The grand Budapest

From delicious food to gorgeous sights, the Hungarian capital has a unique charm

Some things seem deceptively simple till you get down to executing them. One such thing is planning a family vacation which is feasible for everyone. It entails coordinating leave dates from work, deciding on a location, logistics, and making the trip easy and enjoyable for everyone. After months of planning, it was suddenly time for my family of six to get on a flight and make our way to the beautiful city of Budapest.

Budapest came into being when the cities of ‘Buda’ and ‘Pest,’ lying on either side of the Danube, were united. The word Buda was Attila the Hun’s brother’s name and Pest simply means ‘oven’. Now the two cities have become one vibrant city connected by seven breathtaking bridges. Fascinating, right?

Upon landing, we immediately felt like Budapest had a unique vibe. I have visited many European cities in the past, but this particular one seemed to have a different soul.

The delicious scent of freshly-baked bread will pull you to these cakes, casting worries of weight-gain to the cinnamon-scented wind.PHOTO CREDIT: SARAH KHAN

So, we jumped into a cab which was actually a mini-van, considering we needed a six-seater with enough space for six suitcases! The drive was peaceful, with trees whizzing by, the air a crisp eight degrees Celsius and us brewing with excitement at the thought of exploring a city we had heard very little about. It was also the first time I had ventured forth with very little research. Usually, I have an Excel sheet and a day-to-day itinerary every time I travel.

Within half-an-hour, we had reached our destination, Kiraly, a central, artsy part of town flanked with cafés, a giant Ferris wheel, and markets selling local goods. The streets were cobbled, the stores were a cozy size with unique offerings, and there were vintage shops around every corner. With the aroma of coffee wafting through the air, we made our way to our fantastic apartment. At a surprisingly affordable price, it allowed us all to share a space but enjoy some quality time with our own selves too.

Budapest has a lot to offer to anyone who is looking for good food, excellent local wine, live music, and maybe even a casino. Some of their must-try dishes are Chicken Paprikash, Goulash, Langos or bread with cheese, sour cream and onions, and strudels. A delicious street treat is the chimney cake or funnel cake. Baked on a skewer, you can enjoy this cake with chocolate or cinnamon flavouring. The delicious scent of freshly-baked bread will pull you to these cakes, casting worries of weight-gain to the cinnamon-scented wind.

The streets are lined with bakeries, their shelves adorned with baked pastries full of meat or cheese. They’re decadent, yet, irresistible and you won’t want to share.

Kiraly itself has a lot to offer apart from the food. You can explore the Jewish quarter, venture into the church, or stroll along the ornate streets. You can shop at Andrassy Ave, the high-end designer street, which includes a  variety of stores, such as Gucci. St Stephen’s Basilica is also a few metres away, and absolutely beautiful to explore. Everything is within walking distance. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can hop onto the Ferris wheel, which is something my family was keen on doing while I chose to sit it out and munch on some more funnel cake.

A place worth seeing is the Buda Castle. Just walk cross the chain bridge onto the Buda side and take the teleferik (cable car) up to the breathtaking palace. There’s also a beautiful museum up there, showcasing some contemporary art, as well as the Hungarian greats. You can enjoy the beautiful chilly breeze and wondrous panoramic views from this vantage point. If you visit Budapest, you should take night walks along the Danube, stroll in the beautiful Margarita Park, or roll around on the three-person pedal bikes that are available. It can get a little eerie after sunset, but the beauty and the weather make it all worth it.

Shopkeepers at Vaci Utca refused to haggle, getting annoyed at our audacity to ask for even a five percent discount. SHUTTERSTOCK/PHOTO.UA

You should definitely visit Vaci Utca, but beware of buying anything. The prices there are much higher and the same souvenirs can be found elsewhere, for much cheaper. This was also true for the food there which was average and overpriced. We also visited the Bazaar, which was overflowing with paprika and sausages but unlike bazaars all over the world, shopkeepers refused to haggle, getting annoyed at our audacity to ask for even a five per cent discount. Salesmen even waved us off telling us to go haggle in a bazaar in Istanbul instead. Quite disappointing and a bit embarrassing!One of our major regrets was taking a night-time tour cruise. The fog was too dense and the tour guide was quite uninterested. It wasn’t a good use of our limited time, so I wouldn’t recommend it. But we were happy knowing we had floated over a tiny part of the great Danube.

Aside from the tough bazaar sellers, the people of Budapest are lovely. They will guide you, struggle to speak in English just to help, and go out of their way to make you feel comfortable and welcome. They will genuinely make your trip worth remembering.

Sarah Khan is a writer and blogger. She tweets @sufipanda

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, November 15^th, 2015.