Budapest attracted us for the second time. Once again, we opted for a mix of sightseeing and nightlife, why not, you only live once. This time we didn’t have to worry about accommodation, as our super friend Szisza took us in 🙂
Contents
Day 1 – Tropical Aquarium
Day 2 – Zoo and Gellért Hill
Day 3 – St. Stephen’s Basilica
Day 1 – Tropicarium
We arrived at the Népliget bus station on Friday around noon. The journey took just under three hours. We boarded metro M3 and headed to our friend’s apartment to drop off our bags. We were pleasantly surprised by lunch and enjoyed a hearty meal. In the afternoon, we set off to visit the Tropicarium. It is quite far from the city center, so we took bus number 233E from Ferenciek tere. A landmark to help you find it is Tesco. The exhibition includes a presentation of the life of domestic fish, animals living in tropical rainforests, and creatures inhabiting the depths of seas and oceans. The tour lasted about an hour, and we were slightly disappointed by the size of the Tropicarium, as it consisted of only a few rooms. The highlight was the tunnel, where a wide array of creatures swim above you, from small fish to fierce sharks.
Evening is marked by a party at the apartment, and then we move across Elisabeth Bridge to a disco called Rómkert. In translation, it means a ruin, but I can say that it was really lively there. It was like a dancing hell, they played great music, and we had a fantastic time. And there was a lot to see as well. Hungarian girls didn’t speak much English, but it didn’t detract from their quality at all 🙂 If I remember correctly, we went home by taxi.
Day 2 – Zoo and Gellért Hill
After a heavy dinner, getting up is also difficult. We wake up around noon, quickly cook something, and head out to see the sights. Stop number one is the zoo. I must say, it is one of the most beautiful zoos I have ever seen. It’s not only the variety of animals, but especially the environment, with artificial rock peaks or towers from which you have a view of the entire zoo and the Széchenyi Baths. The totems were very nice, as well as the artificial crocodile, butterfly pavilion, or the section where children could play with the animals. Everything was perfectly arranged.
TIP: We recommend allocating enough time for the zoo, you won’t regret it.
After a demanding tour of the zoo, we stopped at a fast food restaurant. Quite a funny incident when an elderly gentleman sat down with us and started chatting. Eventually, it turned out he was the owner of a casino in Las Vegas, so we also got a business card and an invitation to come and visit him sometime 🙂
Our second stop is the hill of Gellért Hill, from where you can enjoy an unforgettable view of the whole Budapest. We got off at the Ferenciek Tere metro stop, crossed the Elizabeth Bridge, and then climbed up through the paths in the park. In the park, you can admire beautiful statues, including a king and even an alien 🙂 At the top of the hill stands the Liberty Statue of Budapest. There is also a small military museum in the citadel compound.
TIP: We recommend making the trip before sunset; seeing the Chain Bridge illuminated is something amazing.
We are heading back home to prepare for a night out. As always, the trusted Rómkert did not disappoint today either. We had fun until the early morning.
Day 3 – St. Stephen’s Basilica
On the last day, we opted for a more leisurely program. We are going on a tour of St. Stephen’s Basilica, as it was closed during our last visit due to demonstrations. At 4:15 PM, we board our orange Student Agency bus and bid farewell to Budapest.
