Hi! Happy New Year!
For me, this year started in Hungary.
At last minute we decided to spend New Year eve in
Budapest.
This was my second visit, after 27 years. First was
just in transit, half day, on my way to Warsaw.
What to say, beautiful city with lot of similarities to Vienna, but yet very
specific.Unfortunately, it was very cold (-15 C) and gray, but
that didn't stop our walking tours around the city.
I will certainly return, one spring
or summer, and
of course visit the
famous baths.
We started our sightseeing on Gellért Hill.
From here you have fantastic panoramic view and good
first impression of the city.
Statue of Liberty stands on top of the hill.
Citadel (Citadella) - fortress.
Royal Palace- today home to the Hungarian National
Gallery, the Budapest History Museum and the National Library.
Statue of the horseherd
Matthias Fountain
Baroque gate
Statue of the Turul Bird (Turulmadár), the mythological
bird of the Magyars.
Holy Trinity Square
Matthias Church (Mátyás templom) over 700 years old.
Statue of St. Stephen
Fishermen's Bastion (Halászbástya)
Some of the best views of the city from Fishermen's Bastion.
Just window shopping.
Crossing Danube from Buda to Pest via Elizabeth Bridge.
Vörösmarty Square
Budapest Opera
The Heroes' Square
Millennium Monument
Museum of Fine Arts
Kunsthalle (Műcsarnok)
City Park
The ice rink in City Park- first opened to the public
on January, 1870.
Budapest Zoo-one of the oldest in the world- since
1866.
Széchenyi Baths
The Millennium Underground was the first subway line
in continental Europe opened in 1896.
St. Stephen's Basilica - Budapest Cathedral
St. Stephen's (first king of Hungary) mummified right
hand is kept in a glass case in the chapel.
Budapest Parliament - the world's third largest
Parliament building.
Museum of Ethnography.
Chain Bridge was the first bridge to connect Buda and
Pest.
Danube Promenade.
View of Buda- Royal Palace from Pest side.
The Central Market Hall- largest indoor market in
Budapest.
Souvenirs at Váci Street.
Kürtőskalács-delicious spiral-shaped pastry.
You can eat it plain or rolled into various toppings (cinnamon,
walnuts or coconut).
Underground wine cellar labyrinth.
The third largest oak cask in the world.
Restaurant is set up in the former wine cellar.
This is only a small part of what we have seen in
Budapest.
A lot is planned for next visit-hopefully soon.
:)