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We know what’s going through your mind right now: Europe? Late winter? Not in a million years!
Granted, it can be uncomfortably cold, and the shorter days can exhaust you after a while, but that’s not the case all of Europe is depressing and moody at the moment: in fact, there is one city that not only does not close in the quiet season, It thrives in!
With an abundance of luxurious spas, stunning architecture and a fascinating history, Budapest is one of the continent’s dreamiest winter destinations Despite the freezing temperatures and limited sunlight, and we are happy to tell you why:
Budapest is great for sightseeing!
For starters, Budapest is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, and ideal for sightseeing all year round; It’s not a beach destination after all, and its many historic sights look majestic regardless of the weather.
Imagine the Hungarian parliament, with its striking red domea neoclassical St. Stephen’s Basilica flanked by two grand bell towers, an idyllic Vajdahunyad Castle perched on a lake, and the Fisherman’s Bastion, with fairytale turrets overlooking the Budapest skyline.
Budapest as a whole is an open-air museum, with monumental churches, car-free streets lined with graceful facades and cozy eateries, and medieval treasures lurk around every cornerso soon enough the temperatures of 29°F to 34°F start to feel like a minor inconvenience.
If it does get uncomfortably cold, Budapest will be the host an abundance of museums and art galleries where you can both take refuge:
Some of our top picks include the House of Terror, which chronicles life in the city during the communist regime, the Hospital in the Rock, a secret hospital that remained in operation during World War II, in the maze-like tunnels of Castle Hill, and the moving Holocaust Memorial Center.
You will never be bored during a winter in Budapest
In addition to strolling the cobbled castle hill and enjoying the views of the snow-capped gable roofs and church towers, you can also go ice skating on the largest (and oldest) ice rink in Europeright across from Vajdahunyad Castle – entrance fees start at just 2,000 Hungarian forints, or about $5.
Winter is also perfect for shopping at the Christmas market, with the one on Vörösmarty Square taking the cake for most stalls, with over 100 stalls selling everything from handicrafts to traditional Hungarian delicacies.
If you’re a sweet gal, you can’t leave without trying the Hungarian chimney cake, and don’t miss the local mulled wine, topped with cinnamon and spices, but you might need something stronger to get you. through the winter blues.
Well, in that case Pálinka could well be the solution: it is a fruit-based drink that Hungarians have been drinking like water since the Middle Ages, and you are welcome to join them for an assisted tasting for only $25.76.
Is Budapest one of the best winter food destinations?
Are you hungry yet from all that exploring?
Nothing shouts winter like one generous pot of Hungarian goulash sprinkled with paprika, favorite lángos for takeaway, a fried flatbread combined with onion, garlic, sour cream and white cheddar, or a cauldron of fisherman’s soup seasoned with herbs.
Hungarian cuisine is hearty and filling – perfect to boost your energy on a particularly gloomy winter day! – and there are many local restaurants where you can treat your taste buds.
For an unforgettable dining experience, with staff costumed as if they were in a restaurant 15th century tavernAnd you can even go to Sir Lancelot for sword fights: there are cathedral-like stained glass windows, craft beer is served in ceramic jugs and the meat-heavy menu leaves nothing to be desired.
For excellent wine and tasty food with a spoonful of history, the Hundred Year Old Restaurant (Százéves étterem) is the place to go: the oldest restaurant on the Pest side of the city, it welcomes guests with violin performances and Hungarian gypsy music.
Do you really want to be enchanted and enjoy the most delicious breaded pork loin? Dining at the chic New York Café feels like being invited to a 19th century gala dinner in an opulent hall – advice?
Don’t go for a strict budget.
Spas and thermal baths abound
Budapest is the European capital of thermal baths, with a total of 123 hot springs runs beneath the vast city, all culminating in world-famous spas, unique for their grandeur and stately architecture, and there’s no better season to take a warm dip than winter.
A yellow washed baroque gem, Széchenyi is the most iconic of them allwith mist-covered, steaming hot pools and beautiful mosaics inside – this is the Versailles of baths, so be prepared for long queues and busier than usual spas.
Studded with glazed, aquamarine ceramics, the Art Nouveau-published GellértDating from 1918, are equally stunning, and the outdoor thermal pools offer breathtaking views of Castle Hill across the Chain Bridge-spanning Danube.
Now, for one older The 16th-century, octagonal Rudas is a site that has some history attached to it, but is also less crowded and less visited by tourists, and it is one of the few remaining Ottoman bathhouses in the city.
Oh, and make sure you try their 40-minute water massage service, which only costs $31 or 12,000 forints.
Budapest is an affordable winter getaway
We get it. Flying abroad, especially to Europe, may incur assembly costs.
The good thing about Budapest is that in addition to being a world-class winter getaway, it’s also incredibly budget-friendly compared to other popular European capitals: tourists spend $39, for example average of food per day, at a wallet-wiping $78 in Paris, or $77 in London.
Traveling around is the same way easy and cheap: Uber rides range from as little as $5 to $12 depending on the departure point and destination, and the entire historic center is covered by an extensive metro, tram, and bus network, with a 24-hour pass costing 2,500 forints, or $6.45 .
Indeed, Budget your trip specifies that visitors pay approximately $10 daily by local transportation.
As for hotels, the average price of a room in a four-star hotel in the center of Budapest is $93, although this can rise this season only $54 at the Royal Park boutique hotel and an equally affordable $59 at Danubius Hotel Hungaria city center.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
