Hungary’s capital, Budapest, is hands-down one of our favorite cities.
Budapest is an absolute gem, filled to the brim with beautiful walking streets, river vistas, and tons of baths to soak in, wine bars to relax in, and cuisine to sample.
Situated on both sides of the splendid Danube River, Budapest is a city that has a lot going for it.
Travelers seeking historical sites and culture will be well-served here, and those who want to eat and drink well will be pleasantly surprised by the offerings! Those looking for more of an “R&R by day, party-party by night” vibe will also be quite satisfied.
Budapest’s designated walking and biking streets are both charming and useful, and the trolley system is both adorable and functional. Passes like the Budapest City Card make a seamless trip even better. Budapest is, truly, pretty close to a perfect city.
Whether you have already visited Budapest and are planning to return, or have never visited this Central European capital, you should definitely prioritize visiting the next time you’re in Europe!
Full disclosure, Budapest has a very special place in Alex’s heart, as he spent a semester here studying abroad in 2013. He has come back twice since then, but Budapest is a city worth visiting over and over again, and we hope to return as often as we can.
Budapest has certainly changed a lot in the years since Alex studied abroad– so much so that there are parts that he barely recognizes! This is especially true for the city center area, known as Belvaros, that has become much more built-up and touristy than it once was.
However, the pace of life remains very pleasant here and the price of food and drinks is still quite low in comparison to other European tourist destinations. We hope this doesn’t change too much, and that Budapest always stays true to its roots.
In lieu of our usual walking guides, we hope you’ll instead enjoy our tips and tricks for making the most of your first visit to Budapest: a quick top 10 sights, some restaurant recommendations, and getting around the city. Since we’ve visited so many times and Alex has lived there, we’ve learned a lot about how to best navigate the city and choose which sites to prioritize, both on- and off-the-beaten path.
If you’re looking for more info, don’t miss our tips for visiting thermal baths; how to survive Sziget, Europe’s hippest music festival; our top 3 ruined pubs; the best day trips from Budapest; and more on our Hungary landing page. Enjoy!
1. Budapest Castle
Regally situated in the Buda hills, the Budapest Castle is sight to behold. This baroque palace has had several iterations over the centuries, but the current castle is a testament to Hungary’s royal history and splendor. The castle is one of the most famous buildings in all of Hungary, and is now home to the Hungarian National Gallery, the Budapest History museum, and the National Széchényi Library. The grounds make for an excellent place to stroll around and have beautiful views of Pest.
2. Mattias Church + Fisherman's Bastion
The Church of the Assumption of the Buda Castle (or Nagyboldogasszony-templom), more commonly known as the Matthias Church, is a must-see, as is the nearby Fisherman’s Bastion (Halászbástya) area.
This is Tegan’s favorite part of the city. The church is absolutely splendid (inside and out!) and the Bastion has some of the best walking in the whole city, with amazing views of Budapest’s signature bridges, the Danube, and more. It’s a wonderful place to spend a nice afternoon walking and relaxing, poking in and out of the various ramparts and “fairy tale towers” along the Bastion. Originally built as a defensive structure in the 16th century, it overlooked where the fishermen in the city lived, which resulted in its name. It was largely rebuilt in 1895, when Hungary celebrated its 1000th birthday.
3. Thermal Baths
One of Budapest’s biggest treats is its assortment of spectacular thermal baths. Indeed, Budapest’s most famous bath, Széchenyi, is the largest bathhouse in Europe. Insider tip for you– Széchenyi is merely one of many bath options (to be honest, we find it a bit overrated), and there are so, so many to explore. Thermal baths are a must-visit in Budapest, and the Hungarian spa and bath culture is said to date back to Roman times!
Thermal baths in Budapest are such an important part of any visit here that we thought this topic merited its own post! Check it out here.
4. The Hungarian Parliament
The largest building in Hungary (and 3rd-largest parliament building in the world) is the imposing and utterly gorgeous Hungarian Parliament. The design for this grandiose building emerged from a contest in the late 1880s, and it is said to be modeled on London’s Houses of Parliament.
Work was completed in 1902, and it has served Hungary well ever since. We highly recommend reserving a tour of this building– it will take you around the Main Staircase (fun fact, the building has 12.5 miles’ worth of staircases!), the Old Upper House Hall and the Lounge, as well as swinging by the coronation jewels. The architecture on the inside is just as stupendous as on the outside– and the price of admission is totally worth it.
Speaking of, the cost for EEA citizens is 3500 forints; non-EEA adults 6700 forints. It’s a very good idea to book these tickets in advance here or book a day tour that includes the Parliament here.
5. Great Market Hall (Nagy Vásárcsarnok)
The Budapest Great Market Hall (also called the Central Market Hall, or Nagy Vásárcsarnok) was originally. built in 1897, and is both a jewel architecture-wise and food-wise. Despite being a bit touristy, it’s absolutely worth a visit to try langos, goulash, and other Hungarian specialties. For more information, see “Top 5 Restaurants & Snacks” below.
6. Dohány Street Synagogue
The second largest synagogue in the world and one of the most beautiful buildings in Budapest, the Dohány Street Synagogue is truly an amazing place.
Before the Holocaust, Budapest was a thriving center of the Jewish faith and community, and this synagogue serves as a strong memorial for that. Renowned for its architectural style, there are many wonderful features, including its rose window and Moorish influence. There is a Tree of Life memorial on the grounds that remembers the hundreds of thousands of people murdered during the Holocaust, as well. This synagogue is absolutely worth a visit.
7. City Park + Vajdahunyad Castle
Budapest City Park, or Városliget is a local favorite, home to Heroes’ Square and the Vajdahunyad Castle. It is perhaps most notably home to Széchenyi Thermal Baths. Be sure to leave ample time to explore the park and see the castle, zoo, and surrounding grounds before a visit to Széchenyi.
8. Margit-sziget (Margaret Island)
Located smack in the middle of the Danube, Margaret Island is a delightful getaway from city life, perfect for a relaxing afternoon picnic or a nice stroll. There are often musicians and other performers near the large fountain, and the area also is home to a small zoo and ruins of a 13th century Dominican convent, where the eponymous Margit (alos known as St. Margaret of Hungary) herself is said to have lived. To get to Margaret Island, just take the 4 or 6 tram.
9. Terror Háza (House of Terror) Museum
In 2000, The Public Foundation for the Research of Central and East European History and Society purchased 60 Andrássy Avenue, seeking to create a museum and monument to the “memory of those held captive, tortured and killed in this building” by the Nazis and Soviets in the 20th century. It is the only museum of its kind, and is worth visiting.
For information about hours and tickets, see their website.
10. Ruin Pubs
Ruin pubs are a super-fun and quintessentially Budapest attraction. Ruin pubs, or drinking establishments set in ramshackle settings with lots of odds and ends thrown in, started gaining popularity in the late 1990s, as a way to save old, dilapidated buildings in the city center. They are now a world-renowned phenomenon, with O.G. ruin bar Szimpla Kert becoming perhaps one of the best-known bars in the world. You never know what you’re going to see at a ruin pub: mismatched furniture, broken television sets, and creepy doll heads abound.
For an in-depth guide to our 3 favorite ruin pubs, don’t miss our post, here!
11. St. Stephen's Basilica
Szent Istvan Bazilika (St. Stephen’s Basilica), named for the first king of Hungary, is a majestic church in the center of Budapest. The reliquary actually has St. Stephen’s mummified right hand! Be sure to climb to the top for views like the one in our photo (left.)
Quick Tip: Geography + Transit:
Getting around in Budapest may initially seem a bit daunting, but once you have a general idea of the layout of the city and the modes of transportation you will find that Budapest is super easy to get around.
Since Budapest is split between the Danube River, you can always find your bearings based on the river. The Buda side of the city is much more hilly and residential, while the Pest side is where most of the shops and restaurants are located. Tip: If you are ever lost on either side of the city, you can follow your way back to the Danube and make your way from there.
Budapest is blessed to have myriad modes of public transportation. You are able to take the buses, trains, and streetcars all with great ease to speedily get around. We found that the streetcars were most useful, since they are surprisingly quite speedy and arrive frequently. Budapest also has a metro, with a recently-added fourth line that we are really looking forward to taking!
Top 5 Restaurants and Snacks:
- Regős Vendéglő – The best authentic Hungarian food in Budapest. Prices are reasonable and the ambiance is exceptional. The food is quite heavy, so perhaps a nap afterwards is in order! This cute grotto-style restaurant is a must-visit for budget Hungarian food.
- Trattoria La Coppola – Some of the best pizza we have ever had outside of Italy. Excellent Sicilian fare with lots to choose from. You won’t be disappointed, especially with the Sicilian-style pizza!
- hummusbar – (picture above left) Despite being a chain and not even remotely Hungarian, hummusbar has such great food at such low prices that we have to recommend it. They serve large plates of hummus, falafel, and pita, and you can’t miss their homemade lemonade! Definitely recommend visiting here.
- Nagy Vásárcsarnok – As we mentioned above, the Great Market Hall is definitely a tourist destination, but if you go upstairs there are many little restaurants where you can have lunch or grab a snack. We loved getting langos (Hungarian fried dough, picture above right) here. While it is a touristy spot, you will still be pleasantly surprised by how tasty the langos is here.
- Molnár’s kürtőskalács – The most famous place to get a chimney cake, a traditional Hungarian pastry in Budapest, Molnár’s is great for a quick snack. You can get all kinds of different toppings on them but we especially recommend chocolate. Check it out!
Where to Stay in Budapest
You really can’t go wrong staying anywhere near the Király utca (Király Street) area in central Budapest. We absolutely adored the Airbnb that we stayed in– check out Zsófia’s place here!
If you’re looking for something a bit quieter and more residential, perhaps check out the Buda side. To be in the middle of the hustle and bustle, Pest side is your best bet. The Király utca area is super close to all the attractions, as well as lots of restaurants, grocery stores, and more.
Stay tuned for more Budapest content, and definitely let us know in the comments if you want more specific recommendations. Check out our Budapest landing page for advice on thermal baths, ruin pubs, day trips, and more!
11 comments
I was fortunate enough to have an 8 hour layover in Budapest on my way to Syria. It was gorgeous and I saw a couple of the sites you mentioned. I would love to visit again someday.
Yes! Hope you can visit again soon and check out some thermal baths!
Your post took me through a virtual tour of the city!! very nicely described!! keep sharing
Thank you for your kind words! Glad you enjoyed!
This is making me so excited to visit Budapest as soon as we can get to Europe again!
The architecture is amazing in Budapest. I could definitely use a soak in a thermal bath right about now as we head into fall and the long northern Canadian winter. I had never considered Budapest as a destination before. Thanks for peaking my interest.
Oof, we know all about those tough winters for sure! Thanks for your comment, hope we can get traveling again soon!
I love the photos! There is nothing I like more than a good castle, and the baths look amazing. I can’t wait to visit!
We love castles, too! Hope we can both visit again soon 🙂
Fantastic guide! I really enjoyed Budapest when I was there and I totally agree with the overrated thermal spa! Plus, we met there so unfriendly staff… it was quite sad. BUT Budapests’s architecture is something unforgettable and worth to visit!
Yes, we had a similar experience…! Hope we can both go back soon 🙂
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