Budapest Travel Guide
Table of Contents
1. Itinerary
2. Fun facts
3. Movies Shot
4.. Iconic Photo Spots
5. Places To Stay
6. Personal Blog
7. Pictures and Puns
Itinerary
Day 1:
- Explore Buda Castle: A historic royal palace in Budapest, Hungary, which has stunning views of the Danube River and showcases years of Hungarian history.
- Matthias Church: Visit this beautiful landmark, known for its vibrant tiled roof and fascinating history as the coronation site of Hungarian kings.
- Fisherman’s Bastion: Enjoy the fairy-tale lookout point with breathtaking views of the Danube River and Parliament.
- The Hospital in the Rock Museum: Visit this underground museum in Budapest, where you can visit a former hospital/nuclear bunker and learn about the rich history from World War II and the Cold War.
Day 2: Pest – Culture and Charm
- Take the Parliament Tour in Budapest through viator. The Parliament Building in Budapest is a gorgeous Gothic-style landmark, famous for its stunning architecture and prime location along the Danube River.
- Shoes on the Danube Bank: Visit this memorial to honor the Holocaust victims who lost lives during World War II
- Visit the St. Stephen’s Basilica: Climb to the dome for city views and see the preserved hand of King Stephen.
- Ruin Bar Crawl: Start at Szimpla Kert, one of Budapest’s most famous ruin pubs, for unique decor and drinks.
Day 3:
- Széchenyi Thermal Baths: Immerse yourself in the soothing thermal waters of Széchenyi Baths, right in the heart of Budapest, and easily bookable through Viator.
- Heroes’ Square: Visit this monumental square honoring Hungary’s historical leaders.
- Vajdahunyad Castle: Take a stroll through this fairytale-like castle in City Park.
- Andrássy Avenue: Stroll down this elegant boulevard filled with shops and cafes.
Day 4:
- Dohány Street Synagogue: Visit one of the largest synagogues in Europe, a stunning architectural gem that stands as a symbol of Hungary’s Jewish heritage and history.
- House of Terror Museum: A powerful museum that shows Hungary’s dark history under Nazi and Soviet rule, with exhibits on both groups.
- Budapest Danube River Candlelit Dinner Cruise with Live Music: Book this beautiful dinner cruise through viator. Experience a romantic candlelight dinner cruise on the Danube River, offering a 4-course meal, stunning views of illuminated landmarks, and live Hungarian music. The cruise passes famous landmarks such as the Chain Bridge, Elisabeth Bridge, and the Hungarian Parliament.
Day 5:
- Margaret Island: Enjoy this relaxing getaway with its lush gardens, walking paths, and a musical fountain. Rent a bike to explore historical sites like medieval ruins and the charming Margaret Island Water Tower
- Visit the Great Market Hall: A vibrant indoor market offering a wide array of fresh produce, local delicacies, and Hungarian souvenirs.
- Gellért Hill: End your trip at this scenic spot, where you can enjoy breathtaking views of Budapest, including the Danube River, Buda Castle, and the Parliament. At the top, you’ll find the Citadella, a historic fortress and a prime spot to watch the sunset over the city.
Table of Contents
1. Itinerary
2. Do it for the Gram
3. Fun facts
4. Movie Shot
5. Place To Stay
6. Personal Blog
7. Pictures and Puns
fun facts
- City of Baths: Budapest has over one hundred thermal springs, which makes it one of the largest spa cities in the world.
- Buda and Pest: Budapest is actually two cities (Buda & Pest) separated by the Danube River.
- World Heritage Sites: Budapest is home to over 15 UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Buda Castle and Andrássy Avenue.
- Széchenyi Thermal Bath: It has one of the largest outdoor thermal pools in Europe.
- Parliament Building: It has one of the largest parliament buildings in the world.
- Danube Promenade: This is one the longest riverfront promenades in Europe.
- Nightlife: Budapest is known for its vibrant nightlife, with hundreds of ruin bars.
- Buda Castle: It is the oldest castle complex in Hungary, dating back to the 13th century.
- Hungarians use a lot of paprika in their dishes
- The Széchenyi Chain Bridge was one of the first bridges to connect Buda and Pest
- The Great Synagogue on Dohány Street is one of the largest synagogues in Europe
- Rubik’s Cube was created by a Hungarian architect
- Line M1, built in 1896, is the second-oldest metro system in the world, after London’s.
Movies Shot
- Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) (Hindi)
- Casino Royale (2006)
- The Eagle (2011)
- The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
- The Martian (2015)
- Dishoom (2016) (Hindi)
- Atomic Blonde (2017)
- Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
- Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
- Student of the Year 2 (2019) (Hindi)
Iconic Photo Spots
- Chain Bridge: Snap a photo with the bridge lit up at night for a magical shot.
- Buda Castle: Capture the view of the Danube and Pest from the Castle’s terrace.
- Fisherman’s Bastion: Snap a photo of the fairytale-like towers during sunset.
- Matthias Church: Capture the intricate details of the colorful tiled roof.
- Parliament Building: Snap a stunning photo from across the Danube River.
- Liberty Bridge: Capture the vibrant green bridge with views of Gellért Hill in the background.
- Heroes’ Square: Snap a photo with the grand statues
- Széchenyi Thermal Bath: Soak in the therapeutic thermal pools and capture the elegant architecture around it.
- Margaret Island: Snap a photo with the peaceful walking paths and greenery.
- Gellért Hill: Capture panoramic views of the city with the Liberty Statue in the background.
- Ruin Bars; Capture the eclectic and vibrant vibe of popular ruin bars like Szimpla Kert.
Places to Stay
- Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace: A stunning hotel with river views, exquisite dining, and a luxurious spa.
- Aria Hotel Budapest: A music-themed boutique hotel with a rooftop bar and wine receptions.
- Matild Palace: An elegant hotel with a rooftop bar, and personalized amenities
- Kempinski Hotel Corvinus: A contemporary luxury hotel offering fine dining and a spa near key landmarks.
- Anantara New York Palace Hotel: A historic gem which has the famous New York Café and luxurious spa amenities.
- Corinthia Budapest: A grand hotel with a spa, fine dining, and spacious family-friendly rooms.
- Párisi Udvar Hotel: A boutique gem blending Gothic, Moorish, and Art Deco designs with luxurious amenities.
- InterContinental Budapest: A luxury riverside hotel with breathtaking views of the Danube and Budapest’s main tourist spots.
- Budapest Marriott Hotel: The Budapest Marriott Hotel offers a luxurious stay along the Danube River, providing stunning views, excellent accommodations, and easy access to the city’s top attractions.
Personal Blog
After hearing about Budapest from my high school US history teacher, who was from the city, I knew I had to visit this city full of history. After leaving Prague and taking a flight to Budapest, I hoped it would offer the same enchanting, fairy-tale-like charm of a European city—and it exceeded my expectations. The city was brimming with stunning European architecture, and the Parliament building was one of the most beautiful landmarks I’ve ever seen in Europe.
One of my favorite memories was visiting the Fisherman’s Bastion, a place that truly felt like stepping into a fairytale castle. Strolling along the Danube waterfront and admiring the Chain Bridge illuminated at night was equally unforgettable. I also loved exploring the Market Hall and indulging in traditional Hungarian delicacies. To top it all off, we visited the Széchenyi Thermal Baths, where the therapeutic waters left us feeling incredibly relaxed and gave us a great night’s sleep afterward. Budapest truly delivered an unforgettable experience. As someone who loves finding unique and quirky features in every country, the ruin bars in Budapest were definitely a highlight. The concept of turning abandoned buildings into bars while keeping their original charm was fascinating. Even more impressive was how many of these bars were made from repurposed materials—old furniture, vintage signs, and recycled items—creating a truly one-of-a-kind experience!
PICTURES AND PUNS
I’m hungary for all the budapest adventures!
5-Day Palm Springs Travel Guide
Table of Contents
Itinerary
Day 1: Visit the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, it is the world’s largest rotating aerial tramway! Tickets are available through viator and the tram ride takes only a little over ten minutes, giving you panoramic views of both the desert valley below and snow-capped mountains above.
- It reaches over an 8000 ft elevation and then gives you views of the Chino Canyon and Mt. San Jacinto State Park.
- When you reach the top there is a restaurant (Peak’s Restaurant) and a Café (Pine’s Café) where you can grab sandwiches, burgers, mac & cheese, salads, coffee, fountain sodas, and cocktails!
- Next, enjoy hiking, camping, skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, and much more!
- Lastly don’t forget to immerse yourself in the views.
Day 2: Spend a day to enjoy either one or both of Palm Spring’s greatest adventures.
Get an unforgettable ATV experience at Off Road Rentals. The location is only 5 miles away from Palm Springs and has been open for over 4 decades now. All safety equipment, tutorial/instructional videos are provided with awesome staff to help guide you.
Take a Red Jeep Tour. It is an experience that truly allows you to immerse yourself in the California desert. You can select from the Indians Canyon, Joshua Tree, San Andreas Fault tour. A San Andreas Fault Jeep Tour is also available through tripadvisor.
Day 3: Spend a day to enjoy two of the popular museums in Palm Springs
- Visit the Palm Springs Air Museum to see aviation exhibits from World War 2, Korean War, & Vietnam War.
- Vist the Art Museum of Palm Springs to understand the culture, architecture, and history of the city
Day 4: Spend a day to enjoy the Zoo and botanical gardens in Palm Springs
- Visit the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens to see the desert animals, feed the giraffes, and maybe some special animal encounters! Be sure to enjoy the WildLights which light themed animal displays and all sorts of cool exhibits during selected times of the year
- Visit the Moorten Botanical Garden to witness unique desert plants, trees, cacti, crystal, & rocks from all over the world.
Day 5: Start the day with a hike & end the day with spa time.
- For nature lovers, hike the Tahquitz Canyon and discover a 60 foot waterfall, hike the Murray Canyon in the Indian Canyons for the Seven Sisters Waterfall, and/or hike about 400 ft from Palm Canyon in the Indian Canyons to see the West Fork Falls.
- Spend some time to relax at one of the many famous Hot Springs.
Day 6: Spend the day with two popular tours that are important to Palm Springs and available on tripadvisor.
- Take a Windmill Tour to learn more about the windmills & its history in Palm Springs.
- Take the famous Celebrity Tour where you can visit homes of celebrities and learn more about the history and modern Palm Springs. If you are lucky you may get to stop the market and grab the famous date shake!
Fun Facts
- Home to the world’s largest aerial tramway.
- The name Palm Springs comes from Spanish explorers who called it “La Palma de la Mano de Dios” which translates to The Palm of God’s Hand.
- Over 50 golf courses and 50,000 pools.
- Most of the country’s date production is found here.
- Population triples in the winter months
- Popular celebrity getaway spot- Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe even owned homes here.
- Parts of the movies, Ocean’s Eleven, Mission Impossible 3, The Player, Into the Wild, A Star is Born were shot here.
Do It for the Gram
- Cabazon Dinosaur
- Forever Marilyn Statue
- PS I love you sign at the Rowen Hotel
- Angel Wings sign
- Graffiti Yard
- Walk of Stars
- Flamingos at JW Marriott Palm Springs
Places to Stay
- Margaritaville Resort Palm Springs (for Instagram lovers)
- Trixie Motel Palm Springs (for Instagram lovers)
- Saguaro Palm Springs Hotel (for Instagram lovers)
- Omni Rancho Las Palmas
- JW Marriot Desert Springs Resort and Spa
- The Ritz-Carlon, Rancho Mirage
- Ace Hotel Palm Springs
Personal Blog
Growing up in Southern California meant taking yearly trips to Palm Springs. Palm Springs has always been a great mini getaway and the perfect choice for some R&R. One of the most important landmarks on our way is the San Gorgonio Wind Park, which has over two thousand wind turbines to help generate energy for power for Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. I have always loved to stop and admire the windmills. My weekends there were spent enjoying the swimming pool and wanderlust in the desert dust! Over the years, I have seen the city develop into having more restaurants, bars, and boutique hotels with exquisite pools. Every time I go, I like to stay at a new resort, enjoy the mountain views from the balcony, try some new restaurants, and have plenty of spa time. I love going to Palm Springs during the last week of January because, some years, I’ve gotten lucky to be enjoying a sunny day in the pool with a view of snow-capped mountains!
When my husband and I got married, our first mini getaway was in Palm Springs. We started our trip ATVing at Off Road Rentals. It was so windy that our sunglasses flew right off! We had to ATV our way uphill first, and my husband zoomed his way up while I was struggling. I eventually learned all the gears & got the hang of it. There was one incident where I was so scared at how fast I was going downhill that I jumped off my ATV and I let it slide downhill. Luckily the ATV didn’t slide too far downhill and I managed to grab it so that I didn’t have to pay Off Road Rentals for a new ATV! It was our first adventure post marriage and I was looking forward to many more.
The first time we took the Aerial Tramway we were so amazed at how warm it was on the floors of Coachella Valley before we took the tramway, yet 8000 ft above at the peak of St. Jacinto mountains it was almost 40 degrees cooler. We always enjoy having a drink at the bar while enjoying views of the snow-capped mountains.
After having a daughter, my husband and I have continued our yearly tradition of having one Palm Springs trip per year since it is such a kid-friendly destination. I always plan at least one excursion outside our resort per trip and will continue to discover new hidden gems in this city.
Puns and Pictures
I'm a big fan of windmills!
