5 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues in Budapest

For all of the optimism that comes with the New Year, once the smoke from the fireworks clear many of us find the new beginning to be lackluster–especially after the warm glow of the Christmas markets have all but disappeared. I think it should be a priority to give yourself a little extra love during that long, cold stretch between New Year’s and spring–after all, the Winter Blues can hit pretty hard. So here are five ways to outmaneuver them in Budapest! I saved my favorite for last 😉
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1: Take a Day Trip
Okay. The skies are gray, the leftover slushy snow is gray, and your mood is gray. I get it. So do the same thing I do whenever I have a problem I want to avoid: travel! A change of scenery can give a shot of color to your life and there are plenty of daytrips from Budapest.

The colorful medieval town of Szentendre is only 40 minutes up the river. If you needed an excuse to visit Hungary’s famed wine country, however, maybe a trip to Eger would be more your speed. Three hours away by the frequent bus and trains that run from Budapest, you can spend an afternoon touring the castle, or even hop over to Egerszalok to enjoy the baths at the wellness center. If you feel like jumping borders, you can get to Vienna or Bratislava in under three hours (train info here) and truly have a change of scenery!

2: Go Ice skating
I think that ice skating during the holidays (and subsequently falling down during the holidays) is one of the most magical things. Luckily, the rinks don’t close just because Christmas ends. The rink at Varosliget (City Park) is quite picturesque, what with the castle in the background and all, but there are others around the city as well. Channel your inner Elsa and glide (or stumble) across the ice rink for an hour or two! The exercise is great to shake you out of a winter blues funk. 

3: Drink Dreamy, Creamy, Hot Chocolate
One of the best ways to warm up: the giant mug of artisan hot chocolate at Rengeteg ruin cafe. I even hesitate to call the delicacy here “hot chocolate”–it’s so much better than those instant powder packets of Nestle with the shriveled mini marshmallows from my childhood. It’s more like…chocolate soup. There’s an insane amount of combinations, but the barista can help you decide. My favorite? Rum-infused white chocolate with plum (it rhymes with “yum”, that should tell you something).

Ruin bars get all the good press in Budapest, but Rengeteg is quirky and charming–and a much better place to have a conversation or play a board game. You can find Rengeteg in the Élesztőház complex (which also includes a tapas place and a craft beer bar, so come prepared!).

4: Celebrate New Years…Again
According to the Orthodox calendar, the New Year isn’t until January 14. I can’t think of a better excuse to go to eat, drink, and be merry at Georgian restaurant, Hachapuri. It just relocated and went under extensive renovations, and the food is just as good as ever. Be sure to try the famous Georgian wine (it’s said that the Georgians invented wine, after all)–the one with the hints of strawberry is my favorite! I look for any excuse to go to Hachapuri. Sit down and be treated to appetizers full of bright flavors and textures, followed by the warm comfort that is their acharuli khachapuri (a breadboat filled with an egg and cheese, mmhm YES please). I would celebrate here every night if I could!

5: Throw Down in an Escape Room
Escape rooms are one of Budapest’s most popular tourist attractions, and there are alllll kinds of different themes. Pirates? Sherlock Holmes? Zombie island? Check, check, and check. Yes…you’re paying good money to be locked in a room, but at least it’s somewhere nice and warm! And I know the mind can go a little stir crazy when it’s so cold and dark outside, so this is a great workout for the brain. A lot of businesses do team building exercises here because of the communication and problem solving aspects…but some people just get hooked on the adrenaline of being in one giant puzzle. There are loooot of different escape room companies in Budapest to choose from. C and I have been to MystiqueRooms twice and couldn’t recommend it more! The decoration of each room is very detailed–you really feel as if you’re transported somewhere else! My favorite so far has been the Game of Thrones room, but I’m looking forward to trying them all! Along with advanced interior design, the rooms also function with advanced technology. So instead of looking for physical locks and keys, you’re working with electronic sensors, computer chips, and the like.

And I love that MystiqueRooms has an “escape” button right next to the front door. If you need to hop over to the bathroom (or if your teammates are in a screaming match about the latest clue and you need a breather), you’re completely free to pop in an out as much as you need. Escape rooms make for a fun date, or a night out with friends (also, the more people playing, the cheaper it is!). Check out pricing and room info here!
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In Budapest, there’s plenty to keep your mind engaged during the bleak winter days. Hopefully these few options will give you an idea of how you can find your own form of Vitamin D and keep being healthy and happy.

How do you like to brighten up a dark winter day? Let me know in the comments below!