Our Family Trip to Budapest, Hungary
In this post, I would like to share our family trip to Budapest during Sukkot. We explored the city, visited some interesting places in Hungary and even took a day trip to Vienna. I hope our experience will give you some ideas for your own trip.
Budapest surprised me. It is a very lively city, full of people and tourists, with busy streets and plenty to see. At the same time, its Jewish history is impossible to ignore. The tragic events of the Second World War are still very much felt throughout the city.
Kerestir
We travelled to Kerestir, and as it was my first time there, it was a real privilege to visit. We also visited the kever of the Yismach Moshe nearby.
Afterwards, we looked for a walking trail where we could enjoy the surrounding nature.
Megyer-hegyi Kilátó
About half an hour from Kerestir, we found a lovely hiking trail at Megyer-hegyi Kilátó.
The walk starts from a car park in the woods. After around 20 minutes, we reached Megyer Hill Tarn, with its impressive rock walls and beautiful water. From there, we continued towards the lookout tower, where the views were absolutely stunning!
The circular route is around 4 km long and took us just over an hour. There is some uphill walking, so it is best for people who are comfortable walking. It is not suitable for buggies.
There are also places to stop for a picnic, making it a good option for anyone who enjoys walking and spending time outdoors.
Viewpoints in Budapest
I love beautiful views, so two places I particularly enjoyed were Fisherman's Bastion and Gellért Hill.
Fisherman's Bastion has beautiful white stone towers and terraces overlooking the Danube, the Parliament building and the city. It is also a lovely place to take photographs.
Gellért Hill offers panoramic views across Budapest, including the Danube and its bridges. Both viewpoints are worth including in a visit to the city.
Margaret Island
Margaret Island is a large green island in the middle of the Danube. It has walking paths, trees, gardens and plenty of space to relax.
It is a good place to escape the busy streets and enjoy a walk without leaving the city. Sukkot in Budapest
We spent Yom Tov at Chabad, which had a large, spacious sukkah and a lovely atmosphere. It was wonderful to celebrate together with so many people.
Budapest also has several kosher food options and an eruv, making it a convenient destination for a Jewish holiday.
City Park – Városliget
City Park is another green space in Budapest, with walking paths, open areas and several attractions nearby. We spent some time walking around and exploring the park.
Szentendre
Szentendre is a charming town not far from Budapest, with colourful buildings, narrow streets and small shops. It is a nice place to spend a few hours wandering around.
One of the places we visited was the MicroArt Museum, where the artist create incredibly tiny works of art. Some of the designs are made on objects as small as the eye of a needle. It was fascinating to see how much detail can go into such miniature creations.
Hollókő – A Traditional Hungarian Village
Hollókő is a traditional Hungarian village and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We arrived quite late, so some attractions were already closed. However, a few small museums and traditional houses were still open, with inexpensive entrance fees.
We enjoyed walking through the village and looking at the traditional buildings. It was interesting to see a different side of Hungary, away from the busy capital.
Visegrád and the Bobsleigh Track
We went to the Visegrád Bobsleigh Track, where you can ride down a winding track on a small sled and control your own speed. It was a fun activity for the children and a nice addition to our trip.
A Day Trip to Vienna
We also travelled to Vienna, Austria, for a day. My daughter really wanted to visit the Prater amusement park, so we planned our day around it.
Getting Around Budapest
The public transport system in Budapest is excellent.
For day trips to places such as Kerestir, Hollókő and the countryside walking trails, having a car is useful and gives you more flexibility.
A Surprising Artwork at Budapest Airport
Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport is named after the famous Hungarian composer and pianist Ferenc Liszt (1811–1886), one of the greatest piano virtuosos of his time.
When we arrived at the airport, we noticed a rather unusual artwork. At first, we thought it was just a strange collection of objects and were ready to walk past it. Then my daughter suddenly realised that it was actually a portrait of a face!
The artwork was created by Czech artist Patrik Proško. It is made from thousands of musical instruments and other objects, which come together to form a portrait of Ferenc Liszt when viewed from the right angle.
It was a lovely surprise to discover this unusual piece of art just as our trip was beginning. I'm glad my daughter spotted what we had almost missed!
Final Thoughts
If you are planning a trip to Budapest, I would recommend looking beyond the city itself. There are plenty of interesting places to discover nearby, especially if you enjoy nature and exploring small towns.
I hope this post gives you some useful ideas for your own trip!
