A Local’s Guide to Visiting Budapest
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Budapest is one of Europe’s great cities, but technically this is actually a tale of two cities; split down the middle by the Danube River, for most of history these were two separate towns - peaceful Buda on the west bank and bustling Pest on the east. It was only 150 years ago that they combined to form a single city.
Buda is characterized by its hills, palaces, impressive villas, residential neighborhoods, and lush woodlands. Pest, on the other hand, is the city's beating heart, where grand boulevards with palatial apartments intersect with busy city life. Most of Budapest’s sites, nightlife, and action are found in Pest.
Compared to other major European capitals, Budapest is relatively small, with a modest population of 1.78 million. But as Hungary's economic, cultural, and political center, everything goes through and happens in Budapest.
This is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe (maybe in the whole world), and it’s filled with incredible architecture, world-class museums & cultural venues, beautiful parks, and enough shopping, dining, and entertainment options to jam pack a visit of any length. Budapest is truly a city that has something for everyone.
While you can tick off the "must-see sights" in just a couple of days, if you really want to delve deeper and get to know the city, you should plan to spend at least four days here. And if you’re looking to explore other destinations in Hungary, you can even use Budapest as a base for day trips to places like the Danube Bend, Lake Balaton, or Eger. The options here are endless!
For more info on the city, check out a few of our other guides:
Table of Contents
Budapest planning cheatsheet
Plan your itinerary with expert advice
- Book a Budapest travel consultation with a local expert
My favorite hotels in Budapest
- Matild Palace - 5-star luxury in the historic center. $250/night
- Hotel Moments - chic and stylish on Andrássy Avenue. $200/night
- Boutique Hotel Victoria - riverfront views in the Castle District. $150/night
- Casati Hotel - great value near the Opera House. $130/night
- Three Corners Downtown - modern and well-located for sightseeing. $120/night
Guided tours and activities
How to get around
- Car rentals with DiscoverCars
- Train tickets from MÁV
- Bus and metro routes at BKK
- Taxis & rideshares with Uber and Bolt
Meet Attila, your local guide to Budapest!
Explore Budapest on a guided tour with veteran local guide Attila!
Attila has been showing visitors around his city for the past 8 years and his goal is always to introduce his guests to real local life.
If you’re looking to get away from tourist traps and overcrowded places, take a walk with Attila!
Why visit
A proud European capital that was, for centuries, one of the most important cities in multiple different Empires, Budapest is a delight. You can feel the grandeur the second you set foot here. The city is full of grand architecture, opulent palaces, monumental works of art, and more beautiful cafes, restaurants, and bars than you could visit in a lifetime.
The Danube river snakes elegantly through the city, cutting it in two halves, and providing refreshing green spaces and a constant flow of water, much of which finds its way into the city’s terrific spas and bathhouses.
Wide boulevards run throughout the neighborhoods, bisected by charming backstreets and alleyways filled with shops, artisan workshops, and eateries. And each neighborhood has a distinctly different character, making this the perfect place for urban exploring and aimless strolling.
During the day, one of the most rewarding things to do is simply to wander the city and admire your surroundings. Even on nondescript streets, you’ll look up and suddenly find that you’re surrounded by gorgeous buildings.
Everyone talks about how beautiful cities like Paris or Prague are (and they are!), but we don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that Budapest holds its own against them. Go for a wander, get lost, and just be sure to admire your surroundings while you’re out exploring.
Of course, Budapest is also full of museums, galleries, cafes, restaurants, and other attractions to enjoy during the day.
When the sun goes down, Budapest comes to life in a new way: it’s bars and clubs start buzzing and the music starts playing at ever increasing decibels. Much of the activity, especially for tourists, is clustered around the VII District, which has earned the nickname "The Party District”.
The area was made famous for its ruin bars (bars that repurposed once abandoned, ruined spaces), which now abound throughout the district. Some are genuinely still fun to visit, but most ruin bars, and nightlife venues in the VII district more generally, are mostly overrun with tourists and cater entirely to visitors.
If you want to experience a more local nightlife scene, we’d advise you to get out of VII District and explore some of the surrounding neighborhoods. The grittier VIII District, which is the hub of the city's countercultural scene, has vibrant street art and alternative cultural spaces, and is a great place to spend an evening (or two, or three!).
And whenever you feel like you’ve had enough of the city and need a bit of nature, you won't even need to leave the city limits: just cross the river over to Buda and head out to the Buda Hills, which is home to several hiking trails.
On warm days, there are also great spots to splash around in the Danube, and opportunities for stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, and other watersports.
For something a little more off the beaten path, you can even go spelunking under the residential part of the castle area.
A brief history of the city
Budapest as we know it began in 1873 when the three separate cities of Buda, Pest, and Óbuda merged into the capital city that we have today. However, Budapest's history goes back much further than this, and this part of Hungary’s known history begins with Celtic tribes who settled here between the 4th and 3rd centuries B.C.E.
During Roman times, the western bank of Budapest, today's Buda, marked the eastern frontier of the Roman Empire, so the Romans established a camp here on the Danube in the 1st century B.C.E. That camp eventually grew into the city of Aquincum, whose ruins you can still visit in today's Óbuda neighborhood in the III District.
In the 5th century A.D., the infamous Attila the Hun razed the city and dominated this territory until his death. In subsequent periods, Germanic tribes, Eurasian nomads, and even Charlemagne came and went through the Budapest area, until the Magyar tribe – today's Hungarians – arrived for good in the 9th century.
Hungary as a state came into being in the Medieval period, in the year 1000 when the canonized King Stephen I embraced Christianity and founded the country of Hungary.
At the time of King Stephen I's rule, Buda and Pest were still only villages (at most) and really only began to take shape as a capital city (at least in Buda) in the 13th century following the Mongol invasion.
Following the departure of the Mongols, King Béla IV rebuilt the country and established a fortress where today's Buda Castle is located. The capital city grew up around Buda and blossomed into its golden age under the rule of Renaissance King Mathias Corvinus.
Then, in the 16th century, Turkish forces conquered much of Hungary, and Buda became a stronghold of the Ottoman Empire.
This history is still evident, with parts of Buda Castle's walls, several Turkish baths, and a small cemetery on the southern part of Castle Hill all remaining from Ottoman rule. Buda and Pest were under Turkish control for 150 years until the Habsburg army liberated the cities in 1686.
At this time, Hungary was enveloped into the Habsburg Empire and was ruled by Vienna. Much of the city's Baroque architecture dates back to this period, and you can see still the Austrian influence all over the Hungarian capital.
In 1848, the Hungarian Revolution against the Habsburgs shook the empire, and in 1867 Vienna came to an agreement with Hungary to allow for the empire to split into two self-governing states under a dual monarchy, with capitals in Vienna and Budapest.
The Austro-Hungarian emperor Joseph I granted the Hungarians full autonomy, and Budapest flourished as an important capital city. Drawing inspiration from Paris, it expanded into a city of wide boulevards and beautiful buildings, and by 1900, was one of the most culturally significant cities in Central Europe.
From the 20th century onwards, Budapest's history is complicated. The collapse of the Habsburg Empire and the aftermath of World War I left Hungary and its capital in economic and political turmoil.
The Trianon Treaty of 1920 redrew Hungary's boundaries and the country shrank significantly, with many of its territories being ceded to neighboring countries. Shortly after, World War II began, and in a bid to reclaim its lost territories, Hungary joined the Axis and cemented its place on the wrong side of history.
In 1944, when leftist factions tried to renegotiate peace, the Germans stormed Budapest and took the city. The Fascist Arrow Cross party rose to power, confined the city's Jews into "Yellow Star Houses," established the ghetto in the VII District, and deported thousands of Hungarian Jews to camps like Auschwitz.
In 1945, the Soviets liberated the city after a 50-day-long siege. Still, the retreating Germans blew up the city's bridges which connected Buda and Pest over the Danube.
From this point, Hungary was under Soviet rule, which came to a head with the 1956 Revolution against the Soviet troops. This bloody revolution resulted in some 25,000 dead, 20,000 arrested, and 250,000 refugees who fled the country.
The Communist regime remained in power, but loosened its grip and allowed a limited market system, which was in place until the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989. Hungary then became a republic, held its first democratic election in 1990, and joined the EU in 2004.
From that point on, we have today’s modern Hungary.
Weather & when to visit
Budapest has so much to offer and such a variety of things to see and do, that it’s worth visiting at any and every time of year.
Visiting in Spring or Fall (these are my suggestions)
For me, the perfect time to visit Budapest is usually in the spring, from mid-March to the end of May. The fall, from September through the end of October, is also lovely.
During spring and fall, the temperatures are pleasantly warm, and it’s lovely weather for wandering the city or enjoying a meal or drink outside, but rarely hot or cold enough to be unpleasant. The spring is gorgeous when the fruit trees, like the almond trees on Gellért Hill and the plum trees on Castle Hill, are in full bloom.
Then, in the fall, the city shows off its autumal brown, orange, and yellow hues, especially up in the Buda Hills. With perfect weather and nature showing off its lovely colors, the spring and fall are the ideal time to be in Budapest.
Budapest is quite popular at various other times of year, and there are a few seasonal things to be aware of. More on that below:
Visiting in winter
The popular Christmas markets happen in Budapest from the end of November until the start of January, and during this period the downtown is often filled with tourists (both international and domestic) and hotel prices go way up. It’s a lovely and atmospheric time to be in Budapest, but its also one of the most crowded and expensive times to visit.
In winter, the temperatures can drop to 14 degrees or lower, and it’s not unheard of for it to get so cold that the Danube freezes over. In recent years, winters have been much milder than this though.
Visiting in summer
Just like during the festive winter holiday period, the crowds in Budapest increase significantly in the middle of August, when the Sziget Music Festival is in full swing, and to a lesser extent, when the Hungarian Grand Prix Formula 1 takes place in July. The crowds are thick and prices are high during both of these events
Summers in Budapest are hot and humid, and temperatures can regularly get up to anywhere from 95 to 104 degrees in July or August. The hot days are often punctuated with summer storms and heavy rain, so you should always have a raincoat or umbrella if visiting in summer.
How long to spend here
I always recommend staying here for an absolute minimum of 3 days. Even so, 4 days - or even up to a week - will allow you to better experience the city and have a much more meaningful visit.
There’s so much to do here, and as the economic, political, and cultural center of Hungary, Budapest is a fascinating place that’s worth delving deeper into and really getting to know.
For a detailed guide on how to spend 3 days here, check out my 3-day Budapest itinerary.
Most visitors to Budapest stay only for a few days, which is a shame. Europeans typically arrive for a weekend city break, whereas travelers from further afield often pass through the city as part of a larger regional trip.
While a few days in Budapest is enough time to hit the main sites, it’s not sufficient if you really want to get a feel for the city.
If you only stay for a couple of days, you’ll likely spend much of your time hopping on back-to-back tours and trying to cram in as many sites as possible, meaning that you’ll see but won’t actually experience Budapest.
Yes, you’ll still visit fantastic sites and will likely have a great time, but it won’t be an immersive experience. Surely worth the visit regardless, but it could be even better!
Part of the pleasure of being in Budapest is relaxing in the thermal baths, hiking in the Buda Hills, visiting museums, exploring neighborhoods and parks (there are tons of green spaces), and getting to know the city's eclectic nightlife. To do all of that at a comfortable pace, you’ll need more than just two days here.
Even if you spend a week in Budapest, you’ll never get bored – remember, many people live their whole lives here. The city itself has enough attractions to keep you entertained for however long you choose to stay, but Budapest is also ideally located for day trips to other interesting destinations in Hungary.
The historic town of Szentendre, with its artists' colony, is only a short train ride away, as is lovely and scenic Lake Balaton, the Danube Bend (which can even be reached by boat), or the historic city of Eger.
So, both within the city and around it, you’ve got plenty to see and do for a week or more.
Where to stay
For any first visit to Budapest, I recommend staying in downtown Pest, especially if you're interested in nightlife. Pest is the busier side of the city and it’s also where many of the main sights are, so it’s just more convenient for sightseeing than Buda is.
This is the heart of the city and it’s very centrally located for almost all of the sightseeing that you’ll be doing during your stay. Downtown is busy at all times of day and night, it’s filled with restaurants, both local and international, and is well set up to accommodate tourists.
While the very center of Pest is touristy and not particularly charming, there are plenty of quiet, local, and pleasant neighborhoods on this side of the river that are still right near to all the action.
If you’re set on staying in Buda rather than Pest, you should look at the I District (but not the parts right next to the castle), the XI District, or the riverfront portion of the II District.
If you want really detailed help figuring out which part of the city to base yourself (along with hotel recommendations), check out my guide on where to stay in Budapest.
Pest
If you're in town to party and like being in the heart of the action, then you'll want to stay in the Jewish Quarter in the VII District. The area can be fun and it’s certainly worth checking out, but if you’re not in your 20’s anymore, it’s probably not the scene for you.
For a more local experience without the noise of partygoers, we’d suggest avoiding the VII District and instead looking for accommodation in the V or VI Districts, or around the Palace District in VIII District.
The V District blends beautiful architecture, fine dining, elegant bars, and easy access to the nightlife without having to sacrifice a good night’s sleep. This is a very pleasant area to stay in.
For something more alternative and bohemian, consider the VIII District, primarily in the area around the Grand Boulevard - József körút street.
Buda
The XI and II Districts have become quite popular with locals in recent years, and you'll find great restaurants, cafes, art galleries, and cultural spots in these parts of town.
These are residential areas that don’t really cater to tourists, so you’ll be able to get a nice feel for local life in them. If a quieter, mostly local experience, these can be quite pleasant areas to stay in.
The XI district is a busy and mostly local area where you'll find great bars and restaurants, excellent cafes and bake shops, and easy access to the Gellért and Rudas thermal baths and hikes up to Gellért Hill.
The riverfront portion of the II district is particularly pleasant, with lots of dining options and great views. Moving away from the river, The hilly Rózsadomb part of the district is quite pretty and is home to many wealthy families.
No matter what though, don’t stay in or right next to Castle Hill. The area is beautiful, but most locals literally never go here as it’s only an area for touristic sightseeing. It’s also completely dead at night, so there’s very little atmosphere and nothing to do once the sun sets.
Transportation and how to get around
Budapest is compact and exceedingly walkable, and it also has excellent public transportation which is run by BKK (Budapest Közlekedési Központ/Budapest Transport Center). Four metro lines cover most of the city's downtown areas and serve parts of the suburbs as well.
A fun fact about the metro is that Budapest’s Line 1 is Continental Europe's oldest subway and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its own right.
There are also numerous tram lines, buses, and trolley buses (the latter of which you'll only find on the Pest side) that weave all throughout the city.
Local trains (called the HÉV) also serve the suburbs and nearby towns, like the picturesque town of Szentendre, which is a popular day trip from Budapest.
Getting to and from the Airport
For getting to or from the Budapest Airport (Liszt Ferenc International Airport), Bus 100E is your best option. The bus runs 24/7 between the Airport and Deák Ferenc Tér, which is at the heart of the city and has a metro station with three intersecting lines.
Buses leaves as frequently as every 10 minutes during the day, and every 30-40 minutes through the middle of the night. The cost of a one-way ticket on airport bus 100E costs 1500 HUF.
Taking public transit
Budapest’s public transit system is excellent and very inexpensive, so if you want to move quickly between areas and fit in as much as possible, you should plan to use the bus, subway, and tram regularly.
The tickets are the same whether you’re taking the metro, tram, or bus and you can purchase them from the ticket offices and purple ticket machines in the metro stations, or from the machines present at many of the tram stops.
If you download the Budapest Go App, you can also purchase tickets online.
There are a couple of different ticket options, so make sure to select the right one for each trip. In all cases, always make sure you buy your ticket before boarding, as you'll need to validate single tickets at the metro entrance or on the tram or bus.
You also need to validate online tickets and can do so by scanning the QR code on the door of the trams and buses and at the entrance to the metro stations.
Plainclothes ticket inspectors check tickets randomly, and not having a validated ticket means you'll be charged a penalty (12,000 HUF if you pay on the spot).
Single tickets: Single tickets are valid for one ride on any one mode of transport. They cannot be used to transfer between modes of transit. Single tickets cost 350 HUF.
Time-based tickets: There are also two options for time-based tickets, which are valid for 30 or 90 minutes, depending on which one you purchase. These tickets are valid for unlimited transfers on all transit types, including round-trip journeys, within 30 or 90 minutes. 30-minute tickets cost 530 HUF and 90-minute ones cost 750.
Full and Multi-day Travelcards: You also have the option of purchasing 24 or 72-hour travelcards. These cards are valid for unlimited rides on all public transportation within the given time period.
They don’t require validation as they will contain a timestamp showing date and time that you bought them. 24-hour tickets cost 2,500 HUF while 72-hour ones cost 5,500 HUF.
Budapest Card: Another option for tickets is getting a Budapest Card, which has options ranging from 24 to 120-hours. The card includes unlimited transportation in the given time period, entrances to certain museums and sites, discounts for a variety of things, and some other benefits.
Prices for the Budapest card run from 9,990 HUF to 29,500 HUF depending on the card’s duration.
Taxis and ride shares
Alternatively, you can also get around Budapest by taxi. The city has several taxi services, and make sure you go with a reputable one rather than just flagging a cab off the street.
Budapest doesn't have Uber, but you can download the app Taxify, which you can use to book licensed taxis in the same way you’d call an Uber.
Other reputable taxi companies include City Taxi, Fő Taxi, and 666 Taxi. Some of these companies also have their own apps which you can download.
Taxis charge a base fare of 1000 HUF and the fare increases from there by 400 HUF per kilometer or 100 HUF per minute.
Getting around by bike
If you prefer to get around by bike, you can also take advantage of the bike rental service called BuBi Bikes. Just download their app and then keep an eye out for their lime green bike-sharing stations, where you can pick up and drop off the bikes.
There are bike docking stations all over the city, so this is a very convenient way to get around, especially on nice days.
Some useful things to know
Using credit cards
Credit cards are widely accepted in Budapest, especially in larger stores, restaurants, and tourist attractions. At small shops or hole-in-the wall restaurants, it’s fairly likely that you’ll have to pay in cash though, so it’s always good to have some local currency (HUF) on hand.
Average costs
By western standards and especially for visitors coming from the U.S. or Canada, Budapest is a very affordable city. Below is an overview showing some basic costs.
Public transportation: A single-ticket ride on public transportation costs about $1 USD.
Meals: Lunch at a mid-range restaurant will cost from around $10-20 USD per person, while you could expect to pay about from $5-10 USD if eating street food or going to inexpensive local restaurants.
Many restaurants have set multi-course lunch menus at very affordable prices, so it’s always worth inquiring about this before ordering à la carte. Expect to pay a bit more at dinner.
Beer and wine: A pint of beer or glass of wine will typically cost between $1-3 USD at reasonable places (wine is a bit more expensive than beer).
Hotels: Budapest has a huge range of hotels at all levels, but you should have no problem finding quite nice rooms available for anywhere from $60-150 USD per night.
AirBnb: You can also find Airbnbs for just about any price, but there are lots of perfectly nice apartments available for $50-80 USD per night.
Tipping
While some people might tell you otherwise, tipping at sit-down restaurants in Budapest is common and largely expected. 10% is the standard amount to leave and is perfectly appropriate. Of course, you can always leave more if you’d like to.
Some restaurants add automatic service charges, so be sure to check if that’s on the bill before you leave a tip on top.
Safety
Budapest is as safe as any other major European city, with the main crime being pickpocketing or tourist scams. Violent crime is very low in the city, and it's safe to walk the downtown areas at night even as a solo female traveler. Of course, common sense should still be exercised at all times.
The main risk is getting pickpocketed in busy places, especially on public transport at night when the lines are busiest. Be particularly mindful on the 4 and 6 trams and keep an eye on your belongings.
Another thing to watch out for, especially if you are a male traveler, is being approached by attractive local women on the street. These interactions can end up with you being taken to a bar where you'll wind up with an obscenely high bill and threats to call the police or physical aggression if you don't pay up.
Apart from these few things, Budapest is a very safe city, and as long as you’re as you take proper precautions as you would in any other European city, you’ll be perfectly safe.
Getting around with just English
If you’re concerned about being able to communicate with people, don’t be. While not everyone in Budapest speaks English, tourism is one of the major economic drivers for the city, and the infrastructure to welcome and accommodate tourists is quite robust.
In most central parts of the city, and at all tourist attractions, you’ll get by perfectly fine with only English.
Likewise, most waiters and staff in popular restaurants, bars, and cafes will speak good English. Of course, learning a few basic Hungarian phrases will be helpful, and it’s also a nice way to show respect for the place that you’re visiting.
People will know that you’re a tourist and they’ll readily switch into English, but a bit of Hungarian is always appreciated.
Get away from the crowds and spend a morning or afternoon exploring some of Budapest's alternative neighborhoods with our favorite local guide, Attila.
What to see & do
Budapest has a wealth of attractions, ranging from some of Europe's most famous landmarks to first-class cultural institutions, and on to more obscure, distinctly local curiosities. If you’re short on time, it makes sense to prioritize the type of places you want to check out: do you want to see the main sites or are you more interested in something off-the-beaten-track?
Will you focus your time on art & culture, food & drink, partying, or shopping? Having a few primary goals makes it easier to decide which sights you can fit in and how you should structure your itinerary.
In general though, here’s a quick look at some of the highlights:
Over in lovely and historic Buda, you’ll find pretty residential neighborhoods, some ornate and luxurious spas, pretty green spaces, and of course, the iconic Castle Hill. On the Hill, you have some of the city’s marquee sites: the Castle, the Hungarian National Museum, Matthias Church, and Fisherman’s Bastion. These should all surely be on your “to-do” list.
Back in Pest, you have some other unmissable sights (St. Stephen’s Basilica, the Parliament Building, Dohany Street Synagogue, Andrassy Avenue, etc.), as well as a huge array of cultural institutions and offerings.
There are the museums around Heroes’ Square, the performing arts centers like the Hungarian State Opera House, National Theater, and MUPA (among others), and smaller but no less impressive establishments dotted all throughout the city.
The architecture is magnificent everywhere you go, and you’ll constantly find yourself stopping to admire the beautiful buildings and stately squares.
You’ll also find a number of fun markets to explore, boat cruises down the Danube River, lovely parks to wander through, and countless restaurants and bars to while away a few hours.
Below is a bit more detailed info on many of the sights/activities that I’ve just mentioned:
1. Castle Hill Sights
Matthias Church and Fisherman’s Bastion
Rising up over Buda’s District I is Castle Hill, where you’ll find some of the city’s most well-known sights. The enormous Buda Castle is one, as is the iconic Fisherman's Bastion, as well as Matthias Church, with its colorful roof and absolutely stunning interiors.
At the other end of the hill are the Hungarian National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum. More broadly, this entire area is a blast to wander around. It’s filled with beautifully maintained historic buildings, has quiet, mostly pedestrianized streets, and oozes old world charm.
2. Hungarian Parliament Building
Once you’ve finished your sightseeing on Buda Castle, you can walk down the hill to the Danube river and cross the famous Chain Bridge over to Pest.
From here, walk north along the river until you reach the incredible Hungarian Parliament Building. Here, just sit and marvel at one of the world’s most beautiful structures.
After gawking in amazement for a while, be sure to wander around this area a bit more, as it has some amazing monuments and buildings. Be sure to make your way down Hold utca (“utca” means street) so that you can catch a glimpse of the Hungarian Postal Savings Bank, a beautiful Art Nouveau building famed for its green and yellow tiled roof.
3. St. Stephen’s Basilica
Not far from parliament, you can continue on to the gorgeous and ornate St. Stephen's Basilica, whose enormous interior columns and beautiful stained glass windows are genuinely unbelievable. Even if you don’t especially like churches, this is an architectural masterpiece and you absolutely have to visit.
Pay the extra ticket fee and go up the bell tower for fantastic city views.
4. Stroll along Andrássy Avenue
A stretch of Andrassy Avenue. Photo: Random photos 1989, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
From St. Stephen's Basilica, you can walk up Andrássy Avenue, Budapest’s most famous street, where you’ll pass by the Hungarian National Opera House and countless other grand buildings.
Continue all the way up Andrássy until you reach Heroes’ Square (check out the monument, of course), where you’ll see the Museum of Fine Arts and the Kunsthalle, our main contemporary art museum.
Just behind the square is the enormous and wonderful City Park, which is the perfect place to enjoy a stroll and some people watching on a sunny day. There are a couple of museums and cultural institutions within the park itself too.
5. Dohány Street Syngagogue
This is the largest synagogue in Europe and one of the biggest in the entire world. Its grandeur is complemented by its profound significance to Budapest's Jewish history, which is unfortunately very sad.
Within the complex, you'll also find the Holocaust Memorial and Museum, which offers a moving and educational experience delving into the poignant history of Hungary's Jewish community.
6. Take a soak in one of the many luxurious spas
One of the pools in the Széchenyi Baths
Of course, be sure to pack your bathing suit, as no trip to Budapest is complete without a visit to one of its famous spas. Right In City Park is the iconic Széchenyi Baths, while over in Buda, you’ll find the art nouveau Gellért Baths and the Ottoman-era Rudas Baths.
These are unquestionably touristy places to visit, but they are touristy for a reason: because they’re absolutely fantastic. You should go early to avoid the crowds, but even if you end up showing up at 2:00 in the afternoon, it’s worth going.
7. Sample local specialties in the Central Market Hall
Undeniably touristy and certainly overpriced in some cases, the Central Market Hall is maybe more noteworthy for its fabulous architecture - it has giant vaulted ceilings supported by huge steal beams - than its food.
Even so, it’s a nice place to go for a wander, and you’ll find vendors selling fresh, local produce alongside meats, pastries, typical spices, and an array of souvenirs. The upper level is filled with food stalls, so this is a great spot to try various local dishes.
8. Memento Park and the Roman ruins of Aguincum
A monument in Memento Park. Photo: Elelicht, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
For a totally different experience, consider trekking out to Memento Park in the suburbs of Buda. The park is an open-air museum that serves as a cemetery for Communist statues. It’s quite unique and visiting is an interesting experience.
If interested in archaeology, a visit to the ancient Roman city of Aquincum in Óbuda is an absolute must. The site is partially restored and will occupy at least a few hours of your time, especially if you visit the associated museum.
9. Make the rounds to some of the museums
The Kunsthalle (Fine Arts Museum) in Heroes' Square. Photo: Robot8A, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
For a day of museum hopping, head up to Heroes' Square and City Park, where you'll find the Hungarian Museum of Fine Arts and the Kunsthalle facing each other on opposite ends of Heroes' Square.
Both museum are excellent, and the Museum of Fine Arts in particular, is a beautiful structure filled with gorgeous halls that are works of art in their own right.
Here are some of the other fabulous options:
City Park Museums: Within City Park you can visit the brand-new Ethnographic Museum, and for something quirky, you should check out the Museum of Agriculture, which is set inside the Vajdahunyad Castle.
House of Terror: Further down Andrássy Avenue, the House of Terror is an interactive and immersive museum that covers Budapest’s history under the oppressive Nazi and Communist regimes.
Hungarian National Museum: For those interested in learning about Hungary’s history, you have the excellent Hungarian National Museum in Pest.
The Ludwig Museum: Located by the Danube River in southern Pest, the Ludwig Museum has a fantastic collection of modern art.
10. Explore Buda Castle and the Hospital in the Rock
Buda Castle at sunset
Over at Buda Castle, you’ll find the Hungarian National Gallery along with the Budapest History Museum. Right nearby to both museums, the Hospital in the Rock is a former underground hospital and nuclear bunker that's a very curious place to visit.
And more broadly, from just about anywhere on Castle Hill - where the Castle sits perched high over the city - you’ll have fantastic views of the river, Buda, and Pest.
11. Check out some smaller and less-known cultural institutions
One of the ornate halls in the Ervin Szabó Library in Budapest
In addition to these heavy-hitting cultural venues I’ve mentioned above, Budapest city is dotted with smaller, curious museums and art galleries. A few gems to check out include venues like the Koller Gallery in the Castle District, and Várfok Gallery nearby.
Neither a museum nor a gallery, the Ervin Szabó Library is another very cool place to spend an hour or two. It’s a still-functioning public library, but is housed in a magnificent neo-baroque palace and has gorgeous halls.
There are also some alternative spaces in the VIII District, like ISBN Books and Gallery, which specializes in niche art and literary publications. It also has a gallery downstairs.
For alternative culture, check out nearby Auróra or Gólya. Turbina, in the same area, is a trendy hangout for locals looking for good music.
12. Catch a play, opera, concert, or other performance
The MÜPA cultural center. Photo: Thaler Tamas, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped from original
Budapest is also famous for its classical music, and the city has some wonderful music venues. Next to the Ludwig Museum and in the same building, you'll find MÜPA, which is a state-of-the-art concert hall sitting right on the river. Next door is the National Theater.
And back downtown, seeing a show at the magnificent Hungarian State Opera House is worth the relatively high ticket prices just for the experience.
For more inexpensive tickets, there are good performances at the Erkel Theater and the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music.
13. See a film at one of the independent arthouse cinemas
Inside the Uránia Cinema. Photo: Jaimrsilva, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
If you’re a cinema buff, you'll love the hidden little gems that are Budapest's alternative cinemas. The Uránia Cinema is a neo-Moorish structure that resembles a palace or a lush opera house.
The Puskin Cinema is another establishment that comes with old-world opulence. For something grittier and more countercultural, Toldi and Cirkó Gejzír are other interesting options.
Most of these show international art-house films with Hungarian subtitles, but they sometimes have English-language films. Check their websites to see what’s on offer during your trip.
14. Get outdoors to visit the parks and do some hikes
The incredible green roof of Budapest’s Museum of Ethnography in City Park
While Pest is distinctly urban, Budas is surrounded by lush green hills and woodlands that afford excellent opportunities to escape the busy city and get out into some real nature.
The most popular area for hiking in the Buda Hills is around Normafa, which is filled with hiking trails. From Normafa, you can walk over to János Hill, to the Elizabeth Lookout Tower (the highest point in the city), or hike to Fairy Rock.
For something a bit more adventurous and very much unique, I’d suggest going spelunking under the Mátyás Hill in suburban Buda, and adding in a visit to the caves of Pálvölgy or Szemlőhegy.
Alternatively, if hiking and caving aren’t what you’re after, you can still experience the Buda Hills: just hop on the Children's Railway, which is a single gauge retro railway line staffed by uniformed children (engineers and drivers excepted of course – they’re adults).
And although the city proper suffers from a lake of green spaces, there are still several leafy green parks, such as the famous City Park, Lake Feneketlen, Kopaszi-gát, and Szélklkapu park.
Another great green space in the city is Margaret Island, which sits in the middle of the Danube and has big stretches of parkland along with medieval ruins and a rose garden.
And on hot days, why not go for a swim? Do like the locals and spend a day at one of the Danube Beaches up at Római Part in the north or Kopaszi Dam in the south.
15. Climb up Gellért Hill
Gellért Hill seen from the riverfront in Pest
If you want a hike with great views but don't want to make a journey far from downtown, you can always climb up Gellért Hill (also found over in Buda). The hike takes around 1.5 hours round-trip and is pretty easy.
It’s a lovely green space, the views from the top are excellent, and the quirky Cave Church at its base (it’s literally carved into the rock) is a neat little place to check out.
16. Get off the beaten path in Districts VIII, X, and XIV
If you want to see a different, more local side of Budapest, you’ll have to head a bit outside of the city center. While there are tons of neighborhoods to explore, I think the 8th, 10th, and 14th districts are the most interesting. Here’s a quick overview of each of them:
Outer VIII District: While many tourists explore the inner part of VIII District, the outer part of the neighborhood beyond the Grand Boulevard is almost entirely ignored. But for those interested in street art, counterculture, or grittier urban areas, this is a great area of the city to explore.
It’s still pretty central (and easy to get to), but it has an entirely different atmosphere than downtown Budapest. This is a diverse area, with a sizable Romani and immigrant population, as well as many young, liberal-leaning creatives.
You'll find some exciting bars and cultural centers in this part of town, as well as the China Market, which is a warren of warehouse buildings in a former factory that has been converted into a wholesale market.
As you wander through the market, you’ll see signs written only in Chinese and will like you’ve been transported out of Budapest and Europe entirely.
X District: If you head a little further out into the X District, you’ll discover Budapest’s Chinatown. The city has a sizable ethnic Chinese population of around 30,000 people, owing mostly to incoming immigration from 1989 to 1992 following the fall of communism.
Our Chinatown is a commercial area, so don’t expect traditional landmarks like pagodas or ornate gates, but this can still be a fascinating place to explore. Head to the Monori Center and explore the shops, stalls, and huge range of authentic and excellent Chinese cuisine.
There’s also a nearby Night Market that takes place on summer evenings.
XIV District: For architecture lovers, we’d suggest making your way just beyond City Park into the XIV District, where you’ll find a host of architectural curiosities.
If you’re interested in art nouveau architecture, the villa district here will be a treat to explore, especially the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, which is a stunning blue-tiled building built by by Ödön Lechner – Hungary's equivalent of Antoní Gaudí.
Where to eat, drink, and party
Budapest is justifiably famous as a party destination, and we have an amazing array of quirky, eclectic bars and pubs, along with some of the most exciting clubs you'll find anywhere in Europe. There is also no shortage of refined cocktail bars and other upscale spots to grab a quieter, more dignified drink, so it's really just a question of what you're after.
But if you're planning a visit here you likely already know about the ruin pubs and clubs, so I'm not going to dwell on that (you'll see my recommended bars and clubs at the bottom of this article).
More surprising to most visitors is that Budapest also has an excellent dining scene with a broad array of options, both in terms of prices and cuisines. Here, you'll find a mix of high-class restaurants offering a gourmet, immersive experience, as well as many inexpensive and unpretentious establishments where regular locals are more likely to go.
And while you'd think that Hungarian food would be everywhere in Budapest, that’s not really the case. There are of course plenty of restaurants that specialize in traditional Hungarian fare, but there is a definite favoritism throughout the city for international cuisines.
The city center especially has restaurants of all kinds cooking up dishes from around the world, and there are dozens of Italian restaurants, hipster burger joints, Mexican spots, sushi places, and more Chinese restaurants than you could possibly count. Budapest also has its fair share of Georgian, Lebanese, and Greek restaurants, as well as a smattering of other cuisines hailing from across the globe.
Prices tend to be spread across the board, but are generally quite inexpensive by Western standards, even for high-end restaurants. Keep in mind though that prices have definitely gone up in recent years, especially due to inflation and skyrocketing energy prices, so locals are eating out less and less.
Below are some of my favorite restaurants, cafes, bars, and clubs throughout the city. And while this list barely even begins to scratch the surface of what Budapest offers, I think it offers up a pretty good selection, especially considering you're probably only going to be here for a couple of days.
As I mentioned above, we tend to sort of look down on our own cuisine, meaning that for anyone who wants to eat Hungarian food, you’ll either have to go somewhere that caters primarily to tourists, or head outside of the city center to truly local spots. The authentic local establishments serving traditional food will not cater to tourists and they will certainly not be favorites of the Instagram crowd, but they will be cheap, heart, and serve good honest Hungarian food.
An interesting development in recent years is the fusion of Hungarian food with another cuisine, like French or Austrian. In higher-end fine dining restaurants, you'll now often find Hungarian classics with a modern and international twist. For the most part though, high-end restaurants in Budapest traditionally serve French cuisine.
Budapest also has a sizable Jewish community, so Hungarian-Jewish food is another mainstay. There are many Kosher restaurants as well as others that are not strictly Kosher but still offer Eastern European Jewish food.
In general, Hungarian food tends to be meat-heavy, so it’s not ideal if you are a vegetarian or a vegan. Many dishes that have no meat listed in the description will still be cooked in lard, so be prepared for that.
Like I said at the start of this article, Budapest has a huge selection of restaurants and you can find basically any cuisine from all over the world here, so you’ll never be short on options. But since you’re visiting Hungary, and I assume are interested in trying the local cuisine, I’ve mostly restricted the options on this list to places that serve traditional Hungarian food. If you find yourself hankering for Chinese, Italian, Indian, or something else, just pull out Google Maps and take a look.
Restaurants to try
Fine dining
Most of the city's fine dining establishments are clustered around the I and V Districts, or just outside these areas. Some will serve excellent traditional Hungarian cuisine, but most will focus on French cooking or international fusion with hints of Hungarian.
21-Magyar Vendéglő on Castle Hill is one of our favorite places for a luxurious meal out.
Könyvbar & Restaurant: somewhat between mid-range and upscale, Könyvbar & Restaurant serves up traditional Hungarian fare as well as international dishes. They have a very small menu which is updated regularly and seasonally.
St. Andrea: very centrally located, just a few blocks behind the Parliament building, St. Andrea has a great selection of excellent Hungarian specialties. They offer an evening tasting menu as well as 3-course set menu during lunch.
Laurel: definitely more expensive than the other options on this list, Laurel is worth the splurge if you have the budget for it. The menu is a fusion of Japanese and Hungarian cuisine, and the food is excellent.
Mid-range spots
Ghetto Gulyás is an excellent mid-range option for authentic Hungarian food.
Béla on Bartók Béla Boulevard is a hip bar/restaurant that has a great atmosphere and very cool interior. The food is nothing special, but it’s a very fun place to eat or have a drink.
Rosenstein Restaurant: this is really somewhere between mid-range and fine dining, but doesn’t fit neatly into either category. Regardless, the restaurant serves excellent Hungarian and Hungarian-Jewish food and is definitely worth visiting. It’s popular with both locals and tourists, so you’ll find a mixed clientele.
Kispiac Bisztro: located in a commercial area, Kispiac is an intimate little restaurant with only a few tables and a heavily meat-focused menu. The quality is excellent and they have a wide variety of dips, sauces, and pickled vegetables to accompany your main dishes.
Café Kör: a bit more upscale than some of the other mid-range options on this list, Café Kör is a cosy restaurant where you can eat classic Hungarian dishes cooked in the original style. They always have a wide selection of daily specials and their desserts are particularly good.
Budget-friendly options
For quick and budget-friendly options, there are lots of street food vendors. Many serve gyros, kebabs, and the other typical global dishes that you’ve doubtless seen countless times in cities around the world, but some also have Hungarian food and other interesting options.
Karavan is a great food court with lots of vendors and it’s just down the road from the famous ruin bar Szimpla Kert.
Bors Bisztró and GasztroBár are two other excellent options.
Frici Papa on Király utca is another great choice for inexpensive Hungarian food.
The food courts at any of the city’s large market halls are filled with vendors serving up cheap eats. The Central Market Hall is the most famous of these, but prices here will be higher than in more residential markets. It will still be reasonably inexpensive though.
Hús-hentesáru is a great long-standing butcher shop that also serves lunch. You order at the counter, grab your food, and eat at the stand-up counters and tables. The food is reliably good and eating here is a fun experience. Very meat-heavy.
Coffee houses
Of course, Budapest is also famous for its historic coffee houses and decadent confectioneries.
Gerbeaud Coffee House on Vörösmarty tér is the most famous cafe in the city.
Auguszt, Central, and Művész are three other famous (and good) confectionaries.
The New York Cafe is said to be the world's most beautiful cafe, but it's quite pricey and the quality here is not particularly extraordinary. At the end of the day, you come here for the ambience, not the food, so as long as you have the right expectations, a visit here is genuinely lovely.
My Little Melbourne and Espresso Embassy are two of the city’s most famous “third-wave” coffee shops.
Bars and clubs
Budapest is famous for its nightlife, much of which is clustered around the VII District. In the early 2000’s this district transformed into a party area when "ruin bars"– informal bars set up in ruined buildings or empty lots left behind by torn-down structures – began popping up all over the neighborhood.
These bars became wildly popular almost overnight, and many of them have since been demolished, changed beyond recognition, or become absolute tourist traps. The only one that seems to carry the original spirit is Budapest's first ruin bar, Szimpla Kert. The others are, in our opinion, not worth visiting.
However, there are also exciting places to party if you move beyond the city center. In the VIII District there are alternative cultural spaces that double up as bars and clubs in the evenings. Far out in the city’s suburbs, there are also excellent techno parties that take place in once-abandoned factories.
For an easy starting point, you can still have a very nice time bar hopping in the VII District, but we just recommend choosing your establishments carefully to make sure you don’t end up at a tourist trap.
Here are some of our favorite bars and clubs to add to your Budapest itinerary:
Szimpla Kert: This is the original ruin bar and it occupies a vast and surreal complex in a former factory in the heart of the Jewish Quarter. Come here for the eclectic décor, which blends graffiti with quirky, upcycled furniture and art, but stay for the great vibes.
Fogas Ház & Instant: These were Budapest's two largest ruin bars, but they’ve now joined forces to become a super-club. Come here for wild parties on multiple floors and see why their host district (VII) gets the "Party District" name.
Doboz: This bar has a similar setup to the ruin bars, and resides in an old downtown apartment complex, centered around a courtyard. The bar is filled with quirky art and several drinking and dancing areas which cater to different tastes in music.
Ötkert: If you're looking for a more polished, central clubbing experience, head over to Ötkert, which occupies a restored 19th-century building. They play a range of music, from pop to R&B and hip hop across the two main rooms and large terrace.
Élesztő: Craft beer lovers should head out to this bar complex which is housed in a former glass-making factory. They serve a wide selection of Hungarian craft beers from local breweries and microbreweries. The crowd is a pleasant mix of locals and tourists.
A38: This is the most unusual concert venue in the city, as it is a former stone-carrying ship from Soviet-era Ukraine. There is a terrace and bar on the main part of the ship, while the concert hall is in the hull.
Dürer Kert: Once an iconic ruin bar next to City Park, thanks to gentrification, Dürer Kert has been moved over to Buda. They brough their great roster of music events to their new venue though, so the location is the only thing that’s changed. You'll find a concert hall here that hosts shows from local and international acts, and a lovely sprawling beer garden that stretches down to the Danube River in the summer.
Alterego: This is Budapest's largest gay club, with four bars, two dance floors, and a drag show that kicks off the night if you arrive before midnight. They are usually only open Friday and Saturday nights.
More Budapest travel info
For more advice on planning your trip to Budapest, have a look at some of our other guides and itineraries!
Plan with Local Expert Attila!