Budapest, 2018

View from Buda Castle

I decided to try being a self-proclaimed Travel Writer - which essentially means I write about my traveling... right? So December 2018, I made a trip to Budapest, Vienna and Prague and I guess this would just serve as a visual diary of my trip (definitely not a guide, but I'll add a few as I go!)

First things first...

Budget Airlines

Traveling around Europe can be pretty cheap, you just have to plan in advance. If you have Skyscanner downloaded, you can even set alarms to notify you for when a desired flight increases/decreases in price (I have a million alarms for random flights but I just skip past the notifications, which is pretty redundant...). Unlike AirAsia (which is one of the best budget airlines), the ones in Europe requires a lot more attention - make sure you measure your cabin luggages and buy the package that suits your preferences best (or if Marie Kondon comes up with some folding technique that sparks joy and helps you shove 2 weeks worth of winter clothings into a bag pack, that would to too!). I also carelessly ignored the need for a travel insurance (not recommended...). Perhaps I'm the only person who didn't know this, but you have to fit all your toiletries into one tiny transparent bag, so make sure to only bring what is essential (I know, how do you choose between the face mask, the second bottle of lotion OR the put-on conditioner??).

How Much Cash To Bring

I looked through multiple sites and asked a friend who has been there before, Budapest is relatively cheap and takes cards in most places, so you don't actually have to change too much. Our trip (early December) was perfect because that's right before the school holidays (before the streets gets too crowded with young tourists - running around, attacking birds) but also in time for all the Christmas markets (take all my money!!!!!).

Transport

This was an interesting bit! You're required to have a ticket, but it relies on the trust system - where you just kind of, hop on the buses (I was shook). Of course, you should be an ethical person and get your tickets, even though they don't check it often. You can also opt for a Student Pass, which gives access to all modes of transportation (a pretty good deal, I'd say). Fun fact: If you're a fan of Korean dramas, one of the scenes from Memories of Alhambra was shot at the Keleti Train Station.

Highlights

(Totally irrelevant but I accidentally death stared at a kid in the cafe I'm writing this at. I also just found out there are different options for "titles" on this platform provider, cool.)

1. The Jewish Quarters

This area was highly recommended by every other guide online and also a local Hungarian friend, and it was quite worth the trip! It was near to the AirBnB we were at, and it was our "go-to" place. Visit the ruin bars, even if you're not a fan of drinking, its psychedelic vibes and cheap food is quite worth the visit. Also, Karavan has a few good food options (although it is a bit pricier because it's a tourist area).

Szimpla Kert, ruin bar

Some hotdog in a bun thing @ Karavan

2. Széchenyi Chain Bridge

Interestingly, but not surprisingly, this city essentially has two parts: Buda and Pest, both offering unique experiences. The journey between the two personalities are also connected by several nice-looking bridges. I like this the most, maybe because (i) there are statues of lions, and (ii) it sounds like a Chinese name hehehe. I'd say just walking across the bridges was quite a fun activity, especially when the weather was nice. Both the day and night views are noiceeeee.

Széchenyi Chain Bridge

3. The Buda Castle

It was huge - it had a backyard, a front yard, a church, a tram - it's like a little township of its own (but don't eat the food there, it's very expensive). Even though there are a lot of tourists, the place is huge enough to find spots that are more quiet. It's a nice place for a casual stroll, to just sit on a bench and read the newspaper (if you still do that) or to people-watch (or to guess the nationality of an Asian just from appearances - we felt this was fun...). Also, beware of people trying to scam you into tours / "packages" you don't actually need.

It's not actually that far of a walk to the castle on the hill, but if you're feeling boujee, why not.

Honestly don't know how girls commit to bringing multiple wardrobes just to look good in photos

4. Christmas Markets

If you're there over Christmas, these markets are festive and fun - offering loads of mulled wine (summer in a cup), meat and dessert. The largest market would be the one at Vörösmarty Square, which is conveniently near the fashion street and Budapest Eye.

Cranberry Struddle! The only annoying thing is that it gets cold as soon as it's removed from the microwave

The best shnek ever - Chimney Cakes

We didn't explore many food outlets simply because the Christmas markets kept us busy, but a quick search on Google will lead you to plenty of options. Overall, it was pretty easy to manoeuvre around the city because everything is quite close to each other and public transportation is easily available. People don't smile very often but I believe they mean well - they're not hostile (maybe smiling isn't in their culture or maybe because English is not their first language?). Budapest is also known for their thermal baths (but it was way out of our budget).

This was our AirBnB - it looks like an abandoned building from the outside but the interior can pass off as a West Anderson scene. Could also never get the symmetry right in photos but it's still cute

Next up: Venice