Although the city has its special charm at any time of the year, Budapest in spring is a completely different matter. The Hungarian metropolis then comes back to life. The countless parks bloom in the most beautiful colors, while the temperatures already reach a pleasant 20 degrees. 13 hours of sunshine a day invite you to take long walks. During a spring weekend in Budapest you should not miss:

Walk to places of interest

If you are in Budapest for the first time, of course you can not miss the most popular sights. The city is great to explore by bike or on foot. For example, you can start at the Chain Bridge and go for a walk along the Danube. As long as the Chain Bridge is still closed for construction, it is best to take the Elizabeth Bridge to get to the other side of the city. Enjoy the view of the Statue of Liberty in the distance. The path leads along the foot of Gellert Hill to the Hungarian National Gallery and to the castle palace. If you are good on foot, you can save the 10 euro transfer by golf cart and just walk up the few minutes.

A little further on is the Fishermen's Bastion. The masterpiece of the architect Frigyes Schulek looks like something out of a fairy tale. By the way, this is one of Budapest's most popular Insta-spots. Namely, the view falls over the Danube to the rooftops of the city. The walk leads down the other side, again along the river to Margaret Bridge. From there, a path leads to Margaret Island. It is located right between Buda and Pest. The 2.5 km long park is popular with joggers, tourists, hipsters and locals alike. It's a great place to unwind, especially in spring. And gather new strength.

Because the way leads back to Pest. There you should still walk past the Parliament (700 rooms) and St. Stephen's Basilica. The latter is not only beautiful, but also the largest church in Budapest. 

Food & Drink in Budapest

Anyone who thinks Vienna has a lively coffeehouse scene has never been to Budapest. The city's beautiful cafés still evoke bygone times with their interiors. Elegant wood paneling, sumptuous pastries and excellent coffee can be found, for example, in the world-famous Café New York in the 7th district. This part of the city is currently on its way to becoming a new trendy district. Hip stores and trendy bars line up between dilapidated houses. 

This is exactly where the famous ruin bars are located. The mother of this genre (bar moves into dilapidated house) is called Szimpla Kert. Now overly touristy, but still worth seeing, you celebrate between plastic flowers, graffiti, car bodies and neon lights. In the evening it gets very crowded. If you come in the late afternoon, you can get a good spot and enjoy live music without the crowds. Directly opposite is the Las Vegans for vegan snacks. If you don't fancy fast food, but are looking for the opposite, you'll also find it in Budapest. 

Hungary - and above all Budapest - has evolved in recent years in terms of cuisine. Long gone are the days when paprika and goulash were available in all variations. Only recently, for example, the fine-dining restaurateur Wolfgang Puck opened a new restaurant here with the Restaurant Spago , its first branch in Europe. The menu features an exciting mix of Italian, Austrian and Hungarian dishes. Head chef István Szántó sets the scene.

Culinary revelation: Stand

With the restaurant booth Budapest also has a Michelin-starred restaurant. The 8-course menu - a culinary revelation - is served in a relaxed atmosphere and costs around 250 euros, including wine. The dishes are masterpieces, prepared in the open kitchen before the eyes of the guests. 

Shopping in Budapest

Bookworms and coffee junkies will love the Massolit Books & Café , while the Wamp Design Market offers, in addition to handicrafts, clothing, jewelry and tableware. If you love markets, you absolutely must go to the large market . Salami, paprika, unicum - you name it. The best place to buy souvenirs with a good conscience is in the Prezent, where value is placed on sustainability. Hungarian wines are becoming increasingly important. They are available, for example, in the Bortársaság in the 5th district.

So relaxed: tourist must-do

The fact that the vibe in Budapest is so relaxed may also have something to do with Hungary's long spa culture. Thanks to numerous thermal springs and baths, it is good manners to visit one of the institutions at least once in a while. If you are in the mood for warm water and a lot of art nouveau, you should put the Gellért Baths on your bucket list. It's not an insider tip, but it's justifiably incredibly popular. Here you can already swim outside in spring.

Royal night in Budapest

In recent years, more and more big brands and luxury hotel chains have found their way to the Hungarian capital. Just last year, for example, the Matild Palace Hotel opened as part of the Marriott Group, also Anantara is represented. But one of the most beautiful houses in the best location is undoubtedly the Four Seasons Gresham Palace. It is located directly on the Chain Bridge and is housed in the Art Nouveau palace of the same name. 

If you're ever in a city where so much nobility hangs in the air, you should stay in style. The hotel exudes the glam of a bygone era. Even the lobby, furnished with over two million mosaic tiles illuminated by a lavish chandelier, takes your breath away. The view from the rooms and suites partly falls on the Danube and the Budapest skyline.

The hotel's spa brings Hungary's wellness tradition to life, while cocktails from around the world are served in the beautiful new lobby bar MÚZSA. By the way, here you can enjoy the finest afternoon tea every afternoon. Accompanied by piano or harp sounds. Live, of course.