A Local’s Guide to Visiting Budapest
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!
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Where is Budapest?
Budapest is located on the Danube River in the central-northern part of Hungary, in Central Europe. It lies in a geographic region known as the Carpathian Basin, straddling the region of Europe where Western Europe meets Eastern Europe.
Budapest is reasonably close to other capital cities in the region, being about 150 miles (240 km) east of Vienna, Austria, 125 miles (200 km) south-east of Bratislava, Slovakia, 235 miles (380 km) north of Belgrade, Serbia, and 215 miles (345 km) north-east of Zagreb.
You can easily reach Vienna or Bratislava in under three hours by either train or bus, so Budapest makes a good base from which to explore or travel the region.
The city’s Liszt Ferenc Airport (BUD) serves several airlines flying to numerous destinations in Europe, as well as to Asia and the United States.
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.
Budapest by day
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.
Budapest by night
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!).
Beyond the city
For hikers, or those just in need of a bit of adventure in 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 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 District.
A brief history of Budapest
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.
Roman times
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.
Early Middle Ages
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.
Medieval period
Hungary as a state came into being 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.
Ottoman rule
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.
Austro-Hungarian empire
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.
Modern history
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.
How long to spend
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.
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.
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.
Get away from the crowds and spend a morning or afternoon exploring some of Budapest's alternative neighborhoods with our favorite local guide, Attila!
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.
What to see and do in Budapest
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.
There are simply too many options for me to try to include everything in one list here (and if I did, this already very long article would become enormous), so what I think is more helpful is just to provide you with an ideas to the types of things you can see and do here.
So, 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.
For a more detailed description of what to do here, check out my guide to 17 things to see & do in Buadpest.
Plan with Local Expert Attila!
