Wonder whether or not visiting Budapest is worth it? Let me tell you, it is! This beautiful city in the heart of Europe is SO worth a stop. Whether you’re coming for a day, three days or a week, there are many beautiful attractions, buildings and things to see and do in Budapest and around!
Whether you’re traveling solo, with family or friends you will love your stay in Budapest. So, let’s get to 18 things to see and do in Budapest!
Before you go there, here are a few facts about Budapest, this city is:
- Hungary’s capital
- a merger of two cities – Buda and Pest, separated by the Danube and connected by many bridges
- the thermal bath capital of the world
- the ninth largest city in the European Union by population
- home to the largest synagogue in Europe
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
Now that we’re equipped with all this knowledge, let’s walk a bit through Budapest.
1. Walk over Elizabeth Bridge for The Best Views Over Castle District
I know it’s weird I started the list off with this one, but the views are spectacular and unlike many other viewpoints – not crowded at all. So if you’re looking for a spot to take a good photo of Budapest (specifically Buda Castle) – walk over Elizabeth Bridge.
It will also bring you to the St. Gellert statue, which is pretty amazing too.
2. Visit Saint Stephen’s Basilica
The St. Stephen’s Basilica is probably one of the most popular things to see in Budapest. Built in the 1800s, it is located on the Pest side of the city and is one of the two tallest buildings in Budapest.
It is also the largest church in the city and the place where you can find the 1000-year old mumified right fist of St. Stephen – the first king of Hungary (in case you’ve been looking for it).
3. Walk Over the Széchenyi Chain Bridge To Buda
Use the sidewalks on the bridge and take in the views over the river! We happened to visit Budapest on Hungary’s Foundation Day (I did not know beforehand and it was crazy full everywhere), so the bridge was only open to pedestrians.
Aside from the amazing views it’s interesting to know that when the bridge was built in 1849 and was the first permanent connection between Buda and Pest.
4. Stroll Through Castle Hill
Once you make it to Buda, you want to climb up (or take the bus 16 or 216) and stroll through Castle Hill. There are many attractions that you will see along the way.
But honestly simply roaming through the streets and exploring the local stores and cafes was very enjoyable for us.
We discovered many beautiful buildings and views (like Vienna gate) along the way, which we wouldn’t have seen if we had just “stuck to the plan” and visited only the attractions.
5. Wait Your Turn For The Panorama At Fisherman’s Bastion
If you stumble upon this site by chance and didn’t know it was popular, you will figure it quite fast. It was probably the most overcrowded place I saw in Budapest.
Nevertheless, it is very pretty and the architecture and the views are wonderful, that’s why it should definitely be on your list of things to see and do in Budapest. Just keep in mind that you will need to wait your turn to see that famous panorama.
While you’re at Fisherman’s Bastion you can also have a drink at the bar or enjoy lunch/dinner at the restaurant (there’s a line for that too and you might need reservations).
6. Marvel at Holy Trinity Statue & Matthias Church
Right next to Fisherman’s Bastion you will find Matthias church and the Holy Trinity Statue which I found stunning. Something that was very special about Matthias church and many other buildings in Budapest (e.g. Market hall, Museum of Applied Arts) were their amazingly colorful rooftops.
The taxi driver that picked us up from the airport told us, the rooftops looked so unique, because they were made with special Hungarian ceramic tiles (googled it the company’s name is Zsolnay).
7. Explore Buda Castle
Also quite popular and definitely a must-see while in Budapest!
This palace complex houses The Hungarian National Gallery, the Budapest Historical Museum and The National Library, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and comes with fantastic views over Pest!
8. Take the Stairs of Varkert Bazar (Castle Garden)
Part of Buda castle district the Castle garden with its many stairs offers an alternative (and enchanting) way to reach the Royal palace. It’s a good mixture between art, architecture, nature and exercise.
9. Walk Along Danube
I know it sounds simple, but this was probably one of my favorite things to do in Budapest. It was super relaxing and you get to really enjoy the views without being rushed or in a crowds. Especially during sunset…amazing! And I even got to see some birds along the way.
10. Hike Gellert Hill
On our walk along the Danube we noticed a statue with a waterfall built on a small hill facing Pest.
Well, turns out the hill where I saw the statue is called Gellert hill (named after Bishop St. Gellert) and there’s much to discover there! Located in Buda, at the end of Elizabeth bridge it takes about 20-30 minutes to hike to the top while enjoying the nature and the panoramic views.
Here you will discover the Bishop St. Gerard Sagredo (St. Gellert) statue (the one that caught my attention), a small cave church, The Statue of liberty, as well as the Citadella (a fortress) on the very top of the hill.
11. Visit The Parliament
One of the most impressive things to do and see in Budapest is visiting the Parliament building right on the river. It is on the Pest side of the city and is the largest building in Hungary. If you wish you can even take a tour there.
12. Look over Liberty Bridge
The green bridge in Budapest happens to be the shortest one and is called Liberty or Freedom bridge. It connects Gellert square (at the base of Gellert hill, where you will find the Gellert Hill Cave Church as well as ) with the famous Central Market Hall.
13. Grab Some Food Or Souvenirs At The Central Market Hall
If you’re looking to bring some delicacies home for family or friends or to buy fresh fruits and vegetables – visit the Central Market hall. It is a beautiful building with a colorful shiny rooftop thanks to the Hungarian ceramic tiles just like the Matthias church.
14. Cruise Along the Danube
Might sound touristy, but the river cruise turned out to be one of the best things to do in Budapest and there was much to see while on it. We booked the Unlimited prosecco cruise and it was SO worth it!
I made sure we’re cruising while the sun was setting and the views and the light were amazing. I didn’t care about the prosecco as much as others, but it was nice to have a drink nevertheless.
So if you’re booking a river cruise – look up the sunset time in Budapest when you’re there and plan accordingly.
15. Relax in Margaret Island
With all these gorgeous buildings, trams and bridges you will need a break in nature. Well you can have it in Margaret island.
It’s a small island in Budapest in the middle of the Danube river, where you can walk, rent bikes, enjoy the music fountains, smell the flowers in the Rose garden, look for turtles in the Japanese garden and even visit a small zoo for free.
16. Take a Day Trip To Szentendre
This Mediterranean-style town on the Danube right outside Budapest is definitely worth a visit!
Explore the beautiful streets with local shops (including a Christmas shop – which was great on one of the hottest days during summer), restaurants, museums and galleries.
Aside from walking and sweating at the sight of Santa in August, we stopped for some drinks at a lovely cafe which was also an art gallery/store.
We also got some water from the well in the main square.
I recommend taking a day or half-day trip to Szentendre if you’re in Budapest. The easiest way to get there is with a car, but the train (this is what we did) and even ferry can take you there too.
17. Go Back In Time In Szentendre Skanzen Village Museum
Close to Szentendre, you will find this wonderful open air ethnographic village museum founded over 50 years ago.
It’s a fantastic hands-on way to learn more about Hungarian history, folklore and traditions. I found it absolutely amazing and very much worth half a day!
You can ride the old train, buy a treat from the bakery, dress up, see the mill and kids will enjoy the farm too.
18. Enjoy A Chimney Cake
Last but not least, try a chimney cake! This is a typical dessert/pastry for the area and it is SO good! Enjoying one of these should definitely be on the agenda of things to see and do in Budapest!
I recommend getting the chimney cake freshly baked and NOT filled with ice cream so that you can really taste it.
I got mine with walnuts from Gelateria Pichler Fagyizó and it was super fresh, actually a bit too fresh, because it was piping hot. It’s a chimney, after all, I did enjoy it!
My mom got the ice cream one, but I wasn’t a fan, because it wasn’t freshly baked.
Where to Stay
We stayed at the Emerald Hotel in the city center, which was super clean and had a small gym as well. It can be a bit pricey, but it was worth it for the location. However, if you’re traveling as a family or in a group there are many other more affordable places and apartments in the city center on Booking.
How To Get Around
As you can tell from the suggestions I made, we did a lot of walking. However, we did take taxi and UBER from and to the airport as well as public transport (bus, tram and Metro) regularly.
If you’re taking public transport, it might be worth getting the 24 hour card for one or for a group (for more than one person). Keep in mind that the single ticket is for one ride only.
This means if you’re headed somewhere and need to switch buses (for example) to get to your destination, you will need two tickets for that ride. You won’t have that problem if you get the 24h card.
Where To Eat
We had breakfast at the hotel, so we didn’t eat out a ton for lunch. But we did have dinners usually Thai or Vietnamese (although I know Hungarian cuisine is also great!).
Here are some food places we loved:
- Gelateria Pichler Fagyizó (chimney cake)
- Im-oon Thai food
- PadThai Wokbar (it’s a chain, but I loved the concept and the food)
- Pho Astoria Bistro
We also tried a very popular Mediterranean restaurant that was super disappointing and expensive I think it was called Mazel Tov, so I cannot recommend that from my experience.
Other than that we LOVED Budapest! Next time I’ll definitely make some time for the thermal baths and visit the House of Houdini! I hope you enjoy your stay in Budapest as well and got some inspo of things to do and see there!
