Budapest Hungary City Guide

We visited Budapest & Prague in one trip, encompassing a long weekend. There are countless things to do in Budapest Hungary, such as exploring beautiful sights, enjoying the lively night life or learning about its unique history. It is a city we often dream about returning back to!

Hungarian Parliament

The Hungarian Parliament building is the most notable site in Budapest. Its red roof & multiple spikes make it one of the loveliest government buildings we’ve seen! They offer guided tours in multiple languages, where you can visit the inside and learn more about the building & Parliament. It’s recommended to pre-purchase your tickets in advance, as they can often sell out.

• Cost: 6,400 Forints (~$20)
• Pre-Purchase Tickets here: Hungarian Parliament
• Estimated time needed: 45 minutes

St. Stephen’s Basilica

St. Stephen’s Basilica is one of those things to do in Budapest Hungary that you can’t miss! The inside is arguably one of the most beautiful Cathedrals we’ve visited (and we’ve seen a lot of Cathedrals in our travels). It has exquisite marble and the walls are gold plated.

You can go to the top of St. Stephens for some incredible views of Budapest. Unlike many other European Cathedrals, you can take an elevator most of the way up. As someone who is afraid of heights, this wasn’t a bad experience for me compared to others (though I simply recommend avoiding the railing if you also have a fear of heights).

• Cost: Donation Based (Basilica), ~$4 (Towers)
• More information: St. Stephen’s Basilica
• Estimated time needed: 1 hour

Ruin Pubs

Budapest is famous for ruin pubs! While these bars have really picked up in the last 20 years or so, they are now a staple of Budapest night-life. The concept of a ruin pub is to take a worn down building, and rather than renovating it, utilizing what is already available and decorating it with miscellaneous items, tables & chairs! We visited Szimpla Kert, one of the most famous ruin pubs, and it felt like a maze of uniquely decorated rooms. Szimpla Kert often has live music and often hosts a famers market during the day on weekends. It’s safe to say that Szimpla Kert was one of the coolest bars we’ve ever been to so if you’re a fan of night-life, this is one of the best things to do in Budapest Hungary!

• Cost: Free (Drinks for sale inside)
• More information: Szimpla Kert
• Estimated time needed: 1-2 hours

Shoes on the Danube

While on the Pest side of the city, near the Chain Bridge you can find a Shoe Memorial along the Danube River. During WWII, around 800 Jewish people in Budapest were told to stand along the edge of the river and take off their shoes. They were shot so their bodies fell into the river and were swept away by the current. Although this memorial is small, it’s very moving to see the shoes frozen in place and commemorate the lives lost that day.

• Cost: Free
• Estimated time needed: 15 minutes

Széchenyi Chain Bridge

Széchenyi Chain Bridge connects the Buda & Pest sides of the city, which are separated by the Danube River. Pedestrians are able to walk across the bridge, but it’s important to note it takes almost 10 minutes to get across due to it’s size!

• Cost: Free to cross
• Estimated time needed: 10-15 minutes

Buda Castle

Buda Castle is located on the Buda side of Budapest, overlooking the river & Chain Bridge. They have a funicular that will take you to the top, but it’s recommended to pre-book tickets to avoid long lines. You can also choose to skip the funicular and follow the walking path (about 10 minutes) to the top! The outside appearance of Buda Castle was nothing compared to others we have seen in our travels, but you can go inside to visit the National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum.

• Cost: 2,400 HUF (~$8) for History Museum
• More information: Buda Castle
• Estimated time needed: 2-4 hours

St. Mattias Cathedral

While on the Buda side of the river, you’ll want to be sure to continue along the river from Buda Castle to St. Mattias Cathedral. While we only enjoyed the views from the outside, you can also pre-purchase a ticket to climb the tower.

• Cost: 2,200 HUF (~$7)
• More information: St. Mattias Cathedral
• Estimated time needed: 15 – 30 minutes

Fisherman’s Bastion

One of the best free things to do in Budapest is visit Fisherman’s Bastion (behind St. Mattias Cathedral). It provides incredible views of the Parliament Building & River. We loved it so much, we even went back a second time to enjoy the view at night!

Fisherman’s Bastion itself is beautiful. Built in the 1700’s, it resembles a stone castle. It’s 7 towers are said to symbolize the seven chieftains who founded Hungary in 895. We highly recommend visiting both the day & at night for some incredible views.

• Cost: Free
• Estimated time needed: 30 minutes

Ruszwurm Cafe

If you’re looking for some delectable Hungarian cakes, you’ll find Ruszwurm Cafe near Fisherman’s Bastion. It’s a small spot, that often has a line outside but don’t be intimidated. If a table opens up you can enjoy coffee or tea with a slice of cake you select from the glass container at the front. This family run cafe has been serving cake for 200 years!

• Cost: 650-750 HUF for a slice of cake (~$2-$3)
• More information: Ruszwurm Cafe
• Estimated time needed: 45 minutes

Szechenyi Thermal Baths

If you’re looking to relax while in Budapest, you can’t miss Szechenyi Thermal Baths! It’s one of the top things to do in Budapest – and for good reason. We made an effort to arrive to the baths shortly after they opened to avoid the crowds. It was a chilly 30 degree day, but the steam rolling off the water made the experience magical. Check out our previous post dedicated to the Thermal Bath experience here: Szechcenyi Thermal Baths.

• Cost: 4,900-5,600 HUG (~$15-$20)
• Pre-Order Tickets here: Szechenyi Thermal Baths
• Estimated time needed: 2-4 hours

Heroes Square

Heroes Square is a large open plaza in Budapest. This square is home to Hungary’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and has been an area for many political gatherings in the past. It’s near to Szechenyi Thermal Baths, if you’re in the area, it’s worth checking out.

• Cost: Free
• Estimated time needed: 15 minutes

House of Terror

When it comes to historical things to do in Budapest, The House of Terror is an interesting museum. It’s focused on the Fascist and Communist regimes in Hungary during the 20th century. You’re able to learn a lot about Hungary’s conflicted past.

• Cost: 3,000 HUF (~$10)
• More information: House of Terror
• Estimated time needed: 2 hours

River Cruise

One of the best things to do in Budapest Hungary at night is to cruise the Danube. The best views of Chain Bridge, Buda Castle & Parliament lit up are from the water! While we were in Budapest, we chose a party booze cruise that included a DJ & drinks, but there are also more mellow sightseeing tours to do as well. The price depends on what is included in the package.

• Cost: 4,800 – 12,800 HUF (~$15-$40)
• More information: Budapest River Cruise
• Estimated time needed: 2 hours

Budapest Travel Tips

Transportation

• We were able to explore most of Budapest on foot
• For some sights that felt further from the city center (i.e. House of Terror or the Thermal Baths) we used the Metro and found it very affordable / easy
• Budapest also has a tram system if you prefer to take in the sights of the city above ground
• It’s super important you validate your metro & tram ticket to avoid receiving a fine

Tipping

• Most restaurants in Budapest will charge a 12.5% gratuity on every bill, so tipping on top of this is not required
• If you do not notice this extra charge, it’s recommended that you tip 10%

Weather

• Budapest experiences all 4 seasons. From snowy & cold winters (~25 degrees F) to hot & sunny summers (~80 degrees F), it depends on your preference.
• We visited in February and while it was cold, it didn’t hinder us from having a great time! The thermal baths were particularly fun in the colder weather due to the steam rolling off them.
• If you prefer to avoid crowds but want mild weather, we would recommend going in the Spring or Fall months.

General

• Budapest’s currency is the Hungarian Forint. $1 = ~320 HUF
• Like many European cities, a lot of shops & places are closed on Sundays to plan accordingly!
• Budapest is a rather safe city, but be aware of petty theft in crowded areas

Budapest is an amazing city that is full of culture, history & fun night life. If you have done some of the larger Western European cities before – Budapest should be your first stop in Eastern Europe! Ruin pubs, Thermal Baths & FIsherman’s Bastion are a few of our top recommendations for things to do in Budapest Hungary.

Cheers, Amanda