Budapest (2), Hungary 🇭🇺 2023

Date: 15th August 2023

Travelled: 0 kms just public transport in Budapest  

Visited: Budapest  

Stayed: Parkoló Stellplatz, €25, N47.48560, E19.03130  

Budget: 85 days @ €88 per day

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So here we are in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. It’s a big sprawling city divided by the Danube. The public transport system is extensive, our 3 day passes were €14 pp which proved to be good value. The city of Budapest was only declared in 1873 when the city’s of Buda and Pest grew into each other.

It’s our third day in Budapest, so it’s time to explore Castle Hill or the Váhegy District. Where getting that good at the Metro, I could give lessons. So it’s a blue line into the centrum then a red line under the Danube, before we jump a bus up the hill to the Vienna Gate which is the start of what could be termed the old town of Buda.

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Walking through there are a few small parks, some lovely old homes and the facade of the Bautzeni Mátyás-emlék an old chapel, pictured above.

It’s difficult to miss Matthias Church (circa 1500) at the crest of the hill. Cannot seem to get a decent photo, due to how big it is and how close the surrounding buildings are.

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It’s a €5 pp entry, whilst we are not keen on paying to walk into a church the Matthias was ornate to the extreme. Whilst the church here goes back 500 years we find the current version is less than 200 years old and has a much more recent facelift.

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We continue on the the Fisherman’s Bastion, which is less than 50 metres from the church. It has a medieval look but much of it only dates to 1905. The bastion walls provide breathtaking views of the city and the Danube.

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Leaving the bastion we walk on to the Palace. Things then got a bit confusing.

There is building work going on in several buildings adjacent to the Palace. We start to make our way through only to be stopped by a security guard who goes on to tell us they have found a bomb in an adjoining building during excavation. Long story short it was an unexploded Second World War bomb presumably Russian. Apparently this happens from time to time as everyone seemed reasonably calm.

We find we can still visit the Palace Museum but it’s a long walk around. It’s €6 pp but free if your 70+

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Frankly as Australians our knowledge of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was pretty thin. The museum apart from a golden crown and beautiful artistic pieces provides a visual history lesson from the Hungarian perspective. From the inevitable collapse of the empire at the end of First World War, through to Hungary’s subduction to the Third Reich and later Stalin. Its a sad story.

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It’s been a long day but nothing a short nap cannot fix. Come 7 pm where back on the Metro to see Budapest under lights.

Parliament as dusk turns to night.

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The Danube waterfront is full of mostly young people enjoying the nightlife, but it’s time to find the nearest metro station and head home. We find ourselves back at the Hymer just before 10 pm, our day done.

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Michael + Pam