The beauty of Budapest

Saskia Robbins

If you ask me, no interrailing trip would be complete without at least a few days in Hungary's capital. What with its vibrant bars, serene outdoor spaces and fascinating cultural richness, Budapest truly is a one-stop-shop for a fab little city break. One immense draw of Budapest it that it's the perfect place to party on a budget. Stepping into Szimpla Kert - the city's oldest and most famous ruin bar - feels a bit like your eccentric great aunt Greta has converted her living room into a nightclub. The interior is something of a labyrinth decorated with random sculptures, plants aplenty, and enough fairy lights to dress the Times Square Christmas tree. It's hoarding at its finest which, combined with the cheap drinks, friendly company, and pumping music, makes for a pretty phenomenal night.

the other side of vacation are big budgets, a lot of planning and waiting for flights, and sometimes weather differences and language barriers too. Whereas, staycation is a comparatively cheaper and easy-to-go and 'get it done' idea. It saves you from hassle of pet care as your love-bundle can join you if you are not going far from your home. You can feel amused to roam in those cities and towns that are not projected and presented in limelight media. A romantic country side (and there are many in the UK!) with its sweeping views can be as peaceful as a 2000 km away forest in another continent. Local museums, art galleries and even community centers can break the ice of your routine life and can cultivate cultural and scholastic sense of learning. Staycation can be as fun filled as you want and can be less frenzied in comparison of a vacation. But both have their bright sunny sides. It is up to you where do you like to sun bathe! for this brilliant city, but for the sake of concision, I'll leave you with one final piece of advice: If you're wondering where to jet off to for your next trip, make it Budapest.

For the more sedate traveller, a quintessential attraction of Budapest are the thermal baths. By far the most well-known of these is Szechenyi, a huge indoor and outdoor complex boasting 18 pools, as well as saunas and steam rooms. However, due to its grandeur, Szechenyi isn't quite the experience it used to be. So, if you want to avoid massive crowds, expensive entry fees and the very likely probability of bathing in kids' pee, I'd recommend heading just slightly off the beaten track to the Király Baths. This modest but beautiful structure is home to the city's most peaceful pools, with the added bonus of much cheaper tickets due to their 3-hour stay options.

Returning to the city centre, it may be time for some cultural enrichment. As well as plenty of art galleries and museums, Budapest is of course home to the country's parliament, a magnificent looking building but probably not one worth venturing into if you're short on time. What I would absolutely recommend however is taking a few hours out to visit the House of Terror. As the name suggests, this one isn't exactly a cheery experience. What it does offer though is a brutally honest depiction of the ordeals faced by victims of Hungary's communist and fascist 20th century regimes. Devastating at times but fascinating throughout, this eerie experience is well worth a visit.