Budapest - The city with two faces
Budapest is like a couple who can’t quite decide who’s in charge. On the one hand, Buda – the quiet, slightly dreamy part, enthroned on its hill and proud of its history. On the other side, Pest – the party mouse that is always on the move and never stands still. The two together make a pretty unbeatable combination.
Buda - The cozy old-timer
Buda is a more leisurely place. Here you will find Buda Castle, old walls and lots of history. The hills will make you work up a sweat, but hey, you’ll be rewarded with a great view. The Fisherman’s Bastion looks like something out of a Disney movie, and from here you can look out over Pest – the Netflix for the historical city traveler.
On the other side of the Danube, Pest is the place to be. There are bars, restaurants and the parliament building, which is so huge that you wonder if there might be a shopping center hidden inside. Pest is flat, modern and always on the move. The nightlife is legendary, and if you don't get lost here, you've done something wrong.
That’s actually a bit of a problem in my opinion. English is by no means spoken everywhere. For example, we had real problems getting tickets for the train to Skehefehervar. The ticket machines and connections were quite confusing, especially if you don’t understand a word. The staff at the train ticket office simply couldn’t speak any English. I then tried to somehow communicate where we wanted to go through the poor quality carbon microphones on both sides of a thick pane of glass. It wasn’t that easy. Fortunately, in the end we were helped by friendly passers-by (and yes, the people there are generally really nice) who could speak English. Otherwise we’d probably still be standing in Kellenföld today 😉
In the end, I can only give one tip: Buy tickets via the apps, order cabs via Bolt (then the price is also fixed), just use the technical aids. This makes things much easier than relying on the staff and their knowledge of English.
How Buda and Pest became Budapest
Until 1873, Buda and Pest were independent – like two neighbors who wave to each other but don’t really know each other. Then came the Chain Bridge, and suddenly they were “best friends”. Budapest has existed ever since, and the best of both worlds came together. Buda brings tranquillity and history, Pest brings action – the perfect mix, so to speak.
Conclusion: A little bit of Buda, a little bit of Pest
In Budapest, you can take a royal stroll up Castle Hill in the morning and dance the night away in the ruin bars. This city has it all – whether you’re a history buff or just want to party a little. No matter which part you choose, Budapest will win you over with its charm (and the view of the next bar).
