9 Things To Know Before Your Solo Trip To Budapest
Have you ever wanted to take a whirlwind trip alone to a beautiful European city?
Cheap airlines, reliable transport, and geography make a last-minute solo trip within Europe totally possible. Budapest is a cost-friendly, fun, and most importantly, visually stunning option for a weekend getaway. Before you go on a spontaneous solo trip to Hungary's capital, here are the nine things you need to know.
1. Budapest Used To Be Two Different Cities
Originally founded as Celtic forts on opposite sides of the Danube river, the cities of Buda and Pest remained separated up until their unification in 1873.
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| Walking across the Chain Bridge looking into the Buda district |
A symbol of this east and west unification is the famous Chain Bridge, which today links the hilly Budda district with its flatter Pest counterpart.
2. Hostels Are Your Saving Grace
I arrived in Budapest at around 4pm on Friday and took the 100E airport shuttle straight to the Deák Ferenc tér M stop.
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| Public transport is pretty easy to use; just buy tickets ahead of time if you can |
A four-minute walk away from this stop is Wombat Hostel; a comfortable, easy to navigate, and safe option for any solo traveler. I even met a fellow American in my hostel room within the first few minutes of arriving!
Address for Wombat hostel in Budapest: Budapest, Király u. 20, 1061 Hungary
Finding hostels online: You can find a place to stay on sites such as Hostelworld, booking, and Airbnb. I paid 34 euros for two nights at Wombat.
3. Hit The Ground Walking
Even if you are feeling tired upon arrival, it's always worth it to get a quick lay of the land. Who knows, the new-city air could inspire you to explore! Keep it relaxed by doing something chill, like getting a coffee or visiting a bookstore.
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| I got an evening cappuccino at Béla within my first few hours of arriving. Béla cafe in the Buda district is a colorful, cozy place to take a seat and enjoy one of Budapest's signature creative interiors. They serve both alcoholic and hot drinks, so take your pick and look to the cafe's quirky paintings for a laugh. |
Address for Béla: Bartók Béla út 23, 1114 Hungary
4. The Ruin Bars Meet The Hype
Yes, it was full of foreigners and a few Irish bachelorette parties; but Budapest's pioneer ruin bar Szimpla Kert is still worth the visit (especially if you have limited time).
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| Red room at Szimpla Kert with an abandoned car and tv monitors playing abstract films |
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| A 1940's cartoon screening on one of Szimpla's stone walls There are countless rooms to take a seat in, each offering its own unique decor on par with an immersive art installation. |
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| Me walking up the stairs at Szimpla! Address for Szimpla Kert: Budapest, Kazinczy u. 14, 1075 Hungary |
5. You Can Bathe At A Palace For 17 Bucks
What better way to start the day than at a palace spa?
Enclosed in the bright-yellow Széchenyi palace is Europe's largest thermal bath, and for only about 17 USD, you can spend as long as you want wading in its medicinal waters and using the complimentary sauna.
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| Early morning at the baths While you might not be motivated to visit the bath at its 7 AM opening time, you should get there as early as possible to avoid crowds (and enjoy the morning sun). Address for the Széchenyi baths: Budapest, Állatkerti krt. 9-11, 1146 Hungary
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6. Hungary Doesn't Use Euros
Although it belongs to the EU, Hungary uses forints instead of euros. While even the Christmas market took cards, you need cash if you want to buy bus tickets at the station's stand. To avoid unnecessary stress, try to buy tickets ahead of time as much as possible.
7. Classic Lángos Is A Dairy-Lover's Dream
Lángos is classic Hungarian street food, consisting of a deep-fried flatbread topped with sour cream and shredded cheese. If dairy-on-dairy isn't your thing, you can try this flatbread with meat or just simple garlic oil.
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| Me at Drum Cafe. Would you like some goulash with that? |
Drum cafe is a quiant and traditional eatery serving all of the Hungarian favorites. Make sure to get goulash and the somloi galuska (chocolate rum cake).
Address for Drum Cafe: Budapest, Dob u. 2, 1072 Hungary
8. It's Worth It To Splurge
Budapest is loved by travelers for its affordability, but sometimes it's worth it to include a bit of luxury in your journey.
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| Enjoying a 5 euro (overpriced) beer at New York Cafe |
Established in 1849, New York cafe is one of the most expensive (and beautiful) cafes in Budapest, offering gold-leaf hot chocolate, drinks, and artisanal cakes.
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| Hm. Not bad. |
While the food and drinks are just OK, hanging out underneath the cafe's crystal chandeliers and ornate frescoes made the experience totally worthwhile.
Address for New York Cafe: Budapest, Erzsébet krt. 9-11, 1073 Hungary
9. Castle Hill Deserves A Good Chunk of Time
A kilometer long and situated along the Danube river is Castle Hill, an elevated cobblestone walkway adorned with baroque palaces, Habsburg-era monuments, and lush gardens.
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| Looking out from Castle Hill |
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| Wandering into the Lion's Courtyard, situated along Castle Hill You'll get a million-dollar view of Budapest walking along the Castle Hill at any time of day, but I recommend going in the late afternoon so you can watch the city light up at dusk. |
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| Up on Castle Hill with a fellow American traveler named Ana. She's based in Madrid teaching English and we met on our first day in the hostel! Located in the heart of Buda's Castle District is Matthias Church; a Romanesque architectural feat that is just a stone's throw away from the other attractions along the hill. Enjoying some holiday cheer around Matthias church |
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| The Matthias Church at night |
Spending 50 euros on a flight to Budapest might seem pointless for just a weekend, but as long as you don't sleep in till noon, you'll have plenty of time to see some of the most beautiful and exciting things the city has to offer.
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