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Madrid & Budapest: A Journey of Culture and Adventure

Ingrid mendoza

Ingrid mendoza

10 Jan 2024

Embark on a thrilling 19-day journey through the vibrant cities of Madrid and Budapest. Immerse yourself in the rich history, stunning architecture, and captivating attractions of these two European gems. From royal palaces to iconic landmarks, this itinerary will take you on an unforgettable adventure.

Trip to Madrid

Day 1Unveiling the Hidden Gems of Madrid
+

$0

·

$ 5

Parque Juan Carlos I
Urban oasis with a lake, olive grove, skating rink, free train rides & many modern sculptures.
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
•
Free
12 - 15 min

~

Directions

Parque de la Quinta de los Molinos
Former estate-turned-park, popular for its grove of blooming almond trees in springtime.
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
•
Free
Day 2Football Fever and Majestic Monuments
+

$147

·

$ 15

Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
81,000-capacity ground for Real Madrid, with regular matches plus tours of stadium and trophy room.
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
•
$96
12 - 15 min

~

Directions

Monument to Alfonso XII
Built in 1922, this monument in Buen Retiro Park features a colonnade with an equestrian statue.
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
•
Free
13 - 16 min

~

Directions

Las Ventas Bullring
Bullfighting arena built in the 1920s in neo-Mudéjar style & used for bullfights, concerts & events.
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
•
$51
18 - 22 min

~

Directions

Jardín El Capricho de la Alameda de Osuna
Manicured 18th-century landscaped gardens with sculptures, water features & a Civil War bunker.
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
•
Free
Day 3Thrills and Beauty in Madrid's Parks
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$129

·

$ 10

Parque de Atracciones de Madrid
Established theme park with thrill, water & family rides & attractions, plus live entertainment.
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
•
$129
16 - 20 min

~

Directions

Campo del Moro
Streams, paths & trees in steep, sloping historic gardens on 20 acres with 2 monumental fountains.
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
•
Free
17 - 21 min

~

Directions

El Oso y el Madroño
Landmark bronze sculpture in a bustling city square featuring a bear & a strawberry tree.
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
•
Free
6 - 9 min

~

Directions

Metropolis Building
This ornate 1911 beaux arts structure features a gilded cupola with a winged goddess statue.
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
•
Free
Day 4Art, History, and Underground Wonders
+

$51

·

$ 10

Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida
Chapel-turned-museum & burial place of the famous artist Francisco de Goya, featuring his frescoes.
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
•
Free
16 - 23 min

~

Directions

Temple of Debod
Ancient Egyptian temple & museum moved from Aswan & rebuilt in lush parkland, with sunset views.
9:30 AM - 10:15 AM
•
Free
10 - 15 min

~

Directions

Royal Palace of Madrid
18th-century, ridge-top palace for state occasions, plus tours with rooms full of art and antiques.
10:45 AM - 12:45 PM
•
$51
15 - 18 min

~

Directions

Estación Museo Chamberí
Madrid Metro ghost station, opened in 1919 & unused since 1966, now a museum with original decor.
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM
•
Free
12 - 15 min

~

Directions

Velázquez Palace
Built 1881–1883, this restored neoclassical building houses rotating exhibits of contemporary art.
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
•
Free
Day 5Palaces, Museums, and Riverside Bliss
+

$24

·

$ 10

Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales
1500s royal monastery with a museum housing holy relics & works by Titian, Rubens & Caravaggio.
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
•
$24
9 - 11 min

~

Directions

Liria Palace
Ornate 18th-century palace with furnishings, tapestries & a notable collection of classic art.
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
•
Free
10 - 12 min

~

Directions

Parque Madrid Río
Modern linear green space along the Manzanares River, with cultural events & sports fields.
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
•
Free
Day 6A Wild Encounter and Architectural Marvels
+

$93

·

$ 5

Zoo Aquarium de Madrid
Huge facility with animals in natural habitats, dolphinarium & a shark tank, plus kids' petting zoo.
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
•
$93
27 - 33 min

~

Directions

Cibeles Fountain
18th century neoclassical fountain depicting the goddess Cybele on a chariot pulled by 2 lions.
12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
•
Free
11 - 16 min

~

Directions

San Jerónimo el Real
Former 1500s monastery with a remodeled neo-gothic sanctuary, stained glass & a baroque cloister.
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
•
Free
Day 7From Modern Art to Historic Landmarks
+

$81

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía
Sprawling museum for Spanish 20th-century art collection with works by Gris, Dali, Picasso & Miro.
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
•
$36
12 - 17 min

~

Directions

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
Museum housing collection of 13th-20th-century European masterpieces, from Renaissance to Pop Art.
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
•
$45
11 - 16 min

~

Directions

Puerta de Alcalá
Triumphal arch near to Parque del Buen Retiro & rich with stone carvings & elegant sculptures.
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM
•
Free
Day 8A Day of Adventure and Panoramic Views
+

$150

·

$ 5

Parque Warner Madrid
Amusement park divided into themed areas, with several roller coasters & Batman-inspired rides.
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
•
$150
39 - 47 min

~

Directions

Cerro del Tío Pío
Sports fields, cycle paths & views across the city in a hillside park popular for sunset walks.
12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
•
Free
Day 9Exploring Nature and Botanical Wonders
+

$108

·

$ 5

Faunia
Polar & jungle ecosystems in a zoo with hundreds of animal species kept in their natural habitats.
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
•
$93
19 - 23 min

~

Directions

Real Jardín Botánico
Botanical garden with outdoor gardens & greenhouses, plus walking trails & monthly activities.
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
•
$15
Day 10A Cultural Feast at the Prado Museum
+

$48

Museo Nacional del Prado
Art museum with Velazquez, Goya and El Greco masterpieces in vast 12th- to 19th-century collection.
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
•
$48

Budget breakdown: $1705 In total

Activities & Food:$1603
Transport:$103

Trip to Budapest

Day 1Unveiling the Hidden Gems of Madrid
+

$75

·

$ 6

Aquincum Museum
History museum set around an excavated Roman bath house, with a recreation showing life at the time.
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
•
$30
7 - 9 min

~

Directions

Vasarely Museum, Budapest
Large collection of works by the 20th-century op art painter & sculptor, plus temporary exhibitions.
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
•
$26
6 - 9 min

~

Directions

Hungarian Museum of Commerce and Hospitality
Retro shop signs, restaurant setups & exhibits on the evolution of Hungary's hospitality business.
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
•
$19
12 - 15 min

~

Directions

Margaret Island
Medieval ruins are found on this island that is predominantly used for recreation.
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
•
Free
Day 2Football Fever and Majestic Monuments
+

$111

·

$ 3

Palace of wonders
Science center for kids offering interactive exhibits & activities, plus a cinema, game room & cafe.
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
•
$38
12 - 15 min

~

Directions

Hungarian Parliament Building
Landmark Gothic Revival–style edifice with lavishly decorated rooms, plus a visitors' center.
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
•
$54
4 - 6 min

~

Directions

Shoes on the Danube Bank
Waterside shoe sculptures memorializing those killed at the river by a fascist party during WWII.
12:00 PM - 12:15 PM
•
Free
8 - 11 min

~

Directions

Széchenyi Chain Bridge
Landmark 19th-century suspension bridge, designed by William Tierney Clark & illuminated at night.
12:45 PM - 1:15 PM
•
Free
12 - 18 min

~

Directions

St. Stephen's Basilica
Vast cupola-topped Roman Catholic place of worship, built from 1851 to 1905, with regular concerts.
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM
•
$19
Day 3Thrills and Beauty in Madrid's Parks
+

$78

·

$ 3

Matthias Church
A 13th-century church named for King Matthias, who married here, with an ecclesiastical art museum.
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
•
$21
7 - 10 min

~

Directions

Budapest Castle Hill Funicular
19th-century cable railway offering city views on its journey to & from the Buda Castle complex.
9:30 AM - 9:45 AM
•
$15
5 - 8 min

~

Directions

Hungarian National Gallery
Permanent & temporary collections of Hungarian works from the 15th century to the modern day.
10:15 AM - 12:15 PM
•
$23
4 - 5 min

~

Directions

Várkert Bazár
Renovated 19th-century Neo-Renaissance complex of exhibition halls, theaters, gardens & restaurants.
12:45 PM - 1:45 PM
•
$19
5 - 6 min

~

Directions

Gellért Hill Cave
Grotto chapel in a hillside cave network, formerly used as a monastery & a WWII field hospital.
2:15 PM - 2:45 PM
•
Free
Day 4Art, History, and Underground Wonders
+

$75

·

$ 3

Castle District
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
•
$39
10 - 15 min

~

Directions

Buda Castle
Palatial venue for the Hungarian National Gallery plus displays from Gothic altars to sculpture.
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
•
$36
14 - 17 min

~

Directions

Citadella
Built after the suppression of the Hungarian Revolution in 1848, this fort is a symbol of the city.
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
•
Free
Day 5Palaces, Museums, and Riverside Bliss
+

$98

·

$ 9

Memento Park - Statues from the Communist Dictatorship
Collection of imposing statuary and iconography from the country's past as part of the Soviet Bloc.
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
•
$45
21 - 26 min

~

Directions

Gellért Hill
A walk up this small hill leads to balconies with scenic views of the Danube, plus snack kiosks.
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
•
Free
15 - 18 min

~

Directions

Labyrinth
Historical labyrinth under Castle Hill where Count Dracula (Vlad Tepes) was once imprisoned.
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
•
$38
4 - 5 min

~

Directions

Fisherman's Bastion
19th-century fortress with 7 turreted lookout towers offering panoramic views plus cafe on terrace.
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
•
$15
13 - 16 min

~

Directions

Millenáris Park
Modern park with playgrounds, lawns & a hanging garden, plus the sleek National Dance Theatre.
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
•
Free
Day 6A Wild Encounter and Architectural Marvels
+

$78

·

$ 6

Heroes' Square
Part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, with statues of the leaders of 7 tribes who founded Hungary.
8:00 AM - 8:45 AM
•
Free
5 - 6 min

~

Directions

House of Terror
Museum documenting the effect of the Nazi and Soviet regimes in Hungary, and memorial to victims.
9:15 AM - 10:45 AM
•
$33
5 - 6 min

~

Directions

Dohány Street Synagogue
Ornate domes top this lavish Moorish-style synagogue, with a museum, cemetery & Holocaust memorial.
11:15 AM - 12:45 PM
•
$45
9 - 14 min

~

Directions

Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library
Sprawling public library complex, with its main building in an ornate 19th-century former palace.
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM
•
Free
Day 7From Modern Art to Historic Landmarks
+

$68

·

$ 3

Holocaust Memorial Center
This refurbished 1920s synagogue stands as museum & memorial for Hungarian Jewish Holocaust victims.
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
•
$23
6 - 9 min

~

Directions

Museum of Applied Arts
Imposing, 19th-century, art nouveau museum housing major antiques, jewelry & artworks collections.
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
•
$19
17 - 21 min

~

Directions

Museum of Hungarian Agriculture
Austrian baroque–style building housing over 200,000 historic agricultural tools & artifacts.
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
•
$26
Day 8A Day of Adventure and Panoramic Views
+

$105

·

$ 3

Hungarian National Museum
History museum containing cultural artifacts & archaeological items, documents, coins & paintings.
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
•
$30
16 - 20 min

~

Directions

Széchenyi Thermal Bath
Ornate thermal baths, built in 1913, with a cupola, massivve swimming pools & water jet massagers.
10:30 AM - 1:30 PM
•
$75
Day 9Exploring Nature and Botanical Wonders
+

$87

·

$ 3

Museum of Fine Arts
Neoclassical art museum with an Egyptian collection, Renaissance frescoes & 19th-century paintings.
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
•
$26
7 - 9 min

~

Directions

Franz Liszt Memorial Museum
Former residence of the Hungarian composer with musical instruments, original furniture & paintings.
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
•
$19
8 - 11 min

~

Directions

Hungarian House of Photography - Mai Mano House
Multistory house built in 1894 by the royal photographer to exhibit Hungarian photography.
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
•
$19
10 - 15 min

~

Directions

Rumbach Street Synagogue
Domed synagogue built in the late 1800s with an octagonal layout & Moorish-style design.
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
•
$23

Budget breakdown: $1705 In total

Activities & Food:$1603
Transport:$103