THE TALE OF TWO CITIES

There’s no other city like Budapest. With old grungy bars and ruin pubs, the city is the new hip place to be.

As the title of this post suggests, Budapest was once two cities. They were separated by the Danube River, before coming together in 1873 to form the Hungarian capital as it is today. This is a city with streets filled with new cafes, sophisticated wine bars and a cool culture to discover - Budapest has something for everyone.

You can’t visit Budapest without visiting one of the ancient baths that are dotted around the city. Budapest isn't called the 'City of Baths' for nothing. Hungary is a land of thermal springs, and Budapest remains the only capital city in the world that is rich in thermal waters with healing qualities. Budapest is also one of the few places where you can experience traditional Turkish baths dating back to 16th and 17th centuries.

There are also so many other sights to see in the city. You may be able to spot a few of the 8 bridges that unite the old cities of Buda and Pest over the Danube River. The green bridge in particular known as ‘liberty bridge’ and also ‘chain bridge’ are relatively easy ones to pick out. If you take a wander across ‘chain bridge’ you will head in the direction of Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion. These sights overlook the city on-top of a hill, with magnificent views. If you’ve ever watched Katy Perry’s video for her hit single ‘Firework’, it was filmed inside of Buda Castle!

When you’re visiting Budapest, you can’t miss experiencing a taste of the city’s nightlife. Ruin bars are all the rage in Budapest. They are bars built in Budapest’s the old Jewish quarter, in the ruins of abandoned buildings. This neighbourhood was left to decay after World War II, so it was a perfect place to develop an underground bar scene.

From outside, these bars look like normal homes. They don’t have large signs pointing the way, you don’t hear any loud noise, and there’s no line of people waiting to get in. But once you walk in, you find yourself in the middle of a hip, artsy, and funky bar bustling with crowds talking, dancing, and enjoying the laid-back atmosphere. It’s a fantastic unique experience and a must see in the city...