Even though Budapest is walkable, it is still nice to have a scenic journey around the place and see things from a different perspective. Like many cities, Budapest has a Hop-on-Hop-off bus service with a nice open top that is just perfect for this scenario. The tickets can be bought for one or more days and include a trip up the river on the riverboat. So, after purchasing a 2-day ticket, I jumped on the bus and then got off at Buda castle. The fairytale castle is built on a hill and it is quite a steep climb to the top along cobbled streets that wind past baroque houses, cafes, shops, and monuments. Once at the top, great views of the Danube River and surrounding area can be seen. If you don’t fancy a long, steep climb to the top, there are plenty of small open-sided vehicles that will whisk you to the top for a small charge. The castle has had some extensive building work performed on it over the years, and it is now owned by the Hungarian National Gallery and Budapest History Museum. Buda castle has also been the chosen location for a number of films and adverts over the years, including Red Heat, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and one of the John Lewis Christmas adverts.
After a nice café stop, I spent the afternoon having a lovely walk that was rounded off with a cruise down the Danube on the riverboat. This was a great relaxing way of spending the afternoon, and perfect for viewing the Parliament building and amazing bridges from a different angle.
In the evening, it was off to find somewhere to eat, and it was tonight that I decided it was time to try some ‘real’ Hungarian goulash. I wasn’t disappointed, as the meat just melted in my mouth and was accompanied by pasta and a cabbage salad with vinaigrette dressing. Unless you are vegetarian or vegan, then this is a must if you visit Budapest!
