Europe holds such a special place in my heart.
Ever since my first trip to Europe as a backpacker in 2014, it’s been one of my favorite places to travel to.
From majestic mountains, pristine lakes and breathtaking scenery, to medieval castles, rustic old towns and gothic architecture, Europe is a dream come true for any traveler!
I truly believe everyone should visit them at least once in their lifetime.
Like a powerful drug, I’m hooked, I can’t get enough but to keep coming back to Europe time and time again, to explore her mystical far-flung corners.
One day, while fetching me to work, Winson asked, “Shall we plan a trip to Europe with my parents?”
It came as no surprise to me, as he has been dreaming of bringing his parents to travel for years.
Since we have yet to plan on our honeymoon, I thought it could possibly be a good idea to have a “familymoon” (or family honeymoon) instead.
So there began our two-week adventures to Austria and Hungary.
I was tasked with the planning of our holiday with my parents-in-law (my brother-in-law tagged along with us). Wanting to ensure that they get an authentic Austrian alpine Christmas experience, I had a list of criteria to check off: it has to be affordable (there’s 5 of us), convenient, laid back, beautiful, safe and yet not too touristy.
Also preferably, it should be a destination that Winson and I have never been to so that it’ll be much of new territory to us as it is to them.
There is no doubt, traveling to Europe can be expensive without proper planning.
Whether you’re planning a trip with your parents, loved ones or travel solo, here’s a list of things to do for free (or cheap) that we’ve done or planning to do to help you get the most out of Austria and Hungary without breaking the budget.
Useful resources:
- Download this Location/Walking Direction Map on mobile phone: Google Map
- Book your train ticket in advance to get the cheapest fares, most European trains open for bookings only 90 days ahead: Use Austrian Federal Railways or Klook
- Get Europe Rail Pass to save time and money if you’re traveling to multiple destinations in Europe.
- Purchase Sightseeing Tickets & Passes online to get extra discounts (Innsbruck Card, Salzburg Card, Vienna Pass etc): Klook or Get Your Guide
- Book your hotel in advance: read my free guide here to learn all the latest tricks.
Where I Started: Munich, Germany
Where I Ended: Budapest, Hungary
Stops In Between: Innsbruck (2 Nights), Zell am See (2 Nights), Salzburg (3 Nights), Graz (2 Nights), Vienna (4 Nights), Budapest (3 Nights)
Day 1: Munich to Innsbruck
Stepping out of the Franz Josef Strauss Airport, Munich in the early morning, we’re greeted with cold crisp winter air. Smiles flashed across our faces, finally, we’re here!
Taking a deep breath, I felt momentarily invigorated after the 16-hour flight from Kuala Lumpur.
Because we’re traveling in a group, and also considering my parents-in-law health and capabilities, I allocated more time, took it slow and easy, as well as planned and booked almost everything in advance.
We lingered around the Munich train station while waiting for our train to arrive.
Everything went smoothly, as we caught the train to Innsbruck two hours later.
Golden Roof, Innsbruck
When we finally got to our hotel, we’re delirious with joy. Our room looked amazing, with an incredible view of the pedestrian zone, overlooking the “Golden Roof” – the most famous landmark in Innsbruck!
I can’t believe that Leopold Mozart actually stayed here in the late 1700’s with his 13-year-old son, Wolfgang Amadeus. It’s such a beautiful and historic hotel.
Our hotel is conveniently located in the heart of Innsbruck. After leaving our pieces of luggage, we’re ready to explore the area. Walking on the cobbled-stoned street, soaking up the atmosphere caused by the crowds. Entered the realm of gingerbread, Glühwein (mulled wine) and carol singers as the sunsets.
Day 2: Explore the natural beauty of Innsbruck
Located in western Austria in the heart of the Alps, Innsbruck is a beautiful small town. It’s packed with historic and architectural gems which are all within easy walking distance of each other.
Hungerburg Funicular
After having a heartful breakfast at the hotel, we walked through the Old Town and kept heading towards the Innsbrucker Nordkettenbahnen (Nordkette Cable Car).
If you’re visiting at least two attractions, it’s definitely worth buying an Innsbruck Card. It’s available for 24, 48 or 72 hours from the time you first use it. You can use it for numerous attractions, museums, walking tour, the hop-on-hop-off sightseer bus, public transport in the city, and most importantly it includes the popular, but pricey, Nordkette cable car!
You can get the Innsbruck card online or purchase it from the ticket counter at the Innsbruck Cable Car.
Innsbruck Alps
Innsbruck Alps is strikingly beautiful and still untouched by crowds of tourists. Here, you can enjoy 360-degree sweeping views of the Austrian mountains without much hiking.
Take a moment to immerse yourself in Alpine alps, feel the gentle breeze and simply soak up the sights, sounds and smells of nature.
After that, take the cable car which descends to the 1905-meter high Seegrube Station. In just a couple of minutes, you will reach the Seegrube, a great place to relax and have a picnic. Enjoy the incredible panoramic view overlooking the mountains and city below.
Innsbruck Zoo
Best of all, Innsbruck Card includes admission to Innsbruck Zoo.
As the cable car descends down the mountain, don’t forget to make a stop and visit the Alpenzoo Innsbruck.
It’s a unique zoo, situated half-way up the mountain, showcasing a wide variety of alpine animals.
Innsbruck Christmas market
A mountain view + Chrismas market + a warm cup of Glühwein = A Perfect Christmas
Looking for the best Christmas Market in Europe? Innsbruck is definitely the place to go!
With fantastic views of the city and a giant glittering tree lit up right in the middle, the atmosphere of this particular Innsbruck Christmas market is hard to beat.
Strolling through narrow cobblestone streets, sipping the hot sweet-spicy “Glühwein”, sampling sweet Christmas food. It’s an astounding and unforgettable experience!
We spent the lovely evening together sharing stories, laughing and making happy memories to look back to.
Day 3: Explore the city charm of Innsbruck
I’ve pre-booked our train from Innsbruck to Zell am See at 12.24p.m. so we have the whole morning to explore the charming little town, uncrushed and unworried.
Hofgarten, Innsbruck
It’s a quiet morning. After having our breakfast at the hotel, we wandered around aimlessly and simply let the roads led us.
I guess it’s the best way to imbibe the history and beauty of this city.
Walking past a few streets, we reached the Hofgarten also known as Court Gardens. This lovely park is one of the most magnificent Renaissance gardens in the 16th century.
River Inn
Cross the river by a bridge and see the water flowing by the city-side is a simple pleasure for a traveler. You can enjoy the beautiful views of Alps from here too.
Maria-Theresien-Strasse
A street filled with shops, restaurants and cafes. Enjoyed the old-world vibe and architecture while making our way back to the hotel.
Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof Train Station
Austrian trains are known for being clean, frequent and very punctual. We reached the train station 30 minutes earlier and packed some light lunch at the station.
It’s an enjoyable, 1.5-hour train ride.
Zell am See
Located between Innsbruck and Salzburg, Zell am See is a picturesque lake town well-known for its water and winter sports.
As our train approached the station, the crystal clear lake immediately caught our attention, taking our breath away even from the distance.
Our Airbnb is just within 5 minutes walking distance from the train station. The apartment was so cozy and comfortable, our Airbnb host even decorated the living room for Christmas.
It’s a chic space for Christmas.
Day 4: Sightseeing in Kitzsteinhorn, Kaprun
Schmittenhöhe
Waking up with a beautiful view of the snow-covered slope directly from our balcony.
Schmittenhöhe is a 1,965m high mountain, that offers a variety of ski pistes in winter, a network of hiking trails in summer and family highlights through the year.
However, we decided to follow Craig’s (our Airbnb host) recommendation to visit Kitzsteinhorn, Top of Salzburg. I’m glad we did that.
Kitzsteinhorn
Kitzsteinhorn is an impressive, snow-covered glacier. Standing at 3029metres high, Kitzsteinhorn is the highest ski area in Salzburg, offering unparalleled Alpine experience 365 days a year. Yes, you can expect to see snow and ice in summer too.
We arrived here by bus from Zell Am See, which took about 30 minutes. To reach the top of the mountain, you’ll have to take a gondola, then chairlift, finally a cable car.
Along the way up to the glacier, you can see how the view and scenery change. Take some time to appreciate the magnificent geography that has formed the Alps.
At “Cinema 3000”, watch the breathtaking 10-minute nature film “Kitzsteinhorn” on an impressive wide-screen.
The Gipfel Restaurant offers not only reasonably-priced food but also huge panoramic windows high above the glaciers. Get a good seat by the glass window, relax, enjoy the view, breath in the fresh mountain air!
There are lots of winter activities you can do here such as skiing, sledging, snowboarding and more.
Spending the night wandering through the relaxing holiday town.
Day 5: Train to Salzburg
Lake Zell
This small beautiful lake near the Zell am See makes the perfect picture postcard image of small-town Austria with its turquoise waters and backdrop of snow-capped mountains.
We spent the morning strolling along the 8-mile circular walk around the lake, admiring the beauty of nature.In summer it attracts lots of visitors with different leisure activities such as sailing, swimming, taking a boat trip.
In winter, the lake can get completely frozen. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been frozen for a number of years.
It was so refreshing after a long morning of walking around Lake Zell.
We headed for the railway station and took the noon train to Salzburg- the city of Mozart and Sound of Music.
This picturesque old town is famous for being the home of the classical composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the setting for the hit movie The Sound of Music. It’s the perfect blend of music, history, culture, architecture, food and shopping.
You can easily explore the churches, castles, places and other attractions on foot.
That’s also why Salzburg is more touristy than Innsbruck and Zell am See.
From our hotel (Achat Plaza), we walked slowly along the river heading to the Old Town, immersing in the culture, the smells, the tastes and the norms of local people.
Day 6: Day trip to Salzkammergut Lake District: St. Gilgen- Wolfgang- Strobl
The Salzkammergut is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, a popular region in Austria well-known for its stunning lakes, spectacular alpine panoramas and postcard-picture lakeside villages.
Saint Gilgen (Bus 150)
The first thing that came to mind, when we first caught a glimpse of the Lake Wolfgang, was “Wowww!”
As the bus turned at the bend of the road and trundled down the road snaking across landscape surrounded by mountains, we’d watched the glinting blue and emerald come into view.
The rising sun lights up the valley and casts its beautiful light on the spectacular mountains and mirror-like lake. Making it such a fascinating spectacle.
We decided to get off at the first stop and explore the area. Saint Gilgen is a little charming village on the shore of Lake Wolfgang, in the “Salzkammergut” region.
We quickly found that we’re the only ones got down at this station. There was nobody in sight. But once we went further down the road, we saw the Zwölferhorn Mountain Cable Car.
Zwölferhorn (Cable Car)
Riding the cable car up to the snow-covered Zwölferhorn was probably my overall favorite, perhaps because of the sun actually just rises right when we’re here! The tiny cable car swept silently up the mountainside, soon we found ourselves standing inside a cloud atop the summit of Zwolferhorn.
It’s a beautiful sensation. It didn’t last long. As the sunray passed through the mist, clear blue sky without a cloud came into sight.
It’s the most beautiful vantage point in the Salzkammergut, enjoying an enviable position looking out across the panoramic mountain landscape, lake and villages below.
Mesmerized by the breathtaking views, we stood on the unfenced cliff edge to capture the moment all for a while. It’s definitely worth a visit!
Lake Wolfgang (Wolfgangsee)
Each of us grabbed a cup of warm Glühwein before boarding a boat to Strobl.
Pick a seat at the upper deck to enjoy the cool lake breeze, warm sunray and stunning views of the surrounding mountains Here, you can see the beauty of Salzkammergut from a different angle.
I swear you’ll never get tired of this view!
You can stop at the wonderful St.Wolfgang along the way.
Strobl (by Boat)
Strobl has one of the most romantic and beautiful Christmas markets in the area.
If you’d like to get away from bustling crowds, consider visiting this idyllic village on Lake Wolfgang.
Upon entering Strobl, a shepherds path will take you to a giant Advent gate. There’re quite a few wooden stalls selling food, drinks and Christmas decorations.
You’ll also see a few stags (as in the picture below) lying down on the grounds.
We have crispy pork knuckle for dinner at a nearby restaurant. There’s no English menu. Even though we can’t speak each other language, the lady owner was friendly and helpful. Surprisingly, it costs less than $20 for the whole family (including drinks, one whole pork knuckle and buns).
It’s quite easy to get around the area using public transport. To return to Salzburg, catch the same bus 150 in the opposite direction of where you’re coming from, it will bring you straight back to the Salzburg bus station.
Day 7: Sightseeing in Salzburg with the Salzburg Card
Salzburg Old Town (Altstadt)
The best way to discover the City of Mozart is to get a Salzburg Card. It offers you free admission to all city attractions, museums, free use of public transportation and many additional discounts. Start the day early and start exploring the old town.
Hohensalzburg Fortress
There are two ways to get up to the fortress:
- take a 15-minute steep walk from the center OR
- take a one-minute ride up in a glass funicular (Festungsbahn)
With the Salzburg card, you can enter the fortress for free and quick access.
If you don’t have a Salzburg card but want to save money, you can book a ticket in advance online here.
All-inclusive ticket is €16.30 on-site; €13.20 online (+Early-Bird rebate)
The funicular from Festungsbahn will take you right into the fortress. Once you’re inside, visit the museum and stateroom. There’s a lot to see but the highlight of the castle is the 360-degree panoramic view of Salzburg.
Untersberg
Untersberg is a local mountain located just a short distance south of Salzburg. Take a 25-minute bus ride from Salzburg, and ride a cable car up to the peak. You’ll be greeted by spectacular views that stretch out to the far horizon.
From here, at 1,776 m above sea level, you can look over Salzburg city, and Berchtesgadener Land (in Germany). You can even see all the way out to the Salzkammergut lakes and Lake Chiemsee in Bavaria if the weather is good.
Have fun exploring the numerous hiking trails, observation points, capture the memories and enjoy the views.
When you’re tired from all the walking, sit down for a drink at the restaurant at the mountain station.
Round trip cable car ticket is € 25.00. (or enter for free with Salzburg card)
Salzburg Zoo Hellbrunn
Since we’ve bought the Salzburg Card, we decided to make a stop at Salzburg Zoo Hellbrunn on our way back to the city. The entrance is free with a Salzburg card. (ticket costs €11.50)
Honestly, it’s a relatively small zoo, but it has a wide variety of animals which are roaming freely in a natural surrounding with Alps views.
Day 8: Salzburg Old Town
Mozart’s Birthplace
If you are a Mozart fan, you’ll definitely love this place.
Admission fee is € 11.
Mirabell Palace and Gardens
It was one of the filming sites for The Sound of Music. This is where Maria and the kids dance around its Pegasus Fountain in the movie, singing “Do-Re-Mi.”
You can easily spend one or two hours here, taking pictures and wandering around the lovely gardens. Best of all, it’s free.
If you have time, you can include these stunning sights into your itinerary:
- Hellbrunn Castle/Palace- Renaissance palace and landscaped
- Salzburg Cathedral- domed marble cathedral
- St Peter’s Abbey
- Salzburg Museum
- Sound of Music Tour
Train to Graz
After lunch, we bid farewell to Salzburg and continued our journey to Graz, a beautiful town in the south of Austria.
It’s an enjoyable train ride, offering stunning views of the valley and mountain ranges.
Day 9: One perfect day in Graz
Derived from Slovenian word gradec, Graz means small castle. It’s the second-largest city in Austria.
Schlossberg Hill
Nothing beats a view from above, no matter where you’re going! So let’s start the day by going to the top of Schlossberg Hill.
You have two ways to get up to the hill: ride on the Schlossberglift, take the Schlossbergbahn Funicular, or walk up (free) 260steps steep staircase to go to the top.
Once you make it to the hill, there’s much to discover:
- The Clock Tower- a 90 foot (28 meter) clocktower dating from 16th century.
- The Stallbastei bastion and the historic canons
- Chinese Pavilion- relax and enjoy the views
You can easily spend half a day at the hill, simply soak up the atmosphere.
Graz is also home to the world’s largest and oldest historical armory. The building is located on Herrengasse, Graz’ main shopping street.
It has over 32,000 objects in its collection such as swords, cannons, daggers, and warhorse armor set.
The Murinsel (Mur island)
Designed by Vito Acconci, a New York artist, the Murinsel (Mur island) is an artificial floating island built in the middle of Mur river. The best time to visit this place is at sunset.
Grab a drink, relax, and watch the sunset over the river.
The giant Christmas tree, music performers, street decorations. Christmas market in Graz is just as beautiful, festive and it’s less-touristy here.
Day 10: Train to Vienna
It’s very easy to travel between cities in Austria by trains. Plus, you can sit back, relax and enjoy beautiful views from the comfort of your seat.
It takes less than 3 hours to reach Vienna.
Getting tired from the 10 consecutive days of travel, we have a good rest at the hotel upon checking in.
We have our dinner at Vapiona. They serve fresh pasta, pizza, antipasti, salad, risotto or our dolci in mediterranean atmosphere. Plus, they cook in front of you. I love the concept, the food and the vibe!
Day 11: Explore Vienna Old Town on foot
There are so many things to do and see in Vienna, from Medieval churches, majestic palaces, historic squares, museums, to fun-filled amusement park.
Pedestrian Only Shopping Streets
If you’re staying in the inner ring of Vienna Old Town, you can easily walk just about everywhere (but also more expensive). If like me, you’re on a budget, choose a hotel within walking distance to the metro station. The metro system is very convenient and easy to use. We stayed at Ibis Hotel (clean room, strategic location).
The first thing to do in Vienna, of course, is to explore Kaerntner Strasse, Vienna’s historically most famous and most noble shopping streets.
Strolling down the pedestrian-only shopping lanes in the historic city centre of Vienna, will bring you back to Medieval times. It’s the perfect way of getting to know the city.
Here you can find historic cafes, shops, hotels, restaurants. The traffic-free lanes will bring you to popular attractions such as St. Stephens and St. Peter’s Church, Imperial Crypt and the Vienna State Opera House.
There is plenty here to keep you busy for a couple of hours.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral
Right in the heart of Vienna is the Cathedral of St. Stephans – the most impressive Gothic buildings in Vienna. To enjoy beautiful views of the Old Town, climb the 466-foot-tall South Tower called Old Steve.
Time Travel Museum
Just a short 5-minute walk from the St. Stephan’s Cathedral is the Time Travel Museum.
To be frank, if it’s not because of the Vienna Pass that we’ve bought, we won’t know or even visit this place. But this place absolutely exceeded our expectations.
The 50-minute show will bring you 2000 years back in history. A fun way of learning the history of Vienna with 5D cinema, animatronic shows, laser effects and virtual reality. I particularly enjoyed the “air-raid shelter”, to experience exactly how World War II was really like.
It’s by far the most underrated museum in Austria that I think everyone should visit.
It costs €19,50. Enter for free with Vienna card. To save money, you can buy a ticket online (official website), which costs only €16.6. Or enter for free with Vienna Pass.
Maria-Theresien-Platz
Another 10-minute walk from the Time Travel Museum, you’ll reach the Maria-Theresien-Platz, a large public square. Here, you can find impressive Viennese buildings, world-renowned museums and Christmas market (in winter).
- Museum Quartier – located in front of the public square
- Art History Museum (Kunsthistorisches Museum )- at the side of the public square
- Natural History Museum –at the other side of the public square
There are lots of Christmas markets in Vienna, but the largest and busiest one is on the Rathausplatz, the square in from of Vienna City Hall.
It can get very crowded in the evening when people flock to see the decorative lighting.
Grab some bratwurst, find a spot and soak up the festive and magical atmosphere.
Day 12: Schönbrunn Palace, Gardens and Zoo
Schönbrunn Palace is the #1 main attraction in Vienna. You’ll need one full day to truly appreciate the magnificent palace, wonderful park, gardens and zoo.
Originally, this site was a small hunting lodge, and later became the main summer residence of Habsburg royal family. After total destruction during the Turkish attack in 1683, the property was rebuilt and now it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Including stately rooms and grand halls, gardens, parks, fountains, carriage museum, and a zoo which today is the World’s oldest!
To skip long queue lines and save money, it’s best to book a ticket in advance online here (or get a Vienna Pass).
Started with the guided walking tour (included with the pass), visit the staterooms, see how the imperial family lived and more.
After having lunch at the Christmas market in front of Schönbrunn Palace, we wandered around the gardens, taking pictures and admiring the architecture. It’s a huge garden, extending for 1.2 km from east to west and approximately one kilometre from north to south.
Walking to the end of the garden, you’ll see the Gloriette, a unique building that has now become a classic cafe, serving Viennese dishes.
Located on the ground of Schönbrunn Palace, Schönbrunn Zoo is the world’s oldest zoo that’s operating till now!
This modern zoo is home to over 4000 animals including giant pandas and polar bears, orangutans, koalas, tigers and elephants.
Wandering through the zoo, meet rare and amazing animal species from different continents, from the icy Artic to tropical rainforest and Amazon.
Day 13: Sightseeing in Vienna with Vienna Card
Since we have already purchased the Vienna card, may as well make the full use of it. We started the day off by taking metro to Prater Park, an amusement park. Kids will love this place, riding the ghost train, merry-go-rounds, roller coasters and more.
But it’s the 65-meter-high Giant Ferris Wheel that captured my interest.
Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel
Take a ride on the Giant Ferris Wheel, enjoy fantastic views over Vienna and the surrounding area.
Next to the Ferris wheel is the Madame Tussauds. It’s the first wax museum that I’ve ever visited. And we took lots of pictures with famous figures including Barack Obama, Dalai Lama, Mahatma Gandhi, Freddie Mercury, Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Lady Gaga and many more.
Have fun, pose and snap.
It’s hard to miss this impressive historical building in the center of Vienna. The Habsburg rulers built this mighty palace to show their power. And obviously, they made it, attracting over two million visitors every year.
The Hofburg palace houses three museums as well as the Spanish Riding School. It’s connected to the National Library too.
My favorite part of Imperial Palace is the Sisi Museum. Discovering the tragic life of Sisi, Empress Elisabeth of Austria & Queen of Hungary.
Imagine an empress who has everything in the world- a royal life, beautiful dresses, pieces of jewelry, treasures but deep inside, she suffered so much. The only thing that she truly yearned for was her freedom!
Here are two of my favorite quotes from Empress Elisabeth of Austria (1837-1898), also known by her widely popular nickname Sissi.
“Destinations are only desirable because a journey lies in between. If I arrived somewhere and knew that I would never leave again, even a sojourn in paradise would turn into hell for me.”
“I am a seagull, of no land,
I call no shore my home,
I am bound to no place,
I fly from wave to wave.”
~ Empress Elisabeth of Austria, North Sea Songs 7, 1885
Belvedere Palace
Built as a summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy, Belvedere Palace is another historical palace and art museum complex that you should visit, though it’s most often overlooked by tourists.
The Belvedere is split into two main sections:
- Upper Palace –Eugene’s party house
- Lower Palace and Orangery – his garden villa
Christmas Village Belvedere Palace
After visiting the museum and palace, make sure you take some time strolling around the beautiful flower garden. In winter, there’s a Christmas market in front of the Belvedere Palace.
Christmas decorations, light and music. I absolutely love the festive atmosphere (and it’s not crowded). It brings me back sweet memories while I’m writing this.
Day 14: Train to Budapest
We took the morning train from Vienna to Budapest, our last stop of the trip.
Food, transportation and accommodation are much cheaper here! We rented an apartment unit at the center of the Budapest, two rooms with a balcony, plus complete kitchenette, washing machine, microwave.
Hungary has its own official currency called Hungarian Forint (HUF). Some shops accept Euro but at a very low rate.
There’re many currency exchanges, each offers slightly different rates. If you have time, it’s best to shop around and compare to get the best exchange rates.
Tip: Get the Budapest Travel Card at the train station, available for 24 (1 650 HUF) or 72-hour (4 150 HUF).
If you’re traveling in a group of 5, get the 24-hour Group Travel Card (for max. 5 persons) for just 3 300 HUF.
You can use it for all public transport in Budapest, including trams, metro trains, buses and boat rides (limited).
Do note that Budapest Travel Card is different from Budapest City Card.
You can only use Budapest Travel Card for public transport, while Budapest City Card allows you to enjoy unlimited train rides and entries to museums.
St. Stephen’s Basilica
Built between 1851 and 1905, St. Stephen’s Basilica is a beautiful Roman Catholic basilica, from the magnificent exterior architecture to the impressive interior design.
Go up to the top of the church for breathtaking views of Budapest.
Christmas market
There is a Christmas market in front of St. Stephen’s Basilica, with a good selection of stalls selling food, drinks, and gifts.
Danube River
As you walk along the riverside, you get to enjoy fantastic views of both sides, Buda and Pest.
You can also see main attractions from here including Széchenyi Chain Bridge, the Danube promenade and the Parliament building, Buda Castle, Várkert bazaar (Castle Garden Bazaar) and Batthyány square.
Shoes on the Danube Bank
Built-in remembrance and honor of the victims of World War 2. This is one of the several spots where the executions took place, where the Arrow Cross militia forced the victims to remove shoes before shotting them into the Danube.
Day 15: A Day in Budapest’s Buda, Hungary
Sitting in the Buda Hills, high above the Danube, this picturesque area is great to visit during the day (for its panoramic views) and even more beautiful when lit up at night.
There multiple attractions to explore at the Buda such as Gellert Hill, Buda Castle, Matthias Church, and Fisherman’s Bastion.
We crossed the Danube River to the Buda hill from ou apartment (at the Pest side) early in the morning. Here’s how we spent a perfect day exploring Buda.
Gellert hill Hill/Citadella
Looking for the best panoramic views of Budapest? Head to the Gellert Hill.
At the top, you get unparalleled views of the Danube River and both sides of the city ( Buda and Pest)
Besides the stunning views, you can also visit the Statue of Liberty, Cave Church, Gellert Monument, and Citadella (at the top of the hill).
Buda Castle
Following the winding road down the hill, you’ll reach the Buda Castle.
Sit on the southern tip of Castle Hill, Buda Castle is filled with history, culture and architecture. The castle houses multiple museums including Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest History Museum and Museum of Music History.
It’s worth a trip up here to get sweeping views of Budapest and river, even if you’re not interested in the history.
Fisherman’s Bastion
Located on the Budda Castle, is the Fisherman’s Bastion.
From the Neo-Romanesque lookout terraces, towers and turrets, you get to enjoy unique panorama of Budapest from several different angles.
Stop for a moment, and simply enjoy the views and soak up the atmosphere.
Matthias Church is an impressive-looking church located in front of Fisherman’s Bastion. For centuries, it’s used as a coronation church for the Hungarian kings.
At night when the lights are well lit, it’s a sight to behold.
Day 16: Exploring Pest
Hungarian Parliament Building
Situated on the banks of the Danube, Hungarian Parliament Building is the world’s third-largest Parliament building. This massive Gothic-style building is the formal seat of government for Hungary.
While you can admire the Hungarian Parliament Building on the outside, it’s the spectacular interior that you’ll need to see.
To save you time from waiting in line and to avoid disappointments (because only a limited amount of tickets is allocated for each guided tour), you can purchase a ticket in advance online here.
Szechenyi baths
Did you know that Budapest is known as the “City of Baths”?
Taking a thermal bath is one of the most popular activities among Hungarian, foreign and local tourists.
And Szechenyi Baths is the best and biggest thermal baths in Budapest.
Heroes’ Square
Still, it’s good to fill in day and experience Pest first-hand.
Széchenyi Chain Bridge
Strolling across the famous Széchenyi Chain Bridge, a stone-bridge connecting Pest and Buda, was a perfect way to spend our last night in Budapest.
Conclusion
We spent 16 days (excluding last days) exploring Innsbruck, Zell am See, Salzburg, Graz, Vienna and Budapest and it left us wanting more!
Wonderful natural landscape with its alpine alps, pristine lakes, world-class museums, quaint villages, Mediterranean charm, and great food make for a delightful holiday experience.
This amazing family holiday has come to an end… but the memories of them last forever!
Have you been to Europe?
What’s your favorite place to visit in Austria and Hungary?
Do you have any favorite spot or things to do that I didn’t mention in this post?
I hope you enjoyed reading my 2-week trip to Europe! Here are a few more articles that I recommend you read next:
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