🌼 Schönbrunn’s Gloriette – So Close, Yet So Far! 👑

After my uphill walk to the Gloriette, I was greeted by a beautiful pathway lined with bright yellow flowering plants. A lovely welcome after all that walking!

Then it was up the steps, through the elegant colonnade and beneath the soaring ceiling. What a magnificent structure! ✨

And just when I thought I’d explored everything, I spotted the entrance to the rooftop, where I could enjoy even more spectacular views across Vienna. There was just one little problem… 😏

It turned out that tickets for the rooftop were only available from the ticket office back down at the Palace! Oh dear!! A return journey down the hill and back up again? My feet and I had a quick discussion, and we decided that perhaps the rooftop could wait until next time! 😂👟

That’s another little adventure of travelling solo. You make your own decisions, change your plans when you need to, and sometimes leave a good excuse to return to a place you’ve loved. So, Schönbrunn, I haven’t finished with you yet!💖

✨If you`re planning your own solo adventure to Vienna, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website, tripovertheworld.com, in my bio.

#SchonbrunnPalace #Gloriette #Vienna #SoloFemaleTravel #AustriaTravel

✨️Little discoveries on the Danube.....

One of my favourite things about wandering around Budapest is never knowing what you’re going to discover around the next corner. ❤️

Walking along the path near the Danube, I came across three bronze sculptures that immediately caught my eye.

📌First was The Little Princess (Kiskirálylány), sitting happily in her jester’s crown. Created by Hungarian sculptor László Marton, she has become one of Budapest’s much-loved sculptures — and I can certainly see why!

📌Then I found Ignác Roskovics, the Hungarian painter, standing at his easel as though he had simply stopped for a moment to paint the world around him.

📌And finally, a delightful scene of a little girl playing with her dog, created by Hungarian sculptor Dávid Raffay. There’s something wonderfully natural about this one — it feels like a little moment of everyday life captured in bronze.

Three sculptures, three very different stories… and another reminder that in Budapest, you don’t always have to go looking for the sights. Sometimes they find you! 😊

✨️If you`re planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website, tripovertheworld.com, in my bio.

#Budapest #BudapestSculptures #Danube #HungaryTravel #SoloTravel

Just when I thought Margaret Island couldn’t surprise me any more, I came across this beautiful little oasis. 🌿💚

Tucked away along the path was a peaceful Japanese garden, complete with a lovely pond filled with colourful Koi and some very relaxed turtles who clearly had nowhere else they needed to be! 🐢

And watching over it all was a charming Little Mermaid statue, sitting quietly beside the water.

After a busy morning exploring Budapest, this was the perfect place to slow down for a while, enjoy the greenery and watch the Koi and turtles doing what they do best — absolutely nothing in a hurry! 😂

Another unexpected little discovery on Margaret Island… and one of my favourite peaceful moments of the day. 🌸

✨️If you`re planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website, tripovertheworld.com, in my bio.

#Budapest #MargaretIsland #JapaneseGarden #HungaryTravel #SoloTravel

After an absolutely HUGE final day in Budapest, I finally made it back to my hotel — exhausted, feet complaining, and ready to collapse! 😂

But there was just one thing left to do…I’d been up to the Castle District, wandered around Margaret Island, crossed over to City Park and explored Vajdahunyad Castle again in the sunshine.

Surely that was enough for one day? Apparently not! 😂 Darkness fell, and I headed back out and caught the Metro across the river to see the magnificent Hungarian Parliament Building lit up at night. And WOW!✨

After seeing Parliament from so many different angles during my Budapest adventure, seeing it glowing against the dark Danube was the perfect way to finish my final day. I stood there for a while, taking it all in — and probably taking just a few more photos! 📸😂Budapest was now complete!! ❤️

What an incredible city, and what an incredible solo adventure.

✨️If you`re planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website, tripovertheworld.com, in my bio.

#Budapest #HungarianParliament #BudapestByNight #HungaryTravel #SoloTravel

Next stop… crossing the Danube! 💚

With the sun shining, I walked across Liberty Bridge, one of Budapest’s most distinctive bridges — and another one that is impossible to cross without stopping for photos!

Originally opened in 1896 as part of Hungary’s Millennium celebrations, this beautiful Art Nouveau bridge was badly damaged during World War II. It was the first of Budapest’s Danube bridges to be rebuilt after the war, reopening in 1946.

My favourite detail has to be the enormous bronze Turul birds perched high on the bridge’s masts. 🦅 The Turul is a mythical bird from Hungarian tradition, so these impressive creatures seem perfectly at home watching over the Danube.

Blue skies, sunshine, the Danube beneath me and those magnificent Turuls overhead…such a shame its my last full day in Budapest. After all the grey days in Budapest, this was definitely a bridge crossing worth celebrating! ☀️

✨️If you`re planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website, tripovertheworld.com, in my bio.

#Budapest #LibertyBridge #Danube #HungaryTravel #SoloTravel

A castle, a mysterious writer… and a politician! 🏰📚

Exploring the grounds of Vajdahunyad Castle, I discovered a couple of bronze characters that definitely caught my attention.

First up is the wonderfully mysterious Anonymous — a hooded figure sitting quietly with a pen in hand. The sculpture was created by Miklós Ligeti in 1903 and represents the unknown author of the medieval Hungarian chronicle Gesta Hungarorum. No one knows exactly who Anonymous was, which makes this rather spooky-looking fellow even more intriguing!

The polished pen is said to bring good luck to writers and students, so naturally it seemed only polite to give it a little rub. 😉

Nearby is a statue of Ignác Darányi, a Hungarian politician who served as Minister of Agriculture. Created by sculptor József Róna, the bronze statue was unveiled in 1907.

I love finding these little stories hiding amongst Budapest`s grand buildings. You can wander into a place expecting castles and turrets and end up meeting medieval chroniclers and 19th-century politicians!

If you`re planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website in my bio.

#Budapest #VajdahunyadCastle #BudapestSculptures #HungarianHistory #HungaryTravel

Czech artist, David Cerney, famous for his politically opinionated art works.
✨️Here showing King Wencelas riding an upside down dead horse into battle. Hanging in the Lucerna Palace, Prague.
✨️Then 2 men (politicians??) pissing on the Czech Republic!! This one is outside the Kafka Museum across the Charles Bridge.

#davidčerney #politicalart #prague #solotrip

The moon stole the show at Vivid Sydney, rising up over this tree in front of Governnent House near the Sydney Opera House. Always need a full moon when there is a light show in Sydney!!!

#vividsydney #fullmoon #sydneyoperahouse #sydneyharbour #seetheworldthroughmyeyes

Cesky Krumlov, a quaint medieval town in the south of the Czech Republic, a simple day trip by train from Prague....then lots and lots of walking on cobble stone paths!!

#ceskykrumlov #daytripfromprague #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes

🎨 The Albertina – Walking Among the Masters! ✨

After admiring the magnificent interiors of the Albertina Museum, it was time to climb those grand, red-carpeted stairs and head upstairs to the galleries. Walking beneath the sparkling chandeliers felt rather special — although I was soon distracted by what was waiting in the exhibition rooms!

Here, I found myself face-to-face with works by some of the biggest names in the art world, including Monet, Picasso, Cézanne and Matisse, along with many other celebrated artists. 🖼️

It’s quite something to stand in front of paintings you’ve seen reproduced countless times and appreciate them in person.

And this is one of the things I love about travelling solo: I can linger in front of a painting for as long as I like, wander into the next room when I’m ready, or simply stop and soak it all in — no compromises and no one asking, “Are you ready to go yet?” 😂

Vienna certainly knows how to combine beautiful buildings with world-class art. For a solo traveller, it’s a wonderful feeling to explore such places entirely at your own pace and make every visit your own.

✨If you`re planning your own solo adventure to Vienna, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website, tripovertheworld.com, in my bio.

#AlbertinaMuseum #Vienna #ArtLovers #SoloFemaleTravel #TravelAtYourOwnPace

Gold, Gold and MORE Gold at the Belvedere! ✨👑

If I thought the foyer and staircase at the Lower Belvedere were impressive, the rooms upstairs certainly weren’t going to disappoint!

The first rooms I wandered into had gleaming white walls, magnificent gold chandeliers, gold-framed mirrors, gold ceiling decorations and gold embellishments covering the walls. Did I mention the gold? 😂 It was everywhere!

The contrast between the crisp white walls and all that golden detail was simply stunning. Everywhere I looked, there was another beautiful feature to admire — and, of course, another photo to take! 📸

I was beginning to think the designers at the palace, didn`t have subtlety mentioned in the brief! After all, why have one gold chandelier when you can have magnificent gold chandeliers, gold mirrors and gold decorations everywhere you turn? 😂 ❤️

✨If you`re planning your own solo adventure to Vienna, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website, tripovertheworld.com, in my bio.

#Vienna #LowerBelvedere #BelvederePalace #ViennaAustria #SoloTravel

Wandering through beautiful Volksgarten, one of Vienna’s lovely parks, I soon discovered that there was one thing determined to appear in almost every photo…That very tall tower at Rathausplatz! 😂

No matter which way I turned, there it was in the background, making sure it was included in my photos!

Volksgarten was Vienna’s first public park, opened in 1823, and on a sunny day it’s easy to see why locals love it. The flower beds burst with colour and the lawns fill with people enjoying picnics and simply relaxing in the sunshine. 🌸☀️Then, amongst all this very Viennese elegance, I came across something that looked decidedly more Greek…The Temple of Theseus! Built in the early 19th century and inspired by the ancient Temple of Hephaestus in Athens, it adds a wonderful little touch of Greece right in the middle of Vienna.

So, in one walk I had beautiful gardens, colourful flowers, picnicking locals, a Greek temple……and that ever-present Rathaus tower keeping watch over everything! 😂

Vienna really does seem to have a surprise around every corner. ❤️

✨If you`re planning your own solo adventure to Vienna, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website, tripovertheworld.com, in my bio.

#Vienna #Volksgarten #TempleOfTheseus #ViennaAustria #SoloTravel

And then… my plan worked! 🎉😂

After all that wandering around the Belvedere gardens, keeping one very suspicious eye on the queue, I suddenly noticed something incredible…The queue had disappeared! 👀

This was my moment.I quickly made my way to the ticket office, got my ticket, and headed around to the entrance.The reason for the disappearing queue soon became clear. Only a certain number of visitors are allowed inside the building at any one time, so I’m guessing a large group of people had all finished their visit at roughly the same time. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t asking questions! The doors were open, the queue was gone…and it was finally MY turn! 🙌

All that patience, wandering around the gardens and keeping watch over the queue had paid off. Now it was time to see what was inside the Belvedere Palace… ❤️

✨If you`re planning your own solo adventure to Vienna, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website, tripovertheworld.com, in my bio.

#Vienna #BelvederePalace #LowerBelvedere #ViennaAustria #SoloTravel

After noticing the clip-clop of horses’ hooves everywhere I went in Vienna, I soon discovered something else…Vienna is absolutely full of horses! 🐴

Once you start looking, you see them everywhere. There’s King John III Sobieski of Poland proudly mounted on the top of Husaren-Haus on Graben, while magnificent equestrian statues of Archduke Karl and Prince Eugene of Savoy stand near the Hofburg.

And then there’s the rather impressive Horse Tamer and his Horse outside the Parliament building. But the horses don’t stop outside!They’re outside museums, inside museums, decorating buildings and appearing in sculptures all over the city.

By this stage, I was beginning to think Vienna had a very serious horse obsession! 😂

But really, it all adds to the grandeur and character of this beautiful city — where even the statues seem to be ready to take you somewhere.

🐴 Clip-clop on the streets…
🐴 Horses on the buildings…
🐴 Horses in the museums…You simply can’t escape them — and I wasn’t complaining! ❤️

✨If you`re planning your own solo adventure to Vienna, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website, tripovertheworld.com, in my bio.

#Vienna #horsestatues #ViennaArchitecture #ViennaHistory #SoloTravel

As usual, when it cones to museums, I usually find the building more interesting than the exhibits!! Vienna Natural History Museum was no exception!!

#viennanaturalhistorymuseum #vienna #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes

✨ Standing among the heroes of Hungary…..

No visit to Budapest`s City Park is complete without a stop at Heroes` Square (Hősök tere) — and after exploring Vajdahunyad Castle, it was the perfect next stop on my solo adventure. The enormous square is dominated by the Millennium Monument, built to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of the arrival of the Magyars in the Carpathian Basin in 895.

At its centre stands the Archangel Gabriel, high above the 36-metre column, while the colonnades on either side feature statues of important figures from Hungarian history. There is certainly no shortage of impressive-looking people to keep you company!

The monument was begun in 1896 as part of Hungary`s Millennium celebrations, although the whole ensemble wasn`t completed until 1929. With its grand scale, towering statues and beautiful surrounding buildings, Heroes` Square is one of those places where you can`t help but stop for a moment and take it all in.

Budapest certainly knows how to make history feel larger than life. ❤️

If you`re planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website in my bio.

#Budapest #HeroesSquare #HungaryTravel #HungarianHistory #SoloTravel

And just like that, my walk through Margaret Island came to an end… but my big final day in Budapest was nowhere near finished! ☀️🚶‍♀️

After wandering past the Ensana Grand Health Spa and the charming Music Well, I made my way to the bus stop on Árpád Bridge. By now, I’d covered a serious amount of ground — but there was still more Budapest waiting to be explored.

So I did what any determined solo traveller would do…I jumped on the first bus that came along and headed off to see what I could discover next! 🚌😂

No complicated plans, no stopping for a rest… just me, my camera and a city that still had plenty more to show me.Onwards with the Budapest adventure! ❤️

✨️If you`re planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website, tripovertheworld.com, in my bio.

#Budapest #MargaretIsland #HungaryTravel #SoloTravel #BudapestAdventure

🎼 Vienna – Where Music Blooms! 🌼🎶

You can’t wander through Vienna’s beautiful parks without discovering a little musical history along the way! Austria`s famous composers are celebrated with statues honouring musical legends such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Strauss dotted around the city.

Mozart’s tribute in the garden was particularly eye-catching — a giant treble clef planted in bright yellow flowers! 🌼🎼 Even the gardens have their own soundtrack here!

I’m beginning to think that in Vienna, you don’t just stop to smell the roses… you stop to admire the music growing among them! 🎶🌷

✨If you`re planning your own solo adventure to Vienna, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website, tripovertheworld.com, in my bio.

#Vienna #Mozart #JohannStrauss #ViennaParks #SoloTravel

🌿 Schönbrunn Palace – The Climb to the Gloriette! ☀️👑

I seemed to have been ambling through the grounds of Schönbrunn Palace for hours by the time I’d passed the ponds, fountains and statues and reached the magnificent Gloriette, perched on the hill at the far end of the gardens!

Of course, getting there meant a rather determined walk uphill. 😅 But when you’re travelling solo, there’s nobody to blame for choosing the long route except yourself!

Built during the reign of Empress Maria Theresa, the Gloriette was used by the Imperial family for dining and entertaining. Imagine enjoying a meal here while looking out across the palace and its enormous grounds, and further out over your Empire.

Standing at the top and looking back towards the palace, you could appreciate just how vast the estate really is. My original plan to explore the gardens had turned into a full-blown walking adventure — and I still had the palace interior to come back for another day!

That’s the beauty of solo travel: I could stop whenever I wanted, take as many photos as I liked and tackle that hill at my own pace. No rushing, no compromises… just me, the sunshine and a very impressive imperial view! 💛📸

✨If you`re planning your own solo adventure to Vienna, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website, tripovertheworld.com, in my bio.

#SchonbrunnPalace #Vienna #Gloriette #SoloFemaleTravel #AustriaTravel

A beautiful building with a heartbreaking history. 🕊️

While exploring Budapest, I came across the magnificent Dohány Street Synagogue, also known as the Great Synagogue. I decided to go inside and joined a tour so I could learn more about the history of this remarkable place.

The interior is truly beautiful — with its soaring arches, ornate decoration, colourful stained glass and intricate details. But behind all that beauty is a history that is incredibly difficult to comprehend. Built between 1854 and 1859, the Great Synagogue is the largest synagogue in Europe.

During the Second World War, it became part of the Budapest Ghetto, where Jewish people were imprisoned in horrific conditions. Thousands died from starvation, disease and the brutal treatment they endured. The synagogue grounds also became a cemetery, where thousands of victims were buried. Standing inside such a beautiful building while learning about the horrors that took place here was a sobering experience.

It is a place that reminds us that history isn`t always comfortable — but remembering it is important. I left feeling incredibly moved, and grateful that I had taken the time to stop, go inside and listen to its story.

Some places you visit for their beauty. Others stay with you because of their history. This was both. 🕊️

If you`re planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website in my bio.

#Budapest #GreatSynagogue #JewishHistory #BudapestHistory #HungaryTravel

Caught the train from Vienna to Bratislava for a day trip. Walking up the hill to visit the castle is not for the faint hearted!! And the walk back down 🥴 brutal on the dodgy knee!!! But I made it 😃!!!

#bratislava #daytripfromvienna #daytripfromviennatobratislava #traveltheworldwithme #solotravel

Beautiful day to have another amble around the gardens at Schonbrunn Palace after exploring the Imperial Apartments, in another month these gardens will be in full bloom☀️☀️☀️

#schönbrunnpalace #schönbrunnschloss #palacegardens #solotrip

Leaving the Castle District behind, I was off to continue exploring Budapest in the sunshine. ☀️

I caught the bus back down towards the Danube and hopped off before it crossed the Liberty Bridge — and, of course, I couldn’t resist looking back before continuing on.

There was the entrance to the Buda Castle Tunnel, built beneath Castle Hill and opened in 1857. Above the archway, the Hungarian coat of arms and a lion’s head make a rather impressive entrance.

Nearby, I spotted another Hungarian coat of arms incorporated into the brickwork near the lower station of the Castle Funicular, dated 1880, and then noticed a little building that looked remarkably like a miniature Fisherman’s Bastion! It turns out this is part of the Pauline monastery beside the Cave Church on Gellért Hill. The Cave Church itself was created in the 1920s inside the hillside, with the present church completed in 1931.

More little Budapest discoveries… and I hadn’t even reached the river yet! 😊

✨️If you`re planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website, tripovertheworld.com, in my bio.

#Budapest #BudaCastle #GellertHill #HungaryTravel #SoloTravel

My sunny morning in Budapest was getting better by the minute! ☀️

Walking through the Castle District, I discovered one of Budapest’s wonderfully quirky little treasures — a tiny Kolodko sculpture peering through his telescope towards the Chain Bridge. 🔭And clearly, he knew exactly where to look!

Just beyond him, the real Chain Bridge was glowing in the morning sunshine, looking every bit as magnificent as it should.

Then came the view along the Danube towards the Hungarian Parliament Building, with its grand Gothic Revival architecture reflected in the sparkling water. ❤️

After days of grey skies and rain, seeing Budapest bathed in sunshine felt pretty special. Sometimes you need a tiny statue with a telescope to point out exactly where the best views are! 😄

✨️If you`re planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website, tripovertheworld.com, in my bio.

#Budapest #ChainBridge #HungarianParliament #Danube #SoloTravel

🏰 Arriving at Buda Castle...

After making my way up Castle Hill, I arrived in the cobblestone courtyard of Buda Castle, surrounded by grand buildings and centuries of Hungarian history.

But the real entrance was still ahead.

Passing through the impressive archway, I was greeted by the magnificent lion statues standing guard. Created by sculptor János Fadrusz in the early 20th century, these imposing stone lions have been keeping watch over the entrance for generations.

Walking through the arch, with the cobblestones underfoot and the lions looking rather serious about their job!

Of course, these days there are cameras rather than knights, and comfortable walking shoes rather than armour! 😂

✨️If you`re planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website in my bio

#Budapest #BudaCastle #BudapestHistory #HungaryTravel #SoloTravel

Sometimes the best Budapest discoveries happen when you`re on your way somewhere else!✨

I was walking past the magnificent St. Stephen`s Basilica when I noticed a service was about to begin. I spotted an opportunity for a quick look inside… and, well, who was I to just walk past? 😉I quietly slipped inside, took a few photos of the incredible interior and had a quick look around before leaving them to prepare for the service.

And what an interior! The soaring dome, magnificent marble, gilded details, paintings and mosaics make this one of Budapest`s most impressive churches. Named after St. Stephen, Hungary`s first king, the basilica was completed in 1905, after more than half a century of construction and several rather unfortunate setbacks along the way.

I didn`t stay long on this occasion, but sometimes a quick glimpse is enough! When there is no service happening you can pay to visit and stay longer!

Another little Budapest bonus — and this one didn`t cost me a cent! 😂

✨️If you`re planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website in my bio.

#Budapest #StStephensBasilica #HungaryTravel #BudapestArchitecture #SoloTravel

Hofburg Palace, the Habsburgs` stunning Vienna residence until 1918. Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth (Sisi) indulged in royal luxury here and spent summers at Schonbrunn Palace. What a life!

#hofburgvienna #sisimuseum #soloadventure #vienna

🌧️ Well, the rain had clearly decided where I was going next!

I was wandering around the Castle District when the rain started falling again. Luckily, I happened to be very close to Matthias Church, so naturally I took this as a very clear sign that it was time to head inside. 😉

And what a decision! The interior of Matthias Church is absolutely spectacular, with its beautifully patterned walls, colourful decoration, intricate details and magnificent stained-glass windows. It feels completely different from the grand Gothic churches you might expect to find in Europe.

The church has a fascinating history dating back to the 13th century, although much of what you see today was restored in the 19th century under architect Frigyes Schulek. Named after King Matthias Corvinus, who was married here in the 15th century, the church has witnessed coronations, royal weddings, Ottoman occupation and centuries of change.

So, thank you, Budapest rain! ☔️ What started as an attempt to stay dry turned into one of the highlights of my time exploring Buda Castle. Sometimes the weather really does know best! ❤️

✨️If you`re planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website, tripovertheworld.com, in my bio.

#Budapest #MatthiasChurch #BudaCastle #HungaryTravel #SoloTravel

In Budapest, even the things under your feet are worth photographing!📸

A wander around the Fisherman’s Bastion area brought plenty of beautiful sights — from the impressive statue of King Stephen I, Hungary’s first king, to those wonderfully whimsical, fairytale rooftops and turrets of Fisherman’s Bastion.

But then I looked down…And there they were — the manhole covers, complete with the Hungarian coat of arms! 😂

It`s amazing how easily you can become distracted in a city like Budapest. One minute you`re admiring a king on horseback, the next you`re photographing a manhole cover!

Of course, the spectacular views and architecture of Fisherman’s Bastion steal the show, but I love these little details that make exploring a city so much fun.

My advice for Budapest? Keep looking up… but don`t forget to look down too! ❤️

✨️If you`re planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website, tripovertheworld.com, in my bio.

#Budapest #FishermansBastion #HungaryTravel #BudapestHistory #SoloTravel

After exploring the Upper Belvedere, I continued around to discover the Lower Belvedere and its gardens — and they seemed to go on and on! 🌿

The gardens were filled with sparkling white sculptures, beautifully positioned amongst the flower beds and dotted in and around the many ponds. Every turn seemed to reveal another sculpture, another view or another beautiful part of the gardens.

And here’s a useful little tip if you’re visiting: the Belvedere gardens are free to enter, so you can wander around and enjoy the magnificent setting without needing a ticket for the palace interiors. I could also keep an eye on the queue of people waiting to go inside the palace… 👀

My plan was simple — enjoy the gardens, admire the views, and wait patiently for a little afternoon lull in the crowds! After all, there was no point standing in a queue if I could be wandering around beautiful gardens instead! 😂 Now I just had to hope that my timing was right…

✨If you`re planning your own solo adventure to Vienna, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website, tripovertheworld.com, in my bio.

#Vienna #BelvederePalace #LowerBelvedere #ViennaAustria #SoloTravel

The best part of the day trip from Vienna to Bratislava was the boat trip back to Vienna on the Danube!! The hydofoiling catamaran was fast, about 90 minutes, the crew were great. It was freezing cold and windy outside, but I couldn`t help myself, I just had to keep going out to take photos, then running back in to sip my wine 🥂!!!
Great for solo travelers, I met so many other travellers onboard.

#cruisingonthedanube #twinliner #solotravel #traveltheworldwithme

When you’re exploring a city on your own, sometimes you just have to trust your instincts… and recognise a park when you see one! 😂🚌

After leaving Margaret Island, I jumped on a bus with absolutely no idea where it was heading. But then I spotted City Park — somewhere I recognised — so I knew that if I got off there, I wouldn’t be completely lost!

I walked past the magnificent Széchenyi Thermal Bath and continued through the grounds of Vajdahunyad Castle. And what a difference a little sunshine makes! ☀️ I’d visited the castle earlier in my trip under gloomy grey skies, but seeing it again beneath brilliant blue skies was like discovering it all over again.

The towers, turrets and beautiful architecture looked completely different in the sunshine — and suddenly I understood why Budapest decided to keep this “temporary” castle after the Millennium Exhibition!

Same castle, completely different mood. ❤️

✨️If you`re planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website, tripovertheworld.com, in my bio.

#Budapest #VajdahunyadCastle #CityParkBudapest #HungaryTravel #SoloTravel

One of the first things you notice about Vienna isn’t just what you see… it’s what you hear. 💖

As you wander through the city, you can hear the unmistakable clip-clop of horses’ hooves as the horse-drawn carriages make their way through the streets.The Viennese call these traditional carriages Fiakers, and somehow that gentle sound of hooves on the cobblestones seems to fit Vienna perfectly.

With grand buildings, elegant streets, beautiful architecture and horse-drawn carriages passing by, there’s something wonderfully old-world about the city.

It creates such an elegant, relaxed atmosphere — and makes simply wandering around Vienna feel like part of the experience.

Sometimes you don’t need to be heading anywhere in particular… just follow the clip-clop! 🐴

✨If you`re planning your own solo adventure to Vienna, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website, tripovertheworld.com, in my bio.

#Vienna #ViennaAustria #Fiaker #ViennaTravel #SoloTravel

Sydney`s Royal Botanic Gardens on the edge of the CBD and Sydney Harbour all sparkling on an unseasonably hot day for June ✨️ Who would have thought hats and sunscreen would still be the order of the day, I would expect hats and coats at this time of year!!!

#royalbotanicgardens #urbanoasis #walkinthepark #sydney #sydneyharbourwalks

✨ And then I stepped inside…

After exploring the fairytale exterior of Vajdahunyad Castle, I couldn`t resist going inside to see what was hiding behind those impressive doors - it certainly didn`t disappoint! (And it provided shelter from the sudden rain shower.)

The interior is every bit as dramatic as the outside, with a magnificent marble staircase, elegant columns, beautiful stained-glass windows and a wonderfully decorated ceiling. There are intricate details everywhere you look — the sort of place where you keep looking up, around and behind you because you don`t want to miss a thing!

Vajdahunyad Castle may look centuries old, but this beautiful building was created between 1896 and 1908 as part of Hungary`s Millennium celebrations. Its architecture deliberately brings together elements from different periods and regions of Hungarian architectural history.

I think Budapest may have a slight problem… it has simply too many beautiful buildings to look at! 😂

If you`re planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website in my bio.

#Budapest #VajdahunyadCastle #HungaryTravel #VisitBudapest #SoloTravel

🏰 Kings, hunters and a prince on horseback… Budapest Castle certainly has some impressive company!

While exploring Buda Castle, I came across two very different but equally spectacular bronze statues.

First, the King Matthias and His Hunting Party fountain, created by Hungarian sculptor Alajos Stróbl and unveiled in 1904. King Matthias Corvinus, one of Hungary`s most celebrated rulers, sits proudly among his hunting party, with the figures, horses and hounds capturing the excitement of a royal hunt. The detail is incredible — even the dogs look as though they`re ready to take off after their next target!

Then there`s the rather dramatic Prince Eugene of Savoy, proudly sitting high on his horse outside the castle. Created by sculptor József Róna and unveiled in 1900, the monument commemorates Prince Eugene, the military commander who played an important role in the defeat of the Ottoman forces and the liberation of Buda in 1686.

Two statues, two very different stories, and plenty of magnificent bronze to admire.

I do love a city where you can simply wander around and unexpectedly find yourself standing beside centuries of history — although I think I`d have preferred to arrive at Buda Castle on horseback rather than climbing all those stairs! 😂🐎

✨️If you`re planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website in my bio.

#Budapest #BudaCastle #BudapestSculptures #HungaryTravel #SoloTravel

Not all of Buda Castle is polished and perfect… and that`s part of its story. 🏰

While exploring Buda Castle, I came across a section that has yet to receive the same restoration and renovation as some of the more pristine areas.And I have to admit, I found it more fascinating.

The weathered walls, exposed stonework and signs of its long history tell a very different story from the grand restored palace nearby. After centuries of rebuilding, wars and destruction, particularly during the Siege of Budapest in 1944–45, Buda Castle has quite literally worn its history.

It was tempting to not walk that far past the main renovated sections, but I think these less-perfect corners can sometimes tell us more than the beautifully finished ones. There`s something quite special about seeing a place where the past hasn`t been completely smoothed away.

Budapest certainly has its grand and glamorous side… but I rather liked seeing a little of its rough-around-the-edges history too. ❤️

✨️If you`re planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website, tripovertheworld.com, in my bio.

#Budapest #BudaCastle #BudapestHistory #HungaryTravel #SoloTravel

✨ Inside the Royal Palace of Buda Castle…

After wandering through the cobblestone courtyards and passing the watchful lion statues, it was time to step inside the magnificent Royal Palace.

The palace has had quite a history. The original medieval royal residence dates back to the 13th century, although what we see today is the result of centuries of rebuilding, destruction and restoration.

Inside, the grand halls, sweeping staircases, ornate details and beautiful architecture give you a glimpse of the palace`s royal past. It’s hard not to imagine kings, queens and courtiers moving through these very spaces.

Sadly, much of the palace was destroyed during the Siege of Budapest in 1944–45, and the building was later reconstructed. Today, the palace is home to the Hungarian National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum.

I love places like this where the architecture tells as much of the story as the exhibits do. And after all the walking around Buda Castle, I was more than happy to wander indoors for a while! 😂

Another piece of Budapest history explored. ❤️

Have you visited the Royal Palace at Buda Castle?

✨️If you`re planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website in my bio.

#Budapest #BudaCastle #RoyalPalace #HungaryTravel #SoloTravel

A place of remembrance in the heart of Budapest✨️

Behind the magnificent Dohány Street Synagogue is a place that feels very different from the grand beauty of the synagogue itself. In the garden stands the Tree of Life, a weeping willow sculpture created by Hungarian artist Imre Varga. Its metal leaves bear the names and tattoo numbers of victims of the Holocaust, turning the tree into a powerful memorial to those who were murdered or disappeared.

The gardens surrounding the synagogue also hold the graves of thousands of Jewish people who died during the terrible conditions of the Budapest Ghetto during the Second World War. It is difficult to stand here and comprehend the scale of the suffering that took place in this very part of Budapest. The peaceful gardens, the sound of the leaves and the beautiful synagogue behind them make the history feel even more poignant.

📍If you`re planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you`ll find the link to my website in my bio.

#Budapest #DohanySynagogue #TreeOfLife #HolocaustRemembrance #JewishHistory

The Vivid Sydney light show in Argyle Cut, looking along Argyle St from Cumberland St, The Rocks.

#vividsydney #traveltheworldwithme #sydney #seeeverythingdoeverything #seetheworldthroughmyeyes

The house where the Governor General lives in the Royal Botanic Gardens on the edge of Sydney Harbour. I`m thinking of applying for the job!!
You can wander around the gardens and go on free booked tours of inside parts of the house most weekends - I love the way we all look around as if its a property inspection and we`re looking to buy it😂

#governmenthousesydney #sydneyrbg #sydney #sydneyharbourwalks #seetheworldthroughmyeyes

At this time every year Sydney Harbour is filled with light for Vivid Sydney.

#vividsydney #sydneyoperahouse #sydneyharbour #seetheworldthroughmyeyes

Went to the stangest market in Vienna at Rathausplatz. Every one of the stalls sold wine, a few sold food, there were people everywhere in national dress, some holding, but no one playing, musical instruments......and Verstappen`s F1 car!!???

#traveltheworldwithme #eastermarkets #vienna #viennaeaster

Beautiful Prague in spring was the next stop on my recent solo adventure to central Europe, where I stayed at Hotel Grandium ✨️ Lovely place in a great location and nice and close to the station, perfect if you arrive by rail.
✨️Check out the hotels I stayed in by clicking the link to my website in the bio.

#grandiumprague #solotravel

Explored the stunning Belvedere Palace in Vienna, a former imperial residence that`s truly breathtaking. The gardens were gorgeous, especially with the ponds and fountains coming to life now that winter`s loosening its grip, slightly....!!

#belvedere #schlossbelvedere #vienna #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme