Things to Do in Budapest: 7 Must-See Sights & Travel Tips
Things I Crossed TeamDid you know: Buda and Pest were two different towns on opposite sides of the Danube river. They were officially merged in the 19th century to form the capital of Hungary, very originally named Budapest! Both sides still have very different characters, with Pest being occupied by the parliament, restaurants and fancy shops and hilly Buda bustling with castles and epic views.
What to do in Budapest: the seven best activities
With these seven sights you get a good grasp of all the fine things Budapest has to offer, which is quite a lot!
- Shoes on the Danube Bank
- Central Market Hall
- Hungarian Parliament Building
- Fisherman’s Bastion
- Buda Castle
- Széchenyi Thermal Bath
- St. Stephen's Basilica
Central Market Hall
Paprika (a red powder made from bell peppers to hot chilies) is the national spice of Hungary. The German word “Ungarish” means Hungarian and is even the general word for the famous paprika flavored chips. At the central market you’ll find many stalls that sell this red gold as a souvenir to spice up your cooking at home. #tictip if you see “hot” label, it’s hot and can be better compared to chili powder. Don’t’ be over confident like certain blog writers 🔥😅
Hungarian Parliament Building
Undoubtedly the most iconic sight of Budapest, with a world class location along the Danube river looking up the hills of Buda and its many medieval towers. The parliament building is as stunning on the gold plated inside as it is on the outside with its full gothic facade. You can admire it all whilst on a guided tour, which is highly recommended no matter your take on the current in-house political situation.
Buda Castle & Fisherman’s Bastion
These two epic sights dominate the view on the Buda side of Budapest. You’ll easily reach the former by taking the fun funicular ride up to the castle and you’ll easily walk across the hillside to the latter. Both the castle and the bastion are already worth the trouble just because they offer some of the best views of Budapest. The courtyards and grounds are always open and free to visit, but the museums housed in the palace might be a great activity to include in your itinerary if time and your offspring situation permits it. Do make sure to visit, or at least admire from the outside, the stunning Gothic style Matthias Church next to the Fisherman’s Bastion.
Did you know: Széchenyi is the name of a wealthy noble house in Hungary, which produced many influential characters during the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This is why a lot of famous places in Budapest refer to the noble family name of Széchenyi. And yes! Austria and Hungary were once united in one monarchy that dissolved right after World War 1.
More great Budapest sights to discover
Got time left? These side quests are definitely a great addition to your itinerary:
- Városliget (City Park)
- Heroes Square
- Vajdahunyad Castle
- Széchenyi Chain Bridge
- Matthias Church
- Iconic Trams
Getting Around Budapest
The city is big and some sights can be quite a walk. Although the scenery is very nice all over the old city center, sometimes the distances can be inconvenient. Grabbing the metro or the tram is a perfect solution and tickets are easily obtained. The latter offers some of the best tram rides with a view in the world (especially line 2 along the Danube river). Driving in the city is also fairly simple. Please note you’ll need a vignette to drive around in Hungary.
Grabbing a Lime scooter is a fun way to get around Budapest. However, there are designated areas where you need to leave them once you’re done. If you grab an almost empty one, make sure you can make the round trip at the park for example or you’ll be walking back for quite a bit and the scooter suddenly feels heavier than you’ll expect 😅 #tictip
How to celebrate New Years Eve in Budapest
The best place to celebrate NYE in Budapest with a view is the Buda Castle garden terrace or the adjacent Fisherman's Bastion. These are beautiful sights in itself, but due to the elevated location above the Danube river you have a majestic view over the Pest side of Budapest. There is no better place to spot the fireworks and with the beautifully decorated parliament building in the backdrop you’ll have the perfect NYE shot for social media 📸
#tictip at the Fisherman's Bastion there are many dining options that offer an evening filling dinner. It can be expensive, but offers a once in a lifetime experience. Check out Halászbástya Étterem for example.
Beyond Budapest; Discover the Country of Hungary
Hungry for an epic Hungary trip? From the vast Balaton lake to the lush forests around Lillafüred castle, this is for the nature lovers that seek tranquillity. All the cities on this itinerary have a rich history and picture perfect old towns. However, there is loads to do on the road as well. Grab a cable card, canoe through underwater caves or take a hot thermal bath. With this trip you’ll be trippin’ along the best Hungary has to offer!
📍Vienna (start)
📍Sopron
📍Tihany
📍Budapest
📍Lillafüred
📍Eger
