Hungary Backpacking

Backpacking Budapest

A lot of backpackers skip Hungary on their grand tour of Europe, preferring to stop in Vienna instead. Those that do miss an entire half of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire, and one that deserves at least some thought when sitting down to plan a backpacking trip through the Continent.

Indeed, Budapest is one of the most interesting cities in Europe. Split into Buda and Pest by the Danube River, this thriving metropolis doesn’t slow down for anyone. You shouldn’t either. There are enough sights to keep backpackers engaged for a week or more. As an added plus, Budapest is also one of the cheapest major cities in Europe, on par with Prague and Krakow. That means your Euro will go farther and last longer.

The best place for the backpacker to start is probably the castle. The castle here rivals Prague Castle as one of the finest examples of middle-age construction on a grand scale. From this vantage point, you can begin to get an idea just how bustling Budapest really is.

Another sight not to be missed is the Szechenyi (pronounced Sil-Chay-Ni) baths. Wonderful hot springs set in a fantastic architectural masterpiece are sure to ease your sore muscles. After all, carrying a heavy backpack around Europe is work too, right?