19 Best Things to do in Budapest

Budapest is one of my favourite cities to visit – it‘s incredibly rich in culture, stunning architecture, and delicious food. There is so much to do, see, and eat that it would be impossible for me to list them all. So, I‘ve narrowed it down to my favourite 19 things to do in Budapest.

1. Visit the Parliament Building

The Hungarian Parliament Building is one of the most stunning buildings I have seen. It‘s located along the river bank on the Pest side of the city. You can book a tour inside the building (though I found it was enough to just gape at it from the outside). For information about the opening hours and tickets, visit the official website: https://www.parlament.hu/web/visitors. The Parliament building is gorgeous from all sides, but it is at its most spectacular from a boat at sunset.

2. Go for a Boat Cruise at Sunset (with unlimited Prosecco!)

My top recommendation for a visit to Budapest is to take a boat cruise or tour — bonus points if you can book it at sunset. This activity is absolutely perfect for a first day outing. A tour is a great way to give you an overview of Budapest. You can book a tour on Get Your Guide or Viator. The cruise I took with Rubin Group was fantastic, and included an unlimited amount of Prosecco. The cruise does not, however, give much commentary on the city. If you are interested in a more informative cruise, I would suggest a more classic, laid-back tour with an audio guide, like the Legenda Danube Cruise, which still includes a glass of Prosecco (or another drink). Make sure to be at the dock 15 minutes before the cruise starts to secure a good seat, because the tours are usually relatively full.

3. See the Shoes on the Danube Bank

Budapest is filled with Jewish memorials, the most famous of which is the Shoes on the Danube Bank. It consists of 60 pairs of steel shoes in different styles, in memory of the Jews that were murdered here during World War II. They were told to take off their shoes before being shot and falling into the water. It is an incredibly sad and touching depiction of the events that were suffered in the war, and is a must-see monument in Budapest. It is located on the bank of the Danube between the Parliament Building and the Chain Bridge, so you will probably stumble upon it at some point.

4. See Széchenyi Chain Bridge

The Chain Bridge is an architectural and historical wonder, being the first permanent bridge to connect the two sides of the city, Buda and Pest. It is easily viewed from either side of the river, but the best view you’ll get is from a boat. It is one of the must-see landmarks of Budapest.

5. Explore Buda Castle

The castle area in Budapest is enormous, and is situated at the top of one of the hills on the Buda side of the city. You could easily spend an entire day exploring the area. The castle does not stand on its own, but is surrounded by a whole array of historical buildings and attractions, like the Hungarian National Gallery and a military museum. There is even an underground labyrinth and the Houdini Museum. The gardens around the castle are beautiful, though never quite as busy as the rest of the area.

There are several ways to get to the castle:

1: Walk. If you’re feeling particularly motivated, feel free to walk up to the castle. Starting from Clark Adam Square, use the designated path.

2: Take the furnicular at Clark Adam Square. In my opinion, the 1-minute ride is worth the €10 you pay for it. Though it is a return ticket, I recommend spending the day making your way towards the Fisherman’s Bastion and walking down from there.

6. Go to the Fisherman’s Bastion

The Fisherman’s Bastion is one of those attractions you will find on the castle grounds. It is one of Budapest’s most beloved attractions. There was even a wedding taking place when I visited it! It offers gorgeous panoramic views of the entire city, as well as unique architecture, which makes for wonderful photos. Unfortunately, it can often be flooded with tourists. If you specifically want photos on your own here, it may be best to visit as early in the day as possible. In this case, you can take public transport (metro line M2, stop Batthyány tér, or bus 5, stop Alagút Utica) and walk for 10-15 minutes. You can also take bus 16 or 16A (stop Szentháromság tér), which takes you almost directly to the Fisherman’s Bastion.

7. See Matthias Church

This exquisite church is located right next to the Fisherman’s Bastion. Its colourful roof tiling makes it one of my favourite European churches. You can buy tickets to view the inside if you want to. It is absolutely beautiful, but if you’ve been inside 2-3 European churches, you’ll probably know that most of them look rather similar. You can also get a ticket to go up to the tower, which gives you a fantastic view of the city.

Tickets and information on specific opening hours for each day are available on the official website of the church (https://matyas-templom.hu). The times for the mass services are even listed here.

8. Take a walk up Gellért Hill

Gellért Hill offers, in my opinion, the best view of the city. My recommendation would be to go here at sunset on your second or third day. Take some snacks and drinks along to sit on one of the viewing benches at the top of the hill. The walk from nearby bus stations is around 30 minutes. If you are using Google maps, you might not be directed to the top of the hill. Just follow the Liberty Statue and you‘ll get there!

9. Eat Local Foods

Hungarian food is comforting and hearty. There are so many dishes to try – even if you‘ve tried them somewhere else before. Many traditional dishes have been adapted and altered by other cultures. Some of my must-try foods include Chicken paprikash (with dumplings!), Goulash, and Langos.

10. Enjoy the views from St. Stephen’s Basilica

The Basilica is another top attraction of Budapest. The most important artifact found in the church is the mummified right hand of the first king of Hungary, St Stephen. You can also go to the top of the church tower, where you can get a panoramic view of the city. Tickets can be bought at the entrance or online on the official website. It is also possible to book guided tours in various languages. Note that these tours must be booked at least 72 hours in advance. Check the website for information on opening hours, ticket and tour prices at https://www.bazilika.biz/en/visitors.

11. Eat Rose Gelato

Next to St Stephen‘s Basilica, there is a little gelateria with an almost permanent queue. This is Gelarto Rosa, where the servers shape the gelato into roses on a cone. You can get up to 4 flavours. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing, but the gelato is delicious! My favourite flavour was the white chocolate & lavender.

12. Relax at a Hungarian Bath

One of those essential Budapest experiences is visiting a traditional thermal bath house. There are 9 bath houses in Budapest, the biggest and most popular of which is the Szechenyi Bath – the one I visited. It has 18 pools of varying temperatures, including outdoor and indoor pools. There is also a sauna and a steam room. You could easily spend a whole day here, but I chose to arrive early on a weekday and stayed around 4 hours, which I found to be enough. It was relatively empty and only started to get busy around the time that I left. You just need to bring a swimsuit (nudity is prohibited), sandals, and a towel.

13. Take in the history at Heroes’ Square

Close nearby the Szechenyi baths is Heroes‘ Square, which is great for a quick visit. In the centre of the square is a 36m-tall pillar, at the top of which is a statue of the archangel Gabriel, holding the Hungarian crown and cross. On either side are statues of the seven chieftains who brought the Magyar people to Hungary. It is one of the biggest landmarks of Budapest.

14. Take a Day Trip to Margaret Island

Between Buda and Pest lies Margaret Island, a 2,5km-long strip of land in the Danube River. This island is a wonderful destination for a half- or full-day trip. It has many attractions, including a Rose garden, a Japanese garden, a mini zoo, and, perhaps most famously, a musical fountain. Find my guide to Margaret island here:https://tineabroad.com/day-trip-to-margaret-island-in-budapest-beginners-guide/.

15. Stroll around the Jewish Quarter

The Pest side of the city hosts the Jewish Quarter. There is so much to explore here, from war memorials to ruin bars and traditional Jewish restaurants. One of the main attractions is the Dohany Street Synagogue, the largest synagogue in Europe. Tickets can be bought on the website: https://www.greatsynagogue.hu/gallery_syn.html

The ruin bars are also characteristic of the Jewish quarter. These are bars that are located in buildings that were run down in World War II. If you fancy a night out, you will find some of the best and most unique nightlife in Europe here.

16. Take a Ride on the Budapest Ferris Wheel

Another great view of the city is from the 65m-high Budapest eye. The ferris wheel is located in a park at the heart of the city. Tickets cost around 5-10€ and can be bought at the wheel.

17. Have Lunch or High Tea at New York Café

This café was not named the world‘s most beautiful café for no reason. The interior is exquisite, and the food is delicious. The menu includes some traditional Hungarian dishes, while also offering some more modern international foods. You can even come here for an afternoon high tea. There is often live music playing. It is always very full, so it is best to book a table ahead of time, to avoid a long wait. You can do this, as well as view the menu on the website of the café: https://newyorkcafe.hu/en/

18. Shop at Central Market Hall

Central Market Hall is a huge indoor market with vendors offering all kinds of products — from spices and fresh produce to souvenirs. This is a fantastic place to eat some traditional Hungarian food — most well-known is the Langos stand on the second floor. The market is always very full, but it is one of those things I wouldn‘t skip on a trip to Budapest.

19. Visit the Open Air Theatre – Local Markets, Ice Skating, Christmas Market

Close to Heroes‘ Square is a large building with an open space that hosts a variety of events throughout the year. In summer, open-air concerts take place here. During winter, it is transformed into an ice rink and is used for a Christmas market.

Hopefully, this list has helped you find some things you would like to do in Budapest. For an ideal trip, try to plan for 3 or 4 days in Budapest. It is enough time to see all the major sites, as well as a many smaller ones, while still allowing you to wander around a bit and find some hidden gems in the city.