Budapest Is the Bargain of a Lifetime

I have been to nearly every country in Europe with the exception of a handful, including Hungary. Last October, a friend posted a photo of her trip on Facebook to Hungary and I was inspired. The photos, though amateur, looked phenomenal.

My entry point to my 10-day Christmas Holiday trip was Munich, and from there, I rented an E-Class Mercedes and drove towards Budapest, stopping one night in Vienna where I went to one of the largest Christmas Markets in Europe, and then headed to the Ritz Carlton Budapest where a friend and I spent three days.

Budapest was everything I expected and more. My friend Mark and I began the adventure with an hourlong Danube River tour at night to view the beautiful landmark buildings and bridges all brilliantly lit up at night. You’ll see famous landmarks such as the Chain Bridge (which connects the eastern and western sides of the city), as well as Buda Castle. We also saw Budapest’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed urban panorama, including the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrássy Avenue.

What’s surprised me is the affordability of the trip. You can actually stay at five star hotels at a fraction of what they would cost in other European cities. What’s more, there are a variety of choices in dining options and they’re also reasonably priced. But that’s about to change in four years, so visit soon! Budapest bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics and Summer Paralympics were announced by the Hungarian Olympic Committee on 11 November 2013, although organizers had been planning a bid since 2008. Good luck to Budapest on its next bid!

Enjoy new highlights of travel photographer Edwin Santiago’s journeys each week.