Sailing into Budapest Day 1 - 5/21/2025
- sridgway38
- May 21
- 4 min read
As we sailed down the Danube towards Budapest we were treated to several castles, churches and bridges before reaching Budapest.
We arrived in Budapest in the most scenic way possible—sailing in along the majestic Danube River. As our ship glided through the heart of the city, we passed under several of Budapest’s iconic bridges. Among them were the Széchenyi Chain Bridge, the oldest and most famous, with its stone lions and stately suspension cables; the Elizabeth Bridge, known for its elegant white structure; and the Liberty Bridge, a striking green Art Nouveau bridge completed in 1896.
From the river, we were treated to a spectacular panorama of the city’s most famous landmarks. On one side stood the impressive Buda Castle, perched high on Castle Hill, offering a glimpse into Hungary’s royal past. On the opposite bank, the Hungarian Parliament Building rose in all its Gothic Revival glory—the third-largest parliament building in the world, and perhaps the most ornate.
High above the Danube, we spotted the Liberty Statue, a tall figure of a woman holding a palm leaf aloft. Erected in 1947 on Gellért Hill, the statue commemorates those who sacrificed their lives for Hungary’s independence and freedom. Its prominent position makes it a dramatic and symbolic addition to the city skyline.
Once our ship docked near the Great Market Hall we boarded a bus for a guided excursion through the city. Unfortunately, traffic was at a standstill due to the presence of the Hungarian president and several international leaders in town for a conference. But after some slow navigating, we made it to Castle Hill.
At Buda Castle, we were able to walk around the cobbled courtyards and take in the incredible views from the Fisherman’s Bastion, a fairytale-like terrace with sweeping vistas of the Parliament Building, the Danube, and the entire Pest side of the city. The castle itself has been destroyed and rebuilt many times over the centuries, and today it houses the Hungarian National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum.
After exploring the castle grounds, we traveled through a tunnel that runs beneath Castle Hill and crossed over to the Pest side. Our route took us past the Parliament once again, allowing us to admire its intricate façade from a different angle. We also passed Heroes’ Square, one of the city’s grandest public spaces. Dominated by the Millennium Monument, the square features statues of Hungary’s most important national leaders and commemorates the 1,000th anniversary of the Magyar conquest of the Carpathian Basin.
We returned to the ship for lunch and then headed out on a second excursion for the day.
We traded the bustle of the city for the charm of the Hungarian countryside as we set out on a winery tour just beyond Budapest. Our journey began by crossing over to the Buda side of the city. Once we left the urban landscape behind, we took the highway that winds through the scenic landscapes west of the capital.
Eventually, we turned off the main road onto a quiet country lane, known locally for being home to a series of small, family-run wineries. This region, like much of Hungary, is steeped in a winemaking tradition that dates back to Roman times.
Hungary is known for several notable wine regions, we visited part of the Etyek wine region, sometimes called the "vineyard of Budapest," known especially for its crisp whites and sparkling wines thanks to its limestone-rich soil and cooler climate.
We made 2 stops and in both cases we were able to speak with a member of the family who owned and worked the winery. We tasted a variety of local wines, and some traditional Hungarian snacks that paired beautifully with the wine.
Once back on the ship we had dinner and later in the evening took a few photos of the view from the ship in the evening.
Tomorrow we will depart the ship and move to the Intercontinental hotel for our final day in Budapest. We enjoyed the river cruise and excursions but we are also looking forward to exploring on our own tomorrow.