Budapest Instagram Spots: 15 Places To Take Beautiful Photos
As lovers of Instagram, Caleb and I are always looking out for epic spots to take photos together. When we lived in Budapest, we were kind of overwhelmed by how many AMAZING photo spots there are! I mean, have you seen photos of the city? It’s STUNNING.
If you want to make sure that you get the best photos to spice up your feed, make your friends jealous (did we say that out loud), and capture some memories, we’re here to help!
In this guide, we’ll share our favorite Budapest Instagram spots from Széchenyi Thermal Bath to Buda Castle and unique spots like Emile afternoon tea! We’re sharing all the deets on romantic spots, funky spots, and iconic spots so you can find the perfect location for the shot you’re dreaming about. Let’s jump in with a video of some of the best spots on the list!
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How To Use Our Guide
We’ve broken down our favorite Budapest photo spots into a couple groups (“do these together”) so you can get an idea of the spots that are close together when planning your trip, and not waste time backtracking all around the city! We also have a map for each group to help determine the best way to get around to each spot.
Do These Together:
1. Széchenyi Thermal Bath
It’s a perfect photo spot because: the yellow of the Baroque buildings around the turquoise outdoor thermal baths is SUPER eye-catching and instantly recognizable on Instagram. You have tons of photo spots around the outdoor thermal pools, and it’s a super relaxing place to visit.
Our tips for the best photos: Make sure you get some cool shots with the steam rising from the pools. It’s magical looking!
Best time to take photos: We went right at opening for sunrise, and it was insanely beautiful and the least busy.
📍Budapest, Állatkerti krt. 9-11, 1146 Hungary
2. Vajdahunyad Castle
It’s a perfect photo spot because: Um, it’s a castle, and it looks epic and medieval! Plus, it’s close to many other spots on the list, so go check it out!
Our tips for the best photos: Get some photos sitting up against the old walls, but also walk around inside the courtyard of the Castle – there are so many corners for cool snaps!
Best time to take photos: early morning to avoid crowds.
📍 Budapest, Vajdahunyad stny., 1146 Hungary
3. Heroes Square
It’s a perfect photo spot because: the statues of the seven chieftains of the Magyars are iconic and super striking in photos.
Our tips for the best photos: stand at a distance to the large, central pillar so you can get the full pillar in the photo with just a corner of the back of your head looking at it, for an artsy shot.
Best time to take photos: early morning for soft light and fewer people
📍 Budapest, Hősök tere, 1146 Hungary
4. Budapest Sign on Margaret Island
It’s a perfect photo spot because: There is no better way to tell your friends you’re in Budapest than by standing in front of a sign that says it, right? You also can take cheesy “hands in the air” pics like we did.
Our tips for the best photos: stand in the center of the path leading up to it, in the middle of the sign. You’ll blend into the sign if you stand anywhere else.
Best time to take photos: anytime other than right in the middle of the day, as the lighting is harsh.
📍 Budapest, 1138 Hungary
5. Hungarian Parliament Building From Each Side Of The Danube
It’s a perfect photo spot because: it’s iconic, and the architecture is absolutely stunning. There’s a reason it’s been named one of the best tourist spots in the world by Stasher Tourism!
Our tips for the best photos: You want to take pictures from BOTH sides of the river. So, take photos right in front of the building (on the Pest side), but also set your Google Maps to “Parliament viewpoint,” which takes you to the Buda side for an amazing view. (you’ll want to do this with the following group of Budapest Instagram spots, though)
Bonus: Get views of parliament from Margit Bridge, where most tourists don’t go, or take this epic river cruise to get amazing photos of the building from the water. It was one of our favorite things we spent money on!
Best time to take photos: early evening during golden hour (the hour before sunset) when the light is gorgeous
📍 Budapest, Kossuth Lajos tér 1-3, 1055 Hungary
Do These Together:
6. Deszka For Instagrammable Brunch
It’s a perfect photo spot because: it’s some of the most beautifully plated food we’ve ever seen, and it’s SO COLORFUL. Everything also tastes REALLY GOOD, so you’re not wasting money on “the shot!” It’s one of the best places to eat in Budapest.
Our tips for the best photos: Don’t just take an overhead photo because some of the dishes (like the Deszka toast above) look more drool-worthy straight on! Make sure your flash isn’t on, as the natural light here makes the food look amazing!
Best time to take photos: Morning. Duh… it’s a brunch spot.
📍 Budapest, Veres Pálné u. 31, 1053 Hungary
7. Szimpla Kert Ruin Bar Farmers Market
It’s a perfect photo spot because: it’s this super cool blend of eclectic and quirky design with artisans selling traditional, local goods with cute stands. The funky-meets-traditional-and-local is unique, AND you can taste some local treats while you’re snappin’.
Our tips for the best photos: When you’re looking for photo ideas in Budapest, many people tell you to go to the ruin bar at “bar time” (in the evening), but it’s SO dark and “peopley” that we think the farmers market is better. You get natural light and a more unique experience.
Best time to take photos: Sundays from 9am to 2pm, as that is when the farmers’ market runs!
📍 Budapest, Kazinczy u. 14, 1075 Hungary
8. New York Cafe
It’s a perfect photo spot because: HELLO, it’s been named one of the most beautiful cafes in the world! The inside has this LUXE-Italian-Renaissance feel, and it’s gorgeous.
We do think the actual food is overrated and SO expensive, but one of our Budapest tips is to just go for a coffee just so you can see it and get some photos!
Our tips for the best photos: Don’t miss the balcony lookout when you walk up the stairs! Know that it’s okay to walk around and take photos, but just try to be classy about it so you don’t ruin the experience of people who don’t care about “the photo.”
Also, don’t fall off the stairs like I did. 😅 The waiter that took the photo told me it was my best one. LOL
Best time to take photos: Get there right when they open at 8am so you can limit all the other people running around taking photos (trust us, it’s nonstop.)
📍 Budapest, Erzsébet krt. 9-11, 1073 Hungary
Do These Together:
9. Emile Afternoon Tea
It’s a perfect photo spot because: it’s totally off the beaten path, and the inside feels like something out of Alice in Wonderland with soft blue walls, vintage French wallpaper, purple comfy chairs, and the chandeliers MADE OF TEA CUPS!!!!
We can pretty much guarantee you won’t find a lot of photos of Emile on IG! It’s a total Budapest hidden gem!
Our tips for the best photos: make sure you order the afternoon tea and don’t just go to the restaurant for any meal – you’ll be sat somewhere else, and you won’t get the cute tower of tea treats!
Best time to take photos: Anytime during afternoon tea, which runs from between 2-6pm daily.
📍 Budapest, Orló u. 1, 1026 Hungary
Other Info: this is outside the city center, but a quick Uber/Bolt and totally worth it. You MUST make reservations. Details here.
COUPLES TIP: This is also a super romantic thing to do in the city! 2 for 1 baby!
10. Fishermans Bastion And Matthias Church
It’s a perfect photo spot because: both have fairy-tale architecture with the most incredible panoramic views of the whole city. Plus, they’re in the same spot for easy snappin’!
Our tips for the best photos: move around and experiment with photos of the turrets, on the balconies, in the windows, and with the gorgeous, gothic architecture of the church. We think the churches outside are the most photo-worthy, so save some bucks!
Don’t miss capturing the Bastion’s arches framing the city!
Best time to take photos: Get there for sunrise for the least amount of people but also the best light. The colors of the sunrise on the river are insane and it’s a romantic couples thing to do!
📍 Budapest, 1014 Hungary
COUPLES TIP: Standing together on the balcony with your photo and shooting between the arches makes for some romantic couple travel photos, like the one above. We always use this tripod for travel photos.
11. Széchenyi Chain Bridge
It’s a perfect photo spot because: The historic bridge with the cityscape in the background is classic Budapest.
Our tips for the best photos: Shoot from both sides for different perspectives and get some unique shots looking down on the bridge from the top of Buda Castle.
Best time to take photos: Evening when the bridge is lit up
📍 Budapest, Széchenyi Lánchíd, 1051 Hungary
12. Buda Castle
It’s a perfect photo spot because: This iconic UNESCO World Heritage site is pretty majestic and makes some stunning photos!
Our tips for the best photos: You can wander around the actual Castle for photos, but the best snaps are taken from the riverbank on the pest side OR on a river cruise to get closer which is one of our favorite experiences for couples!
The best time to take photos: is golden hour, just before sunset, when the castle lights come on.
📍 Szent György Tér, Budapest 1014 Hungary.
Do These Together:
13. Liberty Bridge
It’s a perfect photo spot because: the structure is gorgeous and the green color really pops in photos!
Our tips for the best photos: the best spot is across the street from the entrance of the cave church or up by the cross at the top of Gelert Hill. It also looks good straight on just before you walk across it with Gellert Hill in the background.
Best time to take photos: Sunset for a dramatic sky.
📍 Budapest, Fővám tér 1093, 1118 Hungary
COUPLES TIP: Go up a few steps from the cross, and there is a perfect bench to get a cute photo of you sitting together with the bridge in the background.
14. Rooftop Spa At Rudas Bath
It’s a perfect photo spot because: The panoramic views from the rooftop pool are incredible, and soaking in the bath overlooking the city is pretty magical, TBH.
Our tips for the best photos: Frame the cityscape with the pool in the foreground or ask someone to take a photo of you looking over the edge of the pool over the city.
Best time to take photos: Sunset for a beautiful sky.
📍 Budapest, Döbrentei tér 9, 1013 Hungary
COUPLES TIP: his is an excellent place to get a romantic couple’s photo of you guys looking over the city. There were lots of people in the bath who didn’t mind taking our photos!
15. The Blue Room at Gellert Thermal Bath
It’s a perfect photo spot because: The blue tiles with art-nouveau accents are seriously stunning and will pop on your feed! Plus, it’s one of our favorite thermal baths and a great place to chill….while being warm. 😅
Our tips for the best photos: While the outside pools are nice, the blue room is the most photogenic. Take some photos of yourself in the water with the fountain in the background and of the short side of the room (both walls are stunning.)
The best time to take photos: is early morning or the fewest tourists doing the same thing.
📍 Budapest, Kelenhegyi út 4, 1118 Hungary
Boom! That’s it for our favorite Budapest Insta spots that we discovered when we lived in the Hungarian capital! These spots are going to make your feed pop but also let you get some stunning photos to remember your trip to the beautiful city!
Now that you know where to get all your photos, you need to know some unique things to do between getting all those snaps! We’re here to help with our guide to our favorite hidden gems in Budapest!
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