Top 10 Things To Do In Budapest
Welcome to Budapest. Whether you arrived by plane, train or automobile, you are now ready to explore this city and all it has to offer. Charge your cameras and get ready to explore, eat and see the sights of Budapest.
#1 Buda Castle
The Buda Castle is just stunning. With one of the most beautiful panoramic views, which can be seen from atop Castle Hill. #Selfies. The grounds are well kept and the statues are full of history. There are various museums in the castle, so save time for those, or do them on a separate day. You can also stroll the grounds or take a tour. Viator gives great tours as they offer several options or I personally loved the private tour I did with a group of my friends thanks to, Budapest 101. As an expat, my husband and I just love to walk around the grounds enjoying the views, often. Walk the castle at your own pace and take it all in.
#2 Fisherman's Bastion / Matthias Church
Get 20% off your entrance ticket to Matthias Church with Viator.
After you see the Buda Castle head over to the Buda district and take in the pristine streets and buildings. Walk towards Matthias Church, which is surrounded by Fisherman's Bastion. Surprising I know... the Bastion looks more like a castle than the castle. You will feel like you are in a fairy tale. History states that the fisherman used to protect the hill from the the people who would attack from the water. The bastion is all rebuilt and relatively new as it was bombed many times over. The Bastion is beautiful but it is the tile work on the neo-gothic styled Matthias Church that will take your breath away. This is one of the churches you have to pay to go inside, but it is worth it.
# 3 Ruin Bars
All You Can Drink Pub Crawl Through The Ruin Bars in Budapest - $22.90
Night life is a key scene in Budapest. Ruin Bars are filled with tourist and locals alike. The story goes.... in the ruins of many old buildings, bars began to pop up giving life to these beautiful abandoned pieces of architecture. This is a must see and do when in Budapest as each bar has it's own style, vibe, and history. The top ruin bars to visit are Szimpla, Anker't, and Instant. Or you can do a pub crawl for all you can drink and take the worry out of it.
#4 Citadella
PICTURE FROM GOOGLE
I have yet to hike to the top, although it's on my to-do list. Your walk up the hill gives you a look into the intricate Cave system that's within the mountain. This fortress sits high above the city on what is called Gellert Hill. The view gives yet another panoramic view of Budapest. The Liberty statue stands tall representing freedom and commemorating all the lives sacrificed to gain freedom for Hungary.
#5 Grand Central Market
The Grand Central Market is a must visit. This 19th century market takes you back in time with fresh fruit, vegetables, and stalls after stalls of yummy food. Start by strolling down Vaci street where the streets are lined with beautiful stores, and then walk into the market and take in a the smells of fresh paprika, and hungarian cuisines. You can get groceries for the week or just pick up lunch depending on what you're looking for.
#6 Opera House
The Opera House in Budapest is just breathtaking. I was blown away by the beauty of the inside of this building when my husband and I went to see Swan Lake this past year. It is a must visit. Just look at the ceiling alone.
# 7 New York Cafe
Put on your Sunday's best when stepping foot into the New York Cafe. It's like this place sparkles with Gold when you walk in. So make sure you dress the part. It's a must visit in Budapest. The food is on the expensive side, but worth every penny. New York Cafe is one of my top 5 brunch places in Budapest. You will love being fancy at brunch. This would even be a great place to eat after visiting the Opera house.
# 8 Hero Square
PICTURE FROM GOOGLE
Hero Square, or in Hungarian, Hősök tere. Anyway, Hero Square is a Statue complex, housing the greatest Hungarian warriors. It's massive in size and just beautiful. There are museums surrounding the square that sit at the end of the famous Andrassay Avenue.
Behind Hero Square is City Park, which has a lake, the Vajdahunyad castle, Statue of Anonymous, the zoo and the famous Szechenyi baths. You could spend an entire day here and not even realize you are still in the city.
# 9 Danube River Cruises
Picture from google
You have to take a cruise on the Danube river. I suggest an evening cruise. The city lights up in gold and it is a sight to see. The Budapest Hop-on hop-off tours offer land and river options. This is a cool way to see Budapest.
Budapest Cocktail and Beer Cruise
#10 Thermal Baths
PICTURE FROM GOOGLE
The Turkish brought the bath culture to Budapest, and since then a weekly soak in the baths is culturally normal. Budapest sits atop 125 thermal springs. Bath Houses around town pull from these springs. This spa like culture is something I got used to very quickly. Visit Szechenyi, Gellert, or Rudas as these are the most popular and beautiful crafted bathouses. Relaxing during the day is beautiful, but you can also take it up a notch and make a night at a spa-party. I've yet to go, but don't worry, I will!
Private Entrance to Széchenyi Spa in Budapest with Optional Massage
BONUS: Parliament Building
Wearing A Traditional Hungarian Folklore Costume
Now the only reason I didn't add this on the list originally is because you can see the Parliament building from almost all of the listed sites in this blog. It's a staple here in Budapest, you will take pictures of it as you cross the Chain Link bridge, you get a great view from Fisherman's bastion, and so forth. Yes you should take pictures of it, and the best view is on the Buda side, across the river from it, but naturally you can't miss it. There is a Jewish memorial in front of the Parliament called the Shoes on the Danube, which also offers great pictures of the Parliament. You can take the iconic #2 tram up and down the Danube for a great view of it. So yes, it's a thing to do in Budapest, but you will realize how many angles you get of the Parliament building when you flip through your pictures at the end of your trip.