Budapest holidays

Long hidden behind the shadow of the Iron Curtain, HungaryтАЩs capital is something of a secret to culture-craving travellers. Your holiday to Budapest will take you from stately castles and Baroque domes to grand food markets and soaking at one of the cityтАЩs famous thermal bathhouses. Want in on another secret? Budapest is one of EuropeтАЩs most budget-friendly cities.

Budapest holiday highlights

mob: 00447401348718

Steam baths

Treat yourself to a day of relaxation with a session at one of the cityтАЩs iconic thermal baths. TheyтАЩre a popular part of any weekend break to Budapest so itтАЩs 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 cityтАЩs 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 on holidays to 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, thereтАЩs 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 тАУ August

Low season

November тАУ February

Find the best time to go to Budapest

Weather in Budapest

March тАУ May: Mild weather and fewer crowds make spring a great time to explore the city. But be sure to pack an umbrella as thereтАЩs usually a chance of thunderstorms.

June тАУ August: Summer is BudapestтАЩs hottest and wettest season, withtemperaturesoften topping 32┬░C. Escape the frequent rain showers with a visit to one of the cityтАЩs many museums.

September тАУ November: Pack layers for warm days and cool evenings. Autumn is the perfect time to enjoy the changing leaves in BudapestтАЩs parks and around the Buda Hills.

December тАУ February: Get ready to bundle up, with winter temperatures dipping below freezing. If youтАЩre willing to brave the cold, youтАЩll 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 ros├й and sparkling wines.

Sziget Festival (August): Held on ├Уbuda Island in northern Budapest, this is one of EuropeтАЩs 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 V├╢r├╢smarty Square and St StephenтАЩs Basilica for seasonal stalls selling handicrafts and food vendors specialising in traditional treats like тАШk├╝rt┼Сskal├бcsтАЩ (chimney cake).

We scan 100 billion prices, so you donтАЩt have to

Compare prices to bag a cheap holiday to Budapest

Book your holiday to Budapest, all in one place

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. YouтАЩll 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. ItтАЩs central and close to top sights like the Hungarian Parliament and St StephenтАЩs Basilica. DonтАЩt miss the moving тАШShoes on the DanubeтАЩ 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

mob: 00447401348718

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 ChildrenтАЩs 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 EuropeтАЩs 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 FishermanтАЩs 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 youтАЩre 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 itтАЩs quieter.

Plan your holiday to Budapest

Budget

Thanks to an affordable, reliable public transport system and free entry to historic grounds, parks and gardens, planning a cheap holiday to Budapest is easy. This is especially true if you travel outside the busy season. When budgeting 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 EuropeтАЩs largest lake, 90 minutes from Budapest by car. If youтАЩre a history fan, drive 45 minutes to G├╢d├╢ll┼С Royal Palace with its extravagant Habsburg interiors. For more royal splendour, catch a 40-minute train ride to Visegr├бd, 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, itтАЩs 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.

FAQs about Budapest holidays

Budapest is generally considered a safe city for travellers, but like anywhere, it's a good idea to exercise caution. Avoid carrying large sums of money, keep emergency numbers handy and only get in licensed ride-share services or cabs. Additionally, stick to well-lit areas when walking at night during your holiday to Budapest.
Your city break in Budapest can vary in price based on anything from where you stay to your travel dates. To score a great deal on Budapest flights and hotels, be flexible with when you go and take advantage of early booking promotions.
With an average rainfall of 8 cm, May is the wettest month to go on a Budapest holiday. When the drizzle sets in, head indoors and enjoy the city's cafes, galleries, museums and more.
July and August are festival months in Budapest, with music, food and fireworks all on the agenda. Come in spring or fall for great weather and smaller crowds. Winter holidays to Budapest mean cheap hotel prices, less crowded views and Christmas markets.
The Hungarian Forint (HUF) is the currency you'll be using for everyday purchases and outings during your trip to Budapest.
August is the hottest month in Budapest, with temperatures peaking at 30┬║C (86┬║F).
While on your city break in Budapest, you'll hear the locals talking mostly in Hungarian.
Plan your Budapest holiday for January and you'll be there at the coolest time of the year. -8┬║C (18┬║F) is as cold as the city gets.
If you're travelling some distance to get here, consider booking a week or longer. This will give you the chance to mix sightseeing with some leisure time. For a quick trip to Budapest from somewhere close by, three to five days will be enough to experience the main sights.
Whether you're interested in food, shopping, or anything else, there are loads of things to do in Budapest. Fisherman's Bastion and Chain Bridge are just some of the reasons this city's worth checking out.
If you fancy taking a dip during your holiday to Budapest, youтАЩll need to use a bathing cap in some of the pools. Caps can be hired at the baths. Remember to wear a swimsuit in the mixed saunas, and try not to hog the bubble jets.

More holiday inspiration

Do I need a visa travelling from India?

Flight cancellations and delays: What to know about claiming compensation

Expert advice: Planning your first independent trip