Shooting a TV Commercial in Budapest!

A couple of weeks ago we had a ‘pinch me’ moment! We were contacted by CNN Create, CNN’s award winning brand studio, and asked if we would like to travel to Budapest with them to shoot a TV commercial for Hungary Tourism Board… of course we said yes!

We set off on a Tuesday and met the crew at the airport, we instantly got on with them all, they were super friendly and put us at ease straight away. The following days were spent shooting with them all whilst exploring the wonders of Budapest.

We landed in Budapest fairly late on the Tuesday so we checked in to the hotel and went out to grab a bite to eat before starting our first day of shooting.

Where to stay in Budapest

We stayed at the stunning Four Seasons Hotel, which was incredible. As soon as you walk in to the glass dome ceiling entrance you know you’re going to spend the next few days in pure luxury.

The Four Seasons Hotel is centrally located at the end of the famous and beautiful Chain Bridge, with panoramic views of the Danube river and the hills of Buda.

One of our favourite things about the hotel was its incredible restaurant, KOLLÁZS Brasserie, we ate breakfast and lunch here and both were delicious.

For breakfast there is a buffet and a menu service, we decided to check out both. We had delicious Eggs Benedict with truffle from the menu accompanied by a selection of pastries from the buffet bar.

For lunch we opted for a pulled beef burger with fries and salmon and asparagus with a hollandaise sauce, both washed down with their homemade lemonades which were super refreshing!

3 days in Budapest, what to see and do

On the Wednesday we met the crew and drove to the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music to start the day of filming. The inside of the building is stunning, every inch is adorned with gold accents and mosaic detailing.

After this we went back to the hotel for a quick massage and change of clothing before catching the Pannonia Gastroboat on the River Danube.

Here we dined for the evening whilst watching the sun set, it was incredible. There is something so magical about Budapest during sunset, watching the riverside turn to a glittering gold as the sun disappears and the iconic monuments light up!

Our meal was delicious too, washed down with a couple of glasses of red wine and all served with a smile. We highly recommend an evening river cruise when in this pretty city, there is honestly nothing else like it in Europe.

The plan for the following day was to cram in as many sights as possible. We visited St. Stephen’s Basilica, Chain Bridge, the Budapest Eye, Heroes Square, we rode on the Funicular and finished at one of our favourite spots in Budapest, Fisherman’s Bastion.

 

There is honestly so much to see and do in Budapest, it’s a city full of culture and charm and most of the attractions are free, this is the reason we love Budapest so much and why we feel its the perfect romantic city break for couples.

That evening we ate and drank at St Andrea Wine & Skybar. There are many rooftop bars in Budapest, so plenty to choose from, but this one is good for quality food and great atmosphere. There was a DJ accompanied by a live violin when we were there, which added to the ambiance, and the views were breathtaking over the city!

We awoke early for our final full day in Budapest as we wanted to catch the sun rise from the rooftop thermal bath; Rudas.

This was one of our favourite experiences whilst in the city, it’s incredibly romantic and worth the early start. You need to add this to your list of must-dos when in Budapest!

After the early wake up call we were starving so grabbed a car and headed to the New York Cafe. This opulent Cafe is full of character and charm, you feel as though you are dining amongst royalty in the regal surroundings. We ordered an afternoon tea, which was delicious, we would highly recommend.

‘That’s a wrap’ the Director called as the crew began packing away their equipment. We couldn’t help feeling a little upset that this amazing experience had come to an end but equally we were excited to see the final edit of the TV commercial come to life!

Why should you visit Budapest?

We’ve visited Budapest a couple of times now and each time we uncover new things to see and do, it’s the city that keeps on giving.

Budapest is known as ‘the spice of Europe’ and we couldn’t agree more, it’s an exciting city filled with culture and romance, incredible food and amazing hospitality.

By day it’s a busy city with plenty of attractions to explore, by night the city comes alive and couples can drink and dine in the most romantic settings.

There’s a Hungarian proverb; ‘what you can do today don’t put off to tomorrow’ – this really resonates with us and is a mantra we live by when travelling, we feel this captures the essence of Hungary and Budapest perfectly.

The TV Advert

We are super excited to be able to share the TV advert with you all, we hope you like it as much as we do, it’s one of our proudest accomplishments from our blogging adventures so far!

We’d love to know what you think so please leave a comment down below!