Budapest: the Paris of the East

Where do you go to celebrate the last year of your twenties, to see your favorite season transforming a city’s colors?

Budapest is the kind of city that’s as beautiful from the ground as it is from above. It’s often compared to Paris, and I immediately was struck by the similarities. Although Budapest looks a bit like the City of Light, the feeling and mood are quite different. Budapest oozes charm from its golden age days (the late 1800’s) and it’s a city steeped in ancient and modern history. For an architect lover, Budapest is a gold mine of baroque, neoclassical – and my favorite – art nouveau buildings. The two ancient cities of Buda and Pest, now one, offer different things to do and see with the Danube river winding through the middle. It’s no wonder Condé Nast ranked this city as one of the world’s most inviting; its wide, elegant boulevards are lined with beautiful buildings and neighborhoods. Laurens and I strolled, we ate, we took in the sights. This trip was also an early celebration of our two year anniversary. Needless to say, the city served as a romantic and picturesque backdrop. You can’t visit Budapest without visiting one of the many thermal baths built in the 16th and 17th centuries. We chose Gellért because of its colorful art nouveau opulence.

Coffee & brunch highlights: Stika, London Coffee Society

Dinner highlights: Kollazs & Gozsdu Udvar