By Andrés Quiroga-Elizondo
Last weekend, some friends and I decided to take our first venture out of the Czech Republic for a weekend trip to Budapest and Vienna. At 4:30 am on Friday, we swung on our stuffed backpacks and left Machova to catch a 5:30 train on its way to Budapest. After the seven-hour train ride, we arrived, and stayed in Budapest Friday and Saturday, spending the night at a cheap hostel near Kossuth Lagos Square. We left as early as we could for Vienna on Sunday morning, catching a 7:50 train so as to make the most of the day once we arrived. By the end of that night, our feet and our minds were tired beyond words. But while reflecting on the train ride back to Prague, we couldn’t help but beg the question; which city did we like best?
The main difference we noticed was that Vienna felt more catered to tourists. From the endless souvenir shops to the ticket-entry churches and cathedrals, we really felt welcomed– maybe too welcomed. But there was no doubt that the architecture was gorgeous and the history beneath our feet was rich. We were fortunate to see Stephansdom Cathedral, Karlskirche Church, and my personal favorite, Hofburg Palace. It’s worth mentioning, however, that as someone who isn’t too keen on architecture, the churches were a bit difficult to differentiate after having seen so many in both cities. Even so, the inside of Karlskirche is definitely one worth highlighting, with its incredibly detailed, complex ceiling paintings and its viewing terrace where we were lucky enough to catch the sunset.
In Budapest, we couldn’t help but mention how much we felt like we were in Prague at first. The cobblestone roads, pastel-colored buildings and narrow streets made us feel like we were right at home– our home away from home at least. But where it definitely differed was its history, language, and the many sights it had to offer. We were first eager to see the Dohony Street Synagogue, but unfortunately only from the outside. That first night, we also got to see Stephen’s Basilica, an easy walk from our hostel and definitely one of the highlights of the trip. It was also great to have so many bars and restaurants nearby to choose from. Later that night, we found a pub crawl that was happening and got to experience multiple bars and a club that left us sore but in love with the nightlife of the city.
Another highlight from Budapest was the Széchenyi Thermal Baths. After the second day of hiking up to Castle Hill, viewing the Hungarian Parliament and the city from above (a view worth the hike), and finishing with a Hungarian lunch in a nearby restaurant, we decided to rush to the baths before they closed. We changed into our swimsuits at the hostel and took a Bolt to the Szechenyi Baths. As frigid as the air was, the thermal baths felt incredible to soak in. Not only were they immense, but they had neo-baroque and renaissance style sculpting all around, which made it feel like we were soaking up history- quite literally.
As we were discussing what we liked most about the trip, we realized that we were pretty much split even on who liked which city the best. Some of us really enjoyed the history of Budapest and the unique sights and experiences it had to offer, while some preferred Vienna with its stunning churches and cathedrals. What we did agree on was that Vienna was much easier to walk through, with something worth seeing around every corner. Budapest was harder to get around in, but once we did, the sights were definitely worth it. Not to mention the food was incredible in both.
Regardless of which city we each preferred, everyone agreed by the end that the experience was one we wouldn’t change for anything. Despite our group returning to Prague with a broken phone, a mild concussion, and sore throats from the incessant wind, I can say it was one of the most gratifying and enjoyable trips I’ve been on. We all fell in love with both cities, and in the end, you’d have to do what we did– visit both to see which suits your taste.