Budapest is currently a trendy city to visit, which is not really surprising. It has everything you need for a fun weekend getaway: beautiful parks and boulevards, an intriguing history, various thermal baths, and delicious food. We will talk about the latter later, but let’s first take a look at what there is to do in the capital of Hungary.

We visited Budapest for three days, which gave us enough time to explore the city. The best way to see everything is to take a hop-on hop-off bus, which will take you to all the sights.

What to do in Budapest

Relax in one of the thermal baths

We visited the Széchenyi thermal baths, the largest ‘medicinal’ bath in Europe. It costs €39 per person to enjoy a whole day of the various thermal baths, saunas, and steam baths. It was really fun to try out the different baths, both indoor and outdoor, as well as the various saunas.

Another well-known thermal bath is Gellert, and a ticket for this costs €42 for a whole day.

Visit Heroes Square

This square is located at the end of Andrássay Avenue, a beautiful boulevard lined with stunning Neo-Renaissance buildings, and also Budapest’s largest shopping street.

Heroes’ Square is a monument depicting important Hungarian leaders and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Visit the Castle Hill

In Buda, you can visit Castle Hill with Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church. From the top of the hill, you have a beautiful view of the city and especially the Parliament while enjoying a drink. We walked up, which is quite a workout. Going down was a lot easier and faster.

You can also take the train up, but it was out of service when we were there.

Plan your trip to Budapest like a pro

✈️ Book your cheap flights to Budapest on Skyscanner
🏨 Reserve a hotel, apartment, or holiday home at Booking.com
🚕 Need a transfer from the airport? Use Welcome Pickups or download the Bolt or Uber app
🛜 Use Airalo eSIM to avoid roaming fees. Use SHARON9895 to get €3
📺 Use NordVPN to keep watching your favorite programs or movies on the go
🚗 Need to rent a car? Use DiscoverCars or Local Rent
🚆 Buy train tickets from Omio or RailEurope
💳 Use Wise to pay in Budapest at the real exchange rate and avoid expensive foreign card fees
🎟️ Pre-book tours, entrance tickets, and activities via Viator or GetYourGuide
🏥 Get travel insurance at World Nomads or Safety Wing

Take a boat trip on the Danube

Along with our ticket for the hop-on hop-off bus, we also had a ticket for a boat trip. We took the last one of the day, which gave us a beautiful view of the city at sunset. The Parliament was particularly beautiful from the water. And of course, you sail under the city’s many bridges.

Visit the House of Terror Museum

This museum is entirely devoted to the successive Fascist and Communist regimes that ruled Hungary. It also serves as a memorial to all the victims of these regimes. The building was formerly the headquarters of the Fascist Arrow Cross Party and was later used as a prison and interrogation center by the ÁVH, comparable to the KGB in the Soviet Union.

Through photos, films, and audio clips, you will learn more about the turbulent history of Budapest and Hungary. You can also visit the prison and torture chambers in the basement. Photography is not permitted in the museum.

Visit a ruin bar

We went for a drink at Szimpla Kert, the first ruin bar and also the most popular in Budapest. It is located in the Jewish Quarter and has quite a special decor.

Visit the Markthal

This is the most famous market hall in Budapest. Not only can you do your shopping here, it’s also a great place to buy souvenirs. And you can even grab a bite to eat at one of the food stalls upstairs.

Enjoy the city

Budapest has many parks and squares that are perfect for walking and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of the city.

What else can you do?

To visit the city differently, you can book a guided bike tour. Not only will you learn about the history of the city, but the guides often know the best places to eat and drink. Other alternative tours include the vampire tour and, for the foodies among us, a food tour.

There is also the option of visiting the parliament building with a guide. Be sure to book your ticket well in advance.

Everything you need to know before visiting Budapest

Where to stay in Budapest?

There are many budget options for hotels in Budapest. Unfortunately, the hotel where we stayed no longer exists, but there are plenty of alternatives.

➡️ Click here for an overview of the best hotels in Budapest, or check out the map below:

When is the best time to visit Budapest?

The best time to visit Budapest is in spring and autumn. The weather is ideal for comfortable sightseeing without the crowds of the summer months.

How many days do you need to explore Budapest?

To get the most out of your visit to the city, you will need at least three days. This will give you enough time to visit a few museums and, above all, to enjoy the wonderful thermal baths.

How to get to Budapest?

There are direct flights from Amsterdam and Brussels with various airlines. You can find the best prices with Skyscanner.

The cheapest option to get to the city center from the airport is the bus. Bus line 100E has stops at Astoria, Kalvin Ter, and Deak Ferenc Ter. Of course, you could also take a taxi or an Uber.

Heb jij Boedapest al eens bezocht? Wat vond jij het leukste om te doen? 

You may also find these links interesting:

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48h in Athens
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