Just Back From: Budapest, Hungary

For this Just Back From, I spoke with a guest who recently traveled to Budapest. Although she’s been to Europe several times before, this was her first visit to Hungary, and she fell in love with the city’s historic charm as well as its ‘relaxation’ scene. 

On arrival: 

I arrived in Budapest from Istanbul. The airport is relatively small and has a regional American airport vibe, but it’s well-organized and easy to navigate. You even have to send your bag through a security gate before you enter the terminal, which is unique. I took an Uber from the airport to the hotel, and it was very convenient—Uber works smoothly in Budapest. The ride took about half an hour at most.

On the hotel:

I stayed at the Four Seasons, which was stunning. The lobby was opulent, with tall ceilings and a heavy Art Deco influence. It felt high-end, luxurious, and polished. It wasn’t very crowded during my stay, though I did spot John Cena there—Budapest is a popular movie filming location. The hotel has huge iron gates called the "peacock gates," marble floors, plush couches, and an atrium with ceiling-to-floor windows. The lobby area is perfect for hanging out, and there are several restaurants and bars.

On the room: 

I had a one-bedroom suite with an incredible view of the Danube, overlooking the Buda side. The room was stunning—massive with high ceilings. The storage space was impressive, with one of the largest closets I’ve seen in a hotel room: an entire wall of closets and twenty hangers. It was functional but still beautifully designed. The carpet was soft, and everything about the room was luxurious and polished, from the wood doors to the spacious bathroom with a great tub and fantastic water pressure. Budapest is known for its springs, public baths, and its exceptional water quality. Every morning, I ordered breakfast to the room, which was part of the package I booked with Indagare. It was consistently good. A small touch I really appreciated was the razor in the room—it had a wooden handle, which was a classy and thoughtful detail.

On the amenities:

The Four Seasons offers a massive gym, pool, and spa that occupies an entire upper floor. It’s a quiet, relaxing space, and I had an excellent Swedish massage there.

On the service: 

The service at the hotel was also top-notch. Everyone was friendly, and I found that most people spoke English, which made everything easier.

On the city: 

Budapest felt like a fairytale, with a real charm to the historic quarters and buildings. It’s a clean, beautiful, and quiet city with a safe, spacious feel. It never felt crowded, and the vibe was very local, with an Eastern European atmosphere. It reminded me of a smaller version of Vienna, but not as internationalized—more authentic.

On restaurants:

I had tried some local cuisine, including a Hungarian goulash at Arany Hordo. The restaurant itself was warm and authentic, and the food was delicious. 

I also dined at Essencia, a cool sushi restaurant owned by a Hungarian man and his Portuguese wife. They fuse Hungarian and Portuguese cuisine, and it was an excellent experience with fantastic food, a great vibe, and friendly service. The clientele was upscale and quiet, and the staff spoke excellent English.

On activities: 

One of the highlights of my trip was visiting St. Stephen’s Basilica. It’s an opulent church that wasn’t completed until the 1900s, and you can really feel the wealth that flowed into Hungary during the 1800s. The Christmas decorations were still up during my visit, which added to the beauty. The Chain Bridge was another must-see, as well as the Castle District and Matthias Church. Fisherman’s Bastion was also stunning, especially at night when the lights illuminated the area. The atmosphere was lively, but overall the neighborhood was very quiet. It didn’t feel overcrowded with tourists.

I also found the shopping scene cute, with some great local stores offering Hungarian embroidery and wine bibs. It’s a perfect place to pick up souvenirs.

On overall impressions: 

Budapest has a lot of energy but is still very relaxing. You can explore the main hot spots in two days, or if you’re really into history, you could spend up to three or days just touring around. I loved that it offered the best of both worlds; there are plenty of opportunities to relax and fascinating historical sites to explore. 

Mindy’s Note: If you’re interested in doing a Jewish history tour, Katalin Czeller came highly recommended to me as a guide!