Arguably the most beautiful city in Eastern Europe, Budapest boasts wonderful medieval and art nouveau buildings, an elaborate Opera House, romantic restaurants with buzzy bars and atmospheric cafés with exquisite pastries and cakes. With so much to see and do it can be hard to know where to start – but, with out need to know guide you’ll be sure to see the best of Budapest.
Where to Kiss
- On the stairs along the Danube – one of the most romantic rivers in the world, where lovers can hug and canoodle and go for moonlight walks
- Under the stars on the rooftop Panorama Terrace of the Hotel President, Hold u. 3-5
- In and round the hidden walkways of Margaret Island
- On the top of Gellért Hill with fabulous city views
Where to Eat
- Book a table for two at Spoon, a café and lounge onboard a boat moored on the Pest side of the Danube
- In summer ask for a table in the rear courtyard at Café Pierrot; Fortuna u.14
- Join locals for traditional Hungarian flavours and great city views at 21 Hungarian Kitchen; Fortuna u.21
- Enjoy innovative contemporary dishes at Costes, the country’s first Michelin-star accredited restaurant; Ráday St 4
- Dine on traditional and contemporary dishes in the beautiful decorative Callas Restaurant next door to the Opera House; Dalszinház St 6
- Enjoy modern Japanese food at Nobu; Kempinski Hotel Corvinus, Erzsébet tér 7-9
Where to Drink
- Take a seat outside and sip cocktails at sunset in the top of the fairytale stone tower of Halászbástya Restaurant; Szentháromság tér 5
- Seek out one of the trendy ‘ruin’ bars where students like to meet in almost makeshift facilities in lovely old derelict buildings, such as Szimpla Kert; Kazinczy u. 14
- Sip creamy coffee and savour Hungarian specialties such as the caramel-topped layered dobos and chocolate mousse and honey wafer-layered eszterhazy torte at the legendary Gerbeaud; Vörösmarty tér 7-8
- Or slip into Ruszwurm patisserie for a hot chocolate and one of their decadent kremes or vanilla slices, Szentháromság u. 7
What to Do
- Take a helicopter flight over the city
- Buy an exquisite porcelain souvenir from internationally-acclaimed Hungarian manufacturer, Herend; Szentháromság u. 5
- Buy makings for a picnic – think spicy kabana, paprika-flavoured sausages and sharp cheese from the Great Hall Market; Vámház körút 1
- Savour decadent Rózsavölgyi Csokoládé chocolate from bonbon; Kiralyi Pal u. 6
- Learn how to make authentic filled strudels at the Strudel House; Oktober 6 u. 22
- Take a carriage ride around the medieval Castle District
- Visit the sensational Parliament House
- See Budapest from the water on a River Ride
How to Get There
- Budapest is a new destination for Qatar Airways which flies daily from Melbourne to Doha with onward connections to Budapest four times a week, daily non-stop from September
Where to Stay
- Centrally located Kempinski Hotel Corvinus backs on to one of the main shopping streets and is within a few minutes’ walk of the Danube;V Erzsébet ter 7-8, rooms from $410
- Overlooking the Danube, the beautiful Four Seasons Gresham Palace Hotel is housed in the long-neglected art nouveau Gresham Palace;V Roosevelt ter 5-6, rooms from $423
- Boutique design hotel Lánchid 19 is well located on the river in Buda and boasts three panorama suites on level 7 with terrace and spa bath; Lánchid 19, rooms from $172
