Authored by Holly Harris

Budapest is THE place to travel at the moment.

I’ll be scrolling through instagram and every. single. person. seems to be enjoying the sights of Hungary’s capital city…and I don’t blame them; it is a beautiful spot.

I went to Budapest for a short city break a couple of summers ago and loved every inch of it – the place is just so grand and feels like you’re stepping straight in to a fairy tale.

So, let me show you exactly why this incredible city is getting so much exposure at the moment.

5 Reasons Budapest is THE Place To Go This Summer

#1 It’s Cheap

When I say cheap, I mean very very cheap. As far as city break destinations go, Budapest is probably THE cheapest holiday I’ve ever been on.

To put this in perspective, when I talk about budget, I took £80 worth of spending money and that is all I spent in four whole days of being there. As for accomodation, the apartment I stayed in was £11 a night (and it was huge).

On average, you’re looking at spending max £20 a day and that to cover food, drinks and activities.

#2 The Architecture

Budapest? More like buda-ful! (bad joke, I know!).

What I am trying to say is this place is insane. It’s so pretty, so clean and the architecture is on another level. Every other building looks like something from a fairytale.

Talking of fairy tales, Budapest has it’s very own castle (that you can visit for free by the way). Buda Castle sits on the top of the hill on the Buda side of the Széchenyi Chain Bridge and provides panoramic views of the whole city below – you have to check it out.

It also has one of the most beautiful Parliament buildings in the world. The Hungarian Parliament Building (pictured above), is a magnificent example of Neo-Gothic architecture, now over 100 years old.

#3 The City of Spas

Budapest is known for it’s thermal baths, though beyond the touristy Szechenyi bath there are in fact a load of these pools – some indoor, some outdoor, some hidden and some more obvious.

One of the most authentic is the Király Thermal Bath; nothing fancy, but a great way to experience the old-world charm of Europe’s unofficial city of spas.

Király is a small Turkish bathhouse, still standing largely in its original 1565 form. You’ll bathe in an octagonal pool, surrounded by weathered walls, and huge domed ceiling that makes you feel as though you’ve genuinely been transported to a medieval time.

It’s a great opportunity to enjoy a bathhouse experience without having to share the water with the tourists who head to Gellert and Széchenyi.

#4 Ruin Bars

When I say ruin bars, I am referring to the collection of reclaimed old buildings that have been turned into cool bars, filled with antique goods, street are and various other odd bits and bobs.

They are worth a visit if you want to feel like a local and grab a pint somewhere a little different plus, they’re such a laugh, drinks are cheap and the atmosphere is great!

Szimpla Kert (pictured above) is a popular choice, though one of the most unique ruin bars in Budapest is the Red Ruin bar; a communist themed pub that provides a tongue-in-cheek experience, poking fun at Hungary’s past.

Think walls covered in communism propaganda and cardboard cutouts of regime leaders, with puns and pop art graffiti. It’s all very sarcastic and kitsch. There’s always a really lively atmosphere, and cheap drinks.

Image: Jorge Franganillo / CC BY 2.0 / Flickr

#5 Unique Getaway

All in all, Budapest is a pretty unique city to visit. Unlike most European destinations, the best sights to visit are free.

It also has an incredible historic past (growing from two separate cities called Buda and Pest to how we know it today) and the hot springs turn the city into a spa lovers dream…I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t love it as much as I did.

So, if you love photography, love a bit of history and want something a little different out of your summer break, why not check out Budapest...before it grows even more in popularity.

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Holly is a 21 year old based in Bristol, UK. She wants to demonstrate to people that travelling is more accessible than you think, and that you don’t have to break the bank to treat yourself to a little weekend away.

You don’t need a huge budget in fact, you don’t need much at all – just a sense of adventure and the drive to just go for it! Find out more on her blog Channelsunshine.co.uk