I'm originally from Hungary and my husband and I decided to spend a few days in the country this year. We were quite busy to see my old friends but we made sure we had time to see a bit of the capital, Budapest. Budapest is truly one of my favourite cities in Eastern Europe. This city on the banks of the Danube River has a rich and colourful history, an amazing array of architectural styles, stunning monuments and many atmospheric nooks and corners.
We only had a short day to see "everything" so we started with the Margaret Island (in Hungarian Margit sziget). The Island is located in the middle of the Danube in central Budapest. It's mostly covered by landscape parks, and is a popular recreational area. Its medieval ruins are reminders of its importance in the Middle Ages as a religious centre. The island spans the area between the Margaret Bridge (south) and the Arpad Bridge (north).
(Margitsziget) called the playground of the city, this island, it is forbidden for cars, has everything you need to enjoy a day of relaxation. There are a sports stadium, numerous tennis courts, swimming pools outdoor, open-air theater, a rose garden and a Japanese garden, the remains of the early Middle Ages, two hotels with thermal water and shelter for the beer.
When we got there soon we discovered that we can rent bicycles, roller blades, electric cars and motors there. We cycled an hour on the Island and I must say we had a beaaaaautiful day and got to see a lot of things that we probably wouldn’t have got to if not for the bikes.
We also managed to go to the most beautiful square in Hungary, Heroes' square! There is a collection of statues of famous Hungarian leaders. As my husband said they have certainly put a lot of effort into showing off these statues. There were a lot of people already visiting when we went but the place is so big that you can still read all about who these statues a dedicated too. Located at the end of Andrassy Avenue it is well worth walking from the town, down the avenue and ending at Heroes' Square.
At the square we bought ticket for a sightseeing cruise on the Danube that was cruising from the Vigadó Square to the Margaret bridge, then to Hotel Gellért, and back again to the Vigadó Square, guided by the two parts of the city "Buda" and "Pest" telling us the stories and curiosities. We ate Lángos what is a Hungarian food speciality, a deep fried flat bread made of a dough with flour, yeast, salt and water. (no diet this time:)).
All in all our holiday was great ! My husband loved being in Budapest. We enjoyed the sun and long walks to discover the city. I would recommend to anybody either you are married to a Hungarian woman or not.:)
