Budapest - The Pearl of the Danube

Day 1 … Morning Visit the Hungarian Parliament Building, a Gothic Revival-style landmark with ornate rooms and a visitors' center. Afternoon Walk along the Danube River to the Shoes on the Danube Bank, a memorial to those killed by a fascist party during WWII. Evening Have dinner at Mazel Tov, a light and airy cafe and cultural space with a garden that serves bar snacks, sandwiches, beers, and hot drinks.

Day 2 … Buda Castle, Fisherman's Bastion, Comme Chez Soi Morning Visit the Buda Castle, a palatial venue for the Hungarian National Gallery and displays from Gothic altars to sculpture. Afternoon Visit the Fisherman's Bastion, a 19th-century fortress with 7 turreted lookout towers offering panoramic views. Evening Have dinner at Comme Chez Soi, a restaurant that some say is one of the best in Budapest.

Day 3 … St. Stephen's Basilica, Széchenyi Thermal Bath, Menza Étterem és Kávéház Morning Visit the St. Stephen's Basilica, a Roman Catholic place of worship with a vast cupola and breathtaking views. Afternoon Visit the Széchenyi Thermal Baths, ornate thermal baths with a cupola, massive swimming pools, and water jet massagers. Evening Have dinner at Menza Étterem és Kávéház, a busy eatery with retro fittings and wallpaper that serves traditional goulash soup and beef stew.

Underground Caving in the Pál-völgyi or Szemlo-hegyi Cave Systems Go spelunking through a 30-million-year-old limestone cave under the Buda Hills—no tourist paths, just helmets and headlamps. Wine Tasting in Etyek Wine Region (30 mins away) Known as the "vineyard of Budapest," this charming area offers boutique wineries, cellar tours, and gourmet farm-to-table meals.

Visegrád: Explore a medieval citadel with dramatic views. Esztergom: Visit Hungary’s largest basilica. Szentendre: Wander colorful Baroque streets full of art galleries and marzipan museums.

1. Királyrét Forest Railway + Bear Watching Ride a narrow-gauge forest train into Börzsöny Mountains. Try a guided hike—locals say you might spot wild boar or brown bears. 2. Veresegyház Bear Sanctuary (40 min) A rehabilitation park where you can safely observe rescued bears and wolves, and even feed honey on wooden spoons! 3. Etyek Wine & Movie Tour Pair a boutique wine tasting with a behind-the-scenes tour of Korda Studios, where scenes from Blade Runner 2049 and The Borgias were filmed. 4. Thermal Lake of Hévíz (2 hrs) Swim in the world’s largest natural thermal lake—like bathing in a warm lily pond surrounded by forest. 5. Gödöllo Palace + Lázár Equestrian Park Visit Empress Sisi’s baroque residence and then see a Hungarian horse show nearby (csikós riders and carriage rides).