Budapest - Leave the Viking Vilhjalm and check in to Hilton by The Castle. Our Exploration of these beautiful Cities (Buda and Pest)
Morning comes quickly, we are advised that 30 coupoles have departed the ship between 4.30am and 7.00am. We will depart the ship at 9.00am by Taxi. We enjoy our last breakfast on this River Cruise. We talk to friends who still remain and then we leave to put our cases outside our suite 320 by 7.45am and they are soon collected and then transferred to the gangway and luggage storage compound for us to collect just before 9.00am.
We say goodbye to the staff, who have been excellent.
Our depoarture time of 9.00am soon arrives, our taxi is awaiting us and we depart for the short drive across the Birdge then up the hill to the Castle area. The Hilton Budapest is located right beside the Castle and Cathedral. We hope but have no real expectations as to being able to Check in a Hilton Honors members who have booked a suite. We are delightfully surprised that our Suite is available. We walk through the Excutuve lounge, take in the superb views. Our Suite is a River view with the Parliament building being set right across the river and we have loung chairs looking directly across the River. It is ideal.
The room appear to be recently refurbished with a large King Bed, separate lounge room area and a large Comfortable ensuite.. There are canapes and drinks each evening from 5.30pm, including wine and beer etc. We decide to take the afternoon to explore the Palace and area around the hotel . We have a most enjoyable time, we walk slowly and deliberately, we also watch the weddings and other activities in the nearby Palace Grounds overlooking the river.
The Viking River Cruise from Passau to Budapest has certainly met our expectations.
The location croos the river on the Pest side is directly beside the Castle and had wonderful views across the Danube. From the Executive lounge we can sit and take in the Parliament buildings by day and night. We decide to walk around this immediate area and then in the afternoon we will do the Hop on Hop off bus around 2 of the routes. Dinner is a little later than usual and we elect to dine at a local Hungrian Restaurant and enjoy the food the passing by traffic . The meal is just superb and we have a local dessert to finish. We then walk around the front of the Cathedral and Castle and watch the people queuing to take photos from the viewing area.
Our day from transfer to dinner has passed by very quickly and despite the heat of the late afternoon sun , we haven’t been held up at all. THe Hilton Budapest is simply outstanding. We are both tired after the busy River Cruise. We were delighted with the Viking experience.
We sleep in until almosy 8.00am, then have a relaxing buffet breakfast in the Executive Lounge overlooking the Parliament building and you just pinch yourself.
We also realise that we will tioomorrow morning commence our return by taking the train to beautiful Prague. Not looking forward to the 6 hour train trip in an older train.
The following photos encapsulate our 2 days in Budapest .