Peterjon Cresswell

When it comes to top attractions in Budapest, museums and galleries are not the only game in town – there are spa baths, hilltop castles and a great big wheel smack-bang in the city centre. It’s only when visitors come to my adopted home of the last 35 years that I pay proper attention to its attractions. Much like Londoners not bothering with the British Museum, Budapest residents on the Danube-hugging No.2 tram barely give the stunning Parliament building a second glance and practically ignore Buda Castle’s UNESCO-protected cityscape. But the city I fell for never fails to deliver. I may not wander into the National Gallery every week but I’m glad it’s there, waiting for whenever visitors give me the excuse to recapture that thrill of discovery – and, naturally, party like it’s 1989. Recommended: 📍 The best things to do in Budapest😋 The best restaurants in Budapest🍻 The best ruin bars in Budapest🏡 The best Airbnbs in Budapest🛏 The best hotels in Budapest Words by Peterjon Cresswell, original photos by Szabó Gábor, both based in Budapest. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Spring 2025: Everything moves outdoors once spring blooms in Budapest, terraces, lidos and music venues a-buzz from May onwards. Check out the concert and party schedules at the Dürer Kert, A38 Boat and Akvárium Klub, but don’t forget about Budapest Beer Week from May 26, the Gourmet Festival from May 22 and Budapest100 kicking off the same day, when local residents throw open their doors for visitors to admire their courtyards and fine architectural detail. Get ready to glide along the Danube, lay into a bowl of hearty goulash and take in some serious views from rooftop bars, chairlifts and great heights – Budapest awaits. This city is steeped in history, blessed with spa waters and embellished with grandiose façades from the Habsburg days, with plenty of new openings to get stuck into too. From attractions to nightlife, here’s our local’s guide to the city.  RECOMMENDED: Ultimate guide to what to do in Budapest Is Budapest expensive? In a word, no. Budapest is no longer a cheap date but the weak local forint means your meal or night out is still affordable. Yes, that soak in the Széchenyi costs £20, but a tram ride is £1, a cinema ticket £5 and a beer £3 – if reclaiming the deposit on your glass. It might not be one of Europe’s cheapest city breaks, but it’s definitely good for a budget trip.  How to have the perfect day in Budapest The perfect day in Budapest always begins with coffee, ideally with an extravagant cake at the ornate Művész near the Opera. From here, you can

You’ve done the classics: the capital cities, the TikTok viral spots, the cities with their own Netflix show. And don’t get us wrong, we love the classics for a reason. But there’s a downside to these big, bustling, bucket-list-worthy travel destinations. If you’ve ever queued an hour for a pastry, spent your day’s budget on a coffee or had to book a museum three months in advance, you’ll know it as well as us: it’s the crowds.  And following a year of demonstrations and anti-tourism measures in European hotspots about overtourism, there’s never been a better time to think outside the box for your travels – especially when so many incredible European spots are getting overlooked. And hey, we’re not gatekeepers here, so we regularly update this list with places we think are being criminally overlooked, from culture-packed city breaks to under-the-radar national parks. So if you’re travelling on a budget, searching for quiet or just desperate to try somewhere new, these are the most underrated places to visit in Europe right now, according to Time Out experts.  RECOMMENDED:🏰 The best city breaks in Europe📍 The most beautiful places in Europe Ella Doyle and Grace Beard are Time Out’s travel editors. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our aff

What is the most beautiful place in the world? Well, beauty is subjective – it’s in the eye of the beholder, so they say – so that’s really up to your own definition. To some, there’s nowhere more beautiful than Bolivia’s otherworldly mirrored salt flats; to others, California’s rugged coast takes the crown.  Luckily, the world isn’t held to the same rigid beauty standards as humans are. We asked our network of globetrotting travel writers to tell us the most beautiful place they’ve ever been to. The resulting list is a definitive, but by no means exhaustive, guide to the most stunning spots our planet has to offer. We update this list regularly, ensuring we’re including the big-hitters while considering the impact of overtourism and spotlighting lesser-known beauty spots. From gigantic glaciers and shape-shifting beaches to ancient woodland and lantern-lit cities, here’s what we reckon are the most beautiful places on Earth – chosen by travel writers who’ve seen them all IRL. Grace Beard is Time Out’s travel editor, based in London. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines and check out our latest travel guides written by local experts.RECOMMENDED:⛰️ The most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites🗺 The most underrated travel destinations in the world🧭 The best places to travel solo🏝 The best beaches in the world

People who don’t live in cities will tell you they’re busy, lonely and expensive places. But there’s a reason so many people choose to live in them: with world-class art and culture, unbeatable food and nightlife, buzzing neighbourhoods and a dizzying amount of stuff to do and see, there’s simply no better place to be.  Every year, we take the pulse of city living by quizzing thousands of locals across the planet about life in their hometowns. This year, more than 18,500 city-dwellers shared their insights on everything from food, nightlife and culture to affordability, happiness and the overall city vibe. When urban living can sometimes feel isolating and costly, this year we wanted to get a sense of what, exactly, makes a city feel like home. Sure, the nightlife is great, but is the city safe and walkable? Is good quality food and art available at a reasonable price? Is it easy to make friends, find love, and access nature?  Livability was a key factor in our ranking this year. But a great city to live in is, naturally, a great city to visit. So, along with the thousands of responses from locals around the world, we asked Time Out’s global network of city experts to vote on the places they think are particularly exciting right now. After crunching all that data, here we are: Time Out’s definitive ranking of the world’s best cities in 2025. Read on to see how your hometown fared… RECOMMENDED:🛍️ The coolest neighbourhoods in the world right now🌎 The best things to do in the

The word might be firmly out about Montenegro, but that doesn’t mean you know all there is to know about this brilliant country. You’ve got everything from sleepy coastal towns to luxury resorts here if you know where to look, all set across craggy cliffs and shaped by Venetian marble. Explore serene lakes, rare wildlife and hiking trails traversed mainly by mules until relatively recently, challenging hikes and a whole lot more – Montenegro is no easy ride, but it’s a country like no other.  Which is the best area to stay in Montenegro? In a word, it depends what kind if trip you’re after. The most popular spots – Budva, Kotor and Perast – are popular for a reason, and tend to attract holidaymakers perhaps jaded by pricier neighbour Croatia. For something more under-the-radar, try our most underrated place in Europe, Ulcinj, or for a blow-out luxury trip, no resort could be more exclusive than Swiss-owned Sveti Stefan.  RECOMMENDED:🇦🇱 The best places to visit in Albania🏖️ The best alternative Mediterranean beach breaks📍 The most underrated destinations in Europe🧳 The best city breaks in Europe Peterjon Cresswell is the editor at Time Out Croatia. Additional reporting and editing by John Bills, who has travelled extensively around the Balkans. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

We live and breathe city life at Time Out, so to us, there’s no better way to spend a precious long weekend than by cramming in as much food, nightlife and culture as possible in one of Europe’s many great metropolises. This vast, diverse continent is home to hundreds of cities that tick all the boxes of the perfect break. You have the classics: Rome, Amsterdam, Paris. And then you have the second cities, the obscure cultural capitals, and those surprising little places that make for the ideal affordable city break.  But with so many options, where should you head in 2025? Well, we’ve narrowed it down for you: in our list of Europe’s best city breaks, everywhere from Ireland to Italy is covered. Why leave it at one? Take advantage of Europe’s amazing new train services and cram in a couple. RECOMMENDED: 📍 The absolute best things to do in Europe🗺 The most underrated travel destinations in Europe🛤 The ultimate Europe Interrailing itinerary

Ya has visitado los clásicos: las capitales, los lugares virales de TikTok, las ciudades con su propio programa de Netflix… Y no nos malinterpretéis, nos encantan los clásicos, pero hay un inconveniente en estos destinos de viaje grandes, bulliciosos y dignos de una lista. Si alguna vez has guardado una hora de cola para una pastelería, te has gastado el presupuesto del día en un café o has reservado un museo con tres meses de antelación, lo sabrás tan bien como nosotros: son las aglomeraciones. Lo cierto es que los autóctonos tampoco están contentos. Este verano se han producido una serie de manifestaciones contra el turismo en los principales puntos de interés europeos, al llegar a un punto crítico después de años de masificación turística; Ámsterdam se ha puesto dura con los nuevos hoteles y Venecia está preparada para duplicar su tasa turística en el 2025 (como Barcelona, ​​que también podría hacerlo). De modo que nunca ha habido un mejor momento para pensar fuera de la caja a la hora de planificar los viajes, sobre todo cuando hay tantos sitios olvidados increíbles. Desde escapadas urbanas llenas de cultura hasta parques nacionales desconocidos, estos destinos tienen todo lo que deseáis para vuestras próximas vacaciones, con la ventaja adicional de que habrá mucha menos gente yendo a los mismos lugares. Si viajáis con un presupuesto limitado, buscáis tranquilidad o simplemente estáis desesperados por probar un lugar nuevo, estos son los lugares más infravalorados para vi

Ja has visitat els clàssics: les capitals, els llocs virals de TikTok, les ciutats amb el seu propi programa de Netflix… I no ens malinterpreteu, ens encanten els clàssics, però hi ha un inconvenient en aquestes destinacions de viatge grans, bullicioses i dignes d'una llista. Si alguna vegada has fet una hora de cua per a una pastisseria, t'has gastat el pressupost del dia en un cafè o has hagut de reservar un museu amb tres mesos d'antelació, ho sabràs tan bé com nosaltres: són les aglomeracions. El cas és que els autòctons tampoc estan contents. Aquest estiu s'han produït una sèrie de manifestacions contra el turisme als principals punts d'interès europeus, ja que es va arribar a un punt crític després d'anys de massificació turística; Amsterdam s'ha posat dura amb els nous hotels i Venècia està preparada per duplicar la seva taxa turística el 2025 (com Barcelona, que també podria fer-ho). De manera que mai hi ha hagut un millor moment per pensar fora de la capsa a l'hora de planificar els viatges, sobretot quan hi ha tants llocs oblidats increïbles. Des d'escapades urbanes plenes de cultura fins a parcs nacionals desconeguts, aquestes destinacions tenen tot el que desitgeu de les vostres pròximes vacances, amb l'avantatge addicional que hi haurà molta menys gent anant als mateixos llocs. Si viatgeu amb un pressupost limitat, busqueu tranquil·litat o simplement esteu desesperats per provar un lloc nou, aquests són els indrets més infravalorats per visitar a Europa en aquest

For those of us lucky enough to live in Budapest, having a spa on our doorstep is one of the major plus points of living in Hungary’s capital. Our favourite might depend on proximity – though the Rudas, the Lukács, the Veli Bej and the Gellért all line the Buda embankment, where the Ottomans established baths around thermal sources 450 years ago. We may be regulars at the palatial, Habsburg-era Széchenyi, allowing us to invest in a season ticket and so avoid the steep one-day price and the queue of tourists at the entrance. Packing our towels, flip-flops, dressing gown in winter and bank card for drinks and snacks inside, we copy the routine of locals who have been doing this for generations, opening and closing the sauna door quickly, and leaving loud conversation for the nearest bar afterwards. Be it your first or hundrendth time in Budapest, the spas are a must. Here are the best spas in Budapest.  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Budapest😋 The best restaurants in Budapest🍻 The best ruin bars in Budapest🏡 The best Airbnbs in Budapest This guide was updated by Peterjon Cresswell, a writer based in Budapest. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Wherever you stay in Budapest, you’ll be near a decent bar, relaxing spa and recommendable restaurant. That said, some may prefer the residential quiet of Buda to the urban buzz of Pest, each side linked by metro, trams and buses, not to mention cycle lanes. Use the BudapestGO app to buy tickets and plan journeys. Districts are referred to by a Roman numeral, some also by their historic connection to a Habsburg royal – District VIII is Józsefváros, ‘Joseph Town’. RECOMMENDED📍 A weekend in Budapest: the ultimate itinerary🏰 The best things to do in Budapest🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Budapest🍽️ The best restaurants in Budapest Words by Peterjon Cresswell, original photos by Szabó Gábor, both based in Budapest. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Budapest is one of our top spots for a city break in Europe right now, and we reckon it’s criminally underrated for a fabulous weekend that won’t break the bank. Budapest has got it all; galleries, views, nightlife and more, and all as photogenic as it was in the gilded late 1800s.  But some of Budapest’s best parts are hidden in corners, away from the tourist-filled spas and the buzzing bars. In fact, the best thing you can possibly do is hit up a local to craft your itinerary. So hey, we’ve done the hard work for you. From where to eat breakfast to the most scenic walks in the city, here’s our ultimate itinerary for an unforgettable weekend in Budapest.  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Budapest🏛️ The best spas and baths in Budapest🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Budapest🏨 The best hotels in Budapest Peterjon Cresswell is a writer based in Budapest. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

What’s the vibe?  For a restaurant in Budapest’s business quarter that has held on to its Michelin star since 2014, ‘Wine Kitchen’ is pleasingly informal, its pavement terrace a relaxing option of a warm summer’s eve. What are the prices like? Even given the high quality and presentation, you can enjoy an excellent three-course meal for under €70, with all wines from the expertly curated selection available by the glass. What should I order?  The menu might be concise but you can always rely on local favourites like mangalica, a local variety of pork, and durbincs, a Danubian fish known in English as Balon’s ruffe. Let your waiter guide you on wine pairings – it’s called ‘Wine Kitchen’ for a reason – particularly where the choice Hungarian cheese are concerned, a popular bookend to any visit.  What’s worth visiting nearby?  If you’re here during the week, when Borkonyha operates evening-only, your options are limited to a pre-dinner visit to St Stephen’s Basilica round the corner or a late drink at Akvárium also nearby, a bar, live venue and party spot.  On Saturdays, you might want to take a stroll along the Danube waterfront before or after your meal. 📍 Discover more of the best things to do in Budapest

What’s the vibe?  ’Tradition, innovation, family’ runs the motto on the restaurant website, but family comes first at Tibor Rosenstein’s unassuming yet excellent Jewish-Hungarian eatery. Tibor’s son Robi shoulders a lot of the responsibility these days, along with his wife, pastry expert Timi.  What are the prices like? If you’re looking for a classic Budapest dining experience on a budget, then the daily offer here (€12-€15) is a steal – remember you’re dining where Helen Mirren and De Niro have done before you. À la carte, game, fish and poultry dishes are similarly priced, though you’ll pay a little extra for lamb. What should I order?  As those silly geese advise in The Aristocats, think goose. The dish of the day on Saturdays but also available à la carte through the week, Rosenstein’s signature goose leg comes with braised cabbage and prunes, served with a sampling of cholent bean stew. What’s worth visiting nearby?  Rosenstein is tucked down a featureless sidestreet – further evidence of its enduring attraction, nobody finds this place by chance. Alongside is Keleti station, a stately steam palace from the Habsburg era, while also close by, Hungary’s great statesmen and artists repose at Kerepesi cemetery, Budapest’s own Père-Lachaise.  📍 Discover more of the best things to do in Budapest

What’s the vibe?  Essência is, essentially, a love story, between Portuguese chef Tiago Sabarigo, who worked at Michelin-starred Costes Downtown in Budapest, and Éva Jenei, whose CV includes top luxury hotels around the world. The food (and the vibe) reflect their roots and their relationship. What are the prices like? If you’re here for dinner, Essência isn’t cheap as the kitchen operates according to a five- or seven-course tasting menu with wine pairings, meaning you’re looking at around €140 a head. Pop in at lunchtime, however, and you can select from a short selection of starters at around €20 and mains at around €30.  What should I order?  Octopus is a regular starter at lunchtimes, well cared for in Tiago’s capable hands, but for classic Hungarian, go for the duck liver. Serious carnivores should go for the aged beef rib-eye as a main. The evening tasting menus change daily but cod and lamb ensopado are firm favourites. What’s worth visiting nearby?  You’re in Budapest’s gastro and business hub, meaning you’re close to St Stephen’s Basilica as well as the Danube riverfront. For a nightcap or pre-dinner apéritif, on the parallel street of Hercegprimás utca, the Aria Hotel is topped by the panoramic rooftop High Note Skybar. 📍 Discover more of the best things to do in Budapest

What is it? Long established as the city’s hottest spot for dancing on deck, live bands down below and dining in between, the A38 sits in a converted Ukrainian cargo ship, ideal for a sundowner while admiring the skyline of Budapest. A key showcase for all major Hungarian bands and DJs.  Is it worth it?  If you’re here for the weekend, it’s a must, and far less tacky or clichéd than some (ahem) of the city’s ruin bars. What are the prices like? Admission prices vary according to the act programmed for that day but this shouldn’t be much more than £5-£7 – and shouldn’t sell out. Tickets are available through the website or, slightly pricier, on the night. It’s not particularly wheelchair accessible.  Can I eat there?  The A38 has its own bistro, open from 10am weekdays, 4pm Saturdays and closed on Sundays. The fixed menu ranges from venison ragout soup to New York steak, with plenty of vegetarian options. The weekday lunchtime specials at £7 for three courses are a steal. Alternative options can be found at the next bridge, around Gellért tér. 🪩 The best nightlife spots in Budapest📍 The best things to do in Budapest

What is it? Imagine a nightclub and live venue on Trafalgar Square, and that’s Budapest’s Akvárium Klub. This was once the concourse of the city’s main bus station and mooted as the site of the new National Theatre. Now it’s a split-terrace alfresco bar open from mid-afternoon, and a multi-space party place and concert hall, ideal for top Hungarian bands and reasonably big foreign ones. Is it worth visiting? If you want to it central, Akvárium is ideal. Even if the act that night might not be to your liking, you can always hang around outside, where a water feature provides the perfect backdrop for Insta shots. What are the prices like? Admission varies entirely according to the act – for a Paul van Dyk appearance in May 2024, advance admission was £22, free for the mobility-impaired, while the charge that April for a little-known Hungarian band in the 300-capacity hall was just over £4 in advance, £6.50 on the door. Where’s good to eat nearby?  There’s a kitchen here for bar food but you’re right in town – the urban eateries by the Basilica, such as Bestia, are just around the corner. 📍 Discover more of the best restaurants in Budapest

What is it? If you’re going to have a rooftop bar, you may as well site it atop an architectural masterpiece on the city’s main avenue. The 360 Bar occupies the panoramic terrace of a fin-de-siècle department store, with its own separate street-level entrance done out equally stylishly. Thanks to a clutch of private igloos, it goes year-round for cocktails, wines and a full menu –though the view is what beckons people here. Is it worth visiting? Whatever the weather, you’ll have a memorable time at 360. If it’s winter, the two of you can cuddle up – though you’ll be sharing your igloo with other couples unless you pay for privacy. What are prices like? Book a table through the website at £11 per person, which is offset against the food and drinks you consume. It’s not particularly wheelchair-friendly. Where’s good to eat nearby?  There’s a full kitchen here but tables in the igloos are on the small size. SZÉK next door is excellent, serving Transylvanian specialities. 📍 Discover more of the best restaurants in Budapest

What is Madame Tussauds? The world’s 24th, and arguably most elegant, Madame Tussauds waxworks museum, which occupies the 200-year-old Palazzo Dorottya in the heart of Budapest. Using the Hungarian capital as its main theme, this English-friendly attraction takes visitors on an immersive journey, with movie stars and famous figures from Hungarian history.  Is it worth it? If you’re a fan of all things interactive and immersive, you’ll love it. Without leaving this spot by the Danube, you can zoom around town on the back of Tom Cruise’s motorbike, accompany Habsburg Empress Elisabeth in her carriage or schmooze with Brad Pitt at a wrap party at the Gellért Baths. Hungarophiles will enjoy the life-like representations of pre-war torch singer Katalin Karády and football star Ferenc Puskás, both showcased in suitable settings. How much are tickets and how long will I spend there? Tickets start at £33 for off peak times, and from £37 for peak times. But you’ll spend about two hours going through the experience, so you get your money’s worth. We recommend booking in advance, as tickets are cheaper and you don’t risk getting turned away if it’s full.  Where should I eat near Madame Tussauds?  

What is Szimpla Kert? Originally an outdoor cinema whose films were projected onto the back wall of this sprawling complex of courtyard and former flats on the first floor, Szimpla Kert evolved into an alternative bar and DJ club, dotted with curious artefacts. On Sundays, it stages a produce market, with live music. Is it worth visiting? Too successful for its own good, Szimpla Kert now mainly appeals to foreign partygoers, drawn by the allure of Budapest’s most famous ruin bar. You can still have a great time, but you’ll be rubbing shoulders with weekend drinkers from Gillingham and paying high prices in Budapest terms. What should I order? When in Rome… given the craze for craft beer in the Hungarian capital, it wasn’t long before someone had the bright idea to brand a beer after it. Featuring the Statue of Lady Liberty on the label, Budapest Lager is light and refreshing, easily sipped as you party. As it’s priced the same here as the cheapest mainstream domestic brand, it should be a straightforward bar call – and easier to pronounce, too. What’s worth going to nearby? The Szimpla Kert lies at the edge of the nightlife zone, surrounded by milling night owls and expectant taxi drivers. If the crowds get too much and hunger strikes, you can stroll a few metres along Kazinczy utca to Karaván, an open courtyard offering all kinds of street food, with its own party atmosphere. 📍 Discover the best things to do in Budapest

What is Instant-Fogas? Instant was a prime party space on Nagymező utca in Budapest’s theatreland, before it was forced to move to make way for today’s Hard Rock Hotel. Cutting their losses, the owners decided to combine with a failing ruin bar, Fogas, which occupied a former denture repair workshop deep in District VII, distinguished by the sign of false teeth above the door. The result is Instant-Fogas, a multi-level nightlife complex, also comprising the spaces Unterwelt, Liebling, Robot and Frame for music ranging from dubstep to metal. Is it worth visiting? Yes, especially if there’s a group of you, there’s more than enough spaces to explore before you reconvene at some point in the night on the dancefloor of your choice. What should I order? To save you keep running up to the bar, it may be an idea to order as Hungarians do, especially in summer. Spritzer (fröccs) is a white wine and soda mix, not as heavy as beer. Drinks are served with two modest deposits on top, one for the reusable glass, the other for a token, both of which you have refunded when you leave. What’s worth going to nearby? For a light but top-quality fill-up before you go into party mode, Mazel Tov next door is Budapest’s prime spot for eastern Mediterranean cuisine, served amid bare-brick surroundings redolent of a ruin bar.  Still hungry? Check out the best restaurants in Budapest. 

What is Csendes? Csendes Létterem, to give this former literary café its official name, is done out with all the ruin-bar accoutrements of mismatching furniture and random décor. Offering decent wine and cocktails, it’s very much a sit-down experience rather than a wild party place, but puts on occasional acoustic nights and is particular about the music it plays. Is it worth visiting? Very much so. Original and inventive, Csendes provides a flavour of authentic Budapest within a minute of the Astoria Hotel and two of the National Museum. And it does so without making you feel that you’re a forint flytrap, ready to be shaken down for your last penny. What should I order? Csendes stocks the kinds of sought-after spirits that collect dust in other ruin bars, where speed and quantity are paramount. Here, you can order a Malfy blood orange fizz, a mix of Italian gin, artisanal cordial (referred to in Hungarian as szörp or ‘syrup’) and soda for little more than a pint of Czech beer, and let the night take its course. What’s worth going to nearby? Csendes has a partner outlet a few doors down, Csendes Társ (‘Companion’), essentially a wine bar with quality snacks, which puts out tables by the entrance to the pretty urban park of Károlyi kert just opposite. The gardens were landscaped by the noble Károlyi family in the 1700s and today contain a children’s playground, well-tended flowerbeds and sundry statuary. Still hungry? Check out the best restaurants in Budapest. 

What are the Széchenyi Baths? Named after Hungary’s revered statesman of the mid-1800s, the Széchenyi echoes the Golden Age of Budapest with its grandiose façades and classical columns. Here you can bathe and swim in three large outdoor pools before ducking inside to sweat and soak in the sauna complex. Are they worth visiting? This is the classic Budapest experience, although it’s one you’ll mainly be sharing with fellow foreigners. If you’re only visiting the city once, set aside half a day to wallow in grandeur. Tickets, accessibility and booking Admission is pricey, £25 at weekends and over the Christmas holidays, £21 the rest of the week, with no discounts for children. So-called fast track online tickets, if 15 percent pricier, allow you to beat the long queues at the ticket office. The spa is not wheelchair-friendly. Where’s good to eat near the Széchenyi? While there’s a terrace eatery (card payment only) overlooking the lane pool, if you’re after something more than standard fried meat with fat chips, the superior Robinson is lapped by the lake you’ll have to walk round to access the restaurant from the spa.  📍 Check out more things to do in Budapest

  What are the Lukács Baths? Used as a spa since the Crusades, the Lukács puts the accent on health and healing rather than aquatic fun. This is not to say you can’t relax, in its main outdoor pool, two lane pools, sauna complex and rooftop sunbathing terrace, but the plaques on display testify to guests’ gratitude for its curative benefits. Are they worth visiting? Most certainly, particularly if you’re on a tighter budget, and you’d like to take advantage of even cheaper admission offered after 5pm. Tickets, accessibility and booking Admission is £10 during the week, £11 at weekends, reduced to £7/£9.50 after 5pm. Note that on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and in the height of summer, opening hours extend to 8pm. Online purchasing automatically automatic locker or cabin usage. While the spa accommodates patients from the adjoining medical facility, it is not particularly wheelchair-friendly. Where’s good to eat near the Lukács? Open until early evening, Arancini Benedetti alongside specialises in the namesake Sicilian rice balls. Further down, beside the Buda foot of Margaret Bridge, the Híd Bisztró does a fine job with international classics, served on a pretty terrace that fills in summer.

Running until the grand finale on Tuesday, March 4, this year’s Dubrovnik Carnival brings masked fun and traditional delights to the city’s streets, squares, clubs and restaurants. Jugglers and majorettes star on Sunday, March 2, starting from outside the Gradska Kavana at 10am and followed by a procession from Onofrio’s Fountain at 2.30pm. This finishes with a family-friendly party at Lazareti from 3pm. The main children’s parade is down the main street of Stradun the next day, Monday, March 3, from 10am. For grown-ups, the weekend kicks off when singer Maja Bajamić performs at a masked party at Dubrovnik’s main nightspot, the Culture Club Revelin, on Friday, February 28. Doors open at 10.30pm  – find tickets and more details here. Grgo Jelavic/PIXSELL For four nights from Saturday March 1, many restaurants in town will be offering the twin traditional dishes of šporki makaruli and krafeni. You can find these carnival favourites of pasta with a meaty sauce, and sweet doughnuts, for €10-€15 and €2-€3 at dining destinations such as Orsan and Konoba Belvedere. To discover more about the history of carnival, every day from 9am-10pm, the Rector’s Palace will be showing a display of masks and costumes, perhaps providing inspiration for the traditional climax to festivities on Tuesday, March 4, the Ultimi od Karnevala. From 5pm, jugglers will be returning to the Gradska Kavana, where the Veljun Ball takes place from 8pm accompanied by the  Taliri band. See here for the full sched

Another 30 or more acts have been confirmed to appear at the second edition of the Terminal V Croatia festival this July. After its successful launch in 2024, Scotland’s Terminal V Festival returns to The Garden Resort in Tisno for five days from July 17-21. As revealed in our exclusive interview with the founders of the original Edinburgh festival, Terminal V has grown from in-the-know get-togethers to major events attracting 40,000 people and top-name DJs. Now, joining artists such as 999999999, Ben Sims and Ellen Allien, more than 30 new names have been confirmed for the techno-centric event in an idyllic Adriatic location. These include Club Madhouse label head AK Sports, another Rinse FM mainstay, Dortmund DJ/producer Bae Blade, Berlin-based tooly techno exponent Future 666 and late ’90s’ inspired Überkikz. A very special headliner is also to be announced on March 4. Franko Kelam/Terminal V Facilitated by cutting-edge light and sound, four stages await these specially chosen acts: Barbarella’s, regularly voted as one of the best in the world by DJ Mag, the more secluded Olive Grove, the epic Main Stage and the superb Beach Stage, each with their own unique atmosphere. Alongside, there will be dancing on the beach and under the stars with daily boat parties and late-night afterparties running until sunrise. Throw in an array of daytime adrenaline-pumping water sports, and Terminal V is an essential addition to Croatia’s impressive summer festival agenda. Terminal V Croa

As recently reported, popular Edinburgh-based techno festival Terminal V will be taking over the idyllic Garden Resort in Tisno this July. Winners of Best British Festival award for 2023 by DJ Mag, Terminal V has grown from in-the-know get-togethers to major events attracting 40,000 people and top-name DJs. Over five days from July 18-22, the likes of Klangkuenstler from Bavaria, London’s Charlie Sparks and Dundee’s acclaimed Hannah Laing will be bringing their A game across four stages.  On the eve of their regular event in Scotland, and as they prepare their debut foray into Europe, Terminal V founders, Derek Martin and Simon McGrath, talk to Time Out Croatia about their journey so far – and why Tisno is the perfect location: Time Out Croatia: How did Terminal V Festival come about and how has it evolved since? Terminal V: With both of us being independent promoters in Scotland for many years with numerous club brands, in 2014 we came together to work on new projects with the aim of launching a new Scottish festival. In 2017, this materialised with our first ever Terminal V Festival. Year 1 was tough, with only 2,000 odd people attending, but this grew year on year as a one-day festival, right up until the pandemic. Post-pandemic, we upped the festival to two days, attracted 20,000 people each day, and now a festival based in Edinburgh brings crowds from all over the UK, Europe and further afield. The finer details have grown tenfold, in terms of line-up curation and size

Major international coach company FlixBus has introduced a promising initiative for Zagreb bus station, the Socialist-era terminus that serves Croatia’s capital. Working in co-operation with Croatia Bus, the German transport giant has opened an airport-style passenger lounge, done out in its signature colours of lime green, where travellers can relax in comfort, charge their mobile phones and scan the information screens for details of arrivals and departures. The bright facility contrasts with its two-floor surroundings of unremitting grey, brutalist architecture and functionalist features. “It is important that this space is located right in Zagreb bus station,” says Ante Grbeša, director of FlixBus for the Central and South-Eastern European region. “From a transportation perspective, it is a unique concept, and we believe that we will encourage others to improve their services and offer passengers something more.” Launched in Bavaria in 2013, FlixBus now operates more than 80% of the German market, moving into the CEE region, North America and Turkey in recent years by buying up companies such as Eurolines and Greyhound.

In the wake of new and revived links between Dalmatia and Sarajevo, and from Pula into the Istrian hinterland, further investment in Croatia’s long-neglected rail infrastructure has just been announced. Co-financed by EU funds, backing to the tune of €620 million has been earmarked to modernise and establish the route between Dugo Selo outside Zagreb and Novska, near the border with Republika Srpska. The line will run for 83km and bring a swathe of communities of Zagreb County and Sisak-Moslavina, including Ivanić -Grad, Popovača and Kutina, within easier reach of the capital. It stretches a third of the way to Belgrade, in tandem with the overall aim to create fast international rail corridors across Europe. Croatian railways has put construction of the project out for tender, with bids to be submitted by April 8, and an expected five-year deadline for completion.  

Dignitaries gathered at Pula’s waterfront railway station for the ceremonial departure of a brand new, Croatian-made train bound for Kanfanar. The event signalled more than just a journey of 37km, but the start of a rail revolution in Istria. The electric-diesel train, produced by Croatian firm Končar-Električna Vozila, is timetabled to continue all the way to the main town of Pazin twice a day. There will be a similar service between Pula and Buzet. Trains can reach speeds of up to 120km/h and carry 167 passengers. They come with free WiFi, ramps for wheelchairs and cycle storage. By 2025, a new fleet of 70 battery-run trains should be operation. It is envisaged that the Istrian routes will connect with the international line between Pula and Ljubljana in Slovenia, and so provide access to major hubs in Central and Eastern Europe.

Currently tipped to win the Oscar for Best Short Film for his acclaimed The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent, Croatian director Nebojša Slijepčević is now planning his first full-length feature. Looking to adapt the award-winning novel by Kristian Novak, Dark Mother Earth, Slijepčević will have dramatise a complex story set in in a village in Međimurje in the early 1990s, involving local myths, suicides and the chaos of a community transformed. The setting reflects the writer’s own background before becoming a university professor in Germany. Interwoven narratives and flashbacks should keep the viewer enthralled throughout – much as The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent, a true story from the Yugoslav War of 1993, ask all kinds of questions of the audience in its 13 minutes.

For the second year in a row, the World of Statistics has ranked Croatia at the top of a survey of 41 European countries for personal safety at night. The crime rates here remain low despite a significant rise in tourism since the pandemic. The most recent figures show the number of annual arrivals reaching 21.3 million for 2024, an increase of 4% on 2023, and 108.7 million overnight stays. Below Croatia in the safety study came Slovenia, Iceland, Georgia and Switzerland, with France and, perhaps bizarrely, Belarus, at the bottom. Serbia and Montenegro were ranked between 11 and 15.

As if Dubrovnik wasn’t romantic enough, the Pearl of the Adriatic holds a special charm in February when much of Europe is chilly and grey. While the cable car doesn’t start up until March and boats to Lokrum keep to a weekend timetable in winter, there are plenty of options for swooning couples this February 14. Here are four surefire tips for a panoramic stroll, a gourmet meal and drinks with a view! And if you happen to be in Zagreb, check out our guide to romantic adventures in the capital. Grgo Jelavic/PIXSELL Stroll the City Walls Scorching hot and crowded in summer, Dubrovnik’s historic City Walls are best visited in winter. The sun still glints off the wide azure Adriatic as you stroll at your own pace, stopping for a stare and a smooch whenever the fancy takes you. The online price of €15 also includes a visit to adjoining Lovrjenac fortress, upon which is carved the maxim, “Not for all the gold is freedom sold”. Dine à deux Running from February 13 to 16, Valentine’s Gourmet Days involves 16 participating cafés and restaurants around Dubrovnik, where special romantic menus have been prepared at set prices. Fish, meat and seafood mains are bookended with divine desserts and accompanied by fine wines. Peterjon Cresswell Clink glasses with a view Entered through a gap in the City Walls, the Buža bar has no walls of its own, nor floor. A scattering of chairs and tables is set on flat areas of the cliff-face and faces nothing but sea, horizon and the green fringes of

2025 marks the 15th edition of Hideout, five days and nights of top-quality beats running from June 22-26 across five stages at Zrće beach on Pag island. Spanning genres from house and garage, to techno and drum and bass, new stars, pioneering legends and global favourites will all be part of the birthday celebrations. See the full line-up here and book your tickets here! Festival director Mark Newton gives Time Out Croatia an in-depth look at how the event first came to the coast with the most, and how he and his team have kept the party going from day one: Time Out Croatia: How did Hideout start and what are your memories of the first event in 2011? Mark Newton: The idea for Hideout came about while I was organising events across the UK with a couple of business partners at the time. We focused on shows in the north of England, but they were mostly during winter and early spring, catering to a predominantly student audience. Wanting to explore summer events, we turned our attention to Ibiza, where we ran two incredible seasons of shows. We were among the first to introduce new music genres to the island – drum and bass, dubstep, electro and others, that had been largely overlooked. For two years, we brought over UK artists we were championing and the response was fantastic. Hideout Festival However, by the second year, we faced challenges with the venue. Larger clubs on the island began to notice how popular some artists were becoming and decided to host their own events.

Tickets have just gone on sale for Hideout 2025, five days and nights of top-quality beats taking place from June 22-26 across five stages at Zrće Beach on Pag island. 2025 marks the 15th edition of Hideout, Croatia’s five-day electro bash, next year to be given a fresh new look while staying true to the festival's contemporary but accessible feel. Cutting-edge production and a famously energetic crowd are a given. Names confirmed span genres from house and garage, to techno and drum & bass, as new stars, pioneering legends and global favourites all line up. Hannah Laing, Interplanetary Criminal and Girls Don't Sync feature on a roster 50-strong so far – watch this space for further announcements! Hideout 2025, tickets on sale here.

An award-winning film highlighting the history and celebrating spirit of Rijeka has just been showcased to packed houses at the city’s legendary cinema, Art-kino Croatia. Itself a historic landmark, first showing films a century ago and revived as an independent theatre in 2012, the downtown cinema was buzzing for the screenings of Fiume o morte!, which recently won two awards at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. Realised by Rijeka-born Igor Bezinović, the film relates the events immediately after World War I when Italian poet Gabriele D'Annunzio seized Rijeka and declared himself head of his own city-state. Known as Fiume to the outside world, including the Italians and Hungarians who had laid claim to it, Rijeka was a disputed territory whose fate was tied up with the collapse of the Habsburg Empire and rise of Fascism after 1918. But the real story lies in the people of Rijeka, hundreds of whom appear in the film, including several who play D'Annunzio himself. Praised by Variety magazine, Fiume o morte! (‘Fiume or Death!’) uses vintage photographs and film clips, as well as dramatisations in local dialect, to create a hybrid feature-documentary with shocking echoes that resonate with the present day.