February 2021 – Bri Right Back

Budapest seemed like the logical next destination after leaving Prague. Most of the travelers I met in Prague were headed there too. A friend and I took the eight hour bus ride and arrived at Bazar Hostel, waiting for the rest of the group to arrive. The location was awesome and the staff was super chatty and helpful. The Danube River separates the city into two areas: Buda and Pest. I’d highly recommend staying here on the Pest side, the more lively of the two areas. You’ll find cheaper food, clubs and ruin bars in this area. It’s worth crossing the Széchenyi Chain Bridge to check out Buda Castle and get a good look at the massive Hungarian Parliament.

During the day in Budapest, there is plenty to see. Check out the Fisherman’s Bastion, the view along both banks of the Danube, and the Hungarian Parliament. You can also take a day trip to Margaret Island which is full of parks and recreational facilities. We got some day passes to swim there. Visiting the Széchenyi Thermal Baths is a must during the summer. There’s pools of all temperatures, saunas, and spa treatments. At night, they even have spa parties you can attend.

The night life in Budapest is some of the best in Europe. Even if you’re not that into going out and drinking, the ruin bars are worth experiencing. While unassuming on the outside, these bars are unique and a ton of fun once you’re inside. Szimpla Kert was the first to pop up in Budapest so it’s an obvious first choice. It has themed rooms and eclectic decor and everyone will be jealous of how cool the photos are from a night out there. I’m full of regret that I didn’t get a snap of me in one of the many bathtubs on the ground floor.

My friends also loved Ellátó Kert & Taqueria, a ruin bar with cheap drinks and food. We went back multiple times. If you’re more into clubs, Instant may be up your alley. We only visited briefly but this club is a former apartment building that now has DJs and dancefloors as well as some spaces that have more laid back vibes. It’s worth paying a cover if you enjoy the club atmosphere. I realized it wasn’t really my scene when I witnessed a girl fight in the bathroom after I had just paid to use the toilet and was handed a napkin in exchange because toilet paper apparently wasn’t free. Definitely not something I expected or want to revisit.

Retox Party Hostel has a nice bar area and is a good place to meet fellow backpackers. It also has a huge wall of bearded men above the bar, leading me to believe they were reading my diary. For a more chill night outdoors, head to Erzsébet Square where you can grab drinks and sit in the grass playing music and chatting for hours.

Budapest is yet another one of those places where I did more drinking than eating. A good friend of mine suggested trying Karavan Street Food. It’s a bunch of food trucks located in the Jewish Quarter, a quick walk from Bazar hostel. You can get traditional Hungarian foods like goulash as well as pizza and burritos. There’s lots of options and it’s affordable. If you’re traveling in a big group, there will surely be something for everyone.