Budapest Christmas Break

During the Christmas/New Year break we decided to take a short trip, and as Budapest has been on my wish list, flights were at a good price and the dates fitted in, we headed off for a 3 night holiday.

I wasn`t sure what the weather would be like so packed warm coats, rain coats, boots and an umbrella!. The weather didn`t disappoint and we were treated to clear blue skies with cold crisp days, fantastic for sightseeing. It was easy to navigate Budapest whether on foot, hop on hop off bus, tram or on a boat on the Danube River. We saw all the main sights: The Parliament Building, Chain Bridge, Heroes Square, Opera House, Buda Castle and St Stephens Basilica in the heart of the city, the architecture is amazing!

The hotel we stayed in was perfectly positioned right next to St Stephens Basilica and the Christmas Markets and there was a really good vibe in the area. There is a really good choice of well-priced accommodation in Budapest, and with a reasonable selection of low-cost flights from regional airports, it`s an ideal destination for a short break. Many of the river cruise operators start their sailings from Budapest, and I would recommend arriving early and taking a couple of nights in the city before embarking a river cruise if doing the Danube.

Hungary still has its own currency (but also uses the Euro), and we felt that the city was good value. The cost of eating out was good, and there was a vast choice of restaurants to suit all tastes and pockets. We ate in some super restaurants and the food we had was fantastic, ranging from rustic French/Hungarian cuisine - to more refined dining, which did not break the bank. The local Hungarian wine was also excellent, however, the Hungarian brandy nearly blew my cap off!!!

The Christmas Markets were still on offering a vast choice of Christmas gifts, local food (Goulash soup served in a bread bowl), and plenty of varieties of mulled wine. And there was a fantastic choice of shopping with many designer shops situated on the main Andrassy Ut, and Marks & Spencer`s, C & A, Zara, and other well know shops situated in the main shopping area, again with a plentiful supply of cafes & restaurants.

Budapest is a great destination for a short break whether in the summer or winter and is a great alternative to other European cities and we would definitely go back! If you’d like more information about Budapest or other European City Breaks, get in touch with me and I’d be happy to help you.