3 Days in Budapest
Budapest is one of our favourite European cities because of it’s beautiful buildings, fascinating history, wonderful people, amazing food and even better wine. There is so much to see and the below itinerary includes it all!
Accommodation
We stayed in a wonderful Airbnb that was perfect for the two of us. It was really cosy with all the amenities you need. The location was perfect - The centre of town was within walking distance, or you could get the bus or tram from right outside the apartment. There was also a supermarket nearby and an excellent coffee shop to start your day. The hosts were very helpful and responded straight away. They also provided extensive recommendations for our stay. We couldn’t try them all, but we have included some below for you to try for us.
Transport Pass
The best way to get around Budapest is by using their public transport - trains, trams and buses. The public transport system runs on time and frequently. They are strict on tickets, so I’d recommend you get a pass for the duration of your stay. We got the 72 hour pass, which gave us access to all public transport and means you don’t have to buy a ticket per ride. This cost €15.00 each making it a very cost effective way to get around.
You can buy your pass via the BudapestGo app before your visit or when you’re there. There are also ticket machines at the stations where you can buy the pass if you don’t have access to the internet.
Airport Bus
We also caught the airport bus (100E) to get us from the airport to city. It drops you right in the centre at Deák Ferenc tér, which is the transport hub and you can then find other ways to get to your final destination. The bus comes every 20 minutes and takes 40 minutes. It only costs €6 and you can purchase a ticket from the machines or tap on with your card. This ticket is separate from the transport pass.
DAY 1
MORNING: Free walking tour
The best way to see all the main sights and learn about the city is with a free walking tour. Our tour started at 10:30am and went for 2.5 hours. Our walk included Erzsebet Square, Deak Ferenc Street, St Stephen’s Basilica, Szechenyi Chain Bridge, Hungarian Parliament and the shoes on the Danube Bank. After the tour, you can give a tip based on how much you think the tour was worth.
LUNCH: For Sale Pub
The For Sale Pub is a unique dining experience as the walls, roof and bar are all covered in paper. Every guest is given pieces of paper to add to the collection. There are also endless amounts of peanuts that you chuck on the floor. It gives a Pirates of the Caribbean feel.
Aside from the unique experience, they serve amazing, traditional Hungarian food with an extensive menu.
No booking required
AFTERNOON: River Cruise
It wouldn’t be a trip to Budapest without seeing the beautiful city from the river and at night. There are plenty of river cruise options, but we went with the 1.5 hour cruise with unlimited alcohol for €28 each.
DINNER: Twenty Six
Twenty Six is a Mediterranean restaurant in an uber jungle that came highly recommended from TikTok. Truthfully, we found the service quite poor, and the food was nice but not incredible. I’d suggest trying a different restaurant from our list below.
DAY 2
MORNING: Cave Tour
Budapest has multiple caves underneath the city, which we explored with a 2.5 hour guided tour. It was a unique experience and we learnt a lot about the unusual and rare features of the Budapest cave systems.
I’d highly recommend the tour and it was something different to do in Budapest. We booked through Get Your Guide and it cost €90 per ticket. The caves are easily accessible by bus and there’s a bus stop at the start and end of the tour.
AFTERNOON: Fisherman’s Bastion, Matthias Church and Buda Castle
After the tour, catch the bus to the tram station and get the tram to Halasz Utca. After a 7 minute walk up the hill, you’ll arrive at Fisherman’s Bastion. The view of the Pest side of Budapest is stunning from here, and if you go in the afternoon the sun will be behind you, which is great for photos. It is very busy here as everyone is getting pictures of the beautiful buildings and the view.
At Fisherman’s Bastion, you can also check out the beautiful Matthias Church, which is right behind Fisherman’s Bastion.
After you’ve visited these sights, it’s another 5 minute walk to Buda Castle. Buda Castle was a bit underwhelming, but as it’s so close
to Fisherman’s Bastion, it’s still worth checking out.When you’re ready to go back to the Pest side, you can catch the cable car down. It is quite expensive and there’s always a line, so I’d recommend taking the stairs and path. This only takes about 10 minutes and you can enjoy the view for longer.
DINNER: Mazel Tov
Mazel Tov is a Turkish / Mediterranean restaurant, and was our favourite of the trip. The food was really flavorsome, the service was great and it had a vibey atmosphere. I would highly recommend going and booking is required.
NIGHT: Szimpla Kert Ruins
Finish the night with some drinks at Szimpla Kert Ruins. There’s all these different bars across two levels of the ruins which is decked out with quirky decorations and neon paint. By a drink walk around exploring the ruins, chilling in the main area or dancing with the DJs.
I’d recommend getting there before 10pm as there was no line. When we left around midnight, the line went for 2 blocks.
DAY 3
DAY: Szechenyi Baths
The Szechenyi Baths are a must when visiting Budapest. Book your tickets in advance for a day entry pass that includes one entry into the spas (you can’t leave and come back). You must wear flip-flops around the spas and use a towel. If you don’t have these, you can purchase them outside the changing rooms, but they are relatively expensive.
Spend some time enjoying the outdoor spas, but make sure you go into the yellow building as there are more spas, hot and cold plunges and saunas to enjoy. We also did the ‘Sauna Experience’, a 15 minute traditional Hungarian sauna with special aromas. If you’re looking for a unique experience, I would recommend this. They run in the afternoon and you can book your tickets when you arrive. If you want to do the sauna experience, I’d suggest going to the spas around lunch time. Otherwise it’s a lot of waiting around as you can’t leave.
AFTERNOON: Vajdahunyad Castle
After relaxing at the spa, stroll around Vajdahunyad Castle, a 5 minute walk from the spas. The castle feels like you’re in a fairytale and is truly beautiful.
AFTERNOON: Hosok Tere
A further 5 minutes walk, you’ll find Hosok Tere or Hero’s Square which has amazing status and history. If you go at sunset after spending the day at the spas, you’ll enjoy beautiful views.
Food Recommendations
Our Airbnb host provided an extensive list of restaurants and cafes that come recommended after living in Budapest for over 20 years. We couldn’t try them all, but hopefully you’ll have the time to.
Pubs / Bars
Akvárium Klub (night club)
Anker Koz (street with great bars and pubs)