13 Hidden Gems In Budapest: A Non-Touristy Guide To Cool Things to Do
Caleb and I love to find off-the-beaten-path experiences, so when we lived in Budapest, we made it our mission to find the most authentic and unique things to do. We wanted a local experience, and we sure got it!
In this guide, we’ll be sharing our favorite hidden gems in Budapest, like Falu Delikat, Tokaj Wine Bar, and Vajdahunyad Castle, so you can have a local experience too. We’re huge foodies, so you’ll notice many things have a food focus! We’re not sorry ’cause we like to eat!
If you’re into food and local experience, this guide is going to make sure you come back with awesome memories and ensure you don’t do the same ol’ things that every other person does. Let’s get into it!
Culture Craving Couple contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase using one of these Amazon links, we may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting us! You can see our disclosure policy.
A Quick Guide To Budapest
When to go and how long: April, May, September or August for 2-7 days.
Where to stay: We love staying in the 7Seasons Hotel for the cheap, large rooms, friendly staff, and epic, central location. It’s in one of the best districts for first time visitors!
How to get around: walking or tram is the best way to navigate the city!
1. Vajdahunyad Castle
We have fond memories of the time we almost got arrested flying our drone around the castle because we picked the ONE HOUR of the year you weren’t allowed to do it.
But, we’d never had a police badge flashed at us before, so that’s….exciting? 😅
We digress. Vajdahunyad Castle is a seriously beautiful place in Budapest, and so many people miss it even though it’s in city park, right by the famous Szchenyi Baths and Heros Square.
It was rebuilt for the Museum of Hungarian Agriculture. We’re not *huge* museum people, so we prefer the serene boating pond (you can rent little boats) right outside in the summer or ice skating in the winter!
COUPLES TIP: This castle is SO old and has a medieval feeling, which gives it a super romantic vibe. Especially if you boat around it or ice skate hand in hand. Did you just barf at how cheesy that was? We did.
Practical Info: You can stay in the outer courts for free or spend about HUF 2,500 ($7) for an adult ticket to go inside the museum and another HUF 400 ($1) to go up the tower. The museum is closed on Mondays, so plan accordingly!
📍 Budapest, Vajdahunyad stny., 1146 Hungary
2. Tokaj wine bar
If you love wine like we do (and Hungarian wine? UGH, IT’S SO GOOD!), then it does not get more off the beaten path in Budapest than Tokaj Wine Bar.
First, we gotta warn you: the wines aren’t exceptional here, but you’re not *really* going for that here, mmkay? You’re going for a local *experience* like WHOA.
This little, hidden bar is walkable from the parliament building and very easy to miss as you have to go down a flight of stairs and push up on a nondescript door that kinda feels like you might be going to your death?
FEAR NOT! You’re going to drink wine! 🍷 Or “Bor” in Hungarian!
It’s so local that no English is spoken, and we just pointed at the wine we wanted on the menu because they do have an English menu. The menu will tell you if the wine is sweet, semi-dry, semi-sweet, or dry.
The best part? It’s dirt cheap! The majority of the prices range from .75 cents – $1.50 per 100ml!
We know. You’re running there right now.
📍Budapest, Falk Miksa u. 32, 1055 Hungary
3. Wine Tasting At Wine The Gap
Is this in almost all our Budapest posts? Yes, yes, it is because it’s that good, and all foodies need this experience.
Mickey, the owner of Wine The Gap in the lesser-visited-by-tourists District 9, has the most incredible wine tasting in Budapest.
He will teach you SO much about Hungarian wine and will let you try even more than you learn! Honestly, it’s dangerous in the best way.
The value for your money is incredible, and it’s such a local experience that comes with a VERY delicious spread of Hungarian sausages, cheese, bread and the most glorious is the golden-brown spread that tastes like liquid gold and bacon.
Yes, that is angels singing the hallelujah chorus. You need to visit this Budapest wine bar!
>> Click here to check prices, reviews, and availability <<
Practical Tip: You get A LOT of cheese/bread/sausage and wine, so we recommend a late lunch of local Hungarian food and let this be your dinner. Come HUNGRY…and thirsty. 😏
📍 Budapest, Tompa u. 26, 1094 Hungary
4. See One Of The Buildings Left With Bullet Holes From The Communist Era
If you walk to the corner of Molnar and Sorhaz Utica and keep your eyes peeled, you’ll see a building with holes in the wall. Our local friend told us those were left over from when the communists invaded Hungary!
Even though Hungary’s Prime Minister is trying to wipe out the country’s communist past, it’s a very interesting, important, and historical thing to see in the city!
Practical Information: you can route to Molnar Utica & Sorhaz Utica on Google Maps or route to Beams Music Bistro. If you’re having the Beams Music Bistro sign, it’s the building on the left side of the street!
5. Cooking Class With Foodapest
If you’re up for something more than just sipping wine (although you get to do that too!), we absolutely LOVED this food tour with Foodapest!
We met Joseph, the owner and a genuine Budapest local, at the Central Market Hall. He guided us through the market, picking out fresh, local ingredients. We also got to sample some local eats as we went.
After our market adventure, we headed to a local apartment to cook a traditional meal with Joseph and another couple. He taught us some cooking basics in a fun, relaxed way – no Gordon Ramsay-style yelling here!
Then we got to eat the most DELICIOUS Chicken Paprikash family style, and we even ended up hanging out with some people we met later in the week!
If you’re looking for a complete experience (and an evening where you don’t have to worry about planning or reservations), this tour is perfect for you! Plus, you’ll support a local biz and have a recipe to bring home with you as a memory!
>> Click here to check prices, reviews, and availability <<
Practical Tip: because you get a tour of the market hall here, make sure you skip it when planning your trip to Budapest and use that time to see something else during your other days in the city.
6. Falu Delikat
We added Falu, this hidden gem in Budapest for food lovers, into our 3 days in Budapest itinerary, and we have to mention it again here. Honestly, not even locals know about this place, and we were so excited when we stumbled upon this adorable little deli!
They make coffee in the morning and afternoon, and then they have AMAZING charcuterie boards with a few selections of wine by the glass during the afternoon and evening.
It’s incredibly local (very little English is spoken), so you’ll have a quiet and cozy little shop to taste amazing local handmade products.
You’ll get a literal mountain of bread, some handmade spread, some sausages, cheese, and the best-smoked prosciutto ever!! We let the owner choose our board ingredients, and we went to town!
Practical Tip: the charcuterie board is called the “Falu ta’l” on the menu, and it’s only available on weekdays!
📍 Budapest, Szent István krt. 23, 1055 Hungary
7. Chimney Cakes at Kiraly Kalacs Kürtőskalács
This TINY chimney cake shop in Budapest is so small that it only fits one guy who makes fresh-at-order chimney cakes. Look for the aqua store facade!
The cakes take 10 minutes to make and are so fresh I could barely hold mine when I got it! The outside is crispy with a soft, doughy center, and they are a GAZILLION times better than the crappy ones you get on the sidewalk huts! One of the best places to eat for a fresh, delicious chimney cake situation.
Practical Info: prices are around HUF1000 ($3 USD)
Opening times: 11am – 8pm Monday through Friday
📍Budapest, Király u. 57, 1077 Hungary
8. Vali Bej Bath
After visiting all the thermal baths in Budapest, this one is SO local, and we saw almost no tourists there (very much unlike Szecheyni!)
Vali Bej is not as “showy” as other baths but still beautiful and has a Turkish Hamam vibe that feels super romantic. All the baths are indoors, and there are locals just hanging out with each other and having a great time. The PERFECT spot to get a taste of how the locals really live, and we 10/10 recommend it.
Practical Info: It’s outside the city center, and you can’t get tickets online. They limit how many people go in at once, so go EARLY (before opening) because we had to wait in a long line!
Get info on their website here
Read our full visitors guide here.
📍Budapest, Árpád fejedelem útja 7, 1023 Hungary
9. Neverland Bar and Escape Room
At Neverland, you can dive into an escape room adventure, sip on unique cocktails, or do both! Most rooms let you order drinks, which they’ll bring right to you. The cocktails are reasonably priced and unique compared to other bars!
There’s a great variety of escape rooms, too! We tried the Wizard Trials with mulled wine (delicious!) and found it super engaging. This third-generation room had three rooms to solve within an hour. They even gave us a few extra minutes because we were so close (and they probably felt bad for us!)
The decor was fantastic, reminiscent of Hogwarts. Highly recommend if you’re looking for unique things to do in Budapest.
Practical Info: it’s popular, so buy advance tickets here.
📍 Budapest, Dohány u. 22-24, 1074 Hungary
10. Ruin Bar Farmers Market
We’re not in our twenties anymore, so the “ruin bar scene” isn’t really our vibe. We found it loaded with young party animals and cheap, kind-crappy drinks TBH.
But, on Sunday mornings, the Szimpla Kert Ruin Bar turns into the most eclectic and funky farmers market. You can try all kinds of products from sweet local artisans and maybe even get some things to bring home!
Practical Info: open Sundays from 9am-2pm
📍Budapest, Kazinczy u. 14, 1075 Hungary
11. Zwack Museum
The Zwack Museum is the only place in the entire world where Unicum, Hungary’s local herbal liqueur, is made. You can go and do a tour and tasting, and we thought it was super unique and worth going outside the city center.
We opted for the reserve tasting to sample four Unicum flavors instead of two, and it was worth the extra cost because the pours are very generous! Pace yourself because Unicum liqueur is strong (35-40%)
The best part was the video sharing the story of the Zwack family. We’re not usually into that stuff, but it was heartwarming and fascinating!
📍Budapest, Dandár u. 1, 1095 Hungary
12. Eat Scandinavian Porridge at Fagel
I know you’re like, “Scandinavian food in Budapest?” TRUST US, this small brunch spot in the city is SO good!
Fagel is a charming oatmeal bar. It’s ideal for a cozy, quick, and healthy bite! They do hot oatmeal or rice bowls that are fully vegan-friendly. The menu includes seasonal sweet options, a savory choice, and a daily special, always creatively crafted.
Everything is handmade, and it’s truly a breakfast-lovers hidden gem in Budapest.
PRO TIP: you’re done, pop over to our favorite bakery, Artizan, next door. Get the pistachio cheesecake because you just ate something healthy.
You’ll dream about it forever.
📍Budapest, Hold u. 3, 1054 Hungary
13. Piana Vyshnia Bar
We stumbled across this VERY HAPPENING bar (literally, as we had visited one of our favorite wine bars before 😅) and loved it so much we kept coming back.
Piana Vyshnia is a unique Ukrainian cherry liquor that has bars all around Eastern Europe. The inside is super funky and happening with live DJs many nights of the week.
It’s fun and crazy, but not in a “club” way! You gotta go at least once.
📍Budapest, Király u. 13, 1075 Hungary
After living in the city, these are some of our favorite “hidden gems” (mostly focused on food because that’s the best part of traveling, ya?) We hope this helped you figure out some unusual things to do in Budapest!
Now that you have some cool things to do, you need to put it all together! We’re here to help with our 3-day itinerary for couples who love food and wine!
Other posts from the budapest files:
