Budapest travel blog
Stories, tips and honest takes from Budapest — from first impressions to deep dives on baths, bites and nightlife
Three days that changed my mind about Budapest
I arrived expecting a party city and a thermal spa photo opportunity. What I found was harder to categorise and considerably more interesting.
Where to eat in Budapest in 2026: the current-state guide
Budapest's dining scene in 2026 — from neighbourhood étterems to Michelin-level ambition. Where to eat, what to order, and what to avoid.
Danube cruise prices in 2026: the reality check
Danube cruise prices in Budapest range from 4,000 to 80,000 HUF. Here's what you actually get at each price point and how to avoid overpaying.
Sziget 2026 preview: what to expect from Europe's biggest island festival
Sziget returns to Óbuda Island in August 2026. Here's what we know about line-up, logistics, ticket prices, and how to combine it with a Budapest city
Budapest Christmas markets 2026: a planning preview
Budapest's Christmas markets rank among Europe's finest. Here's what to expect for the 2026 season, where each market is, and how to plan your visit.
Budapest baths 2026: the honest verdict on every major spa
Széchenyi, Rudas, Lukács, Dandár — a frank assessment of Budapest's thermal baths in 2026. What's changed, what's overhyped, and where to go.
Budapest travel guide 2026: everything you need to plan your trip
The complete 2026 Budapest guide: baths, Danube cruises, food, real costs in HUF, and honest planning advice for every type of traveller.
The new ruin bars: how Budapest's legendary nightlife is evolving
Szimpla Kert is still there, but Budapest's nightlife scene has shifted significantly. Here's what the ruin bar scene looks like in 2025.
Budapest summer festivals 2025: the complete roundup
Sziget anchors the summer, but Budapest's festival calendar runs June through September. Here's what's on, when, and what to expect.
Budapest Card 2025 update: what's changed and is it still worth it?
The Budapest Card has been updated for 2025. New prices, revised museum inclusions, and the honest calculation of whether it saves you money.
ETIAS and what it means for visitors to Budapest in 2026
The EU's ETIAS travel authorisation is expected in late 2026. Here's what it means for non-EU travellers visiting Budapest, and how to prepare.
Gellért baths renovation: what we know and how to plan around it
Reports of a possible Gellért renovation have circulated since 2024. Here's what's confirmed, what isn't, and how to plan your Budapest bath visit.
Best new restaurants in Budapest for 2024
From Michelin-tracked newcomers in the Jewish quarter to neighbourhood spots locals actually eat at — the Budapest dining scene worth knowing in 2024.
Why Budapest got pricier (and what it actually means for your trip)
Budapest is no longer the bargain it once was. We break down the real cost trends, HUF inflation, and what changed since 2022.
Christmas markets 2023: Budapest does winter better than you think
The Vörösmarty tér and St Stephen's Basilica markets, mulled wine in sub-zero air, and why Budapest's Christmas season is one of Europe's best-kept
The stag-do question: an honest take on Budapest's party tourism
Budapest is one of Europe's top stag destinations. That is a fact with complicated consequences — for visitors, locals, and the city's image.
Budapest's first Michelin year: what it means for the dining scene
Hungary's capital finally has Michelin-starred restaurants. We look at what changed, what stayed the same, and whether the recognition was overdue.
Autumn in Tokaj: chasing the harvest in Hungary's golden wine country
A weekend in Hungary's most celebrated wine region during the October harvest — Aszú grapes, underground cellars, and why Tokaj deserves more than a day
Sziget returns: the island festival comes back in 2022
After two years of cancellations, Sziget Festival returned to Margaret Island's northern neighbour in August 2022 — bigger, louder, and very glad to be
The baths are back: a Rudas revival in September 2021
Returning to Budapest's oldest operating thermal bath — the Ottoman dome, the Tuesday men-only mornings, and why Rudas deserves more attention than it
Budapest reopens: what the city felt like in summer 2021
The first summer after lockdown — tentative tourists, empty bar crawl timetables, and a city rediscovering what it does best.
Planning a Budapest trip from home: the armchair version
How to plan Budapest properly from scratch — where to start, what to prioritise, and how to avoid the planning mistakes that cost time on the ground.
Budapest without tourists: what the city looked like in May 2020
A resident's-eye view of Budapest during the pandemic shutdown — empty ruin bars, deserted thermal baths, and a city returning to itself.
My first winter bath at Széchenyi
What it is actually like to slip into a 38°C outdoor pool while snow falls on the baroque spires of Budapest's most famous thermal bath.
A day in Szentendre: the artists' town that earns its reputation
A summer day trip from Budapest to the Danube Bend's most charming town — Serbian churches, cobblestone lanes, wine cellars and marzipan museums.
How ruin bars took over District VII
From squatted courtyards to international brand — the story of how Szimpla Kert and its neighbours changed a Budapest neighbourhood forever.
Why Budapest is still underrated
Prague gets the stag parties, Vienna gets the prestige — but Budapest keeps delivering the best version of a European city break.
First impressions of Budapest
What hits you when you step off the plane and into the Hungarian capital for the first time — the scale, the light, the thermal fog.