Explore Europe’s Gourmet metropolis and prettiest capital in eastern Central Europe.
Contributed by Jens Hoffmann
Arrival at Ferihegy International Airport, 20 km from the city centre.
A driver picked me up. I am ready for a christmas stay at the Hungarian capital.
Welcome, my new love is the largest and most exciting city in eastern Central Europe. The political, commercial and cultural centre of Hungary offers breathtaking brides, panoramic views, buildings that are architecturallly outstanding and cosy christmas moments. The place to be in wintertime.
An ambience that could simply not be nicer, Budapest with its style, historic grand cafés, turkish baths, food and christmas markets – really comes to life in December.
With art nouveau splendours Budapest combines romance and renaissance.
While the facades, old-fashioned cafés and refined baths politely sweep you off your feet, there is still slowness and silence and the city’s fascinating modern history.
Budapest is an city with the Danube river at its heart.
Cross a bridge to the west and you’re in Buda, the leafy hills hiding natural hot springs and crowned with a palace that provide views down to the scene-stealing gothic parliament building on the far riverbank. Behind this is Pest, the eastern city, unified with Buda in 1873, where you’ll find attractive boulevards and the Jewish quarter, which has seen a bohemian drinking scene develop around dilapidated courtyards beautified with eclectic art and flea market furniture.
Fun is a tradional “Cooking Course”.
We enjoyed that together with traditional food and lovely hungaria wines.
It all began with a popular food market “starter” and the buying of the ingredients on the local food market.
We checked in at the Hilton Budapest City, for me a perfect hotel on the Pest side.
Easy to enjoy the conveniences of this contemporary 21st century hotel.
A charming retreat, just a short walk away from the biggets attractions. The 230 rooms including executive rooms as well as suites are all equipped for both business and leisure guests, providing outstanding comfort and a certain joyful american style.
Ask for a room with access to the Executive lounge and try the Arrabona hotel restaurant.
Menu of international and Hungarian specialities.
Ease yourself into the weekend with a bath, so lovely. One of the city’s loveliest thermal complexes, with relaxation effects is the Lukacs Baths. Originally part of a spa hotel opened in 1880s, the Lukacs bath have been helping to heal people for generations. One of Budapest’s most famous baths.
The neo-baroque style Szechenyi Bath with wooden cabins upstairs and the most famous Gellert baths is also fun. All with lots of spiritual energy, saunas and massages.
Lovely.
Budapest Fine Dining: I can recommend to book a table at the “Icon” resto, located in the second Hilton Hotel in Budapest.
Ok its not the Nobu (which you will find in the Kempinski Hotel) but it serves fresh fish, some kind of extravagant dishes but also modern Hungarian dishes and three course menus.
Yummy, easy to enjoy.
After that we did a bit of sight seeing climbed slowly to the pedestrianised district of old Buda and walked around the Royal Palace, rebuilt in the 18th century by the Habsburgs, today housing the Hungarian National Gallery.
“Walk like a Hungarian”, yes further into Pest, fun to discover St Stephen’s Basilica and the Hungarian State Opera, before hopping onto one of Europe’s oldest metro lines, the M1 (1896).
I really enjoyed the relaxed christmas time.
Tips & Information:
Places to stay:
Hotel Hilton City Budapest
Local delights – Gourmet Festival
The event which began a decade ago is flourishing, is considered the very essence of Hungarian gastronomy. You can taste tiny bites while strolling around the event site or have a complete dinner, with musical background.
Easy Cooking Budapest
Budapest International Filmfestival
Gourmetfestival
If you wanna dance, try the “A38”, a party boat on the river Danube.
It hosts funky hipster and international DJs.
Budapest, mon amour.
Photos. Jens Hoffmann
The press trip was supported by Grayling PR Frankfurt.
