When travelers plan RTW trips, they often start with adding their bucket-list dream destinations. When competing to warm and exotic Bali or Thailand, moody Budapest doesn’t really stand a chance.

But I’m here to convince you of the contrary. Steeped in history and (still) affordable, Hungary’s capital has been on many travelers’ radar especially in the past years.

I’ve (counted and) read a slew of articles about Budapest published on established sites such as CNN (check this Budapest guide out), The Guardian (a Budapest city guide dating from 2015), and on plenty of well-established travel blogs.

That I’ve got a soft spot for Budapest, you already know.

Located in central Europe, Budapest is a great regional hub for Central and Eastern Europe. The very awesome thing about a RTW ticket is that you can include by-land segments when you price it. So, you may fly into Budapest but out of another European city, such as Berlin, London, or Amsterdam. Or you can fly into Budapest, spend time checking out the countries in the area and then just hop on your next flight out.

To visit Budapest, you need between 3 and 5 days, depending on your travel style. A short Budapest itinerary includes a walk to the top of the Citadella, a walk on the Danube Embankment, checking out Heroes Square and the City Park. You may even have time for a dip in one of the many baths!

If you stay longer, then Szentendre and Esztergom are two super easy and affordable day trips from Budapest. Vienna and Bratislava are two charming capitals located within easy reach and a weekend is plenty to visit each.

If you can venture out of the Schengen area, Romania is a lovely addition to visiting Hungary. Especially if you focus on Transylvania, you’ll soon realize that Hungary and Transylvania were part of the same Empire at one time in history.

Did I convince you already why you should add Budapest to your round the world trip?

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