While we were waiting for our summer holidays we decided to spend a week-end in Budapest. We booked a very cheap flight with the company WizzAir and we chose Hotel The President which is located in Pest. There is a very useful and not expensive shuttle service offered by the company Shuttle Budapest (20 euro) to get to the center from the airport. In alternative there are also the bus and the train service. The town is composed by two urban areas: Buda and Pest, divided by the river Danubio and joined at the Chain Bridge.

There are many view-points in Budapest from where it’s possible to enjoy the wonderful panorama. Along the banks of the Danubio, from the side of Pest, you can enjoy the view of the Chain Bridge, the Royal Palace, Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church. We started our visit with the Parliament, in Pest, in front of the river. Not far from it there are the famous 60 shoes in memory of the Holocaust.

Once you get across the bridge you’ll find in front of you a funicular that goes straight to the Royal Palace. In alternative it’s possible to reach the Palace on foot entering in the gardens of the Castle (on the left at the end of the bridge) and following the path. Halfway there is a sliding scale to reach the top where you’ll find very nice streets with colored  and typical houses.

The most suggestive attractions of Buda are the Fisherman’s Bastion and               Matthias’ Church.

Back to Pest we visited the center and in particular Vaci Utca, the Synagogue and             S. Stephan Church.

Whether you are a beer lover or not, you can’t miss a visit to a Ruin Pub. There are many of them in the Jewish quarter and the most famous in Szimpla Kert. Ruin pub were born  by chance about ten years ago following the occupation of dismissed locals by the young generation. Ruin pub are furnished and decorated with no matter what. They sell local beers and they absolutely are worth a visit.

Budapest is a very nice city, perfect for a week-end out. Two days are enough to visit the main attractions, drinking a couple of beers in a ruin pub and enjoying a goulash in a typical restaurant.

Stay tuned…the best is yet to come!