Reviewing holidays in Budapest.

Budapest is among those cities that surprise you. Expecting the typical touristy clichés, you instead find yourself meandering across a location that somehow manages to be both spectacular and surprisingly approachable. The Danube splits the city into two halves, Buda and Pest. Each side has its own vibe, so you'll definitely want to explore both. This means you'll get a free cardio workout just crossing its bridges many times because each side has its own personality.

The older, more mountainous part of the city, Buda, feels like entering a postcard. Having the magnificent Buda Castle gazing down at you is excellent for shots, but it can also be a little disturbing if you've been staring at your phone all morning. Though the reality is you'll probably be dodging the occasional electric scooter or baffled tourist, the cobblestone streets give you the impression of a character in a period drama. Climb Fisherman's Bastion for the views of Pest are worth every little uneasy step. You'll feel like you're on top of the world, which is thrilling until you recall you left your shades at the hotel and now you're squinting like a bewildered mole.

On the other hand, Pest is about energy, life, and an odd way of making you fall in love with run-down pubs. Yes, degrade pubs. These are essentially bars in outdated, falling-down structures that, for some reason, appear cooler than anything you have ever seen on Instagram. Szimpla Kert best embodies this phenomenon. Half of your time will be spent wondering if you have stumbled into someone's art project in this place where odd furniture meets diverse decorations. Yes, you most certainly will lose track of time here; drinks are inexpensive, the mood is simple.

Then come the thermal baths. Budapest places great emphasis on bathing. Gellért and Szechenyi Baths are basically institutions where locals and visitors alike soak in steaming pools, trying to ignore the fact that someone just cannonballed next to them. It's soothing, somewhat uncomfortable, and slightly social at once. You'll go feeling revitalised and a bit pleased that you're having fun in a way that is both very touristy and genuinely culturally appropriate.

Budapest also has food that is worth writing home about, or at least posting on social media. Naturally, goulash is the king of comfort food, but remember chimney cakes as well. These are sweet, tubular pastries that resemble a coil of happiness. They are best enjoyed while walking because sitting down feels too logical.

The beauty of Budapest lies in its tiny contradictions. Spend the morning wandering ancient lanes, the afternoon appreciating rich architecture, and the evening drinking craft beer in a pub that seems completely wrong except for its perfection. Somehow, it's really lovable because it's a city that doesn't take itself too seriously. Go then, get lost, snap too many shots, indulge too much, and act as though you understand Hungarian for a day. You'll leave with anecdotes, somewhat aching feet, and a continual yearning to come back sooner than you had intended.