Day 8
The only activity included on Day 8 is breakfast. While some of my tourmates headed home on this day, a handful of us decided to stay and spend Sunday exploring more of Budapest. The best part is that a few of us agreed to rendezvous at the hotel later that evening for one more farewell dinner!
Conquering Budapest
Just like my first full day in Europe, I planned an ambitious day of sightseeing for my final day in Budapest. But I quickly learned that conquering Budapest is a bit more difficult! As Budapest is a larger city, it takes more time to get places, and the buses aren't always punctual.
To-Do List
✔️ Hungarian National Gallery
✔️ Shoes on the Danube Bank
✔️ Walking Tour of the Budapest Jewish District
✔️ St. Stephen's Basilica
Image: Rollerező (Scooter Boy) (Budapest)
Stop 1: Hungarian National Gallery
Francis I Crowned King (1823)
by Johann Peter Krafft
As you may have noticed while viewing this scrapbook, I love art and museums, so visiting an art museum in Budapest was a priority for my extra day. I chose to go to the Hungarian National Gallery, a sizeable museum that spans 4 buildings within Buda Castle and has an impressive collection of artworks. Getting to the museum was a bit of an adventure (metro, bus, walking, getting lost, more walking, climbing stairs), but it was well worth it!! Your reward for getting to the museum is beautiful art plus amazing views of Pest and the Danube River.
Lady in Violet
by Pál Szinyei Merse
Saint Elisabeth of Hungary and the Beggar Woman
by Sándor Liezen-Mayer
The Swing
by Pál Szinyei Merse
Emir of Lebanon
by József Borsos
Milton Dictating "Paradise Lost" to his Daughters
by Mihaly Munkacsy
High Altar of Kisszeben
Views of Parliament Building and the Széchenyi Chain Bridge from the Hungarian National Gallery
Stop 2: Shoes on the Danube Bank
The Shoes on the Danube is a simple but solemn memorial dedicated to victims of the Arrow Cross Party. The Arrow Cross Party would line up Hungarian Jews along the bank of the river and then shoot them, with the bodies falling into the river. Before their execution, the victims were asked to remove their shoes as they were a valuable commodity during World War II.
I wasn't all that familiar with the Arrow Cross Party before this trip, so visiting the House of Terror museum and this memorial were valuable learning experiences that provided a deeper understanding of the atrocities committed during WWII.
Stop 3: Jewish Quarter
The Dohány Street Synagogue is considered a must-see site by many, so I added the site to my to-do list for the extra day. While browsing the synagogue's website, I came across a walking tour of Budapest's Jewish Quarter that covered Dohány Street Synagogue, Rumbach Synagogue, Tree of Life Holocaust Memorial, a Holocaust Cemetery, a stop at the Carl Lutz Memorial, and a walk through the former Ghetto of Budapest. I signed up for the tour as I love to learn about and understand other cultures and religions.
The walking tour of the Jewish Quarter was one of the most valuable and poignant moments of my trip. It is difficult to find words to describe how one feels standing before sites such as the Holocaust Cemetery and Tree of Life Memorial. And walking through the former Ghetto, seeing the Jewish stumbling blocks, and learning what people endured then was heartbreaking. On a lighter note, it was inspiring learning about Carl Lutz and others, who at great risk, took action to save Hungarian Jews during World War II.
Dohány Street Synagogue
The Holocaust Cemetery
Mass graves of those who perished while living in the Ghetto
1140 victims were identified
1170 souls whose names are unknown
Carl Lutz Memorial
Dohány Street Synagogue
Tree of Life Memorial
Leaves are engraved with the
names of those who lost their life.
Rumbach Synagogue
When selecting a guide/tour company for the Dohány Street Synagogue, ensure they have been approved by the Hungarian Jewish Community. Only those authorized by them can give tours of the synagogue.
Stop 4: St Stephen's Basilica
The final stop of my grand European adventure was St. Stephen's Basilica. It is considered to be one of Hungary’s most significant religious sites, dedicated to St. Stephen who served as the country's first king. The basilica is magnificent, and no words can adequately describe its beauty. Just like during my visit to St. Vitus Cathedral, I found myself walking around the basilica in a state of amazement, admiring its many frescoes, stained glass windows, ornate features, and stunning dome. And the icing on the cake was the wonderful views of Budapest from the panoramic terrace!!
Holy right hand of St. Stephen
View from the panoramic terrace. In the distance, you can see Buda Castle, a sliver of the Danube River, Matthias Church, and Fisherman's Bastion.
Dinner Time
This evening, I gathered with a few tourmates for the Farewell Dinner Part 2. We headed to Callas Cafe and Restaurant where we wound up spending almost 3 hours talking, laughing, and having an absolutely wonderful time! And no lemonade tonight; instead a glass of wine to celebrate a successful tour and trip!!
Farewell to Europe
Monday morning rolled around, and it was time to head home. The hotel had arranged for a car service to pick up a tourmate and me at 3:30 a.m. and take us to the airport. That morning, all I could think about was... "why are these international flights so early?". Soon, I was on my first flight, looking out the window as Hungary's rolling hills and green fields faded from view.
But it truly wasn't a farewell to Europe so much as a see you soon! Four weeks after the tour ended, I booked another one for the spring of 2025. 🌍✈️🧳
Final Thoughts
I hope you have enjoyed traveling through Prague and Budapest via my scrapbook and are now itching to take a trip! Visit Best of Prague & Budapest in 8 Days to book your tour.
Thank You Notes
Thank you to my parents for instilling a strong passion for learning and travel.
Thank you to Rick Steves' Europe for producing and offering these wonderful tours.
Thank you Andrea, Honza, and George for all their efforts to create a truly magnificent tour experience.
Thank you to my tourmates for being so welcoming and amazing.
Here are some flowers as a parting gift!
