Visiting Budapest for the First Time: What Surprised Me Most

Visiting Budapest for the first time happened to coincide with the inaugural ASTA Global River Cruise Expo. It was the perfect setting—Budapest is one of the most important cities along the Danube and a favorite beginning or ending point for many European river cruises.

What surprised me was discovering a city and a country I realized I knew very little about.

I knew the history and culture of many parts of Europe, but Hungary was different. Its experiences during World War II and the Cold War, its cuisine, traditions, and the stories behind its landmarks were all new to me.

And that intrigued me.

I love arriving in a place I do not know well and allowing it to surprise me. Budapest certainly did.

Budapest Is More Than Buda and Pest

One of the first things I learned was that Budapest was created from three separate cities: Buda, Óbuda, and Pest, which united in 1873.

Together, these three areas created the Budapest we know today, each contributing to the city’s unique character.

The Danube gives the city two distinct personalities. Buda rises above the river on the western bank, while Pest stretches along the eastern side.

Connecting the two sides is one of Budapest’s most recognizable landmarks—the Széchenyi Chain Bridge.

The Chain Bridge – The Symbol of Budapest

Opened in 1849, the Chain Bridge was the first permanent bridge connecting Buda and Pest across the Danube.

Like Budapest itself, the bridge has endured difficult times. Destroyed during World War II, it was later rebuilt and reopened in 1949.

Today, the Chain Bridge is more than a beautiful landmark. It represents the resilience of a city that has rebuilt itself more than once.

Seeing Budapest Illuminated from the Danube

One of my most memorable experiences in Budapest came after dark.

From the Danube, I watched the Hungarian Parliament glow along the Pest side of the river while Buda Castle was illuminated on the opposite bank.

Reflected in the water, these landmarks gave me an entirely different perspective of the city.

For anyone visiting Budapest for the first time, experiencing the city from the Danube is something I highly recommend.

Budapest Is a City of Statues

Not everything I discovered in Budapest came with a history lesson. Some discoveries were simply fun.

As I walked through the city, I began noticing statues—sometimes in places I did not expect. Before long, I found myself taking pictures and looking for more.

There was Hungarian painter Ignác Roskovics, standing at his easel as though he were still painting the view of the Chain Bridge and Buda Castle.

Then there was the Little Princess, sitting along the Danube. Created by Hungarian sculptor László Marton, the statue was inspired by his daughter’s childhood imagination and has become one of Budapest’s most beloved sculptures.

The Paperboy, created by Hungarian sculptor Lajos Szőke, was another charming surprise. The vintage-style figure holds a modern copy of Blikk, a detail that made me smile.

I had not arrived in Budapest planning to search for statues. That is what made discovering them so enjoyable. Sometimes those unexpected discoveries become your favorite memories.

Shoes on the Danube: A Memorial That Stays With You

Not every discovery in Budapest was lighthearted.

Along the Pest bank of the Danube, near the Hungarian Parliament, are 60 pairs of cast-iron shoes. The Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial honors Jewish men, women, and children murdered by members of Hungary’s Arrow Cross militia in 1944 and 1945.

Victims were brought to the riverbank and forced to remove their shoes before being shot.

Before my first trip to Budapest, I knew little about this part of Hungary’s history. Standing beside those empty shoes made that history much more immediate.

It is a simple memorial, but one I have never forgotten.

Budapest Is a City Worth Returning To

I was fortunate to return to Budapest the following year when the ASTA Global River Cruise Expo returned to the city.

After visiting Budapest for the first time, I knew there were places I still wanted to see. When I returned, I made a point of seeing some of what I missed.

That is one of the joys of returning to a destination. A first visit introduces you to a place. A return visit allows you to look closer and discover something new.

If Budapest—or Europe—is on your travel wish list, let’s talk about what you have in mind. Together, we can create a journey that allows you to experience Europe beyond the expected.
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