The cozy winter atmosphere, the Christmas lights, the celebration mood and the romantic architectural buildings mark an exciting and enchanting vacation in Budapest just before the year ends.
Winter in Budapest is just like an old romantic scene where couples are holding each other's hands to warm themselves, sipping mulled wine, gorging on Chimney cakes and relishing delicious Hungarian cuisines. Budapest is the perfect place for you if you love winters and want to enjoy the cold weather and icy cold wind. The aesthetic appeal of the city makes you fall in love more and more every day.
The city is divided into "Buda" and "Pest". You can overlook the bridge which is situated in the middle of the Danube, there is the Hungarian Parliament on one end and the Buda castle gleaming on the other end. You can enjoy a cruise on the Danube river in the day or in the evening. Evening cruises are much better as you can spectate the lights of the city.
Try and choose an accommodation near the City center so that you can walk around the city and explore the surroundings, coffee shops, bakery, authentic traditional restaurants, shops etc.
You can also take the winter tram to move around the city. The trams are decorated with twinkling LED lights as the festival mood sets in slowly.
Hungarian cuisine is something which you should not at all forget during the trip.
Kacsa Etterem is a very good place to try the traditional Goulash soup and the Chicken paprika. For dessert don't forget the traditional Somloi Galuska and the Langos.
The city is as exciting in the night as it is in the day. The pub crawl helps you to get an insider trip to the depths of the Nightlife scene in the city.
The Ruin Pub culture in Budapest is amazing. Ruin pubs are built in District VII neighborhood in the ruins of abandoned buildings, lot and stores. Try out some of the very famous ruin pubs like Szimpla Kert and Instant Fogas. Instant Fogas is a huge complex with multiple floors and each floor has a DJ and a bar counter. You can roam around and hit the dance floor anywhere you want to.
If you are a historical buff and architecture aficionado then take a trip to Castle hill and Buda castle to get a panoramic view of the city. The castle was built in 13th century and has undergone several changes over the years. It was damaged during WWII and is reconstructed - making it an iconic architecture. The area is now declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fisherman's Bastion which is world famous for turrets and spikes was built as a part of development to celebrate the 1000th birthday of the Hungarian state. Located in the middle of the bastion is the statue of St.Stephen - the first Hungarian King. It was built exclusively for views over the river Danube. Located at a height, you can also see the Szechenyi Chain Bridge. The chilly weather, cold wind blowing in your face and the scenic beauty will not let you leave the spot for a few hours. Don't forget to get yourself clicked in this photogenic place.
Walk on the lovely pedestrian-friendly cobbled streets of Budapest. The Hungarian Parliament Building and Crown Jewels is an impressive structure which gets lighted in the evening. Take a guided tour in St. Stephen's Basilica to get a 360 degree view of the city and Danube and in Matthias Church situated on the Castle Hill.
Margaret Island which is situated a few kilometers from Budapest is a good place with carefully tended gardens and paths.
In the evening, catch a couple of famous Hungarian drinks such as the Unicum which is a Hungarian National beverage.
After a tiring day, it's time to eat at a place situated in the heart of the city. Mazel tov is an open cultural space, light and airy cafe in the middle of the historically jewish quarter, today's downtown's night-life center where you can relish the Mediterranean cuisine.
The ambience is amazing and don't forget to book a table before hand as there is always a queue.
Budapest is a perfect place to chill, relax and enjoy in winters.
