Guide to making the most of rainy days in Budapest

In Bulgaria, there is a popular novel (later adapted into a movie) called “There is nothing better than bad weather”. While it really is a literary masterpiece (and has, admittedly, turned into an anthem to home-lovers and romantic souls alike), the statement is somewhat of a slap in the face of travellers whose eagerness to explore a new place is hindered by storms, rain or other whims of nature.

Last week, a friend of mine and I arrived in Budapest, where we were welcomed by gloomy skies and an even gloomier weather forecast for the following day. To our great disappointment, we had to scrap our meticulously planned 48-hour itinerary and come up with plan B on how to spend our time in the Hungarian capital. Here are a few tips on how to enjoy Budapest even when the weather is not on your side.

1. Check out the city’s amazing ruin bars

It is not by accident that I am starting off with this piece of advice: ruin bars are huge in Budapest! For those unacquainted with the concept, ruin bars (also referred to as ruin pubs) are abandoned buildings that have been repurposed to meet the high expectations of artistic souls, avid drinkers or bubbly extroverts who are excited to talk to new people.

While I do not encourage day drinking, I highly recommend that you stop by a few ruin bars not only by night, but also during the day. The reason is simple: these pubs are nothing less than a cool museum or a modern art gallery. They are hard to put into words… mostly because one needs Shakespearean rich vocabulary and tons of free time only to make a list of the completely random, seemingly incompatible things that fill up these pubs! I am talking disco balls, bathtubs, paintings crammed with religious symbolism, bizarre scribblings on the walls, artefacts from carnivals, amusement parks or just your average aunt’s socialist style kitchen, etc. The experience is overwhelming: almost like you take a stroll through the mind of a madman.

Szimpla Kert is probably Budapest’s biggest hit when it comes to ruin bars. While it can get quite packed during the night, the pub is really easy to explore in the afternoon, with only an occasional tourist passing in front of your camera just in time to ruin an otherwise perfectly Instagram-able shot. Another bar that made quite an impression on me was Instant: it would undoubtedly award night owls with a hard-to-replicate clubbing experience.

2. Have a relaxing day at the Szechenyi Baths

Budapest is famous for its hot mineral water baths. Whether you are a SPA person or not, consider visiting the Szechenyi Baths, which are not only a short ride from the city center, but boast impressive architecture and gorgeous interior. On top of that, you can choose from a wide variety of packets that suit you best and do so at affordable prices.

3. Food lovers, treat yourselves to some traditional Hungarian dishes

For me, getting a taste of the local cuisine is an indispensable part of any travel experience. Luckily, Budapest’s food department is not one to underestimate. If you are a fan of meat, make sure you order a bowl of homey goulash, which is soup made of beef and vegetables, or pörkölt (meat stew). For those who have a sweet tooth, Dobos cake and chimney cake would not come as a disappointment.

Wondering where to get these? Instead of giving you recommendations for a specific restaurant, I would advise you to go to the Jewish Quarter and follow your instinctanywhereit leads you. Chances are you won’t be disappointed.

Interested in trying local brands of alcohol? Just ask your waiter for a list of Hungarian wines (these are quite good and affordable) or beers. In case you feel bold and adventurous, do not miss on palinka, which is a local type of very strong brandy.

4. Visit the Parliament

Even if you are not aware of it, you have seen the Hungarian Parliament: it is one of Budapest’s iconic buildings featured on nearly every photo or postcard. The good news is it is open to visitors; the bad news is the queues to get in are huge, so, for your own convenience, you need to book tickets online in advance. Visits are only allowed with guided tours, but they are not pricey: if you are a EU citizen over 18, you can enjoy the 45-minute informative walk around the building for 2000 HUF (roughly €6, 5).

5. Hop on tram 2 to enjoy a beautiful ride by the Danube

I do not know about you, but I tend to avoid tourists’ favourite hop-on-hop-off buses that take you to the city’s most popular attractions. The Hungarian capital, however, offers a nice alternative to this detached way of exploring a city. Line 2 of Budapest’s tram system passes by the city’s biggest points of interest, such as the Parliament and the Castle. This is probably why the tram is known among locals and visitors of Budapest as the “sightseeing line”.

Depending on how long you are staying in Budapest, you may opt for a 24- or 72-hour pass to benefit from the impressively well organised public transportation system (including trams, buses, trolleybuses, and the metro). You will obtain excellent value for your money: a 24-hour pass costs 1, 650 HUF (about €5, 4), and you can use it to travel to/from the airport as well.

I sincerely hope that you get to enjoy Budapest’s streets without being bothered by rain and low temperatures, but, unfortunately, no one’s travel insurance covers bad weather. So if you end up in cold and/or rainy Budapest, do look back on this post. The more courageous among you might as well buy an umbrella or a hat emblazoned with the famous “I love Budapest” line (later on to serve as nice souvenirs from the beautiful Hungarian city).

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