34 Things to Do in Budapest (on Your First Visit)
Budapest remains one of my favorite cities in the world, even after nearly a decade of travel to 80+ countries.
If you’re planning a trip to Budapest, get ready for gorgeous historical sites, unique attractions, fun ruin bars, and vibrant neighborhoods.
I count myself as something of an amateur Budapest travel expert – I’ve been to the city a half dozen times. To help you plan your visit, I’ve poured my heart and soul into trying to curate the best possible list of things to do on your first visit to Budapest.
My 34 Best Things to Do in Budapest
St. Stephen’s Basilica
📍 Google Maps | Phone: +36 1 311 0839 | St. Stephen’s Basilica Website | Church, Terrace & Treasury Admission: 4,500 HUF (~11 Euros) | 👉 Reserve Skip-the-Line Entry Tickets Here
My personal favorite is visiting the top of the observation deck at St. Stephen’s Basilica. When I have friends visiting Budapest from out of town, this is the first place I take them.
It’s a bit of a hike up the steps (there is an elevator – but the line is often long, so I just hike it up). But you’ll be rewarded with a 360 degree view of Budapest’s skyline.
After climbing up, it’s also definitely worth taking a peek inside St. Stephen’s Basilica’s beautiful interior.
Buda Castle
📍 Google Maps | Phone: +36 1 458 3000
Taking a tour of Buda Castle is definitely worthwhile. But my favorite way to experience this UNESCO World Heritage Site is actually just to climb up Buda Castle Hill to the free-to-enter grounds, where you can enjoy a spectacular view of Pest at sunset.
If you’re feeling lazy, though, you can also ascend via the Buda Castle Hill funicular! There are also lots of castle tours that will give you a different perspective on the history (including a Vampire tour!).
Hungarian National Parliament Building
📍 Google Maps | Phone: +36 1 441 4000 | Hungarian National Parliament Website | Admission: 6,500 HUF for EU Citizens or 13,000 HUF for non-EU citizens
Personally, I think the Hungarian Parliament’s exterior is the second most beautiful in the world after India’s Taj Mahal. Simply admiring it from the outside (or from the deck of a river cruise) is a must do in Budapest.
But, if you can, try to also go inside. Tours do fill up fast, so be sure to book ahead – especially if you will be traveling to Budapest during the peak summer season.
Book tickets on the official Parliament site here, and be sure to check the language of your Parliament tour, as many different languages are offered.
Walk the Széchenyi Chain Bridge
I can’t recommend enough taking a sunset stroll along the majestic (and recently renovated) Széchenyi Chain Bridge.
The bridge is the first permanent bridge connecting the Buda and Pest sides of the city. It opened in 1849 shortly after the Hungarian Revolution – and is to this day considered something of a symbolic landmark in Budapest.
Taking a stroll across the Széchenyi Chain Bridge is a quintessential experience in the city. If you can, I recommend going around sunset.
Danube River Dinner Cruise
The defining feature of Budapest is the Danube river. So no visit to Budapest is complete without spending at least a little time taking in the city from the water. There are many companies that offer evening Danube river cruises along the river, and I highly recommend taking at least one.
I’ve been on several Danube dinner tours, and suggest checking out either this high-end dinner tour if you can afford it, or this cheaper option if you’re on a budget.
Thermal Baths
Szechenyi Thermal Baths
📍 Google Maps | Phone: +36 20 435 0051 | Szechenyi Thermal Baths Website | Admission With Locker: 11,000 Ft weekdays, 12,500 Ft weekends (Pro tip: tickets are on discount if you go before 9 am)
Budapest is famous for its thermal spas, and Szechenyi Thermal Baths is arguably the most famous one in the city. And of course that popularity means you may have to contend with the crowds at this large, but undeniably picturesque, outdoor thermal bath.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go though – just plan to get there early to beat the crowds (as an extra bonus, tickets are discounted for entry before 9 am)! Note that you can easily access the baths, which are just north of Budapest’s inner city, on the M1 public transport line.
Gellért Baths
📍 Google Maps | Phone: +36 1 466 6166 | Gellért Baths Website | Admission With Locker: 11,000 HUF weekdays, 12,500 weekends
Budapest’s other popular thermal spa, the Gellért Thermal Bath is a bit more traditional than Szechenyi (and unlike the latter, is indoors). It is located on the Buda side.
The baths are remarkable for the ornate Art Nouveau design and style on the inside.
Rudas Bath Rooftop Hot Tub
📍 Google Maps | Phone: +36 20 321 4568 | Rudas Bath Rooftop Hot Tub Website | Admission To All Zones: 9,800 Ft weekdays, 12,800 Ft weekends
Ok, are you ready for one of my favorite insider tips?
Forget the more popular thermal spas and instead head to the Rudas Baths, where you’ll find a hot tub on the roof with views out over the Danube!
Plus, inside the Rudas Baths, you’ll find several different spas and thermal baths to enjoy as well, with fewer crowds than the other spas.
Note that unlike other baths, Rudas Bath has several “zones,” and different tickets apply to each zone. Personally, I think it’s worth getting the all-zone ticket and seeing all the rooms. But if you opt for just one zone make sure you get the one with the rooftop hot tub! It’s definitely getting more popular each year, but still one of my favorite hidden gems.
Hidden Gems
Have a Drink on A Public Transit Boat
Ok, I’m about to spill the beans on a real local secret. I hope my friends who live in Budapest don’t get mad at me for sharing this one, but it’s just too good to keep to myself!
One of my favorite secrets is to have a drink on a public transit boat along the Danube River.
You see, Budapest public transport runs four different boat lines up and down the river.
Most of the boats include a bar where you can grab a glass of wine or a beer. There are also tables up top. But my best tip is to get on at the first stop and try to grab one of the seats at the front before they fill up!
The best part? A ride costs just about 2 or 3 euros, and the boats are surprisingly relaxed for public transport.
To find a boat, click here, scroll down, and find the “D 14” icon (it’s a water symbol for the “D” followed by a red circle over the “14”) for timetables.
Ride Budapest’s Scenic Tram Number 2
Possibly my favorite tram line in the world, Budapest’s Tram #2 basically runs the length of the Danube on the Pest side.
Riding Tram #2 is a great way to cheaply get between the top sites in Budapest, and the river views along the way make the journey pretty special.
Tickets cost only about 1 Euro per ride. The official site has a good primer on how to use public transit in Budapest.
Margaret Island Musical Fountain
📍 Google Maps | Hourly Shows from 10 am to 10 pm
The Margaret Island park’s fountain actually plays a coordinated musical show every hour from 11 am, but the best time to visit is for the final much longer show at 9 PM.
You’ll be treated to a choreographed fountain, light, and music show set to popular songs from a variety of genres. It’s a great free thing to do at night (or, if you opt for the day show, to combine with a stroll around the park).
Fiumei Road Graveyard
📍 Google Maps | Open 7 am – 6 pm (Hours vary per month) | Fiumei Road Graveyard Website
The Fiumei Road Graveyard is a unique hidden gem that most tourists don’t know about. This 19th century cemetery is located in the lesser-known Kerepesdűlő neighborhood of Budapest, but I thought it was one of the most beautiful and unique places I’ve seen in the city.
The cemetery features graves of some of the most important figures in Hungarian history, as well as over 56 hectares of beautiful grounds adorned with greenery and stunning sculpture work.
Watch Sunset from PONTOON
Though Budapest is filled to the brim with sunset spots, my personal favorite is Pontoon Bar.
Only open during the warm months, Pontoon is an open-air bar occupying the stretch of the Danube riverbank immediately north of the Chain Bridge. Grab a drink and find a seat by the river to enjoy one of the most spectacular sunsets in Europe!
Sites & Attractions
Ascend Gellért Hill
You can take a taxi, tour, funicular, or even a bus to the top of Gellert Hill, where the Liberty Statute looks out over the city.
But my favorite way to enjoy the views at the top of Budapest’s most famous viewpoint is to earn it by braving the 15 minute hike up the hill from the Buda shoreline.
On the top you’ll find the Citadella, an 1851 fortification overlooking the city, the Liberty Statue (or Freedom Statue), and some of the best views in the city.
Fisherman’s Bastion
📍 Google Maps | Phone: +36 20 394 9825
Fisherman’s Bastion is one of the most popular attractions in Budapest, in part because the shots you can get here are truly worthy of Instagram. Constructed in the 1700s, the name supposedly comes from a guild of fisherman that used to protect the castle.
The Neo-Romanesque structure looks like something out of a Disney fairytale movie, and there are many spots along the walls with panoramic views of Budapest. Just be prepared to fight the Instagrammers.
Matthias Church
📍 Google Maps | Phone: +36 1 355 5657 | Matthias Church Website | Hours: 9 am to 5 pm daily | Church Entrance: 3,100 HUF (adult) | Tower Entrance: 3,700 HUF (adult)
Located within Fisherman’s Bastion, the 700 year old Matthias Church is one of the best known landmarks in Budapest and is an exemplar of the Gothic revival. The Gothic revival interior of the church is stunning, and it’s also worth it to take the tour in the tower.
The only problem is that the church and tower require separate admission tickets, which can get a little expensive.
Hop-on-Hop-Off Bus Tour
First time in Budapest? The best way to quickly see the city’s highlights in one day is to take a Hop-on-Hop-Off tour with BigBus.
I did it on my very first visit to Budapest 8 years ago, and I really enjoyed it!
Budapest is just the perfect city to see from the top of those open air buses. It stops at all the major attractions, and you can hop on and hop off as you like. There’s an audio guide in 16 languages.
Vajdahunyad Castle
📍 Google Maps | Phone: +36 1 422 0765 | Vajdahunyad Castle Website | Hours: 10 AM – 5 PM, daily (museum closed Mondays) | Entrance 3,000 HUF (adults), 1,500 HUF (students, seniors)
In the City Park of Budapest, near the Szechenyi thermal baths, you’ll find the fairytale-like Vajdahunyad Castle. It was modeled after Romania’s Hunyard Castle, and built as a feature for the 1896 Millennial Exhibition.
Because of this, Vajdahunyad Castle was intentionally designed with architectural features from several different time periods, giving it a pretty eclectic feel. You can go inside and visit the watchtower and a small museum, or just stroll the photogenic grounds around the park and the nearby lake.
Shoes on the Danube Bank Memorial
This touching monument honors the 3,500 people, many of them Jews, who were killed by fascists during World War II. They were told to take off their shoes by the Arrow Cross fascist militia, then killed on the river bank and their bodies pushed into the Danube.
Shoes on the Danube was conceived by film director Can Togay to honor this tragic part of World War II history. The memorial is located along the Danube on the Pest side just south of the Hungarian Parliament building.
Dohány Street Synagogue
📍 Google Maps | +36 1 413 1515 | Hours: 10 am to 8 pm Mon-Thu, 10 am to 6 pm Wed, Thu, Sun, 10 pm – 4 pm Saturday, Closed Saturday
In a city filled with gorgeous houses of worship, the interior of the Dohány Street Synagogue arguably takes the prize for the grandest of them all.
It’s also the largest synagogue in Europe. Built in the 1850s in Moorish Revival style, today the Great Synagogue shares a building with the Hungarian Jewish Museum.
Ride the M1, Continental Europe’s Oldest Metro Line
Budapest’s M1 metro line claims status as the first metro line in continental Europe (technically, London got there before Hungary).
This Budapest metro line really does show its vintage. Stretching the length of Andrássy Avenue, taking a ride on the historic M1 metro is worth it even if you don’t particularly need the transport.
Great Market Hall
📍 Google Maps | Phone: +36 1 366 3300
The Great Market Hall (aka Budapest’s Central Market Hall) is an enormous neo gothic hall in the center of Budapest filled with vendors hawking all sorts of produce, goods, and souvenirs.
Wandering the stalls at the impressive central market hall is a good place to go on a rainy day, but it’s worth a stop by any day of the week (except Sunday, when it’s closed!).
Gellért Hill Cave Church
📍 Google Maps | Hours: 9:30 am to 7:30 pm (closed Sundays)
Located immediately opposite the Gellert thermal baths is a pretty unique church … built inside a cave!
The Gellért Hill Cave Church inside Saint Ivan’s cave is named after a supposedly-healing hermit who lived there, and is open to visitors except during mass times. Tours or audio tours are offered inside.
Take a Cruise to Szentendre
📍 Google Maps | 👉 Browse Cruises and Tours on Viator
In my opinion, there’s at least one day trip from Budapest worth considering: visiting the picture-perfect artists’ town of Szentendre on the Danube river.
There are a variety of cruises or tours to consider that will take you to Szentendre.
Heroes’ Square
At the end of Andrássy Avenue, just south of the City Park of Budapest, Heroes’ Square is an enormous city square featuring several large statues of the seven chieftains of the Magyars. It’s an important historical point of interest, and worth a quick stop, but to be honest there isn’t a ton to see, so I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit.
Go on a Free Walking Tour of Budapest
Budapest is such an incredibly walkable city. Most of the attractions are all in a pretty tight area of downtown. So the best way to explore it is to simply go on a free walking tour, where a local guide will show you around.
Best of all, it’s free – well, sort of. The guides work for tips, but it’s up to you how much you leave. Personally, I always found it worth it.
For Foodies
Taste Hungarian Langos
Hungarian cuisine isn’t exactly famous around the world, but if you try one Hungarian dish while in Budapest it should be Langos, which is basically fried dough with sour cream and various toppings on top.
Langos is delicious, if not exactly healthy.
Dine at Mazel Tov
📍 Google Maps | Phone: +36 70 626 4280 | Mazel Tov Website | Hours: 12 PM – 12 AM daily
Mazel Tov is an Israeli restaurant that is a must-visit for foodies. The long lines outside for a table every night attest to its popularity.
Inside this District 7 mainstay, you’ll find a trendy interior “ruin pub” design and delicious Israeli dishes. The food is absolutely delicious and totally worth the wait. Just be prepared to wait for it with the crowds, or call ahead for a reservation.
Take a Hungarian Food Tour
Ok, if all that talk of Langosh and chimney cakes has you a little hungry right now, you should definitely sign up for a guided tour tasting your way around Budapest.
There are literally dozens to choose from, for every budget and style. From cheap eats with locals to high end chef tastings, experiencing Budapest’s food scenes is definitely a must-do!
Drum Cafe – Langosh and Gulash Bar
📍 Google Maps | Phone: +36 20 318 6648 | Drum Cafe Website | Hours: 9 am to midnight daily
Want to try some Hungarian food? Cheap places in Budapest aren’t hard to come by if you don’t mind street stalls, but it’s getting harder to find quality sit-down fare in the center.
This is why I just love the exquisitely authentic Drum Cafe, where affordable and authentic Hungarian food is dished out in a cozy (some might say a tad crowded) dining room.
Note that Drum Cafe draws a line at peak times, but it seems to usually move quickly.
Or Eat at Frici Papa
📍 Google Maps | Phone: +36 1 351 0197 | Frici Papa Website | Hours: 11 am to 10 pm daily (closed Sundays)
Another great local Hungarian restaurant to try is Frici Papa, conveniently located smack dab in the middle of District 7 near many of the other items on this list.
Nightlife
Szimpla Kert
📍 Google Maps | Szimpla Kert Website | Hours: 3 pm to 4 am Mon-Fri, 12 pm to 4 am Sat, 9 am to 4 am Sun
Budapest is famous for its ruin bars – super hip drinking joints that originally sprouted up in abandoned buildings in Budapest’s Jewish Quarter.
And the king of all ruin pubs is clear: Szimpla Kert is an impossibly funky and eclectic bar with a room for every taste in nightlife.
Szimpla Kert has an eclectic interior decorated with just the most random stuff you can imagine (really, I don’t even know how to describe it – and describing places to travel is a part of my job!). On Sundays, Szimpla takes on a different character with a farmers market and brunch combo that’s perfect for the Lazy Sunday crowd.
Down a Shot of Pálinka or Unicum
When it comes to traditional Hungarian spirits, there are basically two worth trying while in Budapest.
First, there’s Pálinka – a fruit brandy that comes in several flavors and will get you in the mood to party for sure.
Alternatively, try Unicum – which is an herbal drink with a bitter taste, best done as an aperitif. Most bars and restaurants in Budapest will have both spirits on their menu. You could also try some Hungarian wine, as the country is increasingly receiving international acclaim for its many wines.
Go on a Pub Crawl
On the one hand, Budapest’s many pub crawls have provoked complaints from locals fed up with the worst of over-tourist behavior.
On the other hand, these organized nightlife gatherings are really great fun – and a good way to meet other travelers in Budapest, particularly for younger travelers. Go and have fun – just be a responsible tourist please! Here’s a popular one to check out.