze replica was erected as a way of honouring the former president’s efforts to end the cold war. It can be found in Liberty Square facing the US Embassy, but if you follow Reagan’s eyes you will see he is actually staring down the nearby Soviet War Memorial! Liberty Square is a great place to find a park bench and people watch, as well as to view many other monuments commemorating various points in Hungary’s history.

This post was originally published as “Discover Budapest, Hungary” on Wanderdash (follow me @rosroundtheworld).