10 Best Things To Do In BUDAPEST You’ll Love
Looking for the best things to do in Budapest? In this article, we will share the very best activities and places to see that we experienced during our multiple visits to Budapest, Hungary. From river cruises, thermal spas, ruin bars and more – every type of traveller will find something to love from the things to do in Budapest.
Budapest, Hungary’s capital city, is full of charm. The architecture is overwhelmingly beautiful, the food is delicious and it is perfect for those travelling on a budget. Don’t get us wrong, you could splash the cash here too. But Budapest is incredibly affordable, easy to navigate and offers a variety of activities.
In case you didn’t know, Budapest is made up of two parts: Buda and Pest. Most people, including ourselves, choose to stay in Pest and visit Buda during their stay.
We’ve been to Budapest a few times and can’t get enough of it. We even got engaged there on our last visit! So we feel confident in our top 10 recommendations of things to do in Budapest. Continue reading to find out what they are!
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Contents
- Evening boat tour on the Danube
- Thermal Spa at Gellért or Szechenyi Thermal Spa
- Hungarian Parliament building
- Fisherman’s Bastion and Buda Palace
- Enjoy a view of the city
- House of Terror Museum
- Szimpla Kert/ruin bars
- Central Market Hall and Liberty Bridge
- Great Synagogue and the Jewish Quarter
- Margaret Island
Essential Travel Tools
Flights: Skyscanner
Transport: 12GoAsia
Accommodation: Booking.com
Tours: Viator/Klook
Car hire: Discover Cars
Map of the Best Things to Do in Budapest
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Top 10 Things to Do in Budapest
Danube Evening boat tour – Best Things to Do in Budapest for Couples
Price: from 6,300 HUF (£13pp)
A tour of the Danube is the perfect way to see all the main attractions of the city within an hour. You can take one at any time of day, but the evening tour is absolutely magical. Yes, we might be biased putting this in our number one slot as it was on a river cruise Jack proposed but still, it would be anyone’s highlight.
Cruising past Buda Palace and Fisherman’s Bastion as they twinkle against the night sky is spectacular, but the real show stopper for us was seeing the Hungarian Parliament building glowing gold on the riverside. Perfect for couples as the reflections of the cityscape paint the river making it all very romantic.
There are many tours available for this river cruise so it will be easy to find one to your liking. If you’re feeling flashy you could hire a private boat. Alternatively, you could go on one of the “all you can drink” tours where it’s hard to tell whether it’s the boat making you sick or the booze! In our opinion, it is truly one of the best things to do in Budapest.
Thermal spas – Best Things to Do in Budapest for Relaxation
Price: Gellert Spa from: 7,100 HUF (£15pp); Szechenyi Spa from: 7,100 HUF (£15pp)
Budapest is famous for its naturally mineral-rich thermal waters. There are two main spas we recommend. There is the Gellért Thermal Baths in Buda which is mega fancy or Szechenyi Thermal Baths in Pest which has larger pools and often hosts parties.
Gellért Thermal Baths and Spa is exquisitely decorated in the Art-Nouveau style and offers plunge pools, saunas and spa treatments as well as the geothermal pools Budapest is famous for.
Szechenyi Baths are situated in an iconic yellow building and offers 21 pools in which to soak. The beautiful outdoor pool is the most popular with tourists all posing at the edge of the pool.
We’ve been to both and each had its merits so it’s hard to pick which is best. What better way to relax than a soak in the thermal waters that Budapest has to offer?
Nearby to Szechenyi baths, lies City Park where Vajdahunyad Castle is located. In the winter, the boating lake becomes one of Europe’s largest ice rinks. It’s so fun just to sit and watch the skaters (or wannabe ice skaters) practice their moves.
Hungarian Parliament building
Price: Free to view outside. Entrance from 4200 HUF for EU Citizens and 8400 HUF for Non-EU (£17.50 pp)
There is no denying that this neo-Gothic building is stunning. The Hungarian Parliament building is iconic. If you Google Budapest, this will be the building you will see in the pictures. From any angle, it looks glorious, be it from Buda, the river Danube or up close.
There are also tours inside the building when parliament is not in session and are available in different languages. Highlights include the main entrance and the Hungarian Crown Jewels.
Fisherman’s Bastion and Buda Castle
Price: Buda Castle entrance is 1,400 HUF (£3pp)
Over on the Buda side of the Danube are Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion.
Buda Castle is hard to miss when walking along the river. It sits proudly on the hillside, overlooking the city and glows golden in the dark. Today it’s home to the Hungarian National Gallery and temporary exhibitions.
Further along, the river is Fisherman’s Bastion. Made up of towers and turrets, this building looks like something out of a fairytale. A popular photo spot is to pose in one of the archways with the river and parliament buildings in the distance. Just make sure to get there early in the morning to have a more peaceful photography experience.
Enjoy a view of the city
Price: Free
To truly appreciate the beauty of Budapest we highly recommend making your way to one of the viewpoints that the city has to offer.
Our favourite views were from the top of St Stephen’s Basilica or the Liberty Statue on the top of Gellért Hill. Both require a bit of effort to climb up but nothing too strenuous. And wow, are the views worth it.
St Stephen’s Basilica is Budapest’s most celebrated church. It’s home to an eerie relic – St Stephen’s embalmed right hand – the founding king of Hungary. The Basilica is one of the two tallest buildings in the city, the other being the Parliament building, to show the equality between church and state. This makes it a great spot to take in the view of the city.
Liberty Statue is one of the few remaining Communist monuments in the city. It sits proudly on top of Gellért Hill, with panoramic views of Budapest. The walk up to the summit offers many points of interest including the statue of the Benedictine monk that gave the hill its name, a man-made waterfall and The Citadel.
House of Terror Museum
Price: 2,000 HUF (£4pp)
Budapest is a city that has had a painful past. An incredible way the city’s history has been displayed is in the House of Terror Museum. The museum exhibits the fascist and communist regimes that ruled Budapest in the 20th Century with the building itself being used as a prison and torturing facility by the State Security Service. We found it to be sombre but also educational. One of us (Lottie) isn’t great at museums but this one was so well put together with great interactive elements.
Another poignant tribute to the painful history is the “Shoes on the Danube” monument. It honours the victims of the Holocaust who were marched to the riverbank and ordered to remove their shoes before being shot and falling into the river beneath.
Learning some of Budapest’s past really deepens your appreciation for the city, so we think everyone should make the effort to visit these.
Szimpla Kert/ruin bars
Price: Cost of a drink
If you are up for it, Budapest is the perfect party city. Its nightlife is world famous. And even if you aren’t up for it, it’s fun to participate in at least one drink whilst getting lost in the maze of the ruin bars. The most popular bar is Szimpla Kert. With numerous rooms with different bits of memorabilia, art and tat decorating each room.
The ruin bars can pop up each year in various abandoned buildings and courtyards. It’s worth taking the time to explore a couple and see which vibe you enjoy the most.
Central Market Hall and Liberty Bridge
Price: Free
We love to visit a market when we travel and Budapest is no exception. Budapest’s Great Market Hall is the most popular market in the city with locals and tourists alike. It is possible to purchase the standard fruits, vegetables and meats whilst also picking up a souvenir or two. We particularly liked the tins of paprika that come in handy in the kitchen.
Upstairs in the market hall, you can sample local delicacies such as goulash and langos.
Next door to the Market Hall is Liberty Bridge. This is the city’s shortest bridge that connects Buda and Pest and was built as part of the Millenium World Exhibition. The green colour of the bridge is what it is famous for, making it one of the most recognisable and photogenic in Budapest.
Great Synagogue and the Jewish Quarter
Price: 5,000 HUF Synagogue Entry Fee (£10pp)
Stroll around the Jewish Quarter and see the Great Synagogue. It is not only one of Budapest’s most eye-catching buildings, but it is also the second-largest Jewish place of worship in the world. And it truly looks it. The bright exterior stands majestic in the Jewish Quarter. The interior is a feast for your camera too.
It’s not just the beauty of the building that should pull you here. There are significant memorials throughout the site to commemorate those who lost their lives during WWII. At the rear of the synagogue is the Tree of Life, which holds the names of the 400,000 Hungarian Jews killed by the Nazis.
Once the scenes of great tragedy, Budapest’s Jewish Quarter is now filled with trendy cafes, ruin bars and colourful street art. Step into New York Cafe and be dazzled by the marble columns and glittering chandeliers as you enjoy a coffee and a cake. Or browse one of the many vintage shops this district has to offer. Our favourite food stop was at Bors GastroBar. Its menu consists of soups and sandwiches but, man, is that the best soup we’ve ever had.
Margaret Island
Price: Free
Trust us when we say, “don’t be sleeping on Margaret Island”. This island/park deserves a spot on your itinerary and is the ideal place to escape the crowds, enjoy a stroll and have a picnic. The 2.5km island in the middle of the Danube has a lot to offer. There’s a running track, a beach, and different gardens. You could even rent a pedal car to get yourself around if you don’t fancy walking.
It even hosts a festival each year with some of the biggest names in music performing for four days.
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We hope we have provided you with some inspiration. If you have any further suggestions or comments, let us know in the comments box below 🙂
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