Two days in Budapest

Earlier this summer I had the opportunity to visit Budapest for the first time. It was only over the weekend but I had ample time to stroll through the Donau Metropole both during the day and at night.

I had a little appartment in the very center of the city and could thus walk out the door right into the bustling city.

To get a first impression I started my sightseeing tour with a boat trip on the Donau. The first thing I learned was that there is Buda, west of the Donau and Pest, east of the Donau. These two districts had been independent cities until they got merged into Budapest in 1873.

The Chain Bridge, the Hungarian capital's first bridge. Like most of the other bridges it got destroyed in WWII. In 1949 it got reconstructed according to the original plans from the nineteenth century.

Glowing in the evening sun, the impressive Hungarian parliament building.

The perfectly symmetrical parliament is built in the neo-gothic style, with only the central dome adopting a rennaisance revival architecture.

Again the Chain Bridge, this time photographed towards the Buda side. Can you see the dove in the sky?

Enjoying a tasty pizza with Hungarian salami before transitioning into the nightly Budapest.

Very popular are the so-called ruin bars and clubs in downtown Budapest. The buildings that were to be demolished were originally rented by students and due to limited financial means were furnished and decorated very individually with all sorts of second-hand items. The concept was so successful that it became a permanent institution. At this Bar you can choose your brew from the entire periodic table of beers :)

Imaginative decorations in every corner.

The next day I visited the synagogue in the Dohány Street. It is the largest in Europe and the second largest in the world. It was build in 1859 and can seat up to 3000 people. It is also the only synagogue in the world in which there is a pipe organ. Franz Liszt used to play it.