Your guide to Budapest
Budapest highlights
Steam baths
Treat yourself to a day of relaxation with a session at one of the city’s iconic thermal baths. They’re a popular part of any weekend break to Budapest so it’s a good idea to book ahead. The Szechenyi Baths are the most well known, with 18 geothermal pools to try. For a quieter experience, head to the Gellert Baths, housed in a beautiful art nouveau building.
Ruin bars
Urban decay meets neon lights and craft beer in the city’s ruin bars. These warehouse drinking establishments attract a hip crowd looking for an alternative night out. Visit Szimpla Kert in the Jewish Quarter to sip cocktails while surrounded by disco balls and graffiti art. Want nightlife with a less touristy vibe on your city break in Budapest? Check out Eleszto in District 9 and drink cheap lager with locals.
Street art
Tracking down street art is a fun activity to do in Budapest. Hungarian artists have decorated the walls of derelict Jewish Quarter buildings with colourful murals to brighten up the city. Motifs of Greek goddesses, elephants and wine all pop up across the district. At 27 Kertesz Street, there’s even graffiti dedicated to the favourite Budapest spice, paprika.
Budapest: Know before you go
| Language | Hungarian |
|---|---|
| Currency | Hungarian forint (Ft) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) and UTC+2 (CEST) |
| High season | July - August |
| Low season | November - February |
Find the best time to go to Budapest
Weather in Budapest
March – May: Mild weather and fewer crowds make spring a great time to explore the city. But be sure to pack an umbrella as there’s usually a chance of thunderstorms.
June – August: Summer is Budapest’s hottest and wettest season, withtemperaturesoften topping 32°C. Escape the frequent rain showers with a visit to one of the city’s many museums.
September – November: Pack layers for warm days and cool evenings. Autumn is the perfect time to enjoy the changing leaves in Budapest’s parks and around the Buda Hills.
December – February: Get ready to bundle up, with winter temperatures dipping below freezing. If you’re willing to brave the cold, you’ll be rewarded with festive Christmas markets and the possibility of snow.
Events in Budapest
Budapest Spring Festival (April to May): This major arts festival takes place at venues across the city over a two-week period. Look forward to classical music and jazz concerts, contemporary dance performances and cinema screenings.
Rosalia Wine Picnic (May to June): Head to City Park for this annual festival celebrating rosé and sparkling wines.
Sziget Festival (August): Held on Óbuda Island in northern Budapest, this is one of Europe’s largest music and culture festivals. Check out rock, pop and hip-hop artists, as well as theatre, circus and dance performances.
Christmas markets (November to December): Visit Vörösmarty Square and St Stephen’s Basilica for seasonal stalls selling handicrafts and food vendors specialising in traditional treats like ‘kürtőskalács’ (chimney cake).
The best neighbourhoods in Budapest
Jewish Quarter (District 7)
The Jewish Quarter is the best neighbourhood to stay in Budapest if you want to be in the heart of the city. Vintage shops, ruin bars and loads of coffee shops line the streets. You’ll also find synagogues and holocaust memorials as you wander around what remains of the old ghetto.
Good for: Bars, history, central location
Belvaros-Lipotvaros (District 5)
This charming riverside district is the perfect base for a weekend break to Budapest. It’s central and close to top sights like the Hungarian Parliament and St Stephen’s Basilica. Don’t miss the moving ‘Shoes on the Danube’ monument to World War II. Hotels and bars here are upmarket, so this is a great place for a splurge.
Good for: Landmarks, shopping, luxury hotels
Terezvaros (District 6)
Lavish Andrassy Avenue in Terezvaros has all the feel of the Champs-Elysees in Paris, with City Park at one end. If Renaissance buildings and Gucci handbags are your passion, then this is the best area to stay in Budapest. Explore the side streets to find a maze of wine bars, restaurants and artist hangouts.
Good for: Designer shopping, restaurants, architecture
Things to do in Budapest
Family friendly things to do
Exploring the Csodak Palotaja science museum or seeing a show at the Budapest Puppet Theatre are some of the best things to do with family in Budapest. Buda Castle is a must for wannabe warriors, and kids will love treasure hunting in the caves under the fortress. Take a ride on the Children’s Railway, which is lined with adventure playgrounds and lookout towers.
Shopping
Andrassy Avenue is the best place for shopping in Budapest if you have a taste for designer clothing. Head to Vaci Street in the city centre for international brands. Or put your bargaining skills to the test at the Gozsdu Weekend Market in the Jewish Quarter.
Take in the culture
Attractions in Budapest are both classic and whimsical, with something for everyone. Treat yourself to an evening of ballet at the Hungarian State Opera or be dazzled by Bronze Age jewellery in the Hungarian National Museum. For something more offbeat, pose with unicorns at the Museum of Sweets & Selfies or make new friends at the Cat Museum.
Nightlife
Budapest is Europe’s party capital, famous for its craft beer and clubs that stay open until dawn. Dance to pop hits at the Instant-Fogas Complex or learn to love Bavarian folk-punk at Akvarium Klub. For a different kind of nightlife in Budapest, the evening spa party at Szechenyi Thermal Baths is a cocktail of electronic tunes and illuminated pools.
Free things to do
Trim your sightseeing budget with all the free things to do in Budapest. You can stroll around the castle grounds and visit the lower parts of the Fisherman’s Bastion without needing your wallet. Enjoy a picnic and a walk on Margaret Island, or admire the elaborate tombs in the Kerepesi Cemetery.
Places to eat
Whether you’re craving goulash or sushi, the restaurants in Budapest have got you covered. Dig into Hungarian favourites like paprika chicken at the famous Gundel Restaurant or head to the Gozsdu Udvar food court in the Jewish Quarter for noodles and strudel. Leave the tourist eateries behind and take a food-tasting tour at Great Market Hall, but try to go in the afternoon when it’s quieter.
Get ready for Budapest
Budget
Thanks to an affordable, reliable public transport system and free entry to historic grounds, parks and gardens, an inexpensive stay in Budapest is easy. This is especially true if you travel outside the busy season. When planning your trip, expect to pay less than 5,000 Hungarian forints (Ft) for a simple meal in a restaurant and around Ft1,000 for a local beer.
Day trips from Budapest
Summer is a great time to visit Lake Balaton, Central Europe’s largest lake, 90 minutes from Budapest by car. If you’re a history fan, drive 45 minutes to Gödöllő Royal Palace with its extravagant Habsburg interiors. For more royal splendour, catch a 40-minute train ride to Visegrád, home to a 13th-century castle with sweeping views of the Danube River.
Getting around Budapest
If you plan on being here for two days or more, it’s worth buying a Budapest Card for free travel on buses, trams and the metro. The card also covers trips on the cogwheel railway and entry to several city attractions. For a cheap sightseeing ride, Tram 2 takes you past places like the parliament building, the Promenade and Buda Castle.
