What to see in Budapest, how to experience the most interesting sights if you have 1, 2, or 3 days. Best city landmarks and places. I’ll tell you how not to waste time if you’ve come to Budapest for a short time. I’ll also talk about where to stay.
Apart from the Parliament, Buda Castle, and baths in Budapest, there are at least two dozen other cool places. In cities like Budapest, where everything is quite spread out, it’s better to go with a minimal idea of what awaits you and what you need to see.
I’ve gathered all the beautiful and must-see places in Budapest from my experience and more than 15 trips to this city. Everything is very brief and informative. All places can be combined into one route through Budapest; I’ve organized them by locations. You won’t be bored!
If you want to make planning your leisure time in Budapest easier, just book what interests you on GetYourGuide. There are candlelit dinners, boat trips on the Danube, rooftop terraces, and much more.
When and for how long to go to Budapest
Budapest is a year-round city. In winter, only a tiny fraction of activities related to river cruises on the Danube are unavailable. Everything else is open and accessible. Winters here are mild; many outdoor restaurant and cafe terraces are open. I was here for New Year’s in January; I recommend it.
I love coming in February to the baths, and it’s comfortable to stroll around the city in winter. In spring and early summer, days get longer, and you can stroll around the city until midnight, alternating between classic sights and bars and restaurants. Festivals and the national holiday, St. Stephen’s Day, are held at the end of summer.
So, the answer to when to go is — always. For how many days? Here, too, it’s simple — you can see everything in a full three days. The coolest thing is in just one full day. It won’t be boring even for a week; during this time, you can see the non-touristy Budapest and feel the city. In my personal ranking, Budapest ranks higher than Vienna or Berlin, roughly on par with Prague or Barcelona.
Where to stay in Budapest
I can recommend excellent apartments with a rooftop terrace — Apartment Bp Central Home. Our friends from Germany recommended this place to us, who, like us, love comfortable, reasonably priced places rather than posh and expensive ones.
Cortile Hotel — a hotel with a pool and a good breakfast.
Zen Hostel by Central Market — an excellent hostel in the central part of the city, with rooms oriented towards family vacations.
Corinthia Budapest — a hotel with a spa center, high comfort, and a great breakfast. I recommend it if you want to spend special weekends in Budapest with a friend or partner.
Top 20 places worth seeing in Budapest
Fisherman’s Bastion
In fact, this is a beautiful viewing platform with a view of the Parliament and the central part of the city. Fisherman’s Bastion consists of two towers with beautiful staircases leading up to them. Built between 1899 and 1905, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987.
Entry is free. There is a cafe with a view in one of the towers. Of course, you’ll have to pay for coffee.
Near Fisherman’s Bastion is the Matthias Church, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Budapest.
Hungarian Parliament
A grandiose structure that will impress even if you’ve seen everything imaginable. The building is 280 meters long, and due to its enormous size, it can be seen from the high banks of Buda. Fisherman’s Bastion is one of the places where the Parliament is clearly visible. I recommend coming here again in the evening.
You can visit the Parliament; for this, you need to buy a 45-minute tour.
“Shoes on the Danube Bank”
This is the most tragic monument in Budapest, located about 300 meters from the Hungarian Parliament on the banks of the Danube River.
In 1944, 60 Hungarian Jews were shot by Hungarian fascists on the banks of the Danube, and their bodies were thrown into the river.
As a reminder of the execution and those horrific events, in 2005, artists Pauer and Togay created metal shoes that are installed directly on the concrete Danube embankment.
Chain Bridge
The Chain Bridge, also known as the Széchenyi Chain Bridge, is a world-class attraction. Stone lions guard both sides of the bridge. Budapest is famous for its bridges; there are nine bridges in the city, and the Chain Bridge is the most beautiful of them.
The Chain Bridge divides Budapest into Buda and Pest, between which flows the Danube River. Built between 1839 and 1849.
The Chain Bridge also offers a great view from the Fisherman’s Bastion and from the observation deck of the upper station of the funicular, which I’ll write about below.
Another non-obvious place with a view of the Chain Bridge is the rooftop bar of the boutique hotel Clark. The hotel is considered one of the best in Budapest, and if you can afford it, plan to stay here confidently.
Funicular
A transport and landmark in one, Budapest’s funicular was built in 1870 and restored after World War II, reopening 40 years later in 1986. It’s over 150 years old, originally powered by a steam engine.
In just 2 minutes and for a small fee, the funicular takes you from the Danube River up to Castle Hill. Exiting on the left, you’ll see Buda Castle (Royal Palace), and a short walk to the right leads to Matthias Church and Fisherman’s Bastion.
Buda Castle
The main attraction of Budapest’s Buda district, Buda Castle sits atop Castle Hill and offers stunning views of the city. Once the residence of Hungarian kings, it now houses museums such as the National Gallery, Historical Museum, and National Library.
Set aside a couple of hours to explore the palace grounds, ideally planning your visit just before sunset. From Buda Castle’s viewpoints, you’ll enjoy the best views of nighttime Budapest.
Gellert Hill
Another top spot in Buda is Gellert Hill, rising 235 meters above the city. It provides another excellent vantage point with views of Budapest, the Danube River, and the Liberty Bridge, which I consider the city’s second most beautiful bridge after the Chain Bridge.
From Gellert Hill, you can also spot Castle Hill. For a detour, follow secret paths to reach Philosophical Garden (use Google Maps). It’s about a 1 km walk to the garden, always keeping Buda Castle in sight with Google Maps guiding you. It’s an atmospheric and less touristy spot – highly recommended.
To reach Gellert Hill, I recommend walking or taking bus No. 27.
Gellert Baths
Considered among Budapest’s most beautiful baths, Gellert Baths are opulent and adorned with lavish decorations that might overwhelm you at first. Located beneath Gellert Hill at the Gellert Hotel, guests of the hotel enjoy discounts. If you enjoy spa treatments in a great location, booking a stay here is convenient as it’s close to all major Budapest attractions.
Near Gellert Baths are the popular Rudas Baths, known for their separate days for men and women and mixed-gender days during the week. On the roof of Rudas Baths, there’s an open-air pool with thermal water and a view of the Danube. The highlight of Rudas Baths is their Friday night spa sessions – highly recommended.
Central Market Hall
This market has been operating for 120 years and remains Budapest’s most popular market. There’s another market in Buda, but if you have limited time, this is the one to visit. Simply cross Liberty Bridge on foot from Gellert Hill, and you’ll find the impressive Market building on your right.
The market is famous not just for its age but also for its excellent food options. The entire second floor is a massive food court offering superb traditional Hungarian food and drinks. You’ll also find a variety of souvenirs here.
Across from the market, I recommend another place known for the best goulash in the city – For Sale. It’s where I always dine when I’m in Budapest, though finding a free table during lunchtime can be challenging.
Liberty Bridge
One of Budapest’s 9 bridges over the Danube and second in my ranking, Liberty Bridge connects Gellert Square near Gellert Hill with Customs Square near the Central Market Hall.
The bridge spans 333 meters and is traditionally beautifully illuminated at night. You can walk across the bridge on foot.
St. Stephen’s Basilica
A Catholic cathedral and the tallest building in Budapest, St. Stephen’s Basilica impresses visitors. Make sure to walk around it from all sides before entering. Inside, aside from its traditional beauty, purchase a ticket to go up under the central dome of the basilica.
St. Stephen’s Basilica offers one of the best viewpoints in the city, which you shouldn’t miss. Tickets are always reasonably priced, and you’ll reach the top with a fast elevator ride.
Opera House
Located near St. Stephen’s Basilica, the Opera House underwent a nice renovation in 2021 and is now a beautiful Neo-Renaissance building.
You can visit the Opera House either for a performance or with a guided tour.
Budapest Eye
Located in central Budapest at Erzsebet Square, Hungary’s largest Ferris wheel offers panoramic views of the entire city from a height of 65 meters. The view is particularly impressive at night. The Budapest Eye operates year-round, just like many other Budapest attractions, and is spectacularly illuminated in the evening.
Budapest’s Ruin Pubs
From the grand to the traditional yet equally atmospheric entertainment. By now, you’ve likely noticed many rundown or semi-destroyed buildings in the city. In the second half of the 20th century, enthusiastic students transformed one such building into a pub, which later became the iconic ruin pub Szimpla Kert. People flock from all over the world to admire its design and enjoy its atmosphere, though the abundance of tourists can sometimes be overwhelming.
British or Belgian youths specifically fly into Budapest for weekends just to experience this place. There are now at least two dozen pubs in former derelict buildings in Budapest, collectively known as ruin pubs.
The most famous ruin pubs include Szimpla Kert, Mazel Tov, Csendes Letterem, and Instant & Fogas Ház. Most ruin pubs are located in the Jewish Quarter, not far from the Great Synagogue.
A popular area to stay in Budapest, the Jewish Quarter features the Barceló Budapest as its top hotel.
Great Synagogue
Another top-tier attraction in Budapest, the synagogue is located in the Jewish Quarter in Pest. You can walk there from the city center or take the metro.
It’s the second-largest synagogue in the world after the one in New York City, opened in 1895. Built in what’s known as the Moorish style with numerous Eastern details, you can enter with a guided tour, which I highly recommend. Save time and money by purchasing your tour online.
Szechenyi Baths
Budapest’s most famous and popular baths, loved by both locals and tourists alike. Winter bathing in the outdoor pools against the backdrop of the beautiful yellow-blue architecture and rising steam from the water is particularly spectacular. There’s a bar near the pools, and inside, there are many enclosed baths with various water temperatures.
The baths are popular, so prepare for ticket queues. It’s best to buy everything online. The best times to visit are early morning and evening.
Hungarian National Museum
Budapest boasts an incredible number of museums, and while we’ve visited several, one I can recommend is the Hungarian National Museum. It houses over 1 million items related to Hungarian history, alongside magnificent architecture and interiors.
Located not far from Szechenyi Baths, the City Park, and Heroes’ Square.
City Park
City Park is an oasis of tranquility, serenity, and natural beauty. Located just behind Heroes’ Square, it’s also home to Szechenyi Baths.
The architectural highlight of the park is Vajdahunyad Castle. Originally built from cardboard and wood, it’s now constructed from red brick. In front of the castle, you’ll find a small pond where swans live in summer and where you can take a boat ride. In winter, ice skating is available.
Budapest Zoo
Established in 1866 as a zoological garden, Budapest Zoo is located within City Park, near Szechenyi Baths. The zoo houses over 1000 species of animals living in mega-comfortable conditions.
It’s evident that the animals are well-loved here, making it a recommendation for both adults and children.
Useful links:
- Hotel Bookin — Booking.com
- Flight tickets — Aviasales
- Car rental — Local Rent, Rentalcars
- Travel insurance — Hotline Finance
