Photo ©Jean Janssen View of the Parliament Building from the Danube. Budapest, Hungry.
Photo ©Jean Janssen. A side view of the Parliament building, Budapest.
Budapest has been one of my favorite cities in Europe for many years now after Boris suggested we visit with Rocky on a self-directed land tour of Vienna, Prague, and Budapest. Prague had been as amazing as I had hoped and Budapest had been the surprise. It was before many of the buildings in Budapest had been restored and I am so glad to have seen the before, so I can now really appreciate the after. This is my fourth visit to Budapest and I have seen many changes.
Photo ©Jean Janssen. Cave Church along the Danube, Budapest.
Photo ©Jean Janssen. Along the Danube, Budapest.
There is not much left of the communist feel. However, I have not visited other parts of Hungary. Word is that the leadership puts all the money into Budapest with its strong attraction for tourists and the rest of the country is suffering. I may need to venture farther afield next time.
Photo ©Jean Janssen. Along the Danube, the Gellert Monument, Budapest
Photo ©Jean Janssen. Along the Danube, Freedom Bridge with Gellert Hill and the Liberty Monument in the background, Budapest.
Photo ©Jean Janssen. Cave Church along the Danube, Budapest.
There is nothing like viewing this city from the water, certainly the best concentrated scenery of our river cruise. Capitalizing on that, our captain will go up and down the Danube by day and we will do it again tonight. If you go to Budapest, you must do a tour by boat. I recommend two boat tours, one by day and one by night. In case you can not get there, here is my tour of Budapest from the Danube in pictures. Enjoy.
Photo ©Jean Janssen. Along the Danube, Buda Castle, Budapest.
Photo ©Jean Janssen. Along the Danube, Pillar of the Chain Bridge, Budapest.
Photo ©Jean Janssen. Along the Danube, Castle Hill near the funicular, Budapest.
Photo ©Jean Janssen. Along the Danube, Fisherman’s Bastion, St. Mathias Church, and the Hilton Hotel incorporated into the ruins of a Dominican Monastery (where Natasha stayed on her first trip to Budapest).
Photo ©Jean Janssen. Along the Danube, Budapest.
Photo ©Jean Janssen. Along the Danube, the Parliament Building from the side, Budapest. The boat flies the fly of the country we are visiting. You see the Hungarian flag in the shot.
Natasha at the Parliament Building, Budapest.
Photo ©Jean Janssen. Along the Danube, St. Margaret’s Bridge, with Margaret Island in the background.
Photo ©Jean Janssen. Along the Danube, the Royal Palace (Buda Castle) with the Chain Bridge in the foreground, Budapest.
Photo ©Jean Janssen. We are docked at “The Whale” next to the old train station.
We are docked at The Whale (Baina), the glass structure next to the old train station. The Whale was under construction during my last visit. It is now complete, but far from full. Intended to house galleries, markets, shops, and cafes, the rent is so expensive that it is not fully occupied. After docking, they are offering several tour options for the afternoon. I’ll put those in a separate post and also encourage you to check out my previous posts on Budapest.
Photo ©Jean Janssen. The Parliament Building, Budapest.
But before I close, we have to take the tour again by night. This city photographs so beautifully in the fading twilight, that you may see a few of the buildings repeated. All worth another look.
Photo ©Jean Janssen. Buda Castle, The Royal Palace, Budapest.
Photo ©Jean Janssen
Photo ©Jean Janssen. St. Mathias Church, the Fishermen’s Bastion, and the Hilton, Budapest.
Photo ©Jean Janssen. A side view of the Parliament Building, Budapest.
Photo ©Jean Janssen. Buda Castle, Budapest.
Photo ©Jean Janssen. The Chain Bridge, Budapest.
Photo ©Jean Janssen. Buda Castle and the funicular, Budapest.
Photo ©Jean Janssen. The Freedom Bridge (green by day), Budapest.
Photo ©Jean Janssen. Detail of the Freedom Bridge, just before going underneath, Budapest.
Photo ©Jean Janssen. Gellert Hill, the Liberty Monument, and the Freedom Bridge, Budapest.
travelbynatasha 
Beautiful photography, I enjoyed seeing Budapest, through your eyes. I have to add the place in my tourist destination of must see list. Thank you for sharing.
I almost been there… really wanted to visit it someday!
When you return, consider including Bratislava as another worthwhile stops along this route …
We enjoyed seeing Bratislava on another trip. Definitely worth a visit.