I today's article, I will answer the top 5 questions I kept getting asked about Budapest, Hungary from people that wanted to learn a bit more about the city. So let's get into it.

Question #1:

Where is Budapest located?

The Schengen country of Hungary lies in Europe's center and borders Romania, Serbia, and Austria. Budapest, Hungary's capital city, lies on the northern side of the country and places it close to Slovakia's capital Bratislava and Austria's capital Vienna.

I spent 30 days in Vienna, 30 days in Budapest, and seven days in Bratislava. Without getting into too much detail, If I had to rank those three cities, I would place Vienna first, Budapest, a very, very close second. And Bratislava in third. When it comes to Bratislava, it might hold the third spot on my list. Still, it has a feel, energy, and overall vibe that Vienna or Budapest do not, so Bratislava definitely brings something interesting to the table.

I want to close this question with this: based on Budapest's prime location, it is relatively easy and recommended to visit all three cities when you are there. So that in itself is a win for visiting Budapest.

Question #2:

How Did Budapest Get Its Name?

One of the city's highlights is the river Danube, and for a good reason, it's beautiful. At one point in history, the western bank was called Buda, and the eastern, Pest. In 1873, they unified (along with Obuda) to become a single city known as Budapest.

If I had to pick one favorite attraction on both sides of the river, it would be Fisherman's Bastion on the western side and the Parliament building on the eastern side. Ultimately, the city layout makes it one of the best walking cities that I have visited.

Question #3:

Where To Stay?

My perspective on where to stay in a city has been the following: stay somewhere away from tourist attractions. When it comes to Budapest, however, that notion changes a little bit. As I mentioned, Budapest is a walking city, and the main attractions are near the Danube river. So that means you will be doing a lot of walking within that area alone, from the Buda castle to St. Stephens Basilica and everything in between. And with that comes long expenditures of time. So having to walk or take public transportation from your apartment in the middle of the city to the Danube river every day to explore may not sound like a big deal, but after a while, the process of having to do that back and forth becomes quite taxing. So, I recommend staying as close to the Danube as possible on the eastern side of it.

Danube River From The Széchenyi Chain Bridge

Question #4:

How Many Days Should I Stay In Budapest?

What I'm about to recommend may not work for everyone. But, for somebody that likes to walk like crazy and take photos and video of everything, I recommend three days at the minimum. Again, you will be spending the majority of your time by the river, so I believe three days gives you plenty of time to explore the attractions on the Western side, such as Fishermans Bastion and Buda Castle on the first day, walk up and down the Danube and visit places like St. Stephens Basilica and the Parliament Building on the second, and explore the Freedom Square and Vajdahunyad Castle on the third day. So three days, I think, is a good number.

Question #5:

What Is Budapest Famous For?

I am fascinated with and have traveled thousands of miles in the past to visit/experience breweries, bars, and the nightlife of a city. And Budapest has these establishments known as Ruin Bars. These bars feel like abandoned buildings made over with neon paint all over the walls, strange art pieces lying about, and just some fascinating decor overall. What this culminates in is one helluva place to hang out with people you just met.

In some cities, you meet people, and then you question where you can all go to hang out that offers a cool experience? Sometimes you find such establishments, and sometimes you don't. However, in Budapest, the Ruin Bars are where it's at because they are just so strange and fun. In one bar, a lady was walking around selling carrots. Carrots??

I will say that Ruin Bars cater to tourists more than anything, and so if you are trying to mingle with the locals and whatnot, it might not be the best bet. But, there are cities where hanging out with other travelers just gets elevated, and Budapest is one of those cities. I highly recommend traveling solo and staying in hostels when visiting Budapest, Hungary.

So that is it, ladies and gentlemen, the answers to the top 5 questions I kept getting asked during my month-long stay in Budapest; and if you have any additional questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments section below, and I will answer them to the best of my abilities. And if you enjoyed this article, please consider watching its video counterpart and subscribing to the channel. And as always:

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I answer the top 5 Questions About Budapest to help you optimize a future adventure in Europe. Although Budapest is the focus, I briefly discuss Vienna and B...

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