Of all the beautiful cities in the world, Budapest is one of my absolute favorites. If a trip to Budapest is on your mind, don’t think twice about it. Just go! I promise you will love every moment.
I hope you enjoy this complete Budapest Travel Guide. Here you will find all of my best Budapest travel tips – where to stay, what to do, where to go, what to eat, and so much more!
Planning Your Visit
When to Visit and Length of Stay
Sven and I spent 6 days in Budapest last June. I’m a warm-weather-lady, so I was fine in the Hungarian summer heat. Sven didn’t enjoy it as much as me though. So if you’re sensitive to warm temperature, I would recommend visiting in late spring or summer instead. Because Budapest is very large and has so many place to explore, I was glad we spent 6 days there. It’s certainty possible to visit all of the main sights and landmarks in 2 or 3 days, but don’t be scared to plan a longer stay. You won’t be bored, I promise!
Money, Language, and Transportation
On top of being a magnificently beautiful city, Budapest is also relatively inexpensive. For a quick point of reference: two flat whites, a baguette sandwich, slice of cake, and bottle of water cost around 2,300 forint (which is less than €10). Pretty good, right? And those are “trendy coffee house” prices. Some places will allow you to pay with euros, but you’ll end up spending a lot more this way so opt for making your purchases in forint. Budapest is also very card-friendly. We had no problem paying with credit card anywhere we visited. Throughout most of the city, the people you’ll encounter will speak English. We only had a little bit of trouble with the language in the market and in the train station. Other than that, English worked just fine the whole time. The city is super walkable so getting around is no problem at all. But Budapest also has a very well-connected metro and tram system. We purchased an unlimited five-day pass and were set for the whole stay.
Where To Stay
When we travel, Sven and I prefer to stay in Airbnbs because we feel as though we have a more authentic experience. Our Airbnb, “Elegance by the Basilica,” was cozy, wonderful, and cost only €40 a night. It was so centrally located, had all the charm of a beautiful old building, and the most adorable balcony with a spectacular view of St. Stephen’s Basilica. I fell in love with so many of the dreamy details – high ceilings and their beautiful molding, large windows, French doors, and wooden floors. There were a few things I would have changed if I could. The kitchen and bathroom were pretty tiny, and the overall furnishings we’re anything to write home about. But the location and view were! We enjoyed the coziest breakfasts out on our little balcony in the morning and relaxed there in the evening, sipping wine in candle light.
Where To Go and What To Do
As I said before, Budapest has so much to offer and there is something to discover everywhere you wander. Sven and I loosely planned our days, but gave ourselves plenty of time to get lost and explore. Below is my complete list of ideas for your time in Budapest with my top recommendations and best tips.
Shop the Central Market Hall
Here you will find a fresh assortment of delicious produce, meets, breads, and all sorts of other goodies! On our first full day, we came here to stock up on fruits for our morning balcony breakfasts.
Cross the Chain Bridge at Sunset
This 19th century bridge is one of the city’s most famous landmarks. Walking across the Chain Bridge gives you a spectacular view of both Buda and Pest! It’s particularly nice at sunset when the light reflects off the river, giving the city a rosy glow. We found ourselves crossing this bridge many times during our stay as it connects the most central parts of the city.
Stop by St. Stephen’s Basilica
Our little Airbnb balcony had the most stunning view of this beautiful and iconic city landmark. The surrounding streets are lively and offer a lovely mix of restaurants and cafes, making this area the prefect spot for dinner or an afternoon ice cream.
Ride a Yellow Tram
It’s easy to spot lots of these cute yellow trolleys throughout the city – hop on one to do some fast-paced sight seeing while giving your feet a little break from all the walking! Tram line 2 is a wonderful way to see many of Budapest’s marvels and will drive along the beautiful riverside.
Explore the Fisherman’s Bastion
Perhaps my favorite place in Budapest – this white bastion reminds me of a fairytale castle and offers a breathtaking view of the Parliament from across the river. Sven and I made a few trips to this special place – it’s equally as beautiful in the moonlight as it is in the sunshine.
Check out my full post about the Fisherman’s Bastion here.
Marvel at the Parliament Building
Maybe the most iconic building of the city, the Parliament building is even more impressive in person than it appears in photos. After taking a stroll across the Chain Bridge, walk along side the river to observe the building from directly across the water. If you’re there at the right time, you’ll have the most beautiful, unobstructed view in the whole city.
Walk the Buda Castle Tunnel
We took a stroll through the tunnel on our way to the regional train station. While it’s not particularly exciting, the inside of the tunnel makes for some stunning perspective photos of the Chain Bridge, and it’s also neat to be directly under the castle!
Visit Heroes’ Square
The charming M1 train line will take you from the center city directly to Heroes’ Square. Here you will see grand statues of leaders who founded Hungary. At the time we visited, it was blazing hot outside so we didn’t stay for long – but I could imagine this large square would be beautiful at sunrise or sunset!
Eat a Hungarian Breakfast
Strudels are a classic breakfast choice in Hungary and there are so many tasty filling options to choose from! On our last morning, we enjoyed a wonderful breakfast at one of Budapest’s oldest strudels restaurants. A definite must try while in Budapest.
Relax at a Dreamy Thermal Bath
Visiting one of Budapest’s thermal baths is a MUST during your stay. We decided to spoil ourselves a little and booked an all-day pass and couples massage at the beautiful Gellért Thermal Bath House. It was completely worth every forint. Gellért Thermal Bath House is absolutely lovely. Every bath hall is unique with colorful mosaic tiling, and the terrace was the perfect place to relax in the sun after our spa time. You’re allowed to bring food from outside to this bath house, so Sven and I packed some snacks to enjoy while sunbathing.
Cross the Liberty Bridge
Like the Chain Bridge, here you will discover a beautiful view of the city and the rocky face of Gellért Hill where the Liberty Statue stands tall.
Get Lost on Castle Hill
There’s plenty to discover up on Castle Hill. While Trinity Square, Matthias Church, and the Fishermen’s Bastion are its most famous landmarks, I fell in love with all the charming buildings that line the cozy cobble stone streets.
Close Down the Ruin Bars
If you’re up for a night out on the town, don’t turn in before checking out one (or a few) of Budapest’s iconic ruin bars. Just like their name suggests, these bars are built with a hodgepodge style and offer casual yet energetic vibes. Sven and I visited two and both were fun and funky.
Take in the View from Gellért Hill
The hike to the top of Gellért Hill offers a stunning view of the river and cityscape. There are lots of pretty little natural pathways which will take you to the overlook, and at the top you will find the famous Liberty Statue which towers over the tree line.
Enjoy an Authentic Hungarian Dinner
Sven and I are both vegetarians. But when we travel, we like to experience the local cuisine including a few meat dishes. Hungary has so many tasty dishes that are very meat heavy such as goulash and stew. We ate at two different authentic Hungarian restaurants during our time in Budapest and both were delicious. So if you’re looking for some local digs, check out these places.
Wander the Grounds of Vajdahunyad Castle
This beautiful castle is located on the grounds of Budapest City Park and is surrounded by water. We spent the afternoon here admiring the beautiful architecture and gardens. If you’re in the area, you can also stop by the famous Széchenyi Thermal Bath which are located near the castle.
Sip Coffee at New York Café
Perhaps the most famous café in Budapest, New York Café is an astonishingly beautiful Hungarian coffee house that is a must see. Even though I wasn’t very impressed with the coffee, the interior architecture is absolutely magnificent. I think my coffee got cold because I was too busy staring at the perfectly painted ceilings!
Explore Trinity Square and Matthias Church
Both of these landmarks are found atop castle hill behind the beautiful Fisherman’s Bastion. The square’s large white stone carvings with their tiny touches of gold are absolutely stunning, and I loved seeing the colorful roof tiles of Matthias Church.
Explore the City by Night
No visit to Budapest would be complete without an evening stroll past the city’s famous landmarks. We truly enjoyed rediscovering our favorite spots after sunset – everything looks so enchanting in the warm evening glow of the streetlights.
Get Lost in the City
Finally, let yourself get lost in Budapest! Take to the streets and let the energy of the city guide you. You never know what you might discover, but I’m sure it will be unforgettable.
Where to Eat
As always, save the best for last – food! I already mentioned a few places above for traditional Hungarian cuisine. Here’s a list of our favorite cafes, bars, coffee shops, and restaurants we visited while in Budapest.
Madal Café
I can’t even begin to describe the deliciousness of the flat white I was served at Mandal. I will always remember this cozy café too because here is the place where I first tried oat milk in my espresso – so tasty. The interior is super hip and they have a lovely outdoor seating area. Be sure to give their oat milk flat white a try!
Déryné Bisztró
Sven and I still talk about these delicious pastries from Déryné Bisztró. We stopped by this place one morning on our way to the regional train station. The restaurant sets up the most adorable pastry stand outside on the sidewalk to service the morning traffic. I wish I could have eaten one of everything!
Panoramia Cafe & Bar
I couldn’t imagine a dreamier place to enjoy a bottle of rosé with my love. Sven and I watched the sunset over the river from the Fisherman’s Bastion at Panoramia Café. It’s wasn’t the cheapest option around, but the location was absolute perfection and felt so romantic.
Zing Burger
We popped into this hip little burger joint because of it’s vegetarian options. The place had such trendy vibes and also served fresh juice and coffee. If you’re not in the mood for traditional Hungarian food, give Zing Burger a try!
Bástya Terasz Ice Cream
We discovered this perfect ice cream oasis while wandering the streets of Castle Hills. It was the most perfect, refreshing afternoon treat and they serve so many fresh and fruity flavors!
Á Table Boulangerie
This little boulangerie was just around the corner from our Airbnb. We stopped by á Table several times during our time to Budapest to pick up breakfast pastries which we enjoyed on our little balcony with the fresh fruit from the market. The woman who owns the shop is super friendly and they make truly delicious croissants.
Café Gottier
We found Café Gottier on a quiet and street near the Gellért Baths. The place has the funniest “Alice in Wonderland” décor, but the food was really tasty and the service was very good.
Spíler BistroPub
Before heading to the ruin bars, Sven and I stopped by Spíler BistroPub for a more relaxed drink. The vibes at this bar were hip and laidback, and their service was very friendly. They even made me a special cucumber cocktail creation!
Artizán Pékség
Artizán Pékség was another bakery we stopped by to supply our balcony breakfasts. Both their croissants and espresso were delicious! Sven made the pastry/coffee run that morning so I never saw the interior, but he said it was “Instagram cute”.
