Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is one of the most beautiful magical places I have been. It reminds me of a less commercialized Paris or Barcelona. 

Budapest is a great walking city, especially along the river on both the Buda and Pest sides.

Metro (subway) is a very convenient way to travel in Budapest. Just remember to hold on to the rail - the long escalator ride almost seems endless, and you can't really see one end from the other.

For decades, the world beyond the Iron Curtain was shrouded in mystery for American travelers. Today, young democratic nations are embracing visitors with welcome arms, ready to share their time-honed traditions. Grand Circle Cruise Line’s Eastern Europe to the Black Sea explores five Eastern European nations—Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania—and provides special insight into the sights and sounds encountered there. As is the case with every Grand Circle Cruise Line vacation, groups of no more than 47 American travelers are accompanied by an expert Program Director—a native or resident of Eastern Europe—ready to share the local perspective onboard the ship and on land. In addition to providing historical context and personal recommendations as you sail all the way to the Black Sea, they’ll candidly address the controversial topics that will better shape your understanding and experience. As they share personal stories about life under communism or insights into the economic and political challenges faced by Eastern European nations, you’ll get the insider’s perspective.

The last, but certainly not least, port of call on Avalon’s itinerary is Budapest, an enchanting city of Gothic architecture that spans the Danube River. Once you are through walking the bridges that connect Buda and Pest and taking in historic sites on the Avalon tour, soothe your muscles in one (or two) of the spas the city is known for. The neo-Baroque Széchenyi spa, fed by thermal springs, contains 18 pools, while the Rudas bath, which dates from 1550, features an ornate octagonal pool set beneath a Turkish dome.

If Budapest doesn’t immediately strike you as a watery destination, think again: Hungary’s capitol city is blessed with more than 500 thermal and mineral springs. “Taking the waters” has been a popular pastime here since the days of the Roman Empire; and the city today is scattered with hundreds of bathhouses, mineral pools, and spas where you can indulge in kind. Some of these facilities are slick and modern (most luxury hotels have their own); others date to the region’s 16th-century Ottoman occupation, and are framed by Moorish arches and colonnades. There’s no wrong time to hit the baths in Budapest; depending on the time of day, you might share your pool with local families or honeymooning couples. But it’s said that a soak can be particularly helpful “morning after” cure—a balm for what locals call a macskajaj (“cat’s wail” or hangover).

Want to sample another flavor of European culture? Enjoy Swiss hospitality, award-winning cuisine and personal service on your way to Budapest, when you fly SWISS.