GruffyddA Journal Entry
Budapest was the third leg of my spontaneous European run, another £100 all-in deal: return flights, three nights in a hostel, and a sense of “why not?”.
I landed on March 9th, 2023, alone but once again part of a group of solo travellers I’d found online. I’d started to realise something by this point, travelling solo doesn’t mean you’re ever really alone. You just meet better strangers.
First Impressions
My hostel didn’t make a great first impression, a plain, dodgy-looking door on a quiet street, but once I got inside, it completely changed. Warm lights, friendly staff, and a laid-back atmosphere that immediately felt like home. They offered free breakfast, there was a chessboard always set up in the corner, and at 4 a.m. one night I even found myself strumming a guitar I definitely didn’t know how to play. The sound was awful, but the mood was perfect.
Exploring the City
Budapest is a city split in two, literally. Buda on one side of the river, hilly and historic, and Pest on the other, flat, lively, and full of bars, hostels, and ruin pubs. You can walk across the Chain Bridge and feel like you’re crossing between worlds.
We spent our days wandering. The weather was cold but clear, perfect for aimless exploring. We did a walking tour, starting from St. Stephen’s Basilica, crossing the Danube, and ending at the haunting Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial, rows of iron shoes left to remember those who lost their lives during WWII. Standing there in silence, with the river flowing quietly behind, was one of those sobering moments that travel gifts you, beautiful, painful, real.
Later, we explored Margaret Island, a peaceful park right in the middle of the river. Locals jogged past, families strolled with kids, and we just wandered aimlessly, trying to take it all in.
Cafés, Quirks, and Creatures
Budapest is full of hidden gems, and we found some of its weirdest.
We spent a morning in the Harry Potter Café, sipping themed lattes under floating candles and Hogwarts décor, nerdy, but charming. Later, we found the Animal Café, where you can drink coffee with rabbits and chameleons wandering around your table. It was chaotic but hilarious, like a petting zoo disguised as a coffee shop.
Everywhere you go in Budapest, there’s a mix of old and new, ancient façades hiding trendy cafés, traditional food served next to vegan burrito stands, history sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with hedonism.
Nights That Turn Into Mornings
Budapest’s nightlife is what people rave about, and it didn’t disappoint.
Our first big night out was a boat party on the Danube. The city looked unreal from the water, the Parliament Building lit up like gold, the bridges glowing against the dark river, and everyone dancing on deck as the skyline drifted by. It was freezing, but none of us cared.
Afterwards, we stumbled into the ruin bars, Budapest’s most famous nightlife scene, abandoned buildings turned into sprawling clubs, full of mismatched furniture, graffiti, and a hundred conversations happening at once. We ended up in one of the massive ones, and by the time we left, the sun was rising. Walking home past people heading to work while we were still laughing from the night before was one of those “we’re definitely not in England anymore” moments.
And then, of course, came Sparty, Budapest’s iconic spa party at the Széchenyi Thermal Baths. Imagine hundreds of people in swimsuits dancing in neon-lit water under the stars, music echoing off the historic bathhouse walls. It was surreal, hilarious, and absolutely unforgettable, equal parts chaos and beauty.
The Vibe
Budapest has that perfect balance, a city where you can spend the morning learning history, the afternoon in a hot bath, and the night losing yourself in music. It’s gritty and grand at the same time. You can walk from a ruin bar to a gothic church in five minutes, and somehow it all feels connected.
It’s also a place that makes solo travel easy. People are open, curious, and up for anything. You can walk into a hostel common room, mention a boat party, and somehow leave with ten new friends.
Final Thoughts
When I left, I understood why people fall in love with Budapest. It’s the kind of city that can give you a cultural day, a wild night, or both at once. History meets hedonism, beauty meets grit, and you meet people who make you want to stay “just one more night.”
Budapest isn’t trying to impress you, it just does.
It’s the kind of city that keeps you up until sunrise and still makes you want to wake up early the next day to see more.
