Budapest.

Budapest (October 2024).

A long weekend with Tony, Dave, JD and John. The plan was simple: eat, drink and talk rubbish. We stuck to it.

The city makes it easy. Big breakfasts, proper beer halls, and the Chain Bridge and Parliament looking ridiculous in the autumn sun.

Budapest (July 2026).

Back with Anita for a week, and a much more high-brow one. Rooftop cocktails, long dinners, walks in the park and, of course, the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Rooftops and dinners.

Budapest does rooftops very well. Cabanas looking out over the Danube, small plates and a cocktail as the sun goes down. The food was a step up too, from goulash and dumplings done properly to a breakfast worth getting up for.

The ruin bars.

Still worth a look, even on the posh trip. Junk, fairy lights, a painted Trabant and a beer garden in a courtyard that shouldn't work but does.

The Grand Prix.

The Hungaroring sits in a bowl just outside the city. We watched from the bank above the track. Hot, dusty and loud, which is exactly what you want.

Same city, two completely different trips. Both worth doing.

Getting there.

Both times I flew British Airways from Heathrow, about two and a half hours. In 2024 we booked a taxi from the airport to the hotel and back.

Other options: Wizz Air flies from Luton and Ryanair from Stansted, and there are direct flights from Bristol, Liverpool, East Midlands, Newcastle, Leeds Bradford and Glasgow. From the airport, the 100E express bus runs around the clock to Deák tér for about £6 and takes 35 to 50 minutes. For the Grand Prix, take the M2 metro to Örs vezér tere, then the HÉV to Kerepes and the free fan shuttle to the gate.

Where to stay.

The lads stayed at the Soho Boutique Hotel. In 2026 Anita and I rented a flat on Akácfa utca in District VII, right in the ruin-bar quarter, for the week.

Budget: Wombat's City Hostel in District VI, private rooms from around £60 a night. Mid-range: Hotel Rum in District V, near the river, around £200. Fancy: Four Seasons Gresham Palace at the Chain Bridge, from around £600.

Worth booking.

High Note SkyBar, by St Stephen's Basilica, for cocktails at sunset. Brunch at Twentysix. An evening Danube cruise from Vigadó tér with the drinks included. Dinner at Barack és Szilva.

With more time: Széchenyi Baths in City Park, the Great Market Hall, and Fisherman's Bastion at sunset.