BUDAPEST, HUNGARORING

The country known for its good food, spirited music, healing baths, quality wine and rich history. In addition, it is another country neighboring with Slovakia, so accessibility by car is seamless. We are heading to our southern neighbors in Hungary…

After a few hours spent in the car, we enter the capital – Budapest. We are in a bit of a hurry, so as usual, we go straight to the city center to get a good look at the capital of Hungary. Our first stop is of course the Hungarian Parliament Building, which is one of the best you can see here. The majestic building with a height of up to 96 m is situated on the banks of the Danube and is built in the neo-Gothic and Renaissance style. Inside there are 691 rooms, of which there are about 200 offices for members of parliament and there are also crown jewels stored inside. This building is a MUST-SEE for every visitor.

Our next stop is then the Szechenyi Chain Bridge, which runs over the Danube and connects Buda with Pest. One of the most beautiful bridges in the city will take you from the parliament building to the other side, which is worth a visit.

Right on the other side of the bridge, you can either ascend by cable car or on foot to the Buda Castle, which was once called a royal palace and is registered with UNESCO. The Baroque castle was once the seat of many Hungarian kings, and now houses the Hungarian Historical Museum and the Hungarian National Gallery. Of course, you can’t miss the amazing view of the city from there.

The next day we start our tour where we left off yesterday, on castle hill. This hill is also interesting for the fact that there are various caves and even an underground labyrinth. Along the statue of St. Stephen – the founder of Hungary, we move to another landmark, which is Fisherman’s Bastion. It is a terraced building from the 19th century, near which is a church that once served for the coronation of kings. A very popular place for locals and tourists with many monuments, shops, and restaurants.

Our next stop is Gellert Mountain with its famous Citadel. It’s a bit further from where we are, but the view of the city is worth it. The citadel is a defensive fortress from the 19th century, which now houses a military museum. Right next to the viewing platform stands a statue of the goddess Nike as a symbol of the liberation of the country. We recommend coming here, especially in the evening when the city is nicely lit.

One of our last stops in Budapest was a visit to Vajdahunyad Castle. This castle grew up in the city center in a park by a small lake, where you can also go for a boat ride. It was built for the thousandth anniversary of the founding of Hungary, and currently, there is an exhibition of agriculture and a few other smaller museums. In winter, Christmas markets are held here.

From here, we move on to probably the biggest sporting event in the country – the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary on the Hungaroring circuit. The racing circuit is located just off the highway and is about half an hour away by car from Budapest.

We arrived on Sunday early in the morning to catch good spots right next to the track. Before lunch, the area was half full, and just before the start, the place was already fully loaded. The area has a capacity of up to 70,000 spectators and that is a decent number. The circuit has a length of 4,381 km.

The Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup cars started the race first, and it was also an experience to watch the modified 911s as they race along this circuit.

Then came the highlight of the day – the start of F1 and it was worth the waiting. The rev of the engines, the speed, the overtaking maneuvers, and the commitment of the racers were enormous. There was even a safety car on the track, so every motoring fan must have been satisfied. In Friday’s and Saturday’s qualifiers, Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes dominated, but with a broken start, he gradually fell lower into the starting field.

After a great start and also good cooperation with his teammate Kimi Raikkonen, the winner was Sebastian Vettel from Ferrari in front of Daniil Kvyat and Daniel Ricciardo (both from Red Bull). I think he won deservedly because he managed to resist the attacks of both MacLarenes and also the Red Bulls.

I always wanted to see Formula 1 live, so for me, it was basically another fulfilled sports experience and I really enjoyed it. Beautiful circuit, exciting race, good weather, even better host. What more can I ask for…

We couldn’t squeeze more into our trip to Hungary. In any case, we can say that Budapest is a beautiful European city with many cultural and architectural monuments, amazing parks, romantic places, hidden streets, charming houses, cozy shops, and delicious restaurants. It is a city that offers a lot to see and can fill every single visitor with delight.

Tip 1: From the Parliament building, go for a walk along the Danube and then across the Seczenyi Bridge to the other side of town.

Tip 2: A boat trip on the Danube is a great experience where you will see all the famous landmarks of Budapest on both banks of the Danube.

Tip 3: If you have more time after visiting Vajdahunyad Castle, take a boat ride on a nearby lake right next to the castle.

Total costs:  Flight:  £120.00 

(Prices as of July 2015)

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