A lot of people, including myself, will have just been on holiday and you may already be thinking about booking one for next year. As the mornings and evening start to get darker, we need these sorts of things to spur us through the Winter months, right? Well, before you go ahead and book let me make a recommendation for a cheap and chic European holiday for you:
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
Budapest is a fantastic holiday destination, especially if you live in the UK & EU as the flights won't cost you much. I chose to fly with EasyJet as they are super cheap and it was a short flight, they only cost £150 for a return flight. Budapest is an up and coming city with a lot of development potential, fantastic views and architecture. It is perfect for anyone who is after a relaxed atmosphere, culture and luxury.
Where to Stay:
I booked the holiday through third party companies, which is a great way to save some money. I stayed in a five-star hotel called The Corinthia, which cost only £65 per night when booked through a third party called Prestigia. The hotel should have cost £285 per night, so this was a fantastic saving and I would always recommend scouting around for great deals like this.
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| The Corinthia has all the grandeur of The Grand Budapest Hotel and I was able to stay here for a fraction of the price. |
I would highly recommend staying at The Corinthia Hotel, it has fantastic reviews on Trip Advisor and it is a beautiful hotel, well worth it if you can get a good deal. The hotel room also came with free access to the most amazing Royal Spa. Thermal baths are a huge part of Hungarian tradition and there are a lot of them to try out, especially if it's free with your hotel. I took advantage of this one every day!
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| The Royal Spa at Corinthia Hotel is a perfect example of the beautiful architecture and luxury that awaits you! |
What to Do:
There are so many great things to see and do in Budapest so here is a rundown of a few of my favourites and how much they cost with the current exchange rate (400HUF - £1)
- Hungarian State Opera House:
The Opera House is easily one of the most beautiful buildings in Budapest and the whole thing is coated in layer upon layer of gold leaf. You can take tours of the Opera House for £7.00 per person (or concessionary prices for students). However, if you visit while there is an Opera showing, you can get a ticket to watch a performance for as little as £1.50! A fantastic and cheap way to see the Opera House at its finest and to truly appreciate the acoustics of this magnificent building.
- St Stephen's Basilica:
St Stephen's Basilica is another grand and beautiful building, in the centre of Budapest that you can go and look at for free! The décor inside and outside is breathtaking and it's easy to see why it is the most visited building in Budapest. You can also pay £1.00 to climb to the top of the dome (or take the lift if you don't fancy the spiral staircases!) where you will get magnificent views of the entire city. Another cheap and fascinating activity.
- Margaret Island:
Margaret Island is a beautiful island in the middle of the Danube River. There is a spectacular fountain there which is powered by music and once an hour songs are bust out of the speakers as the fountain begins to perform. On a sunny day, Margaret Island is a great place to hang out with a picnic and relax in the gardens and it won't cost you a penny. A truly tranquil island that will make you forget you're in the middle of a bustling city.
- Mátyás Church and Fisherman's Bastion:
Entrance to Mátyás Church costs about £5.00 but is worth every penny. This was possibly one of my favourite activities. It was so spectacularly decorated, I was in here for about two hours because there is so much to see, no two pillars or walls are the same. The Fisherman's Bastion is just outside of the church and offers spectacular views of the rest of the city across the river. Another cheap day out as it is easy to walk to and there are plenty of cheap places to eat nearby, this church is absolutely worth a visit.
- Ruined Pubs (Szimpla Kert):
Where once there stood the ruins of an old factory, there is now a fantastic open air bar and cinema. Szimpla Kert is one of many "Ruined Pubs" in Budapest. These individual pubs are huge part of the alternative art scene in Budapest. The drinks are cheap (you can enjoy a pint of beer for just over £1.00) and take in the fantastic and surreal artwork all around you and perhaps hire a shisha. This is a great place to spend a lazy afternoon in Budapest without spending a lot of money and is definitely worth a visit.
There is so much more to see in Budapest, but hopefully some of these great spots will inspire you to consider it for your next holiday destination. A chic and cheap holiday with an alternative feel.
Original Cost: £868
C-I-Y Cost: £358 (inc. flights, 3 nights in 5* hotel & activities)
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