Balkans to Berlin: Budapest

I got up early & did a quick 5k run before checking out of the hotel. Everything went fairly smoothly on my the train ride from Bratislava to Budapest. Once I arrived in Budapest I needed get some local currency from the ATM so I could purchase a 3 day transit pass. The cost for a 3 day pass was only $15. After looking at the subway map I figured out what I needed to do to get to the Park Inn. However, two stops before my final destination everyone starts to get off the train since there is some repair work being done to the tracks & everyone is loaded onto two buses. After I get to my stop, it is a easy 8 minute walk to the hotel.

The Park Inn in Budapest is only a few years old & is primarily a hotel catering to business travelers, so it is a few miles north of the center of town. I am lucky to be upgraded to a suite which is a very large room with a huge bed for my free 2 night stay. I take bus/subway to do some sightseeing. I went to see the Liberty Bridge & hiked up to the top of Gellert Hill. I also walked up to the top of hill with the Buda Castle & was able to get some great night photos of the Chain Bridge.

On the second day in Budapest, I headed over to Heroes Square & also checked out the nearby park which had some type of festival going on. I also did some walking around town & ended up eating at the Hard Rock Cafe. After that I head down to the river to take some more photos of the buildings & bridges light up along the river.

I checked out of my hotel at lunchtime & made the 15 minute trip downtown to my apartment for the next two nights. It is a few blocks from the river & is close to Margarit Island. There are lots of little restaurants & shops nearby. I check out the Parliment building, some churches, and a few other places downtown before I head over to Margarit Island for a run. There is a 5300 meter rubberized running that goes around the perimeter of the island. There are hundreds of people out running after work. Unfortunately about 2/3 of the path is closed for renovations, but there are other trails that follow a similar route. I get in 5.75 miles on this run.

On my last full day in Budapest, I got in a run on the island in the morning & then headed up to the Buda Castle area to check out some areas that I missed out my first time there. I also got a tip from a local on a nice buffet restaurant near my apartment, it was really good & only $17 including unlimited beverages. In the evening, I head down to the river to walk & get some more night photos.