Budapest is a city that’s eluded me for years, despite multiple trips to Europe over the past decade. Something always kept me from fitting it into my itinerary and I’d opt for something more convenient instead. If you’re subscribed to as many travel newsletters as I am, you’ve probably seen countless articles describing it as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe—if not the world. After getting this email one too many times, I decided 2024 was the year I’d finally make it happen.
But once again, it made absolutely no sense to work it into this trip. I was pressed for time and already had other commitments, none of which were anywhere near Hungary. The trip had fixed start and end dates and was bookended by the English countryside and Tunisia. I spent weeks trying to figure out how to get there from London, and then how on earth to make my way to Africa afterward. It didn’t help that I was trying to pay for this trip entirely on points, a strategy that rarely allows for flexibility. As always, I waited too long to decide, leaving me with one convoluted option: a late-night flight from London to Munich, a few days spent there, and then a 10-hour Flixbus ride to Hungary (which, thanks to my procrastination, cost more than a typical flight). Getting to Tunisia afterward meant a 3 AM wake-up for a flight back to Munich, another flight to Rome, a 6-hour layover, and one final hop down to Africa. Nothing about it made sense—but my travels rarely do. So I went for it.
Was it all worth it? Honestly, I’m not sure. It’s undeniable that Budapest is beautiful to look at. Every building is a work of art and it’s hard to find a street corner that isn’t breathtakingly photogenic. Unfortunately, I visited during a heat wave, which made being outside almost entirely intolerable. On top of that, I visited during the peak tourist season, so I met far more foreigners than Hungarians. What makes a destination special to me is connecting with locals and experiencing the culture on a deeper level—none of which I did while in Budapest. I left realizing that while beautiful buildings are nice, this isn’t enough to make a trip truly special (to me, at least). And the more I travel, the more value I place in slowing down and soaking a city in. This was a prime example of trying to do too much. Still, despite the whirlwind of logistics and the less-than-ideal timing, Budapest had its moments. Here are some of my favorite shots from the trip—because if nothing else, this city knows how to put on a show!
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