When we bought train tickets to Budapest, we really had no idea what to expect. We only knew two things about Budapest; there’s a gorgeous building along the water and there are hot springs there. However, after visiting Budapest, we’ve found that this city is so much more than those two things, if only we had this Budapest travel guide before visiting.;)
When we say we had no idea what to do when visiting Budapest, we really mean it. And to be honest, we weren’t really planning on doing much. Jason was writing a dissertation, and after a week in Timisoara, we wanted to go somewhere new. It wasn’t until we got to Budapest and went out for dinner the first night, that we realized how many people from all around the world come to visit this place.
From thermal baths and quirky restaurants, to loads of history and a lovely river walk, Budapest is a city with it all.
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15 Things To See Eat And Do When Visiting Budapest
1. Soak In The Oldest Thermal Baths In Budapest
Tie in a bit of history and a bit of relaxation and you’ve got yourself the oldest thermal bath in Budapest, Kiraly Baths. Kiraly Baths aren’t for the loud and crazy, but for those really wanting a taste of history.
READ MORE | Visiting Budapest’s Oldest Bath House
2. Walk Across The Historic Chain Bridge
Budapest used to actually be two different cities, Buda and Pest. Danube Duna (river) separates the two parts of towns, and up until 1849, there wasn’t a real bridge connecting the two cities. However, in 1849 the construction of the Chain Bridge was completed connecting the two cities. The Chain Bridge today is a reconstruction of the original bridge after the first one was destroyed in World War 2.
3. Wander The Streets In Search Of Pretty Churches
The architecture in Budapest is really diverse. You can walk down one street then walk down the one next to it, and you’ll see two completely different styles of architecture. Wandering the streets finding interesting buildings is great fun!
Traveler’s Tip… This church is across the river from the Parliament building.
4. Marvel At The Size Of The Parliament Building
Understanding just how large the Parliament building in Budapest is can only really be done from the opposite side of the river. Either walk or catch a bus to the Buda side of the river Danube and see how massive the building is against the others!
5. Visit St. Stephen’s Basilica (Cathedral)
Even in the midst of the city, this cathedral stands out. It’s absolutely massive and towers over the square just in front of it
Traveler’s Tip… Walk up to the church via the walking street just to the left of the Four Seasons along the river. Trust us here, this is the best way to be introduced to this cathedral!
6. Find The Ruins On Margaret Island (Margitsziget)
Margaret Island has loads of stuff to do (more on that later), but the ruins were a real treat. So unexpected to see and really pretty with all the surrounding trees. You’ll forget you’re in the middle of a large city here.
7. Relax In Palatinus Baths
The Palatinus Baths in Budapest are amazing! While they are rooted in history, with the recent remodel, you would have never known. In the summertime, the Palatinus Baths turn into a waterpark while in the winter is a romantic and peaceful escape for the day!
READ MORE | Budapest’s Best Kept Winter Secret
8. Ride A Bike Through Margaret Island (Margitsziget)
Margaret Island is absolutely amazing. It’s full of life and romance. You can rent bikes, golf carts, four people bike carts, just loads of stuff to ride around and experience the beauty of the island. There are water fountains, a Japanese garden, a zoo, thermal baths, and loads of green space here. It’s a great place to have a picnic and forget about the busyness of the city.
9. Grab Some Street Food At The Food Cart Street
A little alley off of Kazinczy has been transformed into a food cart street. You’ll find pizza, traditional Hungarian food, vegan carts, beer, and more. Grab some grub from one of the food trucks, then sit in the open seating area and enjoy.
Traveler’s Tip… You’ll find the food cart street near Szimpla Kert off of Kazinczy Street. Szimpla Kert is also supposed to be a cool place to grab a drink.
10. Peek Into The Side Alleys
We found out about the secret side alleys when we were taking a shortcut back to our AirBnB after grocery shopping. Looking closely at the buildings, you’ll see big double doors opened up to what seems like just the building. But if you look closer, you’ll see they’re actually little alleys that have cafes and restaurants in them!
11. Check Out The Hungarian Parliament Building Up Close And Personal
The amount of detail in the Parliament building is just unreal. Visiting it from far away gives you the understanding of just how massive the building is, but be sure to see it up close too. The carvings and statues are so intricate!
12. Shop Till You Drop On Vaci Utca
Vaci Utca is the main shopping street of Budapest. If you’re visiting Budapest and want to shop for clothes and such, this is the place for you! However, be forewarned – this area is a huge tourist trap! Souvenirs and restaurants are really overpriced on this street, so while you can shop till you drop, pay attention to the prices of things to see if it’s actually a good deal.
13. Eat Goulash At The For Sale Pub
This is the place to get goulash in Budapest. The service may not be the best, but the food is amazing, and huge portions. And the décor and atmosphere are great. Order a bowl of goulash, throw your peanut shells on the ground, and simply enjoy your meal!
Traveler’s Tip… It’s cash only here, and you may have to wait for a seat. You should share a bowl of goulash with a mate, the bowls are massive, and at only 6 USD for a bowl, that’s a really cheap meal!
14. Observe The Shoe Memorial Along The Danube
Along the river near the Parliament building, there’s a memorial that seems rather strange at first, however, is extremely moving after knowing what it’s in memorial of. The shoes along the river are sculpted in remembrance of the lives lost in WWII. The men and woman killed here were ordered to take their shoes off and then were shot and fell into the river to be swept away.
15. Make Your Way Around The City At Night
There’s something about the city lights that make a place seem completely new. Be sure to wander down by the Parliament Building and see the Chain Bridge too. The different sides of the city with the river in between really make for some unique skylines.
Where To Stay When Visiting Budapest
Budapest is really quite a large city, but with public transportation and bicycles you can rent, it’s really easy to get around. You can also just walk as most roads have large walking areas too, and you get to really take in the city a bit more that way. However, that being said, there are certain bits you should know before booking your accommodation.
Location
The “Pest” side of Budapest is the side where the Parliament building and much of the things to visit in Budapest are located. If you’re looking at a map, you’ll see a ring around the center of the city, this is the metro line, and you’ll want to find a place to stay within that ring. We stayed right on the ring road, near the main road that cuts through the city, and found that to be an okay spot, though quite far away from the downtown area.
AirBnB
We love using AirBnB when we travel because that way we can make our own food and really feel like a local in the area. There are loads of places on AirBnB, most of the studios with lofts, or entire flats that people using AirBnB as a business rent out.
Hotels
If staying in someone else’s home isn’t so much your thing, compare prices on hotels in Budapest here. Be warned, some areas of Budapest are super expensive, so be sure to shop around.
Find the Best Deals from all the Major Hotel Sites with Momondo!
Recommended Gear For Visiting Budapest
Travel Bag
We always travel with this backpack. It doesn’t really look like a backpacker’s bag, has so many compartments to store and hide your belongings, and the zippers can connect to each other making it difficult for someone to just unzip the bag while you’re walking around Budapest.
Camera Set Up
All photos in this post were taken with this camera using mainly this lens, and occasionally this one.
You can check out a full list of our camera gear here.
Water Bottle
It’s actually safe to drink the water in Budapest, so just filling this water bottle each time you leave your accommodation will save you some cash! And the best part is, this bottle keeps liquids cold for 24 hours and hot for 6 hours – so your water will stay cold all day, or you could fill it with hot coffee or tea to go! Trust us here, you’ll want some cold refreshing water at the thermal baths!
More On Budapest
READ MORE | Budapest Thermal Bath Guide
Find out what you have to bring with you when visiting the baths, how to understand the thermal bath websites, and what baths we recommend visiting in Budapest.
WATCH MORE | A Peak Into Palatinus Baths
Heather went to this bath by herself while Jay stayed in working on his dissertation, and man, we want to go back just to go to this thermal bath together. Check out this video for real-life action at the thermal bath!
LEARN MORE | Hungary Travel Page
On our Hungary travel page, you’ll find all our advice on visiting Hungary. Give the posts a scroll through, and click on the ones you fancy most to learn more.
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