Budapest has made a name for itself as one of eastern Europe’s favourite cheap weekend getaway destinations. However, we were there during the cold wave of 2017 and believe it or not, a temperature of -15 generally felt fine considering it was -30 back in Moscow at the time! The Hungarian capital is by no means my favourite city in Europe, and it truly is a tale of two cities. While the high streets of Pest are littered with filthy streets, kebab shops and sex bars; Budapest does demand attention the closer you get to the river, with a pleasant mix of Vienna coffee-house culture, green spaces, elegant architecture and complex history.