Sunday Oct 18 Budapest

 

Itinerary

Oct 12 -13 Toronto - Copenhagen - Vienna

Oct 13 - Vienna

Oct 14 - Vienna

Oct 15 - Vienna

Oct 16 - Vienna to Budapest by train

Oct 17 - Budapest

Oct 18 - Budapest 

Sunday, October 18, 2026

Canceling our trip to Zagreb to spend more time in Budapest turned out to be the absolute best decision, giving us a perfectly relaxed day to enjoy the city without any rush.

Me, of little faith, double-checked that our extended hotel stay was correctly booked, being especially glad to be served by a woman! Yes, we needed new keys and a credit card for the extension.

Lobby

We started the morning lazily, filling up at the hotel buffet breakfast and resting in our room until 12:30 PM before finally catching a Bolt ride over to the Buda side. 

Looking left and right outside hotel.

Dropped off right at the historic castle gates, we were absolutely delighted as we wandered down the charming cobblestone streets toward the stunning Fisherman's Bastion. 
John had little to no remembrance of going there in 2012, so we looked at the photos.

Fisherman’s Bastion is arguably the most photogenic, blog-worthy viewpoint in Budapest, offering an unmatched panoramic look at the Danube River and the spectacular Hungarian Parliament. Located high up on the Buda Castle Hill, this stunning neo-Romanesque structure looks straight out of a Disney movie or a Hogwarts set, making it a non-negotiable stop for any travel blog or social feed.

If you want the dry historical details go over to our 2012 post, link above.

After pausing at the ticket machines to pay the small fee for entry to the upper turrets, we stepped onto the ramparts to explore the Neo-Romanesque lookout towers, which felt like stepping straight into a fairy tale. We just soaked in those elevated, panoramic views of the Danube and the grand Parliament building.

We made our way over to the grand Buda Castle Palace grounds. 

Perched grandly across the Danube River from the Parliament, Buda Palace (Buda Castle) is the striking historical anchor of Budapest’s skyline. Originally a 13th-century medieval fortress, it was transformed into a sweeping Baroque-Historicist royal palace under Habsburg rule. Today, this massive UNESCO World Heritage site doesn't just house world-class museums like the Hungarian National Gallery—it is also the stage for one of Europe’s most ambitious, dramatic, and highly debated architectural transformations.

Perched high on the hills of Castle District, Buda Castle holds some of the best architectural treasures in Budapest. Among its most striking features is the Habsburg Gate and the monumental Turul Bird Statue, which stand proudly overlooking the Danube River.

The bronze statue of the Turul Bird, sculpted by Gyula Donáth in 1903, this mythical creature is central to Hungarian history:

• A Symbol of Power: The Turul is a divine, falcon-like bird from ancient Magyar mythology, representing birth, destiny, and the nation's origins.

• Clutching the Sword: Look closely and you will see the majestic bird gripping the sword of Attila the Hun in its razor-sharp talons, spreading its wings as if ready to take flight over the city below.

This is the core of the Royal Palace complex, which houses the Hungarian National Gallery.

The central neo-Baroque dome sits atop Wing C. It was redesigned and rebuilt in its towering present form during the post-WWII reconstruction of the palace.

Standing at the palace edge, the sweeping view of Budapest completely took our breath away; we could trace the entire bend of the Danube River, gaze down at the iconic Chain Bridge, and spot the bustling streets of the Pest side stretching out as far as the eye could see. 

We capped off the perfect afternoon by sitting back with a cold beer on the Savoy Terrace, drinking in that incredible city skyline one last time.

Fountain of King Matthias (Mátyás kútja), a monumental Neo-Baroque bronze and stone fountain located in the western courtyard of Buda Castle in Budapest.

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Right behind the stately grand dome of the building—which houses the Hungarian National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum—we stumbled upon a fantastic surprise, The Royal Riding Hall & Guardhouse, located in the lower courts, these ornate buildings have been perfectly rebuilt. The Riding Hall features breathtaking stained glass and serves as a gorgeous modern event venue.

 A majestic pair of soldiers on horseback on full display against the backdrop of the palace's massive, weathered stone walls. 

We finally left the palace grounds and headed down for a late lunch at the vibrant Spíler Biergarten. 

Lunch. Most days in Budapest we had a late lunch/supper, lupper, eating around 4:30.

Pork knuckle with a good crackling!

Hungarian beef stew (marhapörkölt) served with egg dumplings (nokedli).

Back outside.

From there, we braved the endless, thigh-burning flight of Castle Hill stairs and made it to the Clark Ádám tér (Adam Clark Square), one of Budapest's most iconic and strategically central public squares, located on the Buda side of the Danube River in the Víziváros neighborhood. It serves as a major geographical, historical, and transit hub.

Named after the brilliant Scottish engineer Adam Clark, this bustling hub is the ultimate launching pad for some of Budapest’s greatest architectural wonders.

• The Széchenyi Chain Bridge: The square serves as the western gateway to Budapest’s oldest and most famous bridge. Walk across it from the Pest side, and you will land directly in Clark Ádám tér, greeted by its famous stone lions.

• The Buda Castle Tunnel (Alagút): Look west, and you will see a grand, classical archway tunneling straight through the mountain. Designed by Adam Clark himself, this 350-meter shortcut allowed 19th-century locals to walk right through Castle Hill instead of climbing over it.

• The Zero Kilometer Stone: Look closely near the funicular station for a sleek, 3-meter-high limestone sculpture shaped like the number "0". This is the exact geographical center of Hungary. Every single highway distance sign you see across the country is measured from this exact spot.

• The Buda Castle Funicular (Budavári Sikló): Want to get up to the Castle District without burning out your calves? The lower station of this historic, 1870-built cable railway sits right on the square. It offers a quick, scenic two-minute ride up the cliff face.

 Hotel Clark Budapest. Its curved facade matches the shape of the Clark Ádám tér roundabout, making it the only hotel with this exact, unbeatable front-row view.

Just in time to stroll across the iconic Széchenyi Chain Bridge, before sunset.

No river cruise ships on the Danube, the water is so low. There are a few dinner ships.

We hung around here for about 30 minutes waiting for a sunset...

Even though the sky didn't cooperate for a sunset, we happily wandered the streets in search of a sweet treat, ultimately returning to a familiar favorite from our first day, Anna Café / Bistro. We treated ourselves to traditional Hungarian golden dumplings (aranygaluska) smothered in rich vanilla sauce, and fully sated from a flawless day of exploring, we finally headed back and settled in for the evening.