Budapest has a rich history but it also is moving forward quickly. It has a vibrant art scene to go along with its historical monuments and culture.

For our first and second week we were pretty good about knocking things off our “Must do” list. This list is one thing each plus a few more things. Mr.7’s thing is usually a zoo, Ms.10’s thing is usually a Water Park, and Mum and Dad love old stuff so we’re easy to please in almost any European city.

What I didn’t know is that the Palace of Arts holds a treasure trove of very advanced art and design! Check out these pieces by students and established practitioners:

A beautiful mixed media artwork at Palace of Art
A beautiful mixed media artwork at Palace of Art
Another beautiful mixed media artwork at Palace of Art
Another beautiful mixed media artwork at Palace of Art

So much great art and design, I wish I could show everything because I was really inspired to create after seeing all the great stuff. Even the animated stories gave me an appreciation for Hungarian art.

Hungarian graphic design is crisp, clean, and direct
Hungarian graphic design is crisp, clean, and direct

Think Sweden and The Netherlands have cornered the market on furniture design? Wow please add Hungary to your list; clean lines and beautiful wood fuse nature and modernism (my humble point of view):

Wow Hungarian furniture!
Wow Hungarian furniture!

The Palace of Art is on Hero’s Square which is a historic monument in its own right:

Hero's square from the river
Hero’s square from the river

Across from Hero’s Square is a spacious, beautiful park, and beyond it is the Budapest Zoo (more on this Zoo in my next blog post).

A cool park bench at the park across the river from Hero's Square
A cool park bench at the park across the river from Hero’s Square
Hero's Square from yet another angle
Hero’s Square from yet another angle

Transport is always key for us in any city. Budapest has a great system, mostly honor system since we have seen very view ticket checkers on buses and trams, only the subway, where you go to a purple ticket machine and you are offered all sorts of options. We didn’t get a month pass, seemed too expensive, but 24 passes were perfect for us and meant we didn’t have to buy multiple tickets. Handy for after a long day when all you want to do is go home.

We are amazed by the transport system in Budapest; it's fast moving, efficient and on time
We are amazed by the transport system in Budapest; it’s fast moving, efficient and on time

I’m amazed by the kid’s creativity too, they take our clothes and make amazing outfits/costumes out of them. 🙂

The kids get creative before dinner with Mum and Dad's clothes
The kids get creative before dinner with Mum and Dad’s clothes

I’m in love with not only art and culture but also old, rusty well-designed shop signs. Here’s one I found on our street that really amazed me.

There are lots of old signs around Budapest, one of my favouite things!
There are lots of old signs around Budapest, one of my favouite things!

The Budapest Market Hall is deep in tourist territory, but was still so worth a visit. Vendors sell the best fruit and veg and the opportunities to buy souvenirs are plentiful. Man I wish you could taste the blackberries we bought here; amazing.

The Budapest Market Hall reminded us of the one in Latvia, incredible Blackberries too
The Budapest Market Hall reminded us of the one in Latvia, incredible Blackberries too

We saw this later on our walking tour but I did know this was St. Stephen’s Basilica, named after the founder and first king of Budapest, Stephen. There are many images and honors to him all over town, his Basilica watches of a main street through the centre of old town downtown.

St. Stephen's Basilica
St. Stephen’s Basilica

We knew there was a Cat Cafe in Budapest and had to go check it out. The cat’s are pretty aloof but it was really fun for the kids to see if they could pet a few of them. One cat, a red one, was the 2nd biggest cat I’d ever seen; he was like a small tiger with gigantic paws.

The Cat Cafe had 14 cats inside, most were aloof but the cafe was fun
The Cat Cafe had 14 cats inside, most were aloof but the cafe was fun

On adventure days (usually on the weekends) we take the Subway, tram, train and/or bus as far as it will go and see where we end up. I’m always so happy to see new things on these jaunts.

Climbing the steps to yet another subway stop and another adventure awaits!
Climbing the steps to yet another subway stop and another adventure awaits!

The newer subway trains are automatic so there’s no driver to block your view as you hurtle along the tunnels.

The newer subway trains are automatic (driverless) so you can see out the front of the train
The newer subway trains are automatic (driverless) so you can see out the front of the train

Szimpla Kert neighborhood has this amazing space called Szimpla where we went for a Sunday morning market. (I spotted Keira Knightly wandering around; it was cool that no one bothered her.) So much great food and drink, we even got to try truffles for free; a good sales pitch.

Szimpla Kert neighborhood has Szimpla, the artsiest place we've yet seen
Szimpla Kert neighborhood has Szimpla, the artsiest place we’ve yet seen

Budapest is actually two cities joined together, Buda and Pest (say Pesht, not Pest) and a popular slogan is Buda F-ing Pest (replace Lovin with F-ing). I’m sure we’ll buy some tshirts online to commemorate this fact.

Replace "Lovin" with the F-word and you have the real Budapest
Replace “Lovin” with the F-word and you have the real Budapest
Szimpla has many nooks and crannies to explore, it's a hive of music and dance at night
Szimpla has many nooks and crannies to explore, it’s a hive of music and dance at night
Szimpla is a great place for a Sunday morning market
Szimpla is a great place for a Sunday morning market

Our apartment on the 4th floor has a great unobstructed view of the park across the street and all the sunrises and sunsets. I have too many photos to show them all, but enjoy this particular one from our 2nd week in Budapest.

Another brilliant Budapest sunset
Another brilliant Budapest sunset
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Nathaniel Flick