Budapest has a way of catching you off guard. Around every corner there’s something worth stopping for — whether it’s the light hitting the Danube at golden hour, the faded grandeur of a ruin bar, or a thermal bath steaming in the cold morning air.
I visited in February and got lucky — locals told me they hadn’t seen proper snow in years. The city blanketed in white felt like something out of a postcard.
Here are some of my favourite shots from the trip.
Hungarian Parliament Building with snow (shot from Pest)
Hungarian Parliament Building from the top of the hill (shot from Buda)
Zoomed view of the Hungarian Parliament Building from the top of the hill (shot from Buda)
Chain Bridge over the Danube (shot from Buda)
St. Stephen's Basilica in Budapest (shot from Pest)
Inside the Hungarian Parliament Building (shot from Pest)
Hungarian Parliament Building with snow (shot from Pest)
Italian Pizza in Pest
The Parliament building alone is worth the trip — especially because we saw it under the snow. But what surprised me most was the contrast between Buda and Pest. Cross the Chain Bridge and it feels like a different city entirely.
If you ever get the chance to visit, don’t skip the thermal baths. Sitting in warm water outdoors while it’s freezing outside is an experience hard to beat.
The food was another highlight. The quality of ingredients was great — you can taste the difference in something as simple as bread or fresh vegetables and fruits.
The coffee, tea, and cake culture is outstanding. It genuinely reminded me of my Italian one — that same ritual of sitting down, taking your time, savoring every bite. Surprisingly, I also had one of the best pizzas ever right in Pest. Who knew?
As always, I did a free walking tour — it’s my favourite way to discover cities. You get the stories, the local perspective, and a feel for the place that guidebooks just can’t capture.
Budapest is clearly pushing forward into modern times — brand-new cafés, sleek buildings, contactless payment in the metro — but it hasn’t lost its soul in the process. The city feels quiet, unhurried. The locals are warm and welcoming.
And if you pay attention, you can still see traces of the communist era in the architecture, in the way certain neighborhoods are laid out, in the subtle details most tourists walk right past.
A few practical notes: coming from the UK, the currency exchange worked in my favor, but don’t expect rock-bottom prices like people claim it used to be decades ago. Budapest has caught up. Watch out for tourist traps that overcharge and dodgy ATMs — stick to bank ATMs if you can.
Locals prefer cash, so it’s worth carrying some forints around.
I didn’t take as many photos as I could have. I’ve learned that sometimes the best moments are the ones you don’t try to capture — just the ones you let yourself be in.