Destinations

As of recently there has occurred an awakening of interest in the capital cities of Eastern Europe, with Budapest at the top of many a list. At the crossroads of many cultures throughout its history, Budapest shows testimony of its past including Magyars, Ottoman, Hungarian or Soviet.

Place to Stay: If in Budapest the place to stay is the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace. Truly a majestic building, inside and out, the hotel has been restored in true form to its Art Nouveau heritage. From the immaculately tiled entry way past the peacock gates, to the stunning hanging chandelier in its grand foyer, each sight is embodies the opulence of a time of luxury once past. Situated on the Pest side of the Danube, the hotel has fantastic views of both the Chain Bridge and Castle Hill.

While Budapest is known for spas and Turkish baths throughout the city, a visit to the Hotel Gresham Palace is not complete without a trip to its state of the art spa. Small and intimate in its design–a welcome contrast to the public spas which can be in contrast for some travelers—the spa offers all forms of restorative and therapeutic massages and treatments, including a specially constructed hydrotherapy machine designed to treat all pressure points and aches in a soothing and luxurious fashion.

Fun to do: While all tour maps will mention the public spas as a must to do—and they are just that—consider adding a trip to the historic Labyrinths beneath Castle Hill. A chance find for us, we had no idea what to expect when entering what on the outside appeared to be one of the many tourist traps easily found on any trip. After paying our entry fee (1,500 HUF per person) we received one kerosene lamp and embarked into what turned out to be a very dark underground labyrinth. We appreciated the ambiance of the lamp, but in retrospect I’d recommend bringing a flashlight as well.

Each section of the caverns were designed with a different theme, ranging from prehistoric cave paintings to surreal and fanciful art pieces. Towards the end of your journey, which should take approximately one hour, you will end up at the Renaissance Hall of Rocks with the Wine Fountains of Mathias. The name is true: wine is actually flowing from the fountains while Renaissance music plays. Though the wine is free to all it is fair to say that other Hungarian wines are more appetizing even if they lack in atmosphere.

As much fun as the caverns were, it is worth noting that it is dark, damp, and easy to become disorientated. If you are prone to claustrophobia or have any physical handicaps take special care in visiting the Labyrinth.