Budapest

Activities:

• Bathouses!  Bring a swim cap so you can access all the pools
• Gellert Baths - gorgeous indoor pool and a nice variety of outdoor pools
• Rudas Baths - the most spa like experience.  Go early in the morning. Also can enjoy the rooftop thermal bath overlooking the Danube.
• Szechenyi Baths - scarily crowded and didn’t feel as clean as others.  Cool to see but not very enjoyable. Getting any food while there is also almost impossible because of the lines at the one whack cafe so plan for that.
• Day trip to Szentendre - take the ferry up the Danube to this cute town with art galleries.  We took the train back because it was quicker than the ferry, but it was rickey and not air conditioned, so heads up!  While here, make sure to go to the Retro Design Museum and ArtMill.  To eat, Folt is very cute.
• Esceri Flea Market - a bit of a longer bus ride but worth it.  So many cool stalls with antiques and vintage items
• House of Terror - a historical exhibit that enlightened me on Hungarian history in the 20th century
• Fisherman’s Bastion - pretty castle like thing with nice views of Pest
• Cave church - church in the side of the mountain.  We accidentally busted in during an actual mass, so don’t do that.
• Hospital in the Rock - weird tour through a hospital/bomb shelter built into the mountain, complete with wax figures doing surgery
• Központi Antikvárium - old bookstore with vintage posters
• Dressing Room - vintage shop with lotsa good clothes

Food:

• Cafe Kor - cute cafe
• Bors GastroPub - sandwich heaven
• New York Cafe - yes it is a tourist trap but I also think the inside is worth it.  ‘Gilded cafe’ 
• Café Csiga - great breakfast spot
• Pest-Buda Bistro - up by fisherman’s bastion on the Buda side
• Freya - delicious croissant and coffee shop
• Fekete Cafe - another good breakfast spot

Drink:

• Instant - fun ruin bar with sculptures and a big indoor/outdoor courtyard
• Mika Tivadar Mulato - massive outdoor space to drink
• Kisuzem - local whiskey bar
• Szimpla Kert - the OG ruin bar, everyone goes to but is definitely worth seeing all the decor
• Fekete Bar - local bar with some outdoor seating

Other:

• Definitely stay at the Airbnb we did.   The host Szilvia was an incredibly sweet and cool woman - she even invited us to a birthday party overlooking the Danube.  Also, the apartment was in a great location, had a wonderful balcony and design.
• Omorovicza - if you like skin care products