Budapest is one of my favorite cities in Europe. I first visited the Hungarian capital in 2016. I loved this city so much that I always wanted to come back.
Filled with impressive architecture, lots of museums, romantic castles, world-famous, and unique thermal baths, cool ruin bars, and a vibrant nightlife scene, these are just some of the top things to do in Budapest. I cannot emphasize enough why you need to visit Budapest!
Top Things to do in Budapest
If you decide to give this 4-day Budapest itinerary a try, I promise you will not regret it. You can mix and match the top activities and sights mentioned here to best fit your schedule, but in order to see more of the city and explore at your own pace, I recommend a minimum of 4 days.
How to get to Budapest’s city center?
The easiest, most efficient, and budget-friendly option is to purchase a ticket for the 100E bus line which operates between Budapest’s Liszt Ferenc International Airport and Deák Ferenc Square.
Note: Look for the blue ticket machines at the terminal exit. Here you can purchase regular tickets as well as the specific ticket required for the 100E bus. A single, one-way ticket costs around 900 HUF (3 EUR).
How to get around in Budapest?
It is worth mentioning that since most of the main sights are located in the city center, this conveniently makes Budapest a walkable city. If walking is not your thing, don’t worry! The city is well connected via different metro lines, trams, and buses that run frequently. If you decide to stay in District VII the best way to get around is actually by foot. However, you might still opt for public transportation when visiting other sights such as Fisherman’s Bastion, Heroes Square, or the famous Széchenyi Thermal Baths.
You can download the Budapest Go app on your phone to purchase the tickets in advance. You can also go to a ticket vending machine to buy the ticket for its regular price or pay an additional fee when purchasing your ticket on-site. A single ticket costs around 350 HUF (a little under 1 EUR) if you buy them in advance, or 450 HUF on site. It is also possible to buy a block of 10 tickets for 3,000 HUF (approximately 8 EUR). Keep in mind that if you’re planning to buy your tickets on-site, you will need to have cash in small change with you.
Tip: If you’d like to order a taxi I recommend using the Bolt app.
Did you Know
By booking your accommodation for your visit to Budapest through our link, we earn a small commission and it does not cost you anything more.
Where to stay in Budapest
The river Danube divides the city into two: Buda and Pest. On the Pest side, you will find the city center, as well as districts V, VI, and VII near the Jewish Quarter. This is one of the best areas to stay for sightseeing, so you should definitely consider staying here. The Buda side is also worth visiting. Here you will find the Fisherman’s Bastion, the Citadella, Gellert Hill, and also get the best view of the Hungarian Parliament. However, I wouldn’t recommend staying on the Buda side since you’ll be further away from the city’s historical heart and party scene.
- Downtown (District V): Near the Parliament Building, lots of restaurants, bars, and cafes.
- Theresa Town (District VI): Near Andrassy Avenue, which links the city center with Heroes Square and the City Park.
- Castle Hill: The city’s historical heart.
- Elizabeth Town (District VII): Near the Jewish Quarter, where you will find the famous ruin bars.
Where to Eat in Budapest
The Hungarian capital offers delicious cuisine, high-quality restaurants, a variety of cafes, and festive rooftop bars, all for a reasonable price. You can also get a drink in a ruin bar and experience the vibe of the city until late.
Breakfast
- Cirkusz Cafe: Popular brunch place. Reserve in advance.
- Artizan bakery: Fresh pastries. They also have a porridge place next door called Bakery Fågel by Artizan
- London Coffee Society: Amazing, tasty coffee. The place is quite small, so there are limited seating options.
- Home of Franziska: Located on the Buda side. A great option for breakfast after watching the sunrise at Fisherman’s Bastion.
Lunch
- Hungarikum bisztro: A typical Hungarian restaurant near the Parliament.
- Kozmosz vegán étterem: Lots of vegan options.
- Retro langos: Popular place in the city serving traditional Hungarian street food. They offer a menu with different choices of this local dish, which resembles fried bread served with different toppings, such as sour cream, grated cheese, and bits of bacon.
- Belvárosi Lugas Étterem: Typical Hungarian restaurant behind St. Stephen’s Basilica. They are known for their Goulash soup and Bambi stew.
- Central Market Hall: Throughout the three floors you can find fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products, Tokaj wines, home-style meals, or Hungarian snacks like Langos, as well as other food stands and eateries.
Dinner
- Tuning Burger: One of the best burger spots in Budapest. Big and tasty portions. They also have a nice selection of fresh lemonade and cocktails.
- SZÉK Restaurant & Bar: Delicious Central European fusion dishes served in an aesthetic way.
- Gozsdu Court and Karavan: Located in the Jewish Quarter, where you will find many food truck-style stands offering a selection of street food and drinks.
- Mazel Tov: Spacious interior with beautiful greenery and fairy lights serving a mix of Middle Eastern, Israeli, and Mediterranean dishes. Make sure to book a table in advance, especially during the weekend.
- New York Café: Beautiful interior. Besides having a lunch and dinner menu they also serve coffee and cake. Make sure to reserve in advance.
Drinks
- Anytime: Perfect place to start the night. Lots of different games from pool to air hockey, and bowling.
- Boutiq Bar: One of the best cocktail bars in Budapest, a bit pricey.
- Ruin bars: (Szimpla Kert and Instant & Fogas Ház): Mysterious drinking joints that opened up in the courtyards of abandoned pre-war buildings in the Jewish Quarter. Nowadays, this district is legendary for its nightlife and famous ruin bars. With more than 10 bars inside and various rooms offering a different atmosphere and music. At night the pubs turn into clubs with a long queues, so make sure to arrive a little before midnight.
- 360 Bar: Rooftop bar offering panoramic views over the city. Famous for its heated igloos during wintertime.
- HighNote Sky Bar: Located next to St. Stephen’s Basilica this rooftop bar also offers a panoramic view over the city. It is also a great place to enjoy a drink at sunset.
Overview of your 4-Day Budapest Itinerary
Day 1 in Budapest
Start your day by walking on Andrassy Avenue, filled with upscale boutiques and designer shops this 2.4-kilometer long street is considered Budapest’s “Champs-Élysées”. Then you can visit St. Stephen’s Basilica, which is the largest Roman Catholic church in Budapest. Make sure you go up to the panorama lookout tower to enjoy a 360° view of the city.
Walk towards the most impressive and largest building of the city, the Hungarian Parliament building, and join 45 minutes guided tour to visit the inside of the Hungarian Parliament building. Make sure you purchase your tickets online in advance. Then continue walking alongside the Danube river promenade and pay a visit to the memorial of the shoes on the Danube bank. A reminder of the 20,000 Jews executed on the banks of the Danube during World War II. As you walk along the Danube you will get an excellent view of the hill on the Buda side. From here you can spot major landmarks such as the Fisherman’s Bastion, the Buda Castle, and Castle Hill across the water.
Afterward, have lunch and a pastry at Budapest’s most beautiful Café, New York Café. Followed by a visit to the Museum of Ethnography. This beautiful building was originally the Royal Palace of Justice. Nowadays, the museum exhibits the costumes and artifacts of Hungarian culture and customs during the early 20th century.
End your day with drinks and sunset at one of the best rooftop bars in Budapest. As the name suggests, the 360 rooftop bar provides panoramic views over the city. During winter the place is uniquely decorated with 9 heated igloos.
Day 2 in Budapest
Start your day early by watching the sunrise at Fisherman’s Bastion. I know waking up early might be a struggle, especially if you are on holiday, but trust me, you won’t regret this! This place will make you feel like you just stepped into a real-life fairytale. If you’re into photography or Instagram you’re going to love this! This stunning landmark, with its fairytale turrets and panoramic lookout points, is one of the most instagrammable places in the city. Since it gets really crowded during the day, going in the morning before they officially open at 9:00 is the only way to avoid the crowds.
Make sure you also visit the beautifully decorated Matthias Church with its diamond pattern roof tiles. Located next to Fisherman’s Bastion the church opens from 9:00 to 16:45 from Monday to Saturday, so you can go grab breakfast in the meantime. After visiting Matthias Church, you can wander around the Buda Castle complex. If you are a big museum fan you can also check out the Hungarian National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum both located inside the Buda Castle. You can continue taking in the views and roam around the Castle Garden Bazaar.
Note: You can walk up to the castle complex or hop on the funicular.
Afterward, stroll the Danube River promenade on the Buda side for the best view of the Hungarian Parliament building. Cross the city’s most famous bridge, the Chain Bridge.
Note: Crossing the Chain Bridge is not possible at the moment. Due to renovation works the bridge is currently closed for both pedestrians and cars. Therefore, you can opt for public transport or choose another bridge to cross the Danube River.
As you explore the Pest side of the city, you will inevitably at some point cross the central square of downtown Budapest, Deák Ferenc Square. Known throughout the city for being a major traffic junction, the square is always buzzing with a crowd of young people. Nearby you will also find one of Budapest’s most popular clubs, Akvárium.
Next to the square in the center of the city, you will find the Ferris wheel, known as the Budapest Eye. I recommend hopping on and taking a ride during sunset.
Wrap up the evening by exploring the Jewish Quarter and its funky street art. Grab some dinner and drinks, while enjoying Budapest’s vibrant nightlife scene with its intriguing ruin bars.
Day 3 in Budapest
Start your day with a visit to the Hungarian National Museum to learn about Hungary’s history. Next, visit the enchanting Metropolitan Szabo Ervin Library. Even if you’re not a book lover, this library features high ceilings, chandeliers, and ornate wall moldings. For a delicious and tasty lunch head to the Central Market Hall. Besides the various food stalls, you can also do some souvenir shopping. Cross the river on foot via the Liberty Bridge to the Buda side of the city. With its decorative, green structure, this bridge offers amazing photo opportunities.
Go for a relaxing afternoon at one of the most famous hot spring spa baths in the city, Gellért Thermal Baths. Afterward, you can continue on your adventure and visit the Gellért Hill Cave, this cave church, which is built into the rocks and carved into the cliffs of Gellért Hill, inspired by Our Lady of Lourdes in France. Continue up to the Citadella fortification for the best sunset viewpoint in Budapest. End your day with a candlelight dinner river cruise tour on the Danube.
Note: The Citadella is currently closed for renovation works, but you can still enjoy the views from the various lookout points on the hill.
Day 4 in Budapest
Start your day by exploring Margaret Island. The island is easily walkable and accessible via Margaret Bridge. You can take a stroll or cycle around the island. Make sure not to miss the Japanese Garden and wander through the rose garden. If you have time you can also visit the Margaret Island Water Tower for amazing city views.
Once you are done exploring the island you can take public transportation to visit Heroes’ Square. This is the largest and most symbolic square of the city, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the courtyard and photograph the exterior of Vajdahunyad Castle. If you want you can also check out the Museum of Agriculture which occupies the interior of the castle. Have a picnic at City Park.
Exhausted from all the sightseeing? Kick back and relax at the Széchenyi Thermal Baths. Featuring a variety of indoor and outdoor thermal baths you can visit at any time throughout the year no matter the season.
Note: If you plan on going to the Széchenyi Thermal Bath on a Saturday make sure to book your tickets online in advance as they host Saturday night parties.
Final thoughts
I hope that this Budapest itinerary has inspired you to visit this wonderful city. Budapest is a great city waiting to be explored. It’s a city filled with history, a mesmerizing urban landscape, filled with plenty of activities, beautiful buildings, wonderful sights, and a vibrant nightlife scene. I created this travel itinerary to ensure that you do not miss out on anything during your visit to Budapest. Feel free to send me a message if you have any questions about planning your next trip to Budapest.
