Let me help you plan your trip to one of the best city breaks in Europe with this guide to the most wonderful things to do in Budapest.
Way back in 2013, my now wife and I set off on our first proper city break abroad and almost immediately fell in love with Budapest. The Hungarian capital opened up our eyes to city breaks in Europe and I guess it was the stepping stone towards all of our adventures together ever since.
During our first visit to Budapest, we managed to see so much within just three days yet it was only on my return to the city in 2025 that I felt able to really take it all in. City breaks can be a blur sometimes; you get limited time in the city and so you rush to tick off all of the highlights but sometimes it’s nice to slow down a little, relax and embrace what the destination has to offer. It’s only now then, with another trip to Budapest under my belt, that I felt able to write about the city and share my thoughts, my experiences as well as my photos (my photography skills have definitely improved since 2013 that’s for sure!).
With all that said, let’s dive straight into it and guide you through the best things to do in Budapest, in my opinion. Whilst I’m not saying you’ll be able to fit everything in if you’re only visiting for a weekend or so, it always helps to be well informed so that you can make your own decisions as to what to include in your own itinerary or what to skip over.
THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN BUDAPEST
THE PARLIAMENT BUILDING
The Hungarian Parliament Building is perhaps one of the most iconic and most instantly recognisable pieces of architecture not only in Budapest but perhaps the whole of Europe. Any visitor to Budapest will naturally gravitate towards this imposing Neo-Gothic structure along the bank of the River Danube. It’s honestly incredible and I guarantee you won’t be able to stop taking capturing your own images whether from across the river (one of the best views in my opinion) or up close and personal.
The Parliament Building was completed, after 17 years of construction, in 1902 and is home to the legislative function of Hungary. Whilst the primary purpose therefore is for the actual running of the country, it’s not hard to notice that this is such a popular tourist attraction (as much as the Houses of Parliament are in London). The sheer scale of the building too is very impressive; 241 metres in length, 123 metres wide and up to 96 metres tall – the same height as St Stephen’s Basilica which were both, until much more recently, the tallest buildings in Budapest.
Way back in 2013, we took a 45 minute guided tour around the interior of the Parliament Building which was really interesting and allowed us access into some beautiful rooms including the Grand Stairway and the Dome Hall which houses the original Crown Jewels. You’ll notice that there’s no photos from such tour partly because I wasn’t the best at photography all those years ago but also partly because of a lack of concentration thanks to a desperate need to use the facilities (of which, as far as I remember, there were none as we progressed slowly through the building!).
No matter how short your break in Budapest, you will naturally experience fantastic views of the Parliament Building and even that itself is one of the top things to do in Budapest. If you do have more time, definitely book tickets in advance for a guided tour and check the official website for the latest information on opening hours bearing in mind that sometimes tours may not be running.
SHOES ON THE DANUBE MEMORIAL
A short distance from the Parliament Building, on the embankment next to the Danube, are sixty pairs of 1940’s style shoes; those for men, women and even children. These iron shoes combine to create a memorial to the thousands of Hungarian Jews who were callously murdered across Budapest between 1944 and 1945 – many were actually shot along the banks of the river with their bodies simply being left to fall into the water below.
Take a few moments here to think about those who sadly lost their lives here during one of the most horrible periods in human history.
ST STEPHEN’S BASILICA
Another one of the most wonderful things to do in Budapest, one you’ll no doubt see on every such list, is to visit St Stephen’s Basilica; the largest church in the city dedicated to the King St Stephen himself – the founder of Hungary.
This 19th century church in some ways can be treated as the centre of Budapest – that’s something that I felt when wandering the streets of Pest and found myself naturally ending up back at the square with the towering church ever-present. The reason as to why this church is so extravagant both inside and out is that it is home to the mummified right hand of St Stephen. That’s a pretty big thing and means that this is such an important place of worship for catholics here.
However, the reason we were here early on a Sunday morning was to climb to the top of the dome to take in the 360° panoramic views of Budapest. From up here you get great views across all of Budapest; the Parliament Building (which you will remember from above is exactly the same height), Buda Castle and all the way across to Gellert Hill. We spent around half an hour wandering the whole way around the dome pointing out various sights and getting our bearings.
Make sure you book your tickets in advance with this guided tour in particular offering the addition of dome access.
CONTINENTAL EUROPE’S OLDEST METRO LINE
It’s well known that the oldest underground in the world is in London, dating back to 1863, whereby steam trains would initially transport the public across the capital. However, the oldest underground line on the continent of Europe is right here in Budapest – the electric M1 line opened in 1896 and takes you from downtown Budapest along (well, under) Andrassy Avenue and out to the City Park. It’s a convenient and historic way to travel but, if you want a quick look without disrupting your plans for the day, you can visit one of the original stations in Vörösmarty Square.
FISHERMAN’S BASTION
Without doubt, the best views of Budapest are to be had from Fisherman’s Bastion and this is where you’ll find scores of photographers and others at sunrise hoping to capture the city at its finest.
We visited during the day in 2025 and, just like back in 2013, it was packed. It was quite difficult to get an unobstructed view between the columns thanks to tourists hoping to get the perfect selfie; I’d highly recommend visiting outside of peak hours as you’re more likely to have a stress-free time. If you’re visiting early morning instead, you’ll also be able to explore the upper areas without a ticket meaning you’ll save some of your hard earned money.
Fisherman’s Bastion is like stepping foot into a fairytale with turrets, grand staircases and archways with perfect views across to the Parliament Building and beyond at every corner. I’d certainly recommend visiting here at around sunrise – I’ve seen some absolutely breathtaking photos where nature has really turned up the dial on its colours.
As I alluded to above, tickets are required to access the upper terrace during the day time and you can purchase them as you arrive for 1,700 HUF (about $5) for adults, 50% off for students, seniors and children 6-14. Children 0-5 are free!
BUDA CASTLE
Across to the west of the Danube, is the hillier side of the city dominated by the Buda Castle complex. It reminds me very much of the complex in Prague whereby we aren’t just talking about a typical castle that you might expect in England; there are palaces, churches, houses, museums and libraries. The entire Buda Castle complex is a must-visit, a UNESCO World Heritage Site nonetheless, and you’ll no doubt be heading here anyway if you’re going to visit Fisherman’s Bastion or St Stephen’s Hall for example. The historic castle was first constructed back in 1265 but the majority of what is seen was built between 1749 and 1769. Buda Castle was mostly destroyed during WWII and many buildings are still being restored now – I didn’t notice back in 2013 that many of the buildings were apparently completely derelict but it’s great to see how much is going into the restoration of parts of Budapest.
In addition to those highlights, you’ll also find the Castle Hill Funicular (that brings you right from Chain Bridge up the steep hill to the castle area), the Matthias Church, beautiful gardens and even the Hungarian National Gallery. I’d recommend a walking tour around this area as there’s so much history to be learnt – this one in particular comes highly recommended. Interestingly, there’s a huge network of underground caves and tunnels under Buda Castle dating back around 800 years which ultimately were used as air raid shelters during WWII. There are tours of the labyrinth too which I can imagine would be really good – perhaps a a little scary for the younger ones thanks to the skulls and bones that you might catch a glimpse of…
ST STEPHEN’S HALL
Deep in Buda Palace, part of the Buda Castle complex, lies St Stephen’s Hall; an ornate reception room dedicated, again, to King St Stephen. In 1902, this special room was considered an architectural gem and impressed every single visitor; the fireplace stood at over 4.5m tall which, I guess in those days, must have been a spectacle itself.
Budapest came under immense bombardment during WWII and many buildings, including Buda Palace and St Stephen’s Hall, were completely destroyed. After being used as a storage facility for decades, the room was finally restored after six painstaking years and reopened in 2021! St Stephen’s Hall now looks exactly as it did over 100 years ago thanks to the restoration being based the original plans and historic photographs. The Hall is within a larger museum so you can spend some time learning more about the history of Budapest. There’s an audio tour too that will describe everything in intricate detail; it can take some time so I skipped ahead a few times. All in all however, it’s great to appreciate the immense work that went into fully restoring the room.
GELLERT HILL
As I said above, the Buda side of is full of hills and Gellert Hill is probably the most famous and probably the hardest to climb! You’ll know which one is Gellert Hill as it’s topped by a huge Statue of Liberty or, as it’s known to locals, a giant bottle opener. Once you make it up to the top, you’ll be rewarded with exceptional views along the Danube with Chain Bridge, Liberty Bridge and the Parliament Building all looking incredible from up here. I’ll tell you now, I’m not sure there’s a bad view of Budapest!
SZÉCHENYI BRIDGE – CHAIN BRIDGE
Ah, Szechenyi Bridge or Chain Bridge. This is the most famous of all bridges that span the Danube, connecting Buda with Pest. Designed by William Tierney Clark, an English civil engineer, he was well known for designing suspension bridges in the 1800’s including the first to span the River Thames in London. William was briefed to design the first permanent bridge on the Danube with it being built by a Scottish man, Adam Clark.
Chain Bridge opened in 1849 and now, walking the 375m across the Danube or just simply admiring the beautiful construction, is one of the best things to do in Budapest.
SZABADSÁG BRIDGE – LIBERTY BRIDGE
Whilst Chain Bridge gets all of the attention, I actually prefer Liberty Bridge which is a little further to the south; connecting the Central Market Hall with the base of Gellert Hill and the iconic Gellert Hotel. The key part of the design of Liberty Bridge, or Szabadság Bridge, is the dark green Art Nouveau steel structure and this, combined with the little yellow historic trams trundling across, makes for incredible photographs.
GOLDEN HOUR RIVER CRUISE
This is one of my favourite things to do in Budapest, so much so that I wrote an entire guide on it. We’ll keep things relatively brief here but it’s fair to say that the mighty Danube River is the heart of Budapest, naturally separating the hillier Buda side from the pan flat Pest side. It would therefore be a huge miss if you weren’t able to experience seeing the city from the river itself and that’s where a river cruise comes in.
Departing every hour from Dock 10, right next to Erzsebet Bridge, Duna Cruises in particular offer historic cruises aboard replica paddle steamers from the 19th century. In late September 2025, the 5:30pm departure time was perfect for experiencing the beautiful golden glow of late afternoon as well as twilight as the sun sets behind Buda Castle.
The cruise begins with a complimentary glass of fizz (some even offer unlimited drinks options!) before it initially departs south along the Danube under Erzsebet Bridge offering great views up to Gellert Hill, under Liberty Bridge before taking in the iconic Gellert Hotel, the Balna convention centre (shaped like a whale) and the Central Market Hall.
Then it’s north back the way we came though ultimately we end up admiring all of Budapest’s big hitters; Buda Castle, Chain Bridge, the Four Seasons Hotel, St Stephen’s Basilica and finally the Hungarian Parliament Building. I know I said earlier that the best views of the Parliament Building can be had from Fisherman’s Bastion but perhaps those offered from along the Danube, as the buildings glow orange with the sunset, are better still. It might have helped that I grabbed a beer from the onboard bar too so that I could simply sit back, relax and take in the views on the way back.
HISTORIC JEWISH QUARTER
Budapest’s District VII is the historic Jewish Quarter which is actually one of the best areas to visit in the whole of the city thanks to its cool coffee spots, dingy ruin bars as well as its historical legacy.
The Jewish Quarter roughly covers the area that, during WWII, was the ghetto in which 70,000 Jews were confined; an area of just 0.1 square miles. The area now however is well known for its nightlife as well as being such a great place to grab brunch or a coffee. I loved wandering around during the day, through the interconnecting courtyards with pop up flea markets, capturing street art and obviously having a beer or two in Szimpla Kert – we’ll come on to that next.
The Dohány Street Synagogue is the largest in Europe and, I believe, within the top three of the largest in the world! We didn’t have time to tour the interior but the building itself is very impressive with its towers reaching 44m high! Entry costs 14,000 HUF (around £31 / $43) for adults and free guided tours are available once inside.
SZIMPLA KERT – BUDAPEST’S RUIN BARS
It would not be a trip to Budapest without experiencing a drink or two at Szimpla Kert, the original and most famous of all of Budapest’s ruin bars. There can’t be many places in Europe where you can sip a cold pint of beer in what is basically a derelict shell of a building filled with disco balls, antique furniture and anything else that perhaps ordinarily would be unwanted! Once your eyes adjust to the darkness, you will be lost exploring the maze of ruined rooms and hanging out in the courtyard next to gnomes and overgrown plants.
Honestly, it’s such a cool experience even if you don’t drink alcohol – they obviously do soft drinks but there’s a farmers market every Sunday where you can buy fresh fruit and vegetables and cheeses amongst other things. We visited on a Saturday and were pleasantly surprised by the pop up market very similar to that on a Sunday. If you want to get rowdy, Szimpla Kert is open until 4am every single night! We only managed till about 1am which is presumably very tame…
THERMAL BATHS
Budapest lies above hundreds of natural thermal springs, with Hungary boasting over 1,300 in total, and deservedly earning itself the nickname of ‘The City of Spas’. With the water being so rich of minerals, spending time at Budapest’s baths has become part of daily life for Hungarian locals and so, when visiting the city yourself, why not indulge yourself with some ‘me time’. The most famous of all Budapest’s thermal baths is Széchenyi within the City Park – it’s one of the largest complexes in Europe. You’ll find locals playing chess half submerged in the warm waters and there are 18 different pools to choose from. Whilst closed at the moment, Gellert Baths are probably some of the most beautiful in the world with its luxurious Art Nouveau design – this is Accidentally Wes Anderson all over. There are many more to choose from including those from the Ottoman era.
We visited Mandala Day Spa on our last afternoon in Budapest and it was a great way to rest our weary legs after racking up the miles exploring. I’m not normally a spa kind of guy but I did enjoy relaxing in the warmer pools, trying to dip in the ice cold plunge pool before experiencing my first face massage. Now that was an experience!
HUNGARIAN STATE OPERA HOUSE
Now this isn’t ordinarily something I would do when visiting a city, whether for the first or tenth time; a guided tour of an opera house or even watching an opera itself. However, I was pleasantly surprised and loved our guided tour of the Hungarian State Opera House. I was mesmerised by the opulence of the theatre itself, I can only imagine what it must have been like to attend an opera here when it opened in 1884. I mean, even attending an opera here now must be something special. As part of the guided tour, as well as being shown around the full building, we were treated to a mini-opera by two singers – I had never realised how much acting was involved alongside the obviously unbelievable singing. If you’re a lover of the opera or just love beautiful architecture, one of the best things to do in Budapest is either a guided tour of the opera house or actually catching an opera or perhaps both!
HEROES’ SQUARE, VAJDAHUNYAD CASTLE & THE CITY PARK
At the end of the gorgeous tree-lined Andrassy Avenue lies Heroes Square and the City Park; an area that could actually take a whole day to explore if you were a little more laid back with timings. There’s so much to see here, including the Széchenyi baths I mentioned earlier, so I definitely recommend allowing quite a bit of time to visit this area.
The first attraction you’ll come to is Heroes’ Square which is dominated by the Millenium Monument which commemorates important figures throughout Hungarian history having been built to celebrate the millennium of the Hungarian Conquest.
From here, we headed anti-clockwise around the City Park where vast green spaces sit alongside castles and ultra-modern museums. There’s a huge artificial lake on which you can hire a boat during summer or ice skate on during winter. You’ll have spotted the half-pipe looking building by now, seemingly hidden underground, that’s the Museum of Ethnography with the House of Music just nearby; both great museums to explore.
However, Vajdahunyad Castle is the star attraction of City Park being an exact replica of its name sake castle in Transylvania along with additions to the structure from various time periods. The castle was actually built in 1896, again like Heroes’ Square celebrated the millenium of the Hungarian Conquest, and houses the Museum of Hungarian Agriculture which is a little odd – it is however the largest agricultural museum in Europe if you’re into that sort of thing!
CENTRAL MARKET HALL
The one thing that I was really disappointed about back in 2013 when I first visited Budapest was that, at the time at least, when I tried to visit on a Monday the Central Market Hall was closed! I have a thing about visiting traditional food markets when exploring new cities and so I was really excited to finally step foot in Budapest’s largest indoor market. Granted, it’s a little more catered to the tourists that I’d hoped but there was a nice mix of fresh fruit and vegetable stalls alongside many many stalls selling different varieties of paprika! There were a few cool corners too for nice photography and to people watch for a minute or so!
The Central Market Hall can be located on the Pest side next to Liberty Bridge and is now open daily; Monday to Friday 6am to 6pm, Saturday 6am to 4pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm. Make sure you head up high to really appreciate the size of this hall; it’s enormous!
EAT HUNGARIAN FOOD
Until relatively recently, the first thing that came to my mind when thinking of Hungarian food was goulash; a hearty beef stew ideal for cold Eastern European winters. Now I knew that Austro-Hungarian cuisine also featured schnitzels and sour cream but, on my most recent trip to Budapest in 2025, I was blown away by not only Hungarian food generally but equally the food scene throughout the city. There are many high quality restaurants across Budapest that elevate classic Hungarian dishes to another level as well as those that are more traditional like the famous Gundel.
I’ve created a detailed blog post setting out, in my view, some of the best places to eat in Budapest which you should really check out for some inspiration. I really love to eat Hungarian food and some recipes have become weekly hits back at home with the little ones; I highly recommend chicken paprikash with dumplings, pickled potatoes, schnitzel, lángos and, of course, strudel!
EXPERIENCE BUDAPEST’S VIBRANT CAFÉ SCENE
Before heading to Budapest for a second time in 2025, I knew that one of the most beautiful cafes in the world was to be found in the city but I didn’t realise that there was a thriving cafe and coffee scene so much so that I spent the majority of my weekend in Budapest scouting out all of the best spots for a flat white. You can read all about my top places to visit for cakes and coffees here – to save time however you should definitely check out Parisi Passage, MTRM Roast & My Little Melbourne.
Now that wraps up my article on the 20 most wonderful things to do in Budapest nicely and I hope you enjoyed it. Hopefully I will have helped plan your own trip to the city with the information here and perhaps provided a little bit of inspiration too with my photography. If you’re looking for more guides on Budapest why not check out the following posts:
10+ Incredible Cafes and Coffee Shops in Budapest
How To Spend A Perfect Weekend In Budapest – A Three Day Itinerary
7 Great Places to Eat In Budapest
My Experience Of A Golden Hour River Cruise In Budapest
On The Streets: Budapest
If you need any more information, feel free to leave me a comment below or drop me an email and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can!
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