Budapest is a city that I visited for the first time this past March. Despite the chilly temperatures, it didn’t take long to fall in love with it! And while I wrote a Budapest city review for my last post, I wanted to share some of the many things to do in Budapest — no matter how long you stay, you won’t have a problem staying busy.
Here are my top choices for things to do in Budapest.
1. Visit the Hungarian Parliament Building
You can’t go to Budapest without checking out the Hungarian Parliament Building! That would be like visiting London without seeing Big Ben, going to Paris without looking at the Eiffel Tower, or Rome without seeing the Colosseum… while these monuments may seem somewhat “touristy,” especially to locals, they stand as icons of the cities to the rest of the world. So you gotta see them! And the same is true of the Hungarian Parliament building in Budapest.
The largest building in Hungary — and the third-largest Parliament building in the world — is a stunner with its ornate Neo-Gothic architecture and hundreds of spires. Whether you want to walk around the outside and admire it from every angle, or head inside for a tour (about $30 USD, and be sure to book in advance), the Hungarian Parliament is sure to impress.
2. Learn About Jewish History
I’ve learned about Jewish history throughout a variety of different cities in Europe. There’s Berlin with its world-class Jewish museum and haunting Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. There’s Amsterdam, where Anne Frank and her family lived in a house that is now a museum/memorial, and Amsterdam is home to a Jewish museum of its own that I’ve also visited. Without these seemingly obvious connections, I was unaware of Budapest’s close relationship with Judaism — both in the past and and in the present.
A great place to start learning about Jewish history in Budapest is at the Dohány Street Synagogue, which is the largest synagogue in Europe. I’d never visited a synagogue before, so if you’re in the same boat, I highly recommend this one. Once you’ve got your entry ticket — which costs about $15 USD — you can also check the schedule for a free tour in your language. Our tour guide was a young woman whose family are current members of the Dohány Street Synagogue.
The synagogue’s complex also includes the Hungarian Jewish Museum and Archives, which can provide a lot of history and context about what happened to Hungarian Jews during the 20th century, especially during the Holocaust. Outside, there is a cemetery, which holds the remains of more than 2,000 Jews who died in the Jewish ghettos during the winter of 1944-1945. And there is a memorial park, including a weeping willow statue, which honors the 400,000+ Hungarian Jews murdered by Nazis.
Additionally on the east side of the Danube River, not far from the Parliament building, you’ll find the memorial sculpture Shoes on the Danube. The installation, which is made up of 60 pairs of metal shoes, pays tribute to the Hungarian Jews shot along the river bank by the fascist Hungarian militia during World War II.
3. Explore Fisherman’s Bastion
Fisherman’s Bastion is the most recognizable icon of the Buda (or west) side of the Danube. A wide terrace with seven peaks — each of which features a Hungarian chieftain — it’s a great place for photos and looking down at the river below. It also gives you an awesome view of the Hungarian Parliament building in all its grandeur from a different perspective.
There’s a little café at FIsherman’s Bastion, Halászbástya Restaurant, with outdoor seating. Even on a chilly day, a mug of mulled wine and the panoramic views of the city will warm you right up.
4. Take a Dip in the Thermal Baths
The thermal baths are just another one of those famous things you have to do when you’re in Budapest. While the iconic photo you may have seen is taken at Széchenyi, which is in Budapest’s City Park, there are many different bath houses you can choose from.
We went to Gellért Thermal Baths near Gellért Hill, on the Buda side of the Danube. You don’t have to buy tickets in advance — at least we didn’t at Gellért, but the costs can add up, so be aware. The entry was about $30 USD per person, but then we also had to buy other things like flip-flops and towels. If you’re traveling with more than just a carry-on bag, you may have your own flip-flops and towels available, but we did not.
Flip-flops were about $11 USD, and a towel, which we ended up sharing, was about $18. (Ouch. That just hurt my feelings all over again.)
There are also add-on services you can book, from massages to pedicures and more. Just be sure to keep an eye on your budget. 🙃
5. Party in the Jewish Quarter
There’s a reason that Budapest is one of the most popular stag party (bachelor party) destinations in Europe — the beer is cheap, and the nightlife is buzzing. Budapest is famous for its “ruin bars” or “ruin pubs,” which means they are located in formerly abandoned buildings that were turned into bars and clubs. You can find lots of them in the Jewish Quarter.
The one pictured above is Szimpla Kert, the most famous ruin bar in all of Budapest. We had to wait in a line outside for about 45 minutes before we could get in, but I’m glad we decided to stick it out… because Szimpla Kert was a technicolor maze of endless rooms that left me wondering whether I was on something stronger than beer. (If you’ve ever been to Meow Wolf, it was kind of like that.)
6. Climb the Bell Towers at St. Stephen’s Basilica
Just like any good European city, Budapest is home to a famous basilica. The St. Stephen’s Basilica sits next to the aptly-named St. Stephen’s Square, which is a great place to sit at a café and people-watch as shoppers walk down the pedestrian street. Apparently, the Square is also home to a great Christmas market.
Going into the basilica is free, and if you feel like you haven’t gotten your cardio in on this trip, you can climb the bell towers of the church (though it will cost you about $1.50 USD). I remember looking at the basilica from outside and thinking, that doesn’t look that high. However, Google now tells me that there are 364 stairs to the top, and by the time we made it to the top, it sure felt like I’d climbed 364 stairs. But the 360° view of the city was totally worth it.
7. Relax Along the Danube
With Budapest spanning both sides of the Danube River, the river itself is a major feature of the city. You’ll probably spend quite a bit of time crossing from one side to the other, whether you walk, bike, or take a taxi.
Whether you take a Danube River cruise, which is really popular, or you just walk along the Danube Promenade, near the Parliament building, be sure to take some time to enjoy the river.
8. Rent Bikes on Margaret Island
In the middle of the Danube, between the Buda and Pest sides of the river, is a little island-turned-park called Margaret Island. It’s not very big, but it’s a fantastic place to rent bikes and spend an hour riding around the park.
Budapest has the cheapest rental bikes I’ve ever seen in my life. The price is… wait for it… $0.12 USD per minute. Which means you could ride the bike for an hour, and it would only cost you $7.20 USD.
You find the green bike racks, download the MOL Bubi app, and you’ll be on your way. (These bikes are all over the city, so Margaret Island isn’t the only place you can rent them. But it’s nice without having to deal with city traffic.)
9. Eat Goulash & Chimney Cakes
Please, please don’t visit Budapest without indulging in two of the very best things the city has to offer.
Goulash, which may not have the most appealing-sounding name, was the main food group I stuck to during our trip, and I have no regrets about it at all. Hearty and flavorful, goulash is a type of beef stew seasoned heavily with paprika, and is one of the national dishes of Hungary. You can get it almost anywhere — from market stalls, to specialty restaurants — and every place will have its own unique spin on it.
The other must-try: chimney cakes, a delightful dessert that seems to be unique to Eastern Europe. (The only other place I’d ever encountered them was in Prague, back in 2013.) Chimney cakes (kürtőskalácsok) are made of baked dough, wrapped around a cylinder and hollow in the middle. Hence the name “chimney cake.” They’re traditionally coated in cinnamon sugar and sold by street vendors, but I also found a shop called Molnár’s Kürtőskalács that filled them with ice cream. Game changer! Be sure to try them both ways.
At this point, hopefully you’ve got a great starting point for things to do in Budapest. Do you have any questions or disagree with anything on my list? What would you add? Let me know in the comments!
-Cathy
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Originally Published on June 8, 2023.
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