Budapest

We visited Budapest, Hungary in 2008 and 2012. The most noticeable change was that St Matthias Church on Castle Hill was in the process of outer restoration in 2008, but it had been completed by 2012. Our most recent visit included Castle Hill with National Archives at the north end, the St Matthias Church and Fisherman’s Bastion in the center, the Royal Palace at the south end and lots of interesting shops and restaurants between. We were fortunate that during our visit the Palinka festival was going on in the Royal Palace (Palinka is an acquired taste). Among the major sites we also visited were the Parliament Building, Hero’s Square, St Stephen’s Church, and Great Synagogue. But there a lot of other smaller sights as well, the Great Market (which is also a great place to have lunch), bronze statue of Ronald Reagan walking toward the Soviet Monument in Freedom Square, the Opera House, and the Szechenyi Baths (which are coed). Check out my picture for a better idea of what you would see.