By Ty Malcolm
With its central location in Europe, the city of Vienna serves as a gateway to Eastern Europe, a region which is becoming more and more popular for tourists on holiday. Countries like Slovakia, Croatia, and Hungary are all within easy reach from Vienna, and they offer beautiful views for lower prices than Western Europe. My friends and I signed up for the EBN trip to Budapest, in order to experience more of the East for ourselves!
Budapest is the capital of Hungary, the other half of the (late) great Austro-Hungarian Empire. Hungary has always had a sort of "little brother" complex with Austria - their architects were under orders of the emperors to keep the palaces and churches of Budapest a bit shorter than their great counterparts in Vienna.The Hungarians had trouble attracting the attention of their emperors for more than a few months at a time. Some emperors visited Budapest only a few times in their lifelong reign, and often only to have a quiet affair with a Hungarian noble or for a short hunting trip in the surrounding countryside. But after the fall of the empire, Hungary was free to build what they wanted, and they wasted no time:
This is the Hungarian Parliament building, a building that has survived two world wars and the following occupation by the Soviets - who Hungarians like to call their "50-year visitors."
Some other places to go:
Liberté Budapest Grand Café - this cafe is the perfect mix of old and new. The food is top-quality, and the coffee is made in a machine that would rival those of the largest coffeehouses in Vienna. The wait-staff is very polite and helpful. The warm atmosphere is made even better by violin or saxophone players in the corner - if you're any good with the classics, request a song! Whether you start or end your day here, it is definitely worth a visit!
Széchenyi Thermal Baths - This is the largest spa in Budapest, and it has several pools at different temperatures. Whether you want to hang out with friends in a hot tub, swim laps in the long pool, or sweat it out in a sauna - this spa has everything to offer. It doesn't matter the weather outside - the baths are always warm! For when you need a break from the water, they offer massages, yoga classes, and various restaurants. Make sure to jump in the ice bath after the sauna - you won't regret it!
Restaurant Ape Regina - This Italian restaurant is all-you-can-eat, all-you-can-drink! Pasta, pizza, salad, seafood, beef - it's all there! The desserts are also all-you-can-eat, coming in waves of small plates and glass goblets. It was great for us to get to know the other students on the trip, and we stayed at this restaurant much longer than planned!
This is just a quick overview of Budapest! Dive in and experience some of the castles and museums for yourself - it really is a beautiful place!