Nathan's Insights

Friday 19 April 2024
Highlights: Exploring Buda Castle, admiring Matthias Church, enjoying the stunning views of Fisherman’s Bastion, walking over Chain Bridge, examining the stalls at Budapest Central Market, marvelling at St Stephen’s Basilica, having a lovely dinner cruise on Danube River.

A massive day exploring Budapest, in particular the Buda part of the city was ahead of Darby and me on this ‘free’ day to explore.

We started by taking the underground train to the Buda side of the Danube River and then walked around the embankment enjoying the view of the Pest side of the city.

We then purchased return ticket on funicular up to Buda Castle which cost 4,000 Forint or about $17 AUD. This is a nice but short ride that provide some good views. Easier than hiking up!

Buda Castle was extremely impressive. It was the site for Hungarian Kings in Budapest from 1265. The current building structure however mostly was built between 1749 and 1769. This was due to the Ottoman rule from 1500s to 1700s allowing the structure to decay and it being destroyed during many sieges from Europe powers trying to expel the Ottomans.

We than walked over to Mattias Church with is beautiful spiral and external walls.

Right next to the Church was the Fisherman’s Bastion. The Bastion provides unique panorama of Budapest from the Neo-Romanesque lookout terraces. The Fishermen’s Bastion facade, is approximately 140 meters long.

Its seven high-pitched stone towers symbolize the seven chieftains of the Hungarians who founded Hungary in 895.

After a break at an outdoor Cafe we headed back to the funicular and our journey to ground level on the banks of the Danube River. From here we walked across the Chain Bridge which offered great views of both sides of Budapest.

Next up was a visit to the Budapest Central Market which has hundreds of vendors selling a wide range of items and food stalls. The market was packed with customers an tourists in this historical market which was open in 1897.

Our last stop for the day was a visit to the inside of the St Stephen’s Basilica. Like most massive European Catholic Churches the inside was built to inspire the faithful with lots of gold colours and decorations.

In the evening the entire group had opted to take a Dinner Cruise on the Danube River (cost 60 euros). This was a farewell event for those just on the Eastern Europe leg of this trip.

Cruising on the Danube River at night provides for some stunning views of the historical sites on both sides of the river. This was an excellent way to farewell some of the group and our Chief Experience Officer Christin. Good food and drinks and stunning views.