Budapest Best Kept Secrets

Named as one of the most pleasant cities to live in, Budapest offers more than just a location for that unforgettable last night of freedom. With architecture to rival the likes of Rome and Paris and cultural hot-spots such as the Széchenyi Baths and the City Park, it is easy to see why it is one of the top destinations for city breaks. Before you jet off to the Hungarian capital, get these best-kept secrets on your itinerary and experience the best of Budapest.

For Sale Pub

A quirky favourite of travellers and locals alike, the For Sale Pub offers unique surroundings for their patrons. As the name suggests, customers can drink and place personal advertisements on the walls along with drawings, business cards and notes for others to read through and appreciate. But apart from leaving your mark in the pub, you will be able to appreciate the excellent cuisine and famous Hungarian hospitality.

KönyV Bar and Restaurant

One for the literary buffs out there, this restaurant has a truly distinctive way of dining and a way to change up what it has to offer. Each week the restaurant selects a novel, a classic or something new, and bases their entire menu on it, including drinks and deserts. For example, the restaurant previously based their menu on The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain. Dishes available were ‘royal pheasant broth’ and ‘rich and poor’ coffee chocolate cake. This truly ‘novel’ idea is something you have to experience first-hand.

Veli Bej

The ‘City of Baths’ are over-following with thermal pools including the famous Gellért spa, Széchenyi and Lukács baths. But one that most do not know about is off-the-beaten-track, and you will not find many tourists here. Veli Bej, unlike its counterparts, is a small, yet cosy baths which offer everything you would see at the better-known baths and more. Despite being from the 16th century, the baths are a local favourite, and somewhere you should try if you want to avoid those annoying tourists.

Red Ruin

Unlike other Soviet Block countries, Budapest certainly has a good sense of humour when it comes to poking fun at its rocky communist past. Nestled within an old looking façade, Red Ruin bar embodies this humour – with murals of Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong on the wall, wearing birthday hats and having a super-fun “communist party.”

Vajdahunyad Castle

Humble beginnings for this Hungarian landmark, yet it isn’t well known to many tourists. Located on a human-made island, the castle was originally built using cardboard and wood before being built with stone in 1904. Apparently, the first draft was good enough.

Hospital in the Rock

Set up during the Second World War, the hospital helped to treat injured soldiers throughout its six-miles, natural tunnels. Fast forward to 1958; the tunnels would be extended into a nuclear/chemical war shelter, where people could seek escape before the nukes dropped. Now the tunnels are home to a museum that displays the history of the tunnels throughout the past century, including mannequins. Other than discovering the past, brave visitors can take part in a nuclear readiness test to see how you would fare when the bombs drop.

Labyrinth under Castle Hill

Not a one for the faint-hearted, explore the eerie history of the tunnels under the city. Home to some of the darkest history the city has to offer; visitors have the chance to explore the labyrinth with just their courage and a lantern. All manner of historical events have taken place in the catacombs including the imprisonment of Vlad the Impaler – otherwise known as Count Dracula. The tunnels are also haunted so keep an eye out for any ghostly presence.