If you’ve been looking for a thrilling and delightful city to sneak off to for your next whirlwind vacay, why don’t you pay Budapest a visit? From its incredible cuisine to its diverse and fascinating history, you definitely won’t be bored when you spend 24 hours (or more!) in this wonderful Hungarian city!
As the capital of Hungary, Budapest has managed to build itself quite the reputation. From its incredibly rich history to its seemingly non-stop bounty of activities for you and your girlfriends to enjoy while you’re there, this amazing city is absolutely a must-see for anyone who has managed to carve a week out of their schedule to properly explore it. However, what if you and your gal pals don’t have an entire week – or even a whole weekend, for that matter – to soak up this vacation destination? Don’t worry. Even if you have just a mere 24 hours to pop into Budapest, we’ve got you covered. If you can’t do it all, then you at least need to do these five things while you’re there!
1. Start with a strong cup of coffee at the New York Café
The New York Café is purportedly the most beautiful café in the world, and after you take one peek inside it, you’ll find yourself agreeing. Not only is it an absolute sight to behold, with luxurious décor and an inviting atmosphere, it also has the best coffee in the city. Of course, if you’re going to grab a coffee at the New York Café, then you also need to grab one of their delectable pastries, too. After all, you all need to be completely energized to tackle your day in Budapest, right? Right!
2. Marvel at the history of the city at the Heroes’ Square
Once your bellies are full, take the trek to the Heroes’ Square. The sheer amount of history radiating from this site will take your breath away. It was built to celebrate Budapest’s thousand-year history…way back in 1896! Don’t forget to check out the 118-foot Millennium Monument, a statue that was built to honor all of the heroes of Budapest, as well as all of the other sculptures situated across this historic square.
3. Enjoy a pick-me-up at St. Stephen’s Basilica
If all of the walking around is causing your appetite to rev up, then you’re going to want to take a stroll over to St. Stephen’s Basilica. Named after Stephen, the first king of Hungry who reigned from 975 to 1038, this basilica isn’t just a tribute to the origins of Budapest. It’s also a clever place to grab some delicious gelato and engage in some sneaky people-watching, too. If you time your arrival to Budapest just right, you can also catch a rousing organ concert, too. The music piping out from one of these concerts is a sure way to get goosebumps!
4. Admire the views from the Fisherman’s Bastion
If you’re looking for a place that will really allow you to see everything that Budapest has to offer, then you can’t afford to miss the Fisherman’s Bastion. Tucked away inside the Buda Castle, the Fisherman’s Bastion is more than just gorgeous Neo-Romanesque lookout towers. While these just to be part of the fortifications designed to protect the city, today it serves as the leading tourist draw in the city. Once you climb into one of these towers, brace yourself: you’re going to be seconds away from some of the most stunning panoramic views of both the north and the south side of the city.
5. Finish up with a hot soak at the Szechenyi Baths
Budapest is famous for its spa baths, but of the numerous ones that you can find in this city, perhaps the most popular one can be found at the Szechenyi Baths in the City Park district. Built over a hundred years ago, back in 1913, the Szechenyi Baths offer eighteen healing pools inside it and ten steam saunas, too. After a whirlwind day spent exploring everything that Budapest has to share with you, unwinding in this thermal pool will be just the ticket to finish your 24-hour adventure in Budapest!