Budapest – New Year

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.

 Famous Herend Porcelain

   Just window shopping.

  Recharging batteries with Esterházy torte.

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.

Borkatakomba Restaurant (Wine Catacomb Restaurant)

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.

                                                                         :)