7 Cool Things to Do on Your Holiday in Budapest
Last updated on September 20th, 2022 at 04:40 pm
Budapest is the large metropolitan capital of Hungary. Did you know that it’s actually two cities (Buda and Pest) that have merged together to create Budapest? Due to the size of the Budapest there are a high number of exciting and cool activities available for every personality type. In fact, it can even be a bit difficult trying to narrow down what to do! In this guide, I hope to highlight some of the our favorite things that we did in Budapest: places we saw, food we ate, museums, the famous thermal baths, and more. My hope is that it will help inform you as you make your own travel plans.
****Disclaimer: Always be sure to check the entry rules and regulations for Hungary before booking any part of your experience.
1. Start with a Walking Tour
A walking tour is a great way to get oriented in any new city that you visit. There are always a number of options for every kind of budget. There are paid guided walking tours, free guided walking tours (but it’s usually proper to tip the guide), Hop-on Hop-off bus tours, and free self-guided walking tours that you can find online. All you have to do is print it out at home before you leave or pull up on your phone. There are a lot of cool things to see and do in Budapest, so a tour is an efficient way to see many things.
Find Your Walking Tour
For a paid guided walking tour, I recommend checking popular sites such as: www.getyourguide.com, www.viator.com, and www.airbnb.com. If you click on any of those links, it will take you straight to the tours available in Budapest.
For a free guided walking tour of Budapest, you can check out this company which has great reviews online.
For the Hop-on Hop-off bus tour, you can visit this website. There are a few great things about these kinds of tours. 1) you don’t have to walk the whole time, 2) the buses run continuously, so you can get on and off as many times as you like, 3) the buses stop at all major sites in the city, 3) there is narration that tells you about what you are seeing, (but it can be difficult to hear at times depending on what’s going on around you).
For a free self-guided walking tour, I recommend this one (which is the one we used on our trip). It’s great because it includes a map with pins as well as some information about each site on the list. I won’t lie, it’s a long tour and it includes 42 stops. For reference, numbers 1-31 are located on the Pest side of the Danube River and 32-42 are on the Buda side. We did the mass majority of it in half a day (including a stop for lunch).
Special Note
Self guided walking tours are my personal favorite. If you love photography, a self guided tour is great because there is less immediate competition for the prime location. Also, there is less pressure to “hurry up so we can get to the next location”. In addition, a self guided tour allows for more flexibility since you are not limited by any particular time frame. If a place looks interesting to you, you can pop in without “leaving the tour group behind”. You can also do it whenever you want or even split it up between days if necessary.
2. Photos at Fisherman’s Bastion and Mattias Church
One of the most most dramatic spots in the city is the Fisherman’s Bastion. With its medieval inspired architecture, grand entry staircase, and magnificent statues. Here, you can get some really cool photos both of both the Bastion as well as photos looking over towards Pest of Budapest. The famous parliament building is directly across the Danube river which means you can get some great shots.
My favorite spot was kind of hidden, right behind the little Cafe that is in the bastion structure. Please note that we did not eat there, so I cannot comment on the food. But, it was easy to get to the lookout point by going through a little “passageway” area just to the right of the cafe.
A Little History
Built between 1895 and 1902, it was built along with a series of of other projects in celebration of the 1000th birthday of the Hungarian state. While it is decorative, it certainly has fortress-like qualities to it with the cone shaped towers. As it turns out, there was once a wall at this site protecting the Buda Castle. A great many sieges took place here throughout the course of history and that wall was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. But, finally peaceful times arrived, and this monument was built in its place. It has since served as a magnificent terraced overlook for the people of Budapest and visitors to enjoy.
There are a few theories of where the name “Fisherman’s Bastion” came from. For example: this was possibly where the old fisherman’s market used to be. Another theory suggests that it came from the fact that the fishermen used to guard this section of the protective wall. Or, it could possibly have come from the name of the area: Halászváros (Fishtown or Watertown).
Planning Your Visit
If you decide to visit, it is VERY important that you arrive early in the day. This is an incredibly popular spot and if you want photos without fighting the masses, early morning is your best bet.
It is also important to note that the lower levels are free to the public. But, if you want to visit the upper levels, you will have to pay a fee. You can find out more about the opening hours and prices on their website. Personally, I was more than satisfied with the views and photos I was able to capture from the free sections.
Matthias Church
Matthias Church (officially called the Church of Our Lady) is located right next to the Fisherman’s Bastion. Construction originally began between the years 1246 and 1247. Its ornate gothic architecture and beautifully colored tiled roof are particular striking features. The interior is also impressive, but does cost money to see.
But, it did not always look this way. The church has undergone many renovations over the years. One of the most important of them being the updates made by King Matthias Corvinus in the 15th century. He was also married in this church twice. This connection is where the namesake of the building comes from. Another major change occurred during the Turkish occupation when the church was transformed into a Mosque and many of its features were transformed. The church was restored in the later half of the 19th centuries. During the world wars and afterwards during the Soviet occupation, the church was badly damaged, but has since been repaired.
To find the most up to date visiting hours and prices, please visit the church’s website.
3. Experience the Unique Food Culture of Budapest
Budapest is well known for its food. There are lots of unique and cool places to eat all throughout Budapest. However, I would say that most of the “hot spots” are located on the Pest side of the river. I have written another post completely dedicated to some of our favorite places we ate at. To read more, click: Discover Delicious Food in Budapest. In the meantime, here are a two highlights to whet your appetite.
What are Ruin Bars?
You might be wondering why on earth there are two bathtubs in the middle of a room that looks like a rave is happening in it? To be honest, I was wondering the same thing. lol! Visiting the ruin bars is one of the most fun things to do during your visit. Old neglected buildings in the Jewish ghetto were once left to decay post WWII. In recent years, they have been transformed into quirky, cool places to enjoy a cheap drink and a unique bohemian ambiance in Budapest. The most first and most famous of these is Szimpla Kert (pictured above).
Langos, A Local Street Food
If you are visiting Budapest, you should be sure to find somewhere to try the local street food: Langos. This unusual dish traditionally involves a fried dough (kind of similar to funnel cake) topped with sour cream, cheese, red onions, and bacon. Nowadays, you can find this dish with a large variety of different toppings to suit every palate.
4. Szechenyi Thermal Bath
Szechenyi Thermal Baths is one of the biggest draws to Budapest, and it’s no wonder. This is the largest bath house in the city and one of the largest in Europe. You will find it on the Pest side of the river in the City Park area. From the minute you enter, you will be mesmerized by the beautiful architecture of the building as well as the tile work on the ceiling of the entryway.
There are so many cool things to do in Budapest and you will most likely find yourself doing a lot of walking. Remember, you are technically visiting two cities in one (Buda and Pest). Luckily, this beautiful bath house has got your back (and your feet) covered! Before you know it, the warm water will help you relax and unwind during your visit here.
Planning Your Visit
- You can either book your visit online or you can pay at the baths.
- One thing I really enjoyed was the option to rent a “kabine”. Since we had come straight there from our walking tour, we had quite a few things with us. It was also nice to have extra space for changing out of our winter clothes.
- It was quite cold outside and I was worried about having to return to our AirBnB with cold,wet hair. Luckily, they do have hairdryers!
- For the most up to date prices and opening hours, please visit the official Szechenyi Thermal Bath Website.
Pro Tip: Be sure to have a swimsuit, towel, and bath shoes (such as flip flops) with you!! We didn’t have any shower shoes with us and we ended up paying a pretty penny to buy some.
Did You Know?
- Some of the bath houses of Budapest were originally built during the Ottoman Empire.
- Szechenyi Bath House was first opened in 1913.
- The water at Szechenyi gets it waters from two thermal springs with a temperature variation of 74-76 °C (165-171 °F). The temperatures in the bath house pools are lower and you can find pools varying between 18-40 °C (64 to 104 °F).
- The waters contain lots of useful minerals such as sodium, calcium magnesium hydrogen carbonate, sulfates, fluoride and meta-boric acid.
- Szechenyi might be the most famous, but it’s not the only thermal bath in Budapest. With over a dozen baths to choose from throughout the city, who wouldn’t want to visit this “city of spas”?
Other Cool Spas to visit in Budapest
5. Shoes on the Danube River
If you are ever in Budapest, a stop by the Shoes on the Danube Bank is a must. Just remember to bring some tissues with you, as it is a very solemn and sad place.
This monument was established in remembrance of a terrible tragedy of war and fear. At this location 3,500 people were murdered during the Red Cross terror in Budapest (800 of these people were Jewish). Just before they were cruelly shot into the Danube River, the victims were forced to remove their clothes and shoes. The monument immortalizes the period-appropriate shoes, strewn haphazardly along the bank by the victims. May we never forget the horrors of the past, in the hope that acts such as this are never repeated.
6. Central Market Hall
First of all, I’m sure you’ve noticed from the photo that this building looks similar to the entrance to a giant train station. But, looks can be very deceiving. This hall was built in 1897 and is the most central and impressive of the market halls in Budapest. Once you step inside, you will find three floors filled with food, souvenir, and other goods for sale.
You can find out more about opening hours and dates on the this website.
7. Museums of Budapest
There are a lot of interesting and cool museums to visit in Budapest. This city has such a long and rich history, so visiting museums can help you discover time periods in more depth. But, in order to keep this post just a tiny bit shorter, I am working to create a separate post to highlight some of them. Below, you will find a quick list of museums and links to their websites.
Quick List of Museums in Budapest:
- House of Terror
- Hospital in the Rock Museum
- Budapest History Museum at Buda Castle
- Hungarian National Gallery
- Hungarian National Museum
- Franz Liszt Memorial Museum (for music nerds like me)
Bonus: Christmas Markets!!
If you happen to be visiting Budapest during the Advent season (which usually starts at the very end of November and ends just before Christmas), then be sure to check out the Christmas markets! During our visit in 2021, there were two main locations. One at Vorosmarty Square and one at St. Stephan’s Basilica. Here we found stalls featuring an assortment of handmade crafts, foods, mulled wine, and a personal favorite Chimney Cakes (Kürtőskalács)!
Kürtőskalács
The famed “Chimney Cake” is an absolute must during your visit. As you can see in the photo below, bread is wrapped around a cylinder and baked over a charcoal fire. Once it is finished baking, it is coated in sugar and the toppings of your choice. There are many places that sell them throughout the city. But, nothing compares to enjoying your own delectable, steaming hot Chimney Cake, covered in cinnamon and sugar while listening to Christmas carols and admiring the general splendor. <3
In Conclusion
I hope that this list has provided you with many wonderful and cool things to do on your trip to Budapest! I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!!
Happy Travels,
<3 Christine
Hung-ary For More Adventures?
(I just love a good pun, don’t you? 😀 ) Check out some of my other posts featuring more fantastic destinations in Europe!
Planning Your Visit to the Stunning Calanques National Park
Top Five Amazing Places to Visit on Your Vacation in Slovenia
Exciting Things To Do While Visiting Riga, Latvia
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