WHAT EVENTS ARE HAPPENING IN THE CITY DURING THE WEDDING WEEKEND?

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August 20th in Hungary is a major public holiday called St. Stephen's Day, celebrating the foundation of the Hungarian state over 1,000 years ago and its first Christian king, St. Stephen I. 

Various events are held during the day and at night there is a spectacular fireworks and drone show over the Danube river that we hope you can all enjoy after the welcome drinks! The fireworks show usually starts around 9 pm. 

 

What are some must-see attractions in Budapest?

 

Budapest offers a perfect mix of history, architecture and relaxation and we’re excited for our guests to explore the city. Some of our favourite activities to do include:

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- Walking across the Széchenyi Chain Bridge from Pest to Buda and up to Buda castle to explore the grounds and surrounding areas, where you’ll also find Matthias Church and the Fishermen’s Bastion. There are lots of cafes and restaurants along the cobblestone streets of the old town to stop and have a bite to eat or grab a drink.

 

- Visiting the parliament building, one of Budapest’s most famous landmarks. We suggest taking a walk down by the Danube to get there.

 

- Taking a walk down Andrássy Avenue to Heroes’ Square and City Park (including the famous Széchenyi baths). This one of Budapest’s most scenic streets with beautiful architecture and greenery. You’ll also find numerous luxury shops and landmarks along the way such as the Opera House. If you’re not keen on the walk, Budapest's oldest metro line, the M1, runs underneath the street, which opened on May 2, 1896, making it the first underground electric railway on continental Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

 

- Take a ride up to Gellért hill (or walk/hike if you’re feeling extra ambitious) for a stunning view of the city. It is especially lovely around sunset time. 

 

- Finding an outdoor patio near St Stephen’s Basilica in an alley away from the crowds to enjoy the local cuisine and a refreshing local beer. 

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For those wanting to learn about the history of the city and Hungary in general we’d suggest doing a guided walking tour one day. This will also help you get oriented with the city and find areas that you may want to go back to later for a further look. 

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Do you have restaurant or café recommendations?

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From cozy, family-run eateries serving traditional Hungarian comfort food to world-class Michelin-starred restaurants, the options are endless! Given the busy holiday weekend, as noted above, we recommend that you book any dinner reservations well in advance. 

 

Must try Hungarian dishes:

• Gulyas soup (the real deal, not the goulash stew you might have had before)

• Chicken (or mushroom) paprikash

• Stuffed cabbage rolls

• Pork Schnitzel

• Lecso- Hungarian tomato and pepper stew usually with sausage and bacon

• Roast duck with a side of braised red cabbage

 

Must try Hungarian desserts: 

• Dobos cake- iconic cake from 1884 with layers of sponge cake, chocolate buttercream, and a caramel glaze.

• Hungarian Strudel (Rétes)- flaky dough with various fillings like apple, cherry, poppy seed, or sweet cottage cheese.

• Krémes- puff pastry with a thick vanilla custard filling.

• Cottage cheese dumplings – “Túrógombóc”

 

Pastry Shops and Cafes (“Cukrászda”) can be found all over the city, stop by for a coffee and a sweet treat. 

We also recommend visiting the Central Market Hall which is one of the largest indoor markets in Budapest selling fresh produce, meats, spices etc (get your paprika here!). On the upper floors there are numerous food stalls and eateries as well. 

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Is it safe to explore the city on my own?

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Yes, Budapest is safe, but please exercise similar caution as you would in any other large European city.

 

What currency is used in Hungary and can I use credit cards?

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Hungary’s currency is the Forint, most places take credit cards but it is a good idea to take a bit of cash out from an ATM for markets, taxis, buses etc. (rough conversion: 1 USD = 300 Forint)