Budapest, the capital city and heart of Hungary, is a true Eastern European gem. This city is often overshadowed by other European cities such as London, Paris, Barcelona, or Prague but there is no reason that it should be. This city has just as much to offer as far as activities, sights, food, and charm. Also, since it is still flying under the radar a bit, things typically run a bit cheaper here so you wont be breaking the bank as much as you would in other European cities.
I spent two weeks here exploring and experiencing so much of what the city has to offer and let me tell you it was incredible. Budapest quickly became one of my favorite European cities I have ever visited – I absolutely loved my time here. Below I have highlighted all of the best things that I think one should do while in Budapest, Hungary.
1. Take a Free Walking Tour
A perfect way to introduce yourself to a new city is by taking a free walking tour. I think this is one of the best things to do when first arriving in a new city. It allows you to get your bearings, scope out some cool bars & restaurants, learn some history, and just get to know the place you are staying. Additionally, these tours are almost always led by a local so it is a great way to get recommendations, information, areas to avoid, etc.
Guruwalk is a great walking tour company I have used many times before and has tons of tours available in Budapest. I highly recommend one of the basic city center tours as it will cover a good chunk of the main attractions.
2. Hungarian Parliament Building
The thing that is the most unequivocally Budapest. This is easily the most beautiful building I have ever laid my eyes on. The largest building in Hungary and such an impressive landmark along the Danube River that runs through Budapest. Whether it’s during the day, sunset, or at night, this building is simply stunning to take in. The best viewpoint is directly across the river and doubles as a perfect spot to relax for sunset.
Tours are available to explore the inside either self-guided or with a tour group. These tours range from around 4,000Ft to 10,000Ft ($10-20USD). I really wouldn’t say the tour is necessary but regardless, this building cannot be missed when visiting Budapest.
3. Great Market Hall
This is Budapest’s largest market and it is completely covered which makes it a perfect rainy day activity. Here you can find everything from fresh produce, spices, meats & cheeses, souvenirs, and lots of vendors serving up local food. It is divided by levels where the first floor is where you can find all of the grocery items like produce, meats, pastas, spices, etc. and the second floor will have all of the souvenir shops as well as the food vendors and restaurants.
An excellent place to spend the morning doing some shopping and then end your visit with some lunch on the upper floor.
4. Gellért Hill
The most spectacular views of Budapest are from this hill on the southern side of the city. Great place to go to catch the sunset and stay for awhile after to see the city lights at night. Bring some snacks, some wine or beer and relax to take it all in. Pathway is fairly steep walking up but it is not a long hike at all. Make sure to have some sort of a light for the hike back down if you stay after sunset – a phone flashlight works great. This was one of my favorite activities from my time in Budapest.
5. Fisherman’s Bastion/Matthias Church
Another Budapest staple, Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church. Here it is almost like a little monument complex which contains absolutely beautiful buildings, a courtyard, church, and gorgeous viewpoints. If you are ever on Instagram, some of the most famous photo spots in the city are from this location.
Great place to walk around, admire the monuments, take in the views, and get some great photos.
IMPORTANT: get here early because this place gets insanely crowded and almost overrun with people.
6. Danube Cruise
One of the most essential things to do while in Budapest is take a cruise on the Danube River. This is an amazing way to see all of the beautiful sights of Budapest from an entirely different perspective. A great time to go is at sunset or at night when everything is lit up. There are loads of cruise options available from a standard cruise to a dinner cruise to a full on party cruise. This is a MUST DO.
7. Széchenyi Thermal Bath House
The famous Széchenyi Thermal Bath House is something that cannot be missed when in Budapest. There are many other bath houses scattered around the city but this is by far the most famous. Easily walkable from the city center or the Metro Yellow line stops right at the bath house. Highly recommend to come here early as it gets very very crowded after around 11am and you wont be able to get a chair outside.
Additionally, if you get there before 9am, you can get the early bird ticket which is a decent discount from the regular ticket price. This is a lovely way to spend a few hours hopping between different pools around the property and to just relax. Even better to plan this for a day after you had a busy day of walking and activity.
8. Vajdahunyad Castle
Vajdahunyad Castle is located right next door to the bath house so you can hit two birds with one stone. This is a beautiful little castle nestled in the city with peaceful castle grounds to wander around. It is free to walk around the castle but if you wish to enter, there is a tour available for a price. I did not do the tour as I didn’t have time but if you are interested and have some time to kill then go for it. A relaxing way to spend a few hours.
9. Ruin Bars
Budapest is very well known for having great night life and the city’s ruin bars are part of what make it so incredible and unique. These “Ruin Bars” are called this because they are bars that opened up inside old derelict buildings and abandoned warehouses that had been left to deteriorate after World War II. The Old Jewish Quarter, where these bars are located, offers ruin bar experiences across the board from a chill pub experience to a full on nightclub.
The most famous ruin bar of them all is Szimpla Kert which is an absolute must visit. It is one of the largest ruin bars with some of the most unique decor and has a giant open air courtyard in the center. It is an excellent place to have a few drinks at any time of the night. You must experience the nightlife of Budapest and the ruin bars are the best way to do so.
10. Szentendre
This is your perfect day trip outside of Budapest. Szentendre is a little town north of the city along the Danube River. Easiest way to get here is by taking the train which takes about an hour but of course there are tours that can take you here as well.
This little town has lots of cool old buildings to check out, interesting streets to wander down, and lots of cute restaurants/bars/cafes to sit down at. There is really something about that European small town charm and this place checks all of those boxes. It is a very small town so it’s easy to walk and explore almost every nook & cranny if you felt like it. I would say spending a half day here would be plenty of enough time and you would leave feeling satisfied.
NOTE: The train ticketing system is very confusing for this trip. You need to buy two separate tickets: one ticket is for the distance from central Budapest to the city edge, and the second ticket is for the extension from the cities outer edge to Szentendre.
11. Hospital in the Rock
Hospital in the Rock is an old World War II bunker that served as an underground hospital during the war. I am a really big World War II history nerd so this was a really cool place to check out. There are guided tours offered in a variety of languages which take you through the bunker and teach you about it’s history.
This is another excellent rainy day activity or even better when it’s a sweltering day outside as it is a very nice cool temperature inside the bunker. Really an excellent experience and one that I highly, highly recommend doing while in Budapest.
12. Margaret Island
If you’re looking to get out of the city without actually leaving the city, look no further than Margaret Island. Nestled in the middle of the Danube river in the heart of Budapest this Island is basically one giant park. A perfect place to go for a morning jog or spend a relaxing afternoon out of the hustle and bustle of the city.
The island is very large with lots of green space and also plays host to several bars and restaurants as well as thermal baths, hotels, and sport courts. Really an amazing place to come relax.
13. Buda Castle
Buda Castle is another iconic landmark in the city of Budapest. It sits high up on the Buda side of the city overlooking the Danube River and the Pest side of the city. You are free to roam around the castle grounds and take in all of the spectacular views. This is also where the Hungarian National Gallery is located which you can purchase tickets to enter.
Stunning to view during the day but when it is at it’s most impressive is during the night. The entire castle is lit up in a beautiful yellow-gold color and is simply incredible. One of the best spots to view the castle is from the Széchenyi Chain Bridge or on the opposite side of the Danube.
I really hope you enjoy your time in Budapest and your time in Hungary! It is truly a wonderful city with just as much to offer as other European tourist hot-spots. If you have any questions at all about the best things to do in Budapest, please reach out!