The ultimate Budapest bucket list: 12 things every visitor should experience

Budapest has a way of exceeding expectations. First-time visitors arrive expecting a pretty Central European capital and leave wondering why it took them so long to get here. The city is split by the Danube into hilly Buda on the west bank and flat, buzzing Pest on the east, and the best way to experience it is to give each side the time it deserves.

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Whether you’re here for a long weekend or a full week, these are the experiences that define a trip to Budapest — from the iconic landmarks to the local favourites that most guidebooks gloss over.

1. Soak in the Széchenyi Thermal Baths

Budapest sits on more than 120 natural hot springs, and bathing culture has been central to the city for centuries. Széchenyi, located in City Park, is the largest medicinal bath complex in Europe and arguably the single best experience Budapest offers. The outdoor pools are stunning year-round — there’s something almost surreal about soaking in steaming 38°C water while snow falls around you in winter. Arrive early on a weekday morning to avoid the biggest crowds, and budget at least two to three hours. For a quieter, more historic experience, try the Ottoman-era Rudas Baths on the Buda side, where the original 16th-century stone dome still stands.

2. Walk the Danube Promenade at Night

Budapest after dark is a different city entirely. The Parliament Building, Chain Bridge, Buda Castle, and Fisherman’s Bastion are all dramatically lit, and the reflections on the Danube create one of the most photogenic cityscapes in Europe. The best stretch runs along the Pest embankment between the Chain Bridge and the Parliament — a 20-minute walk that will have you stopping constantly. If you want to see it from the water, evening river cruises depart regularly from Vigadó Square and typically include a drink. It’s worth every forint.

3. Explore the Ruin Bars of the Jewish Quarter

Budapest’s ruin bars are unlike anything you’ll find in any other European city. Built inside the crumbling courtyards of abandoned buildings in the old Jewish Quarter, these bars have been transformed into eclectic, sprawling spaces filled with mismatched furniture, street art, and live music. Szimpla Kert is the original and the most famous — it’s enormous, chaotic, and completely charming. Visit on a Sunday morning for the Szimpla Farmers’ Market, where local vendors sell handmade cheeses, honey, baked goods, and organic produce inside the same space that was packed with revellers the night before.

4. Visit the Hungarian Parliament Building

From the outside, the Parliament is one of the most striking buildings in Europe — a neo-Gothic masterpiece stretching 268 metres along the Danube. From the inside, it’s even more impressive. Guided tours take visitors through the ornate main staircase, the hexagonal Central Hall, and the Old Upper House Chamber, passing Hungary’s Crown Jewels along the way. Tours book out quickly, especially in summer, so reserve online in advance. The building is also home to one of the finest views in Budapest — from the Kossuth Square side at sunset, the façade glows golden.

5. Climb to Fisherman’s Bastion

Perched on Castle Hill on the Buda side, Fisherman’s Bastion offers the most iconic panoramic view of Budapest. The white neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque terraces look like something from a fairy tale, and the view across the Danube to the Parliament is the shot you’ve seen on every Budapest postcard. The terrace is free to access most of the year, with a small fee for the upper towers during peak season. Come early morning to beat the crowds and catch the soft light over the river. While you’re up there, step inside the neighbouring Matthias Church — the ornately tiled interior is one of the most beautiful in the city.

6. Eat Your Way Through the Great Market Hall

The Nagyvásárcsarnok (Great Market Hall) near Liberty Bridge is the largest and oldest indoor market in Budapest. The ground floor is a feast for the senses — stalls piled with paprika (Hungary’s defining spice), salami, foie gras, fresh produce, and local cheeses. Head upstairs for hot food, where you can try classic Hungarian dishes at reasonable prices: lángos (deep-fried flatbread topped with sour cream and cheese), töltött káposzta (stuffed cabbage), and of course gulyás. It’s touristy, but the quality is genuine and the atmosphere is unbeatable.

7. Take in the View from Gellért Hill

For the best panoramic view of the entire city, make the steep climb up Gellért Hill on the Buda side. At the summit, the Citadella fortress and the Liberty Statue overlook both banks of the Danube, with the Parliament, Chain Bridge, Margaret Island, and the hills of Buda all visible in a single sweep. The climb takes about 20 minutes from the base and is well worth the effort. On the way down, stop at the Cave Church built into the hillside — a working chapel founded by Pauline monks in 1926, sealed by the Communist regime, and reopened in 1989.

8. Wander Andrássy Avenue and the House of Terror

Andrássy Avenue is Budapest’s grandest boulevard — a UNESCO World Heritage Site lined with neo-Renaissance mansions, designer boutiques, cafés, and the Hungarian State Opera House. A walk from its start near St. Stephen’s Basilica to Heroes’ Square at the far end takes about 30 minutes and passes through some of the most architecturally impressive streets in the city. At number 60, you’ll find the House of Terror, a museum and memorial housed in the former headquarters of both the Arrow Cross (Hungary’s fascist party) and the Communist secret police. It’s a powerful and sobering experience that provides essential context for understanding modern Hungary.

9. Spend an Afternoon in City Park

City Park (Városliget) is Budapest’s green lung and one of the oldest public parks in the world. Beyond the Széchenyi Baths, the park is home to Vajdahunyad Castle — a whimsical replica blending Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architectural styles — as well as the Budapest Zoo, a boating lake, and the stunning House of Music designed by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto. On warm afternoons, locals picnic on the grass, children play by the fountains, and the pace of the city slows to something wonderfully unhurried.

10. Cross the Chain Bridge and Explore Castle Hill

The Széchenyi Chain Bridge, the first permanent bridge connecting Buda and Pest, reopened in 2023 after a major renovation and is once again one of the most iconic walks in the city. Cross from the Pest side and climb up to the Buda Castle District, where cobblestone streets wind past medieval houses, small galleries, and hidden courtyards. The Hungarian National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum are both housed within the castle complex. Don’t miss the Fisherman’s Bastion (see above), but also allow time to simply wander — the quieter back streets of Castle Hill are where the real atmosphere lives.

11. Try a Traditional Hungarian Coffee House

Budapest’s café culture dates back to the late 19th century, when the city’s grand coffee houses were gathering places for writers, artists, and intellectuals. Several have been beautifully restored. The New York Café, often called the most beautiful café in the world, features gilded ceilings, frescoes, and a level of opulence that borders on theatrical — expect a queue, but the interior is worth seeing even if you only stay for one coffee. For a less crowded alternative, try Centrál Kávéház on Károlyi Street, which offers the same historic elegance with a fraction of the wait.

12. Take a Day Trip to the Danube Bend

If you have an extra day, the towns along the Danube Bend north of Budapest make for a rewarding excursion. Szentendre, just 40 minutes by suburban train, is a colourful artists’ town with Serbian churches, galleries, and riverside cafés. Further along, Visegrád offers a hilltop castle with commanding views of the river, and Esztergom is home to Hungary’s largest basilica, perched dramatically above the Danube on the Slovak border. You can combine two or three stops in a single day, and seasonal boat services add a scenic alternative to the train.

A Practical Tip for International Visitors: Stay Connected from the Moment You Land

One thing that catches many international visitors off guard in Budapest is how much the city runs on digital convenience. From the BudapestGO app for public transport tickets to Google Maps for navigating the winding streets of Castle Hill, restaurant reservations, and real-time translation for a language that most visitors find beautifully impenetrable, having reliable mobile data isn’t a luxury — it’s what makes the difference between a smooth trip and a frustrating one.

If you’re travelling from outside Hungary, international roaming charges from your home carrier can add up quickly. A travel eSIM is the simplest and most affordable solution. Providers like BazTel offer data plans for Hungary starting from just $2, with 4G/5G connectivity and instant activation — you purchase online before your flight, scan a QR code, and your phone connects the moment you land at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport. There’s no SIM card to swap, no phone shop to find, and no disruption to your regular number.

It’s a small detail in your trip planning, but having working data from the second you step off the plane — for navigation, translation, and sharing those Danube sunset photos — makes everything else easier.

Budapest Rewards Those Who Stay Curious

The best thing about Budapest is that it keeps surprising you. The grand landmarks are extraordinary, but some of the most memorable moments come from the unexpected: stumbling into a hidden courtyard concert, finding a tiny wine bar on a backstreet in District VII, or watching the city light up from a bench on Gellért Hill as the sun sets behind the Buda hills.

Give the city time, stay connected, and let it unfold at its own pace. Budapest has been charming visitors for centuries, and it shows no sign of stopping.

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