10 CAN’T MISS SPOTS IN BUDAPEST

Budapest is a great stop on a trip to Eastern Europe. Its central location makes it easy to reach from popular cities like Vienna, Zagreb, and Prague. My favorite thing about Budapest is the city is extremely spread out so it never feels overly touristy. With that said, bring your walking shoes because there is a lot to see! Budapest actually used to be two cities, Buda and Pest until the cities united to become the new capital in 1873. The Danube River used to be the separator of Buda and Pest.

Below I’ve outlined the top places to see your first time in Budapest! Since the city is spread out, I recommend spending three days in town. While three days is ideal, you could easily spend a few more days in Budapest! My husband and I spent 5 days in town during Christmas and didn’t run out of things to do. In fact, we wish we had a little more time to see surrounding cities. Since we were traveling full time at the time, we took things a bit slower.

The best way to see Budapest is by taking a quick cruise along the Danube River! There are a handful of companies in the city offering similar 90 minute cruises. The most famous sites you’ll cruise by are Parliment, the Chain Bridge, and Buda Castle. From the water, you’ll have an outstanding view of the city! The cruise runs multiple times throughout the day and there are a ton of options to choose from. From wine tasting to lunch and dinner cruises, there is something for everyone.

Tours range in price from about $10 USD to $55 USD depending on the type of cruise you book. The dinner cruise tends to be the most expensive whereas coffee and drink cruises are less. I’ve done the wine tasting cruise which was great. You’ll receive 7 tastings of white and red wine. If you’re not a wine drinker, you can also do a craft beer or cocktail cruise.

Booking: You can book a river cruise online or in person at one of the many information centers around the city. Since the cruises run consistently throughout the day, you can book last minute. I’ve done the river cruise twice and booked it in person both times.
Traveler’s Tip: Book a cruise around sunset since the city is so colorful in the evening. Between the bridges along the Danube and Parliment, the city glows after sunset!

And don’t forget to pin this for later!

In my mind, St. Stephen’s Basilica is the heart of Budapest. While Budapest is pretty spread out, the Basilca feels like the center of the action! The church is beautiful but my favorite part is the view from the dome. You can either climb 302 steps to the top or take an elevator the majority of the way.

This Roman Catholic Church is one of the most beautiful and significant churches in the country. St. Stephen’s Basilica was dedicated to the Holy King of St. Stephen and the founder of the Hungarian State. The church was completed in 1905 after nearly 50 years of construction. Part of the reason it took so long to build is because the cupola collapsed in 1868 due to poor materials and craftmenship. St. Stephen’s Basilica was also damaged pretty badly in World War II.

Budapest got the nickname, “City of Baths” because of the dozen Thermal Bath Spas around the city. The city became famous for thermal baths due to the reserve of spring water underneath the city. The reserve produces 70 million liters of thermal water each day. Some of the spas in Budapest date as far back as the 16th and 17th century. Since then, the baths have been popular for healing and relaxation. With that said, it’s no surprise Budapest is known for it’s spa culture.

Of the many Thermal Baths in Budapest, Széchenyi Thermal Bath is the most popular dating back to the early 1900’s. The Széchenyi Thermal Bath is most recognizable for it’s grand architecture, lap pools, and main pool. They even have a late night bath party aka “Sparty” every Saturday night. A few other popular baths in Budapest are Rudas, Gellért, and Lukács. I’ve been to Széchenyi and Lukács and honestly, you can’t go wrong! Széchenyi is more impressive but very touristy. If you’re looking for a less touristy spa, Lukács is a great option!

Tips for visiting the spa:

• If possible, visit during the week as it will be less crowded.
• Bring flip flops, a bathing suit, and a towel. You can rent these items but rentals can be pricey.
• All of the baths are equipped with lockers so you can leave your personal belongings in the lockers.

The Fisherman’s Bastion is honestly a must in Budapest; it’s absolutely beautiful and so photogenic. Fisherman’s Bastion is not only picturesque but also offers an impressive view of Budapest. If you’re looking for the perfect instagram photo, this is the spot!

The Fisherman’s Bastion was built in the late 1800’s and completed in the early 1900’s. But, the style of the building seems much older. Built to celebrate the 1000 birthday of the Hungarian State, it’s quite impressive!

Most people head to Fisherman’s Bastion to admire the beauty and soak in the views. As such, it can be quite crowded during the day so either head there first thing or in the evening. Luckily, it’s open 24/7 so you can visit whenever it works for you. There are two levels to the Fisherman’s Bastion. The lower level is free to enter whereas you have to purchase a ticket to enter the upper level. The view from the upper and lower levels are very similar.

Can’t Miss: Located in the Fisherman’s Bastion, Matthias Church is well worth a visit. Dating back to the 12th century, the Church is absolutely spectacular! My favorite part of the church is the colorful roofing.

Located on the Buda side of Budapest, the Buda Castle is a quick walk from Fisherman’s Bastion. You can also reach the Buda Castle from the funicular or walking path near the Széchenyi Chain Bridge. The Buda Castle dates back to the 13th century built to protect the city from a Mongolian invasion. Since its completion, the castle has been renovated many times. Today, there are two museums and a national gallery inside the castle. You can visit the grounds of the castle for free but there’s a small fee to enter the museums and gallery.

Travelers Tip: I recommend taking the funicular at least one way since the views are great! The funicular costs 1200 Forint 1 way or 1800 round trip.

Located on the Buda side of Budapest, Gellért Hill offers panoramic views of the city. Gellért Hill was actually named after St. Gerard (Szent Gellért) because he was thrown to his death from the hill. The most common viewpoint on Gellért Hill is from the Citadel which showcases a birds eye view of the city. I recommend wandering around Gellért Hill a bit since this is only one of many great vantage points! Gellért Hill is fairly easy to reach from the castle district since it’s about a 30 minute walk between the two places. Since the hill overlooks the city, it’s a great spot for sunset!

Ruin bars first started popping up in the early 2000s. The bars are built in VII District (historic Jewish Quarter) which is primarily made of abandoned buildings. This area became neglected due to the deportation of Jewish people in WWII. In 2002, Szimpla Kerk opened in an abandoned factory. Within the next few years, a few more ruin bars opened up and they soon became a big part of the city. There are a handful of ruin bars around the city, each with their own personality. The bars are artsy and eclectic with mismatched furniture. To date, Szimpla Kerk is one of the largest and most popular Ruin Bars.

You can check out the ruin bars on your own or you can book a tour. Most tours will take you to a few different bars. It’s a great way to experience the bars while also learning a little more about the history. Some tours even include drinks at the bar!

Goulash – As the national dish of Hungary, you have to try Goulash in Budapest! Goulash dates back to stews eaten by Hungarian shepherds in the 9th century. This stew is traditionally made with tender beef and onions spiced with paprika.

To find the best goulash in Budapest, I recommend checking out The 14 Best Goulash in Budapest by Off Beat Budapest.

Chicken Paprikash – As with most traditional Hungarian dishes, chicken paprikash is made with lots of paprika! Chicken paprikash is generally served on its own in a creamy sauce.

Marha Pörkölt – Marha Pörkölt actually translates to beef stew and is usually made with beef, pork, or venison. It’s generally served with a side of spätzle which is an egg dumpling commonly served in this region. The dish was originally cooked in cast iron kettles over open fire.

Langos – Lángos is an extremely popular Hungarian street dish. Traditionally made from deep fried dough and topped with sour cream, most people find Lángos irresistible! You can find this dish all around town for about 2 euro.

Last but not least, Parliament is an obvious must; it’s arguably the most impressive building in Budapest! Parliament is impossible to miss on a trip to Budapest thanks to the top notch views of the building scattered around the city. My favorite view of Parliament is from the Danube River. As I mentioned earlier, if you do a river cruise, you’ll boat right past Parliament. From the Buda side, Fisherman’s Bastion and Gellert Hill also offer great views of Parliament!

You can visit the inside of Parliament on an organized tour which takes about 45 minutes. You should book your tour to Parliament ia few weeks in advance. This impressive building is 18,000 square feet with almost 700 rooms! It’s actually one of the largest national assemply buildings in the world. It took less than 20 years to build and was completed in 1902.

Travel Tip: If you plan on going inside Parliment, double check the website for tips before entering.

If you’re a coffee drinker or just enjoy the cafe scene, don’t miss the cafes in Budapest! There are a ton of trendy cafes scattered throughout the city. Budapest is a great place to visit if you work remotely since there are so many coffee shops to work at! Cafes have been popular in Budapest for quite some time. It was a common place for writers and artists in the early 1900’s. Unfortunately, most coffee shops were destroyed during WWII but have since been restored.

I hope you enjoy Budapest as much as I do. Let me know your favorite spot in the comments below.

If you’re in Budapest during the winter, don’t miss the annual Christmas Market! It’s absolutely spectacular with delicious food and amazing lighting.

• Complete Guide to Budapest Christmas Market

Safe Travels,

Sarah :)

I’ve linked some of my favorite travel gear below! Please let me know if you have any questions in the comments below.