Budapest Travel Guide: The Best Bites, Sites And Travel Tips

Inhale the aroma of paprika, stroll through historic streets, and sip all the incredible Hungarian wine because you’re in Budapest! When Caleb and I lived here, we fell in love with the city for its gorgeous buildings, amazing food and incredible history

Whether you’re a couple looking for an action-packed holiday or a more relaxed city break, Budapest? It delivers. In this ultimate Budapest travel guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to plan your trip and ensure you don’t miss any of the best eats or sights!

Let’s dive in, starting with a sneak peek at some of the most iconic places you’ll see during your trip to Budapest!

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✔️ Some Essential Info:

💰 Budget: $1000ish total for 3 days/4 nights is an excellent, mid-range budget for two people, excluding flights/trains.

💴 Tipping: we recommend 10-12% in restaurants, and many restaurants add it to the bill already.

📞 Phone and Internet: We recommend getting Google Fi service, as you have data in basically any country worldwide. We LOVE it!

How To Get To Budapest

Budapest is landlocked, making driving from nearby European countries a viable option for a romantic road trip. Or, you can take a train – it’s a short train ride from some of our favorite cities like Bratislava or Vienna.

You can also fly to Budapest (no surprise there) from most large European cities using budget airlines. If you’re based in the USA, several major American cities offer flights to Budapest, but expect a layover before you fly into Ferenc Liszt International Airport.

TAYLOR’S TIP: We always find the best flight deals using Skyscanner or Going. If you’re a fellow American traveler not using Going, you’re missing out on some serious savings!

The Best Time To Visit

The best times to visit Budapest are in April and May or September and October. During these months, the weather is pleasant, prices are lower, and the city is less crowded.

If you prefer warmer weather, aim for late spring or early fall. Avoid the summer months and December if you want to steer clear of large tourist crowds. We found the Christmas market in Budapest overrated and expensive anyway.

How Long To Stay

While you could literally spend endless days exploring Budapest, we recommend at least 3 days in Budapest to truly enjoy the city without feeling rushed. With 2 days, you can cover the main tourist sites, but your schedule will be JAM PACKED, and you’ll be TIRED.

If you want to see things in a more chill pace, aim for 4-5 days to explore local gems, enjoy Hungarian wine tastings, and take a leisurely river cruise. If you have a week, you can do all this and more, including a cooking class and day trips to nearby attractions like Lake Balaton (which has amazing wineries!)

Where To Stay

For first-timers, District V (Belváros) is the top choice. It’s central, walkable, and close to major attractions, making it easy to explore the city without wasting time on travel.

District VII (Erzsébetváros) is perfect for those who enjoy great nightlife and a hip atmosphere. It’s also home to the famous ruin bars.

For a quieter and more romantic stay, District I (Budavar) offers beautiful views, proximity to the Buda Castle, and historic charm.

How To Get Around

Budapest can be a bit tricky to navigate due to its division into Buda and Pest, each side being on one side of the Danube river. However, after living there, here’s what we recommend:

Walking is our top choice for most attractions and perfect for burning off that heavy Hungarian food you’ll be eating.

The tram, especially the #2 line, is another excellent option and it’s been said to be one of the most beautiful tram rides in the WORLD by National Geographic!

For crossing the Danube or getting to places like Buda Castle, buses are ideal. The metro is best for reaching farther attractions like Hero’s Square or Széchenyi Baths.

Taxis and rideshares are available but can be pricey and slower due to traffic.

Where and What To Eat & Drink

It wouldn’t be a Budapest travel guide without food right!? In terms of what to eat, our top picks for traditional Hungarian foods that first timers must try are:

• Chicken Paprikash 
• Pörkölt
• Roasted Duck Leg With Red Cabbage
• Goulash
• Langos

Best Hungarian Restaurants:

Our favorite Hungarian restaurants are:

• Cafe Kor
• Hungarikum Bizstro
• Getto Gulyas

For Everything Else:

If you need some ideas for food outside of Hungarian restaurants, here are our picks:

• BRUNCH: Dobrumba
• BAKERY: Artizan Cafe
• LANGOS: Langos Papi
• CHIMNEY CAKES: Pichler Gelato and Chimney Cake

To Drink:

We think that the best thing to drink in Hungary is their wine because it’s a total hidden gem in Europe, which is why we wrote a guide to Budapest for wine lovers. The wine is delicious and SO CHEAP.

This wine tasting in Budapest was one of the best wine tasting’s we’ve ever been in Europe, you must do it if you love wine like we do!

But, if cocktails are more your jam, we feel you because we love them too.  

Our favorite cocktail bar in Budapest is Warm Up Bar because they have no menu and it’s all bespoke cocktails! But, check out our cocktail bar guide for more picks. 

The Things To See and Do

Iconic Sites

The main sites/things to do are:

• Buda Castle: the top attraction according to Timeout Magazine.

• The Hungarian Parliament Building: one of the most beautiful buildings in the city with TONS of daily tours available in many languages

READ OUR FULL GUIDE TO VISITING

• Fisherman’s Bastion: for the best, panoramic views of the city.

READ OUR FULL GUIDE TO VISITING

• St. Stephens Basilica: one of the most beautiful churches we’ve been to in all of Europe.
• Heros Square: For A Little History
• Walk over the Chain Bridge: stunning views of the Danube River
• Explore the Central Market Hall: a great place to buy some foodie souvenirs.

If you’re a foodie, we HIGHLY recommend doing this cooking class that comes with a tour of the market hall. It was one of our favorite things we did!

• Go On a Danube River Cruise: We went on 4 of them, and this was by far the best one! AMAZING city views and comes with wine!
• Wander Gellert Hill and See Liberty Bridge: one of the most Instagrammable places in the city.
• Visit a Thermal Bath: a great way to relax and experience some local life (if you pick the right one!)

We put all the top sites and things to do together in our ultimate 3 days in Budapest itinerary. 

Hidden Gems

After living in the city, we discovered some hidden gems and some of our favorites are:

• Visit Vajdahunyad Castle in City Park: one of the most beautiful places in the city, in our opinion.
• Going to The Ruin Bar Farmers Market: see the ruin bars without all the drunk teenagers
• Zwack Museum: To learn about (and taste!) the traditional Hungarian liqueur, Unicum.
• Visit Neverland Escape Room and Bar: amazing cocktails and some of the coolest escape rooms we’ve ever been to

Romantic Stuff

Budapest is a seriously romantic city! If you’re looking to make it a little bit of a romantic getaway, here are a few of our favorite things to do for couples:

• Have afternoon tea at Emile
• Leave a love lock on the chain bridge or the Tree of Love in the middle of Erzsébet Square!
• Have wine and charcuterie at Falu Delikat
• Rent the rooftop pool at Rudas Spa

Safety

Budapest is generally safe to travel, especially for couples. The “safety in numbers” advantage definitely helps!

However, like all big cities, be cautious. Avoid wandering down dark, secluded alleys at night, especially after enjoying some Hungarian wine. Don’t flaunt expensive jewelry and always keep an eye on your belongings in crowded areas like Váci Street and near the Parliament building, where pickpocketing can occur.

Caleb uses a money belt (even though it’s basically a skinny fanny pack), and I rely on my Travelon anti-theft purse.

Entry and Exit Requirments

The requirements are the same as in other parts of Hungary. If you are coming from the USA, you’ll need a valid passport for 3 months from departure. But, 6 months is better!

You also can’t stay longer than 3 months without a special visa if you’re from the USA.

Travel Tips To Know Before Going:

You can read  our guide to the best travel tips for Budapest, but here are 10 important ones:

1. Stay in Pest, preferably in District 5 or 7 for a central and lively location.
2. Buy Parliament tour tickets online in advance to avoid missing out.
3. The best time for a river cruise is at sunset for stunning views.
4. Visit ruin bars on Sunday mornings for the farmers market experience.
5. Learn basic Hungarian words like “egészségedre” (cheers) and “kösz” (thanks).
6. Bring flip-flops, a swimsuit, and a towel for the thermal baths.
7. Use Forints instead of Euros for better exchange rates.
8. Get the Budapest Card for unlimited public transport and attraction discounts.
9. Many shops and restaurants have limited hours on Sundays.
10. Start your day with a visit to local bakeries for delicious and affordable pastries.

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There you have it folks! Our travel guide for Budapest, Hungary has everything you gotta know to plan an amazing trip to one of our favorite cities! If you have questions, just let us know in the comments and we’ll get right back to you!

When you’re in Budapest, you can’t miss some of our favorite foodie experiences! We wrote a guide to the 3 unmissable experiences for couples who love food and wine, and these will make your vacation even better!

Other Budapest Posts:

• 3 Best Chimney Cakes in Budapest
• Best Brunch Spots in Budapest
• First Timers Guide To Visiting Margaret Island