HUNGARY
Photo location: Parliament Building, Budapest
Magyarország,
Currency: Hungarian Forint, Ft
Official Language: Hungarian
The Pearl of the Danube
Affectionately known as the "Pearl of the Danube."
The city, divided by the Danube River,
blends the quiet historic charm of Buda's rolling hills
with Pest's lively dining, shopping and entertainment options.
Evening Day 7, Sat
Arrival in Budapest for dinner
Helpful Phrases
Hello: Jó napot 🗣️ YO NAH‑pot Thank you: Köszönöm 🗣️KØ‑seh‑nœm Please: Kérem 🗣️ KEH‑rem Cheers: Egészségére 🗣️EH‑ge‑shay‑geh‑REH
Photo Mailbag
Our Evening Delivered in Pixels
Public transit lessons on the way to dinner.
Pest• Day 8
Itinerary for Sun., May 4 7:00 Breakfast in hotel 9:00 Pest walking tour with coffee break 12:30 Lunch on our own Free Afternoon Dinner on our own 8:40 River cruise on Danube Hotel: Mamaison Hotel Andrassy Our step count: 19,917
Helpful Phrases
Hello: Jó napot 🗣️ YO NAH‑pot Thank you: Köszönöm 🗣️KØ‑seh‑nœm Please: Kérem 🗣️ KEH‑rem Cheers: Egészségére 🗣️EH‑ge‑shay‑geh‑REH
Budapest
Home of the artistic antics of Mihály Kolodko
May 4— 🐇
Pest, through the rabbit's ear
Local guide Levente greeted us at our hotel in the diplomatic quarter and led a
leisurely stroll to Heroes’ Square—a grand a plaza dominated by the Millennium
Monument, dedicated to Hungary’s national heroes. From here, we hopped the
metro in unison to our stop just steps away from the majestic St. Stephen’s Basilica, named for Hungary’s first king. A café‑lined jaunt brought us to Liberty Square, framed by ornate architecture and monuments—we found statues of Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush there to commemorate their role in ending Soviet rule. Heading west to Kossuth Lajos Square—home to the spectacular Hungarian Parliament—we approached the banks of the Danube River, where panoramic views of the Buda Hills unfolded before us. We concluded the guided tour at the bustling Central Market, paused for lunch, before we retreated to the hotel.
From there we visited Vajdahunyad Castle in City Park, climbed the Apostles’ Tower via 150 steps, The reward? Sweeping panoramas—reminding us that a good view is always worth the climb. We reconvened for an evening river cruise with stunning views from the Danube—an unforgettable finale to our Budapest day.
Finding tiny surprises around every corner (thank you, Kolodko)—Mark and Becky
Photo Mailbag
Our Day Delivered in Pixels
Heros' Square—
a gathering of heroes (and tourists)
King Matthias Corvinus
(1443–1490)
was one of Hungary’s most renowned and enlightened rulers. Crowned at 15, he was known for his strong leadership, judicial reforms, and military prowess. A patron of the arts and humanism, Matthias established the Bibliotheca Corviniana, one of Europe’s finest Renaissance libraries outside Italy. His reign marked a golden age of culture and relative stability in Central Europe. Beloved by the people, he was nicknamed “Matthias the Just.”
New discovery: our son, who is also named Mathias, was unknowingly named
with a nod to his Hungarian ancestry.
St Stephen's Basilica
Liberty Square
Hungarian Parliament
Building—Who wouldn't want to run for office here?
The Danube
and Buda
Central Market—
A Feast for the Senses!
Apostles Tower—
Views Fit for an Apostle
Eye candy at
Vajdahunyad Castle
Going with the Flow—Danube River Cruise
Itinerary • Day 9
Itinerary for Mon., May 5 7:00 Breakfast in hotel 9:00 Castle Hill walking tour 12:30 Lunch on our own Free afternoon Hotel: Mamaison Hotel Andrassy Our step count: 16,081
Helpful Phrases
Hello: Jó napot 🗣️ YO NAH‑pot Thank you: Köszönöm 🗣️KØ‑seh‑nœm Please: Kérem 🗣️ KEH‑rem Cheers: Egészségére 🗣️EH‑ge‑shay‑geh‑REH
A Tale of Two Cities Joined by a Bridge—
Budapest!
May 5—Spicing things up in Hungary 👩🏼🍳
This morning, we hopped the metro, then transferred to the “Castle Bus”
for a scenic climb to the Castle District—tucked beneath Matthias Church
and Fisherman’s Bastion. Our guide, Levente, steered us through the
cobbled lanes of Buda Castle in a gentle rain. The moody weather lent a certain
charm to the cobblestone streets and historic architecture. After concluding our tour of Buda, we embarked on a lively bus ride back to Pest. If you know, you know! In other words, hold on tightly.
En route to a so-so Greek lunch, we paused to reflect at Dohány Street Synagogue, a survivor of WWII and a poignant memorial site. Its complex includes the Hungarian Jewish Museum, a Holocaust memorial, and the Tree of Life sculpture, commemorating the lives lost during World War II.
Next we recalled a charming strudel shop Levente walked us through earlier—Strudel House Budapest. Seeking shelter from the raindrops and a sweet treat, we stepped inside. Fresh strudel and hot tea on a chilly rainy day is always a good choice. As the rain cleared, we dried off and freshened up at the hotel before topping off the day with a light dinner.
With a sprinkle of paprika—Mark & Becky 🚍 😉
Photo Mailbag
Our Day Delivered in Pixels
That's a reflection of our wet merry band in the glass.
↓
Menorah design on the door.
Old bullet
holes in the wall
tell of history.
Fisherman's Bastion
Mihály Kolodko
is a Ukrainian‑Hungarian sculptor who has transformed Budapest’s streets into a whimsical treasure hunt since 2017. Trained in monumental sculpture, he veered into miniature guerrilla art—placing bronze figures no bigger than a fist in parks, squares, and bridges.
Each tiny piece tells a story, from beloved Hungarian cartoon characters like the worm Főkukac near Buda’s riverbank to satirical tanks, frogs, and pop‑culture icons tucked into unexpected corners . His work often pays tribute to national memory, using small scale to spark curiosity—like a tank with a drooped barrel near Parliament remembering the 1956 uprising.
Matthias Church—Over-the-top church of kings!
