19 Things To Do In Budapest

From outdoor spas to ruin bars, countless museums and an old Jewish quarter, Budapest has more than enough attractions to keep every adventure-seeking traveller occupied.

I arrived in Budapest after dark and immediately sensed a city that was alive. Walking to the Danube river and seeing the castle and fisherman’s bastion lit up on top of the hill gave me an immediate sense that I was going to enjoy Budapest. A lot.

I spent a week in Budapest before moving on. I then returned for a few days before returning to England after 15 months of solid travel. Then… Covid happened.

Despite being famous for its thermal spas, I didn’t visit a single one! I would enjoy this experience in the small town of Heviz.

Things To Do In Budapest

Andrassy Ut

Andrassy Ut is a historical street that runs from ‘St. Stephen’s Basilica’ (map) all the way to the Budapest City Park (map). There are many attractions on the way and some fantastic buildings.

The Hungarian State Opera was completely covered due to renovation. Opposite the opera house is the now-closed ‘Drechsler-palota’ (map).

Bridges of Budapest

Budapest has 8 bridges crossing the Danube River, connecting Buda to Pest. The most famous of these is the ‘Szechenyi Chain Bridge’ (map). The ‘Liberty Bridge’ (map) also has iconic status. They look wonderful in the evening. Cross the Liberty Bridge to see teenagers using it as a place to get drunk (ignoring signs telling them not to).

Buda Castle

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Budapest, the best view of Buda Castle is from across the Danube river. There are many access points to the castle, which is now home to the Hungarian National Gallery: by foot, tourist bus or funicular. You can explore the grounds for free but there is an admission fee for the museum and gallery. Map.

Buda Castle Opening Times: 10 am – 6 pm, Tue – Sun.
Buda Castle Entrance Fee: 2800 HUF.

Christmas Markets

I was surprised to arrive in Budapest on November 17th to find the Christmas markets had already started! Budapest is already a magical city but the markets added even more magic. They were very expensive though. So much so, I imagine most Hungarians would certainly not be eating here.

Citadel

Built in 1848 , the citadel offers perhaps the best views over the city.

The Liberty Statue, erected in 1947 to commemorate those that lost their lives in WWII, stands guard over the city, illuminated at night.

It’s a steep climb to the citadel but it is worth it. You can enjoy a craft beer once you reach the top. From here, you can make your way to the castle and then the fisherman’s bastion. Map.

City Park

At the end of Andrassy Ut is ‘Heroes’ Square’ (map). The square features statues of the seven leaders who founded Hungary.

There are also museums in the square, which acts as the gateway to the ‘City Park’ (map).

Once inside the park, just to the left is ‘Vajdahunyad Castle’ (map). The grounds are free to roam. The castle and church are both stunning.

After leaving the castle, I headed towards ‘Széchenyi Thermal Bath’ (map).

I didn’t visit any of the spa during my previous and first visit to Budapest. Instead, I enjoyed the outdoor thermal spa in Heviz. I did manage to have a sneaky look inside the spa which looked busy and fun!

Couchsurfing Social Night

Every Tuesday, a couchsurfing social event is held at a bar called ‘Grease Monkey’ (map). Google Maps says it is closed on Tuesdays but that is because it opens especially for the CS event. If you have not been to a couchsurfing event before, they are a great way to meet fellow travellers. I met some very cool people; one even offered to host me should I visit Munich.

Fisherman’s Bastion

A 19th century fortress that offers great views over the city on both sides. There are many access points. I entered just underneath ‘Matthias Church’ (map) and was immediately blown away. It’s such a beautiful area, make sure you explore the whole place. You can easily access the castle from here, as I discovered after I’d walked right down to the bottom only to walk all the way back up again, unnecessarily. Don’t do what I did.

Fiumei Road Graveyard

Now, you might think that a graveyard is an unusual place to visit on a city break but Fiumei Road graveyard (map) is definitely worth the trek out of the city centre. It is a vast graveyard with many walking routes and is the resting place for many famous Hungarians, mostly politicians. Grab a map at the entrance to find the most significant tombs. Some of the gravestones are quite creepy as they have full-sized statues which give the impression that you are being watched as you wander. Free entrance.

Great Market Hall

As far as markets go, they don’t come any more grand than this!

The market looks amazing from the outside, particularly at night. Inside, you will find many traders selling fresh produce, deli, local crafts and traditional food. Have lunch on the second floor and taste some real Hungarian cuisine. Map.

Holocaust Memorial Centre

A refurbished synagogue tells the story of the Hungarian Jews. Unfortunately, Hungary did not come out of the Holocaust without a lot of blood on its hands. Most Jews in Hungary suffered tremendous persecution before Hitler even sent the Nazis in. It’s a terrible part of the country’s history and it is truthfully represented here by means of interactive media.

Holocaust Memorial Centre Opening Times: 10 am – 6 pm, Tue – Sun.
Holocaust Memorial Centre Entrance Fee: 1400 HUF.

Hopp Ferenc Museum of East Asian Art

A small museum of artefacts from Hopp Ferenc and other Hungarian explorers. If you’re not a big fan of Asian art and crafts, this may not be the best museum for you. Check out the garden at the back. Map.

Hopp Ferenc Museum of East Asian Art Opening Times: 10 am – 6 pm, Tues – Sun.
Hopp Ferenc Museum of East Asian Art Entrance Fee: 1400 HUF.

Jewish Quarter

You can’t really go to Budapest without visiting the Jewish Quarter as it is the heart of the city. Here you will find bars, restaurants, coffee shops nestled among the historical reminders of the area’s past. Visit the ‘Dohany Street Synagogue’ (map) which is home to a museum, a cemetery and a Holocaust Memorial.

Check out the ‘Carl Lutz Memorial’ (map), a tribute to the man who saved many Jews during the Holocaust. Part of the old ghetto wall remains in a courtyard at ‘Kiraly u. 15’ (map). The entrance may be locked but you can peek through. I was lucky as the door was open when I visited.

Margaret Island

If you want to get away from busy Budapest, a visit to Margaret Island is a great place to relax. Situated on the Danube River in between Buda and Pest, this car-free island has green spaces, old churches and nunneries, an open air theatre, a zoo and even a Japanese garden. It’s a nice place to have a relaxing break from the city. Map.

Parliament Building

You can book a visit to the Parliament Building but you will probably need to do so in advance. If not, just do as I did and be blown away by the stunning architecture. Map.

Parliament Building Opening Times: 8 am – 6 pm, Mon – Fri. 8 am – 4 pm, Sat & Sun.
Parliament Building Entrance Fee: 3500 HUF.

Roman Remains

Right underneath a busy motorway lies some genuine Roman ruins (map). Walk south and you’ll even find an amphitheater (map). I was not expecting to find those!

Ruin Bars

Ruin bars are off-the-scale-cool drinking bars that popped up in unused, dilapidated buildings. They began as local entrepreneurs took advantage of the many empty spaces around the city. These days, they are as big a tourist attraction as the Parliamental Building or the thermal spas. More information can be found here. Check out this site for a list of seven ruin bars to get you started.

Shoes On The Danube Bank

If you head north alongside the Danube River on the Pest side from Chain Bridge, you will come across this sculpture which is dedicated to the people that were shot into the river by the Nazis during World War II.

Szentendre

Just over 20 km north of Budapest is the charming town of ‘Szentendre’ (map). Filled with galleries and museums, it is a wonderful day trip from Budapest. It takes only 40 minutes by train. You need to buy a Budapest region ticket plus an extension ticket. Only the region ticket needs to be stamped on the train. Click here for further details.

For more information about visiting Budapest, click here.