I remember it as clearly as if it happened yesterday. But this particular unforgettable travel moment happened years ago on one night in April. It was a warm, foggy, and wet night in Budapest. A seeming gloomy and forlorn mood was cast over the city.
Some people use this type of weather to stay home and snuggle up under the blankets with a good book. Me? I was out walking around the city, as the romantic in me just loves days like this, especially in my favorite place in the world.
I was happily strolling across the Chain Bridge with a friend heading from Pest over to Buda for dinner. Breathing deeply, I sighed with happiness and felt a deep sense of contentment as I took in the familiar landscape of Buda Castle, the Parliament Building, the Four Seasons, and the Danube, and well, quite simply felt at home.
Breaking my reverie, my friend suddenly exclaimed “Isn’t Budapest romantic? This city is beautiful. In fact, I think it’s even nicer than Prague.” I stopped, turned, and looked at him smiling. I’d never met someone who felt the same way as I did about Budapest. For this reason, I’ll always treasure that moment.
Photos Of The Chain Bridge In Budapest At Night
Budapest is an extremely picturesque city which can be best experienced by walking across the Chain Bridge, (Széchenyi Lánchíd) either day or night. I enjoy doing this so much that I make an effort to walk across this bridge each time I visit Budapest. Nighttime is also a perfect time to stroll any city like Prague, Krakow, and Vienna to name just a few. For me, Budapest by night is when the city is at its finest.
This historic suspension bridge that connects the Pest and Buda sides of the city is a monument in itself. Opening up in 1849, it was hailed as a “modern engineering wonder” and seen as a significant achievement further linking East and West, North America, and Europe.
Guarded on each side by two regal and fierce-looking lions, this bridge almost begs you to walk across it, cruise under it, and take photo after photo.
Even though I’ve now been living in Berlin for the better part of a decade, I actually left for two years without any certainty that I’d ever move back. So just before I moved home, I spent one last weekend in Budapest. I stood alone on the bridge one afternoon, bittersweet tears filling my eyes as I looked around at the city I loved so much. I was devastated that the life I’d built for myself was about to come to an end and I found myself not wanting to leave.
Of course, I came back and have since been back to Budapest several times, each time walking across the Chain Bridge in Budapest.
What do you think about these photos of the Chain Bridge in Budapest? Do you have any travel tips for the city? Drop us a note in the comments below.
Location
Good To Know
1) If you need a place to stay in Budapest, see your options on booking.com.
Booking.com2) Make your time in Budapest special and go on a guided tour.
3) As I adore Budapest so much, I have a lot of content about the Hungarian city. Read some of the blog’s most popular posts.
- My Favourite Hostel in Hungary Is Wombats City Hostel Budapest – With a busy bar, private rooms, & central location, Wombats City Hostel Budapest offers up a stylish, hip, & cool place to stay in Budapest.
- Pay Tribute At The Michael Jackson Memorial Tree Budapest – The newest addition to our Unusual Places series shows the Michael Jackson Memorial Tree Budapest. Visit to pay tribute to the King Of Pop.
- The Hospital In The Rock Nuclear Bunker Museum – When in Budapest, visit The Hospital In The Rock Nuclear Bunker Museum to learn the history of this former top-secret location.
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I love Budapest! It is our absolute favorite European city. We’ve walked across the Chain Bridge many times, most recently last month when we went for Budapest’s Christmas markets.
Gorgeous photos Cheryl! Very photogenic place 🙂
Love this bridge! Amazing shots
@Jennifer – I love that you guys love Budapest too! All too often I hear people put down the city and I just don’t understand why. What is there not to love?
And you were there for the Christmas markets? How lovely! I was there over Christmas in 2010. 🙂
@A Montrealer Abroad – Thank you so much. I had a such a willing subject. 😉
@Andrea – Thanks! The Chain Bridge keeps bringing me back over and over again.
Love it! This bridge is SO photogenic.
I walked this bridge a few times at night, and it really is impressive, as your photos show. I haven’t been to Budapest in a very long time, but you’re making me want to go back 🙂
@Amanda – Thank you so much! Yes, the bridge is very photogenic. I could do another post on shots I have during the day.
@Jenna – Yes, it’s one of the mandatory things to do when you’re back in Budapest again. Hope you make it there soon! 🙂
Fabulous nighttime shots of beauty, and extremely interesting to me as we plan to see Budapest this spring, so I’ll be looking forward to walking the chain bridge myself!
@Greg – Excellent news. I highly encourage you to walk along the bridge – it’s something you have to see with your own eyes!
Beautiful details.
@Stephanie – I agree, it’s one beautiful bridge.
Great photos Cheryl! Night time always adds a different kind of beauty to cityscapes. Budapest is a city that I would love to spend a lot of time in.
@Dean – Danke! You might fall in love just like I did. 🙂
We’re heading to Buadpest for the first time this Spring. I can’t wait to see it. We had the chance to stop there during the Mongol Rally, but we were too focused on driving rather than taking in the sights at that point. I’m glad we have a second chance to explore the city, and now we will definitely do it at night!
@Deb – I can’t wait to see your posts and photos about Budapest! 🙂
December in Budapest, perfect time for us photographers. Warm city lights and beautiful Christmas decoration. Chain bridge, Parliament building, Buda castle, Fisherman’s bastion, Gresham palace….Incredible city panorama from Gellert hill, off course.
I made a short night time lapse video about Christmas in Budapest:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ax2_ev4ybY
Yes, it’s one heck of a beautiful city. Thanks for sharing the video!