We were in Budapest in 2012 for another river cruise so we are skipping the touristy things we did on that trip.
The day began with a final breakfast in Vienna before packing our bags and checking out of our railway base. By 01:00 PM, we completed the effortless short walk from our hotel lobby straight onto the platforms of Vienna Central Station (Wien Hauptbahnhof).
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We boarded our pre-booked high-speed ÖBB Railjet train, slipping into our First-Class carriage seats just as the doors slid shut. Definitely not first class!! Not even a water service!
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We had the carriage to ourselves at first, other than the HUGE suitcases from the berth in front of us, with Dubai tags, he huffed and puffed putting them up there as the conductor insisted.
One stop and a guy got on. another stop and two women. Then the next stop, where Dubai guy tried to con a guy, with an assigned seat, from sitting, but he was having none of that. Another woman joined us. The heat was unbearable, it was hot!
By 03:45 PM, our train glided beneath the massive, historic iron-and-glass roof of Budapest-Keleti station. Stepping onto the platform, we grabbed a cab, no credit cards but he would take euros ($25) to hotel. Within minutes, our driver navigated the inner-city traffic to drop us off at our home base for the next two nights: the Hilton Garden Inn Budapest City Centre.
Check in was amazing, with Ruth.
In an effort to reduce plastic the Hilton has a water dispenser on each floor (water bottle in room), with still and sparkling water.
After dropping our luggage and checking into our room at 04:30 PM, we blinked and immediately headed out to catch the autumn golden hour light.
Stepping out of our hotel and turning left, we can see St.Stephen's! Brought us into the grand neoclassical plaza surrounding St. Stephen's Basilica, where locals and travellers alike were spilling across the lively cobblestone square. We finally grabbed lunch.
The lights were just coming on! Looking towards Buda.
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The Four Seasons Hotel.
Continuing our walk 15 minutes northwest toward the banks of the Danube River, we arrived at the water's edge to witness one of Europe’s most moving monuments: The Shoes on the Danube Bank.
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e stood in quiet reflection before the 60 pairs of rusted, period-correct iron shoes sculpted directly into the concrete bank. The memorial honors the thousands of Hungarian Jews who were ordered to strip down on the river's edge before being tragically shot into the freezing river by fascist Arrow Cross militiamen during the winter of 1944–1945. Looking down at the iron laces and tiny children’s boots while the sun set directly behind the silhouette of Buda Castle across the river was a moment we won't soon forget.
We stood in quiet reflection before the 60 pairs of rusted, period-correct iron shoes sculpted directly into the concrete bank. The memorial honors the thousands of Hungarian Jews who were ordered to strip down on the river's edge before being tragically shot into the freezing river by fascist Arrow Cross militiamen during the winter of 1944–1945. Looking down at the iron laces and tiny children’s boots while the sun set directly behind the silhouette of Buda Castle across the river was a moment we won't soon forget.
The Hungarian Parliament Building (Országház) is the majestic seat of the National Assembly of Hungary, standing proudly as the country's largest building and a world-famous architectural icon. Resting directly on the Pest banks of the Danube River, this breathtaking landmark is widely considered one of the top tourist destinations in Europe and is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Hungarian Parliament Building stood as a breathtaking titan on the Pest banks of the Danube River, its massive Neo-Gothic silhouette instantly stealing the spotlight of the Budapest skyline. Modeled loosely after London’s Westminster but infused with grand Baroque symmetry and a Renaissance dome, the sheer scale of the palace felt almost mythic. Walking up to the façade, it was impossible not to stare at the dizzying forest of 88 turrets and 242 stone statues of historic rulers staring back down at the square. Inside, the opulence only magnified, boasting nearly 700 rooms laced with a staggering 40 kilograms of 23-carat gold leaf and a grand central dome rising exactly 96 meters high to honor the nation's 9th-century roots. Stepping into the Dome Hall, where guards stood in silent vigil over the ancient Holy Crown of Hungary, the weight of centuries of history felt completely tangible—making it far more than just a seat of government, but a golden monument to the soul of the country itself.
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On our way back.
