A Perfect Day: Budapest in One Day

9 AM: Grandiose Breakfast in the Central Grand Café

I start my perfect day in Budapest in District V with breakfast at the Central Grand Cafe, a classic coffee house from the 19th century. It has an elegant interior with high ceilings and is hardly ever crowded, making it perfect for fortifying yourself with a croissant, an egg dish, or a Hungarian strudel with your morning coffee. Although we'll come to the strudel later.

10 AM: Shopping in the Market Hall

The Central Market Hall – Nagy Vásárcsarnok in Hungarian – is justifiably famous. Under the roof of this ornate, almost church-like building, over 180 market stalls sell their wares. I recommend strolling between the stalls in the morning when there aren't so many tourists around. Many vendors greet me because I often buy fresh fruit here – and the most important thing: peppers. Whether in powder or pod form, I could eat them in the morning, at lunchtime, and in the evening like many of my fellow countrymen.

What many people don't know: from the upper floor of the market hall, you can enjoy the hustle and bustle while dining on delicious lángos and other wonderful dishes.

11 AM: Over the Bridge and Up the Hill

My favorite bridge in Budapest, the Liberty Bridge, crosses the Danube right next to the market. As I walk across it, I can already see my next destination: Gellért Hill, where the Statue of Liberty, a bronze female figure holding a palm frond in the sky, towers.

You should allow 25 minutes for the climb. At the top, you are rewarded with a unique view over the city, even better than from Buda Castle. I walk down the other side of the hill to Batthyány tér. From the square, you have the best view of the Parliament Building on the opposite side of the Danube.

12:30 PM: Parliament and Sweet Treats

From the Batthyány tér stop, I take the metro one stop to Kossuth tér, where I stand right in front of the neo-Gothic Parliament Building. If you have a little more time, you can take a guided tour here and learn interesting facts about Hungarian history. You can also see the Crown of St. Stephen, which was the coronation crown used by the Kingdom of Hungary.

My sweet tooth lures me to the nearby Szamos Cafe. There, I buy the famous Szamos marzipan, a much sought-after souvenir among my friends.

1:30 PM: Strudel for Lunch

I finally have Hungarian strudel for lunch at Budapest's premier address for it: the Első Pesti Rétesház, also known as the First Strudel House of Pest. The classic fillings are cherries, poppy seeds (or both), and curd cheese. If you fancy something savory, order one with a cabbage filling – or one of the soups, as these are very popular in Hungary and eaten almost every day.

2:30 PM: Shoes on the Banks of the Danube

About 300 meters south of the Parliament Building, 60 pairs of cast-iron shoes are placed along the banks of the Danube. They are a memorial to the thousands of Jews who fell victim to the fascist dictatorship towards the end of the Second World War and were shot on the banks of the Danube. A depressing sight ... but I think it's important to confront the darker aspects of history and to honor the victims.

3 PM: The Largest Church in the City

It's time for a detour to St. Stephen's Basilica. Admission to Budapest's largest church is not free, but it's well worth the money. The 96-metre-high dome, decorated with a mosaic, is particularly impressive.

4 PM: Relax on Margaret Island or at the Rudas Bath

If the weather is nice, I hop on streetcar 2 at Kossuth Lajos tér and travel about 20 minutes to Margaret Island, which is situated in the middle of the Danube and is the perfect place for a stroll. Visitors can enjoy a swimming pool, a small zoo, and bars offering wine spritzers, which we call fröccs.

If it's chilly or rainy, I would go to the Rudas Bath instead and warm up in the 36°C water of the Ottoman thermal bath (we like hot baths in Hungary!). You can even do this in the panorama pool on the roof, which has a wonderful view of the Danube.

6 PM: An Aperitif Over the Rooftops of the City

For an aperitif, I recommend the 360 Bar, which I like so much that I once celebrated my birthday there. As the name suggests, you can enjoy a cocktail there with a 360-degree view over the city, which is, of course, twice as beautiful at sunset! It's no secret, though, so make sure you book!

8 PM: Goulash for Dinner – What Else?

Since your stomach is probably growling by now, I recommend a restaurant that is only a 20-minute walk from the bar. However, a small detour is already factored in so that I can walk past the State Opera House on Andrássy út, Hungary's most famous boulevard, and take a look at the impressive facade of the Great Synagogue on Dohány Street shortly before reaching my destination. Arriving at the Gettó Gulyás restaurant, there is only one choice: goulash! Other traditional dishes and fine Hungarian wines are also on the menu, of course.

9 PM: A Nightcap in the Gozsdu Udvar

Here's a tip that I like to share with my Lufthansa colleagues: Gozsdu Udvar, a large inner courtyard with many different bars. Whether it's a salsa evening, a drink in an American-style bar, or a cold beer – this is a relaxed place to end the evening.

About

Born in Hungary, Anna Dittrich-Futas joined Lufthansa in 2015. Both professionally and privately, the flight attendant enjoys flying to her home city of Budapest, but particularly loves long-haul flights as well. Her favorite destinations include the West Coast metropolises of the USA, Japan, and South Africa.