Exploring the Castle District

The weather, again, has been very good to us. To enjoy the warm sunny day, we decided to walk up to the Castle District. Again we walked along the Danube and crossed at the Chain Bridge. We hadn’t walked any further than the bridge before so we decided to walk all the way up to the Fishermen’s Bastion. Once across the bridge, you can take a few paths up to the Bastion. We took a path with a series of stairs that seemed to go on forever. This is quite a walk but it was beautiful.

When we got to the Fisherman’s Bastion, it was full of people and bustling with activity. The view is amazing, especially on a nice, clear day. You can see the Budapest skyline for miles and you can see the flow of the Danube as far as your eyes allow. It’s fantastic. There are so many people in this area, from people selling folk art, tourist to people dressed up in medieval garb. You can spend hours watching people and the performers especially around St. Stephen’s statue.

Next to the Fisherman’s Bastion is Matthias church. Unfortunately during the time when we were there, the church was undergoing renovations. So the exterior of the church was blocked off with plenty of scaffolding obstructing the view. Regardless, you could still imagine the beauty of the church. For a small fee you can enter the church and take pictures. The day was so nice that we decided to admire the beauty from the outside. From the outside you can also admire the statue of the Holy Trinity.

The first time we went to the Castle District it was cold and rainy. What a difference it is when it’s bright and sunny outside. It’s just so nice and relaxing to have a seat, enjoy the weather and watch the day go by. Besides this area, you can also walk to the Budapest Castle. On the way you pass some really quaint cobble stone streets with cute shops and cafes. Once you pass Vienna Gate, the stairs down lead you to the Castle. We had lunch at the little café just down the steps from the Gate. The views here are amazing. You can see the entire Pest side. You have views of the Danube, the Chain Bridge and of Parliament. It’s breathtaking and a perfect spot to have lunch.

After lunch we walked around the castle and admired the views. We passed the impressive statue of Eugene Savoy and enjoyed the beautiful flowers that surround the Palace. We walked completely around the Palace and enjoyed the shops on the back side. Then we headed back to the Pest side and enjoyed the streets and stairs that are abundant on this side of the city. After all the walking we decided to go back to the hotel, get some much needed rest.