Friday the 13th turned out to be an unforgettable day as we explored the vibrant city of Budapest with Julia on her Half-Day Driving, Half-Day Walking Tour. Julia’s deep knowledge of Hungarian history and culture, paired with her passion for storytelling, made every stop on our journey come alive.
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| The little broom on the doorknob to signal that it is ok to clean the room |
Here’s a detailed look at the incredible sites we visited:
Heroes’ Square and City Park
Our first stop was Heroes’ Square, Budapest’s grand historical plaza that tells the story of Hungary through its iconic statues.
The centerpiece of the square is the Millennium Monument, with Archangel Gabriel standing tall at the top of the column, holding the Hungarian crown and cross. Around the base are the statues of the seven Magyar chieftains who founded Hungary in the 9th century. Behind them, semi-circular colonnades feature statues of Hungarian kings and important leaders throughout history. Julia gave us a quick but engaging overview of Hungary’s past as we admired the sculptures.
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| Nearby was an ice skate rink. School gym classes in the winter come to rink as part of their curriculum. |
Just behind Heroes’ Square is City Park, home to the whimsical Vajdahunyad Castle. This fairy-tale-like structure combines architectural styles from different parts of Hungary and was originally built for the 1896 Millennium Exhibition to showcase the different styles. Most of the buildings are just the façades and not actual buildings. Everyone liked it so much, they canceled the planned demolishment after the exhibition and it has been a favorite site in Budapest for almost 130 years.
Bathhouses and Andrassy Avenue
Next, we drove past one of Budapest’s famous thermal bathhouses, which have been a part of Hungarian culture for centuries. The city is known as the "City of Spas," thanks to its natural hot springs. Can Rob convince Toni to go? We will see.
We continued along Andrássy Avenue, Budapest’s grand boulevard lined with elegant 19th-century mansions and palaces, all part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Julia pointed out some of the most beautiful buildings and shared how this avenue was built as a showpiece of Hungary’s prosperity in the late 1800s.
Opera House and Its Metro Station
We stopped at the Hungarian State Opera House, an architectural masterpiece with intricate neo-Renaissance designs. Julia took us down to the Opera metro station, one of the oldest in Europe, to marvel at its stunning tilework and design.
Central Market and Liberty Bridge
The bustling Central Market Hall was our next destination, where Julia shared the history of the vibrant indoor market that dates back to the late 1800s. With its colorful tiled roof and cast-iron structure, the building itself is as much a sight as the goods sold inside!
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| Pigs Feet |
Nearby, we admired the Liberty Bridge, a striking green structure originally named after King Joseph. Julia explained how Budapest’s bridges, including the Elizabeth Bridge next to it, were destroyed at the end of World War II and painstakingly rebuilt. The Elizabeth Bridge is the only one that was reconstructed in a modern design.
Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion
Crossing the Chain Bridge, we entered the Buda Castle District, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that felt like stepping back in time. We walked around the Castle and looked over the Danube and Pest.
Nearby, Julia showed us the Hilton Hotel, which cleverly incorporates the ruins of a medieval church into its modern design—a fascinating blend of old and new.
On the Pest side along the Danube, we visited the Shoes on the Danube Memorial, a haunting tribute to Jewish victims killed during World War II by the Arrow Cross militia. Julia explained the meaning behind the simple but powerful iron shoes lining the riverbank, leaving us quiet and reflective.
Liberty Square: History and Controversy
Next, we visited Liberty Square, a complex site with layers of history. We saw the Ronald Reagan statue, symbolizing freedom, as well as the Russian Memorial, honoring Soviet soldiers who liberated Hungary during World War II. Julia shared stories about the square’s monuments and how they reflect Hungary’s complicated 20th-century history. This included that liberation by the Russians was really the start of a new occupation.
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| Ronald Reagon |
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| George Bush, 1st President to visit after the wall fell |
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| US Embassy |
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| Russian Memorial, with Reagan, Bush and the US Embassy around it |
Parliament and the Shoes on the Danube
The Hungarian Parliament Building is one of Budapest’s most iconic landmarks, and seeing it up close was breathtaking. Its neo-Gothic architecture is stunning, with intricate details and soaring spires.
St. Stephen’s Basilica and the Jewish Quarter
The next stop was St. Stephen’s Basilica, the largest Catholic church in Budapest. Inside, we saw the mummified hand of St. Stephen, Hungary’s first king, preserved as a sacred relic. Julia shared the story of how this basilica took 55 years to build, surviving collapses and redesigns along the way.
We then walked through the Jewish Quarter, where Julia pointed out the famous synagogue triangle and told us about the history of the Budapest ghetto during World War II.
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| Arch at the entrance to the Jewish Quarter |
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| Memorial for the Jews that were killed. Over 44,000 names are on the leaves of this Weeping Willow |
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| Statue to recognize Carl Lutz, a Swiss who lived in Hungary and was able to save thousands of Hungarian Jews |
Back to the Hotel and Evening Adventures
After the tour, we said goodbye to Julia and thanked her for two incredible days filled with history, culture, and personal connections. We rested at the hotel before heading out for dinner at Marumba, a trendy spot in the Jewish Quarter. The food and ambiance were the perfect way to end a long day of sightseeing.
Before calling it a night, we made one last stop at the Vörösmarty Christmas Market, soaking in the festive lights and warm holiday atmosphere.
Reflections on the Day
Budapest’s beauty and depth are truly captivating, and Julia’s tour gave us an unforgettable glimpse into the city’s history, architecture, and culture. From Heroes’ Square to the Chain Bridge, every stop told a story, and every view was postcard-perfect.
This blog post was created collaboratively with the assistance of ChatGPT, an AI language model by OpenAI, to help organize and document our travels.
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