WHEN my Hungarian tour guide grilled me on the three things I associate with their capital tourist hotspot, I replied: ‘Stunning architecture, hearty goulash and wild stag parties’. Needless to say she wasn’t impressed with my response, as she rolled her eyes while draining a colossal sigh from her lungs. 6 I was Hungary to try goulash soup on my trip to Budapest Credit: The Sun 6 TRIBE Budapest Stadium Hotel is a modern addition to the city Credit: Booking.
com 6 The hotel provides mouthwatering food and amazing snacks and drinks Credit: The Sun 6 The rooms are spacious and contain everything you need for a city break Credit: Booking.com It is unfortunately true that Budapest has been associated with boozy Brits letting off steam before tying the knot. But there’s so much more to this historic getaway than having a skinful of pints.
The stunning metropolis is crammed with remarkable buildings and the fascinating story behind its name drew me in. Buda was the western part of the city while Pest was the east on the other side of the magnificent River Danube. READ MORE TRAVEL CHEAP AS CHIPS UK's best 'budget seaside resort' that's still a hidden gem - with £3 pints ON THE RIGHT RHODES Greek island beach resort is the perfect adults-only playground The two were unified in the late 1800s and Budapest was born.
And chief among the breathtaking buildings it houses is the magnificent Hungarian Parliament - a symbol of this must-see capital. My hotel, however, was in stark contrast to the British-parliament-inspired seat of Government . TRIBE Budapest Stadium Hotel is a startingly futuristic building, nestled among the traditional skyline.
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21 The en suite bathroom was packed with designer toiletries, it had complimentary wifi and an attentive concierge just a phone call away. This was my third time hitting the hay in one of Accor’s eastern European hotels and after this trip, I know it won’t be the last. I could’ve spent the entire trip enjoying the hospitality of this inviting hotel but I was itching to explore the city.
The first stop on my list was the Széchenyi Baths - one of Europe ’s largest spa complexes. 6 I enjoyed breathtaking views of the city from the Budapest Eye Credit: The Sun 6 The Széchenyi Baths is one of Europe's largest spa complexes Credit: AFP This healthcare and wellness retreat blew my local leisure centre out of the water - pardon the pun. The Neo-Baroque spa has been around for over a century and is a work of art .
More than a million annual visitors get lost in its labyrinth of corridors housing 15 indoor pools and an amazing outdoor lagoon. You could easily spend the full day here. And I did.
I’m told doctors prescribe elderly residents season tickets to the venue as the health benefits are supposedly better than any over-the-counter treatments. Old boys bathe in the pool while playing a game of chess over an ice-cold beer . And this paradise has attracted a raft of A-list names with celeb guests including Benedict Cumberbatch , Mark Ruffalo and Will Smith .
It’s a New Year’s Eve tradition to visit the baths to bring in the bells. My birthday falls on Hogmanay and it sure would beat watching the clock strike midnight in a gloomy Glasgow boozer any day of the week. After hours of indulgence, with the sun beating down and the beer flowing, it was hard to drag myself away but I was starving and headed back to the hotel for eats.
TRIBE Budapest Stadium - aptly named as it sits across from a major concert venue in the city - boasts a stunning selection of food and drinks. The in-house restaurant and dining terrace TRIBE Table Cali brings Californian-inspired hospitality to the heart of the city, with bright flavours, a laidback feel and wholesome ingredients. There was also a selection of round-the-clock snacks - however I was stuffed after my amazing offering of pasta and fine wine .
The meal was finished by a local fav called Dobos torte, a rich multi-layer cake stuffed with delicate sponge and indulgent chocolate . I have a massive sweet tooth but even I struggled to finish it off and I was forced to retire to my room, where I slept like a baby. Next morning up and at ‘em, I hopped on the tram - conveniently located at the hotel entrance and was in the city centre in a matter of minutes, where I spent hours wandering the streets.
Gazing up at the breathtaking buildings, I was inspired to take a ride on the Budapest Eye. This magical Ferris wheel provides gorgeous views of the city, make sure your phone’s ready to bag the perfect snap. GO; BUDAPEST GETTING THERE : Ryanair fly direct to Budapest from Edinburgh.
For bets fares see skyscanner.net STAYING THERE : Rooms at TRIBE Budapest from £58 a night, with suites from £126 a night. See Allaccor.
com MORE INFO : For more on what to do in Budapest see visithungary.com Sightseeing is hungry work and in case you didn’t realise, I love my grub. I always judge a place on the local cuisine and one dish came up time and time again - gulyas soup, or as we know it goulash.
A vibrant red-coloured stew with plentiful lashings of melt-in-the-mouth beef and veg in a smoky paprika flavouring. It was just what I needed after a day of sightseeing. I popped into a charming eatery that boasted a welcoming outdoor terrace area.
Serendipity prevailed as I discovered this place was helmed by Hungarian celeb chef András Wolf - a household name I’m told. I dubbed him the Gordon Ramsay of Budapest, but believe me, there were no Kitchen Nightmares here - the chow was top-class. The hearty meal was followed by yet another delicious dessert I struggled to finish - two times on the one trip, it’s not like me.
Back at the hotel, I enjoyed a cooling, and well-deserved, drink at the breathtaking SKY Bar, which includes a rooftop running track - now that one I did give a wide berth as the only place I was running to was the bar. As the sunset began, I kicked back with a cocktail and drank in the staggeringly beautiful view. Before long my incredible getaway was over and it was time to say viszlat to this jaw-dropping country.
Read more on the Scottish Sun NAME SHAME 'I don't care' fumes Scots mum as she gets death threats over kids' unique names HELP MA BOABY Still Game returns in brand new format, fans are going to love it This time as I jumped in the cab to the airport my driver asked me: ‘What three things do you associate with Budapest?’” And without hesitation, I omitted my previous stag do response and replied: ‘Stunning city, the most welcoming and friendly people and incredible memories.’”.
