After more than half a million votes to choose the best European destination for 2019, Budapest has won first place! 2019 is only the second year that the city was involved in the competition, making a significant improvement from placing eighth in 2018. For this year’s voting session, Budapest managed to rack up more than 62000 votes from travellers situated in 153 different countries around the world.
More About The Competition
The competition, hosted by European Best Destinations (EBD), included many cities such as Cavtat (Croatia), Metz (France), Athens (Greece) and Monte Isola (Italy). The winning destination would receive promotion for an entire year on the EBD website as well as on social media and in international media. So, if you follow EBD, expect to see some incredible footage of Budapest this year – to get you even more excited about visiting the city.
What should you do when visiting 2019’s best European destination? Here are some ideas:
Source: Viator
Relax in a magnificent spa
If you’re feeling tired from your travels, you are in the perfect place to relax and recharge. Budapest has a number of luxurious spas and thermal baths, one of which is the Gellert Bath and Spa centre. Become submerged in the relaxing setting of this historical building, which was built between 1912 and 1918. The spa includes a number of pools and saunas for you to choose from with the additional option of booking a massage and spa treatment for an extra cost.
Source: Unsplash
Examine the historical buildings
If you are a history fan, take time to visit the Hungarian Parliament Building. It is one of the largest buildings in Hungary and boasts Gothic Revival architecture. You will be able to view the symbolic features within as well as The Crown of St. Stephen, which has crowned more than 50 kings. There are daily tours of various parts of the building which can be taken in different languages, which means anyone can take a tour and gain some impressive knowledge on their travels.
Source: Unsplash
Take a leisurely stroll along the promenade
Enjoy the city by foot and walk along the Danube river promenade. Although not very long, you will be able to get a look at a few of Budapest’s top sights, such as Fisherman’s Bastion, the Buda Castle and Szechenyi Istvan Square. You will also be able to stop for a cup of coffee or a meal at one of the popular restaurants or cafés if you are in the mood to relax next to the beautiful setting of the Danube.
Source: Unsplash
Visit the Central Market Hall
The Central Market Hall (or Great Market Hall) is the biggest and one of the oldest markets in Budapest. Apart from sitting in awe of the sheer size of the market, there are a lot of things to see and buy. Whether you want fresh goods, great ‘Instagramable’ photo opportunities or you want to find the perfect souvenir to take back home with you, the Central Market Hall has so much to offer.
Budapest is a magnificent city and certainly deserves its position as number one on the EBD list. Make sure that this destination is next on your bucket list.
Sources:
https://welovebudapest.com/en/2019/02/05/budapest-wins-european-best-destination-2019/
https://www.europeanbestdestinations.com/european-best-destinations-2019/
https://www.thecrazytourist.com/25-best-things-budapest/
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