Big views and bigger history

In exactly two weeks I’ll be on a plane heading back home to Australia, so it’s time to start properly savouring every last moment of my time in Europe. 🫣🥲 With that in mind, I set off this morning with no real plan - just a willingness to walk and wander.

My first stop was the Hungarian State Opera, a beautiful place to stumble upon. From there, I made my way over to St. Stephen’s Basilica, where I unexpectedly found myself in the middle of a Christmas market. After soaking up the festive atmosphere for a little while, I ducked into the nearest Starbucks to hop on the WiFi and figure out what to do next.

I had originally planned to catch the metro over to Buda to check out some outdoor attractions, such as Gul Baba’s Tomb and Lukacs Baths, but a particularly sharp breeze rolled in - and somehow, after wandering a bit, I ended up right back at St. Stephen’s Basilica. So I figured, “why not? When’s the next time I’ll be in Budapest?” I paid the entry fee and climbed up to the panoramic terrace. The grand hall inside was spectacular, and after what genuinely felt like a million steps, the view from the top was absolutely worth it.

To warm up again, I took the metro to the House of Terror Museum. The museum was fantastic but incredibly moving - very interactive and deeply focused on the impact of both the Nazi and Soviet regimes in Hungary. It’s all housed in the former headquarters of the Arrow Cross, which makes the whole experience even more powerful.

Afterwards, I headed back to my hotel for a bit of a rest before what I knew would be a late night. I grabbed a souvlaki for dinner, strolled through the Christmas markets at St. Stephen’s Basilica once more, and then made my way to Jack Doyle’s Irish Pub to watch Arsenal take on Bayern Munich in the Champions League. 💪💪💪 The Gunners won 3-1, so I’m starting to think that pairing this pub with me watching Arsenal might just be lucky. Yew! 🤘🤙Læs mere