A guide to visiting Budapest
I am so excited to share with you my highlights and recommendations following my solo trip to Budapest. My name is Emily is this is my travel guide to visiting Hungary’s capital city. I have been solo travelling the past five years and share my tips and recommendations of the places I have explored with my travel guides. I hope this can help you to feel confident when exploring Budapest and even inspire you to embrace the thrill and freedom of solo travel too.
Budapest has been on my radar for some time as solo travel destination and I decided to visit for a three day wintery getaway in November. It was perfectly timed for the start of the Christmas markets, which have been voted the best in Europe two years in a row! I was pleasantly surprised just how much I enjoyed Budapest. With it’s thriving brunch and cafe culture, beautiful monuments, relaxing thermal spas and picturesque position on the River Danube, I can see why it’s become one of the most popular city breaks in Europe. Personally I found the city to be very safe as a woman travelling alone and it is a city I would recommend for any first time solo traveller. English is widely spoken here and the city is very affordable for those looking to travel on a budget.
The best thing about Budapest is how easy it is to explore. The city is very easy to navigate, walkable, with access to a great public transport network. TOP TIP: Budapest used to be in fact divided by the Danube River into two cities: Buda and Pest, before forming in 1873. Today locals still often refer to Buda and Pest separately, so bear this in mind when visiting. Buda falls on the west side of the Danube and is positioned on the hillside offering amazing views. Pest falls on the east side and is flat in contrast, with vibrant neighbourhoods and a more bustling atmosphere. Once you know which side of the Danube River you are on, exploring Budapest is easy.
STAYING AND GETTING AROUND BUDAPEST
TOP TIP: I’d highly recommend getting the Budapest City Card which gives you unlimited access to public transport (train, tram, metro, buses) and free / discounted entry to the city’s top attractions. You can buy cards for 24, 48, 72, 72+ 96, or 120 hours. There is also a Tourist Pass option, which only includes the Hop on Hop Off bus for free public transport and can be accessed fully on your smartphone. This is a great way to save money if you’re on a budget. I did the math and trust me, it was worth it! The passes also include restaurant discounts and discount to the cities much loved thermal spas. I opted for the 72+ card which includes free airport transfer (book in advance) and a free ride on the Buda Castle Funicular. You can either collect your card at the airport on arrival or at the cities Tourist Information centres.
I spent three days in the city which was just enough time to experience all the main sites and attractions. I would recommend allowing yourself 3 days minimum in Budapest to experience the very best of what the city has to offer. I would recommend staying in 5th District area on Pest side of the city, as it is close to the cities main attractions and an ideal central position for exploring the city. You are also close enough to the Danube to be able to cross to the Buda side on foot over a bridge or hoping on the Metro. Here you will find a great selection of hotels and hostels to suit your budget.
So let’s get into it! Here are my recommendations for places to see and activities to enjoy in the city of Budapest!
Hungarian parliament building and shoes of the danube
Quite possibly the most iconic and famous spot in the city, a visit to the Hungarian Parliament Building is a must! Located on the Pest side of the Danube River, this gothic architectural marvel is truly spectacular to see. I highly recommend booking a tour to see inside in advance of your trip. It is likely that tours will be sold out if you leave it to chance by purchasing directly at the Visitor Centre and trust me you do not want to miss out on seeing inside. You can book online in advance via the official Government website or I managed to book last minute with GetYourGuide. Enjoy a 45-minute tour of the Parliament building available with an audioguide and marvel at all the splendour of this impressive monument. Here you will find the Holy Crown of Hungary protected by two guards and the National Assembly, the third largest in the world. The interior is truly decadent, with 40 kilograms of 23 carat gold, including rare gold leaf, used to decorate throughout.
Situated outside the Parliament building along the bank of Danube is one of Budapest’s most significant monuments: the Shoes of the Danube. This poignant and somber monument displays 60 pairs of shoes of men, women and children in cast iron, erected in 2005 in memory of Hungarian Jews who were shot and executed here in 1944. Flowers and candles are often placed here in remembrance and there are benches here to sit and take a moment to reflect and pay respects.
St stephen’s basilica
If you want to enjoy the best panoramic views of Budapest, then you must visit St Stephen’s Basilica. Located in the Pest side of the city, this impressive Roman Catholic monument is named after St Stephen I, the founder and first king of modern Hungary, and you can even find his mummified right hand here! It truly is a work of art inside, with painted facades, a grand alter and stained glass windows. Make sure to make your way up to the dome, where you can take in incredible views overlooking the city. You have the choice to take an elevator or climb 300 steps to the top.
TOP TIP: This site is popular so I advise visiting first thing in the morning to avoid queues at the ticket office. Entry to the St Stephen’s Basilica and dome is 6,000 HUF / £12 or there is 20% discount with a Budapest City Card. The Church is open from Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5.45pm and Sundays from 1pm to 5.45pm.
FISHERMAN’S BASTION AND MATThIAS CHURCH
Hopping over to the Buda side of the Danube, it’s time to visit what has become Budapest’s most Instagramable locations: Fisherman’s Bastion. Positioned on top of Castle Hill, this viewpoint is like something out of a fairytale. Here you will be able to capture views of the Parliament Building through the gothic archways and take in views of the Pest side along the Danube. It is one of the best places to get a photograph of the city and is open all year round. There is a fee to enter the top terraces which is discounted with a Budapest City Card. TOP TIP: This is without doubt the most visited locations in Budapest, so if you want to avoid the crowds, get there early!
Within the Fisherman’s Bastion complex is the beautiful Matthias Church. This gothic church once served as a coronation church for Hungarian Kings, but the roof was completely destroyed during World War Two. You won’t be able to miss this building due it’s new and striking colourful ceramic colourful roof tiles. Inside is well worth a visit and make sure to climb the tower to enjoy impressive views of the city. If you are not a fan of confined spaces, you may want to give the tower climb a miss as there is only one way up and down via a very narrow spiral staircase.
The church is open Monday to Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 9am-12pm and Sunday 1pm-5pm. There is an entry fee of 2,900 HUF / £5.79 or entry is free with a 72hr+ Budapest City Card.
bUDA CASTLE & district
Continue your visit to the Buda side of the city beyond Fisherman’s Bastion by taking a stroll through the Buda Castle District. It is a stark contrast to the Pest side, lined with colourful buildings and cobbled streets and is peaceful to explore. You will feel like you have taken a stroll back in time through this quaint and charming neighbourhood. In fact you will find some of the cities oldest houses here, along with bistros and lovely cafes hidden around every corner. Whilst you’re here I would recommend visiting an unexpected site that you might not be aware of about Budapest - its underground cave network. A labyrinth of underground tunnels awaits and can be experienced through a guided tour which get booked up fast. I’d highly recommend booking in advance to see inside the maze that have been previously used for bomb shelters and is home to 800-year-old man-made cellars!
Make your way to Buda Castle, an absolute must see monument, where you can enjoy stunning views overlooking Budapest. Once home to the Hungarian Royal family, today the Castle is home to the Budapest History Museum and the Hungarian National Gallery. Both are open Tuesday to Sunday 10am-6pm and entry is free with a Budapest City card. Nearby you can take a trip on the Buda Castle Funicular (free with the 72+ Budapest City Card) which takes you back down Castle Hill, where you can walk across the Széchenyi Chain Bridge back to the Pest side of the Danube.
Thermal Baths of budapest
No visit to Budapest is complete with taking a relaxing moment in one of the cities thermal bath houses. Hungary is blessed with naturally heated springs and there are over 100 in Budapest alone! Therefore the city is spoilt for choice when it comes to spas and baths. I elected to visit the cities largest and most famous Széchenyi Baths, which are located away from hustle and bustle of the city centre (I took the metro via Line M1 to Széchenyi Fürdő). Here you will find an array of indoor baths of varying temperatures, saunas and steam rooms and three outdoor pools, one where you can swim lengths and two which are made for relaxing in warm temperatures. I loved the one with a whirlpool and jacuzzi. Visiting in November where the temperatures hit 2 degrees, it was really nice to warm up and enjoy the pools under a sunset and a starry sky.
One of the reasons this particular bath house is most popular is that it hosts “Sparty’s” or late night spa parties. Tickets must be purchased in advance click here
TOP TIP: Book your spa visit in advance. When I arrived at the spa the ticket line to visit the spa was incredibly long and it did not look the most relaxing way to start a spa day.
I have to be honest, I was slightly disappointed by the condition of the indoor baths at Széchenyi to the point I did not use them long. Not only were they crowded but they were dirty. The outdoor pools in contrast were wonderful, but if I were to return to Budapest, I would visit a different bath house. On reflection, I wished I had visited Gellért Thermal Spa and combined it with a visit to Gellért Hill on the Buda side of the Danube. I would recommend researching before selecting which bath house you choose and remember some have discounted entry with a Budapest City Card.
Dohány Street Synagogue and jewish quarter
The Jewish Quarter is located on the Pest side of the Danube and has fast become one the most trendy and fashionable areas in Budapest. With its numerous brunch spots, cafes and restaurants, along with the infamous Ruins Bars, this is the place if you want to enjoy a more vibrant atmosphere. If you want to enjoy a taste of nightlife in Budapest, this is the place to visit. I would highly recommend visiting Szimpla Kert, the original Ruins Bar. What are Ruins Bars you ask? They are makeshift bars inside dilapidated buildings and Szimpla Kirt is truly unique. Here you will find random objects hanging from the ceiling, neon lamps, eclectic decor and a buzzing atmoshphere. My top recommendation for a brunch spot here is TwentySix, which has a urban jungle vibe and great coffee! For dinner, I highly recommend Gettó Gulyás which serves traditional Hungarian food.
Within the Jewish Quarter you will find Dohány Street synagogue, one of the most impressive buildings that I highly recommend visiting. It is in fact the largest synagogue in Europe and the second largest in the world and it is truly spectacular inside. The synagogue was built in 1859 and can seat 3000 people. You can visit Sunday to Thursday 10am-6pm and Fridays 10am to 2pm. Free guided tours are available to learn more about the history of the building and the Jewish Quarter, including the impact of the Holocaust on Budapest.
DANUBE RIVER CRUISE and NUMBER 2 TRAM
No trip to Budapest is complete without taking in the sites along the Danube River. By day, I would recommend taking a trip on the number 2 tram which will treat you to a scenic trip along the Pest side of the Danube. Use your Budapest City card and enjoy a free ride, stretching from Jászai Mari Square to Közvágóhíd, offering a visual feast of some of Budapest’s most iconic landmarks and architecture. If you plan a visit at Christmas, then you will enjoy seeing this tram decked out with festive lights and decorations.
By night, I would highly recommend booking a night cruise of the Danube which was one of my favourite moments of my entire trip. Budapest is magical at night along the Danube, with all the twinkling city lights reflecting on the water. And the Hungarian Parliament Building is just WOW! You can get a discount on a River Cruise with a Budapest City Card or you can treat yourself to a dinner cruise (a romantic options for any couples reading). A cruise on the Danube is an absolute must!
Thank you so much for reading my guide to visiting the city of Budapest. I hope this has given you ideas and inspiration to help plan your own trip to the Hungarian capital. I’d love for you to share your comments or questions here.
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