There's more to Budapest than its famous Goulash!

A 3-night stay in Budapest gave me enough time to look at some well-known sights and find some lesser known ones. Around 40 minutes from the airport, this historical city is split by the mighty Danube into two sides ‘Buda’ and ‘Pest’ we stayed at the 3 Corners Art Hotel, a very central 3* on the Pest side and a perfect base to start exploring. Easy to navigate on foot but the hop-on-hop-off bus offered great value at around £20pp for 2 days travel as well as a short river cruise included.

There’s a huge Café culture present so be sure to stop off for a coffee and delicious cake. The streets come alive in the evening with restaurants catering for every taste and wallet. Do try a refreshing local beer or a chilled Hungarian wine.

You might be familiar with the spas and public baths, the fabulous architecture on every street, the many bridges crossing the river, the sight of the stunning Parliament Building set on the banks of the Danube but do you know about some of the other monuments there such as the Shoes on the Danube? These are my top 5 memories from my visit….

* Gellert Hill and Liberty Statue – A fabulous viewpoint to see the whole city * Shoes on the Danube - Bathed in sadness, a memorial to the many that were shot here by militia during WW2. * Central Market Hall - Budapest's largest indoor market, built in a neo-Gothic style. Dozens of stalls selling fresh produce, spices and sausages as well as household goods and trinkets. * House of Terror – Not for the faint-hearted, a museum containing exhibits related to the fascist and communist regimes in 20th-century Hungary. * Parliament Building – The seat of the National Assembly of Hungary. A magnificent piece of architecture.

Would I return? Yes, and I’d like to explore the ‘Buda’ side more next time.