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Best Things To Do In Budapest, Hungary

Going to Budapest? Use this guide to make sure you don’t miss any of the best things to do in Budapest Hungary! Here’s what you’ll definitely want to see in Budapest:

Budapest Hungary

In September we took a Danube River Cruise with Gate1 Travel. We started in Budapest, made stops in Vienna and Salzburg, and ended in Munich Germany for Oktoberfest. It was an unforgettable experience!

We arrived a few days early so we could spend some time discovering Budapest Hungary. I had no idea what to expect, but we ended up loving Budapest!! It is so gorgeous, not crowded, and we had some amazing food in Budapest restaurants. Another bonus is that Budapest is super inexpensive compared to other European cities.

A Danube River Cruise from Budapest to Munich is one of the most popular things to do in Budapest. If you’re planning to take one, I highly recommend arriving to Budapest 1-2 days early so you can spend some time in one of Europe’s most beautiful cities.

Read More: Taking a Danube River Cruise with Gate 1 Travel


Best Things To Do In Budapest Hungary

Here are the best things to do in Budapest Hungary that you definitely won’t want to miss:

Budapest Hungary

Széchenyi Chain Bridge

The Széchenyi (Say-chain-ee) Chain Bridge is one of Budapest’s most well-known landmarks. It crosses the Danube River and connects the Buda and Pest sides of the city. It was the longest suspension bridge in Europe and the first permanent bridge to cross the Danube River in Hungary when it opened in 1849.

Budapest HungaryPhoto via Stephanie

Two matching stone lions guard the bridge at both sides.

Budapest HungaryPhoto via Stephanie

Buda Castle

Walking across this historic bridge gave us some of the best views of Budapest’s landmarks. Above is Buda Castle, home to Hungarian royalty in the capital city of Budapest. This was the site of lavish ceremonies during the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Budapest Hungary

Castle District

When crossing the bridge, also be sure to look up to the right at the Castle District. You can see a few more of Budapest’s most beautiful sights like Matthias Church and the seven towers of Fisherman’s Bastion.

Budapest Hungary

Matthias Church

Matthias Church is absolutely breathtaking. The coronation of Austrian king Franz Joseph I and his wife Elizabeth was held here, which marked the establishment of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1867.

Budapest Hungary

The vibrant ceramic roof is made of tiles from the renowned Zsolnay factory in Hungary.

Budapest Hungary

This church is over 700 years old!

Budapest Hungary

Fisherman’s Bastion

Right next to Matthais Church is another one of Budapest’s most well-known landmarks, Fisherman’s Bastion.

Budapest Hungary

Fisherman’s Bastion was built in the late 1800s to celebrate the 1000-year anniversary of the founding of Hungary.

Budapest Hungary

Best View in Budapest Hungary

Fisherman’s Bastion sits atop Castle Hill and provides some of the most spectacular views in all of Budapest.

Budapest Hungary

Can you imagine having lunch at an outdoor cafe with this as your view??

Budapest Hungary

Read More: Discovering Hungarian Food — Our Favorite Budapest Restaurants!

Budapest Hungary

From below, Fisherman’s Bastion looks like a fairytale castle.

Budapest Hungary

The seven towers of Fisherman’s Bastion represent the seven tribes that founded Hungary.

Budapest Hungary

Budapest Castle Hill Funicular

It’s a bit of a hike up the hill to the Castle District, but the views are 100% worth it. Plus once you get to the top you can reward yourself with Budapest’s famous cream cake. We absolutely LOVED it. However if you don’t want to walk you can always take the funicular!

Budapest Hungary

Hungarian Parliament Building

After exploring the Castle District, you can walk down the hill and walk along the river on the Buda side for an amazing view of the Hungarian Parliament Building, the third largest parliament building in the world.

Hungarian Parliament Building - Budapest Hungary

If you have a chance, go back and see the Hungarian Parliament Building at night when it’s all lit up!

Budapest HungaryPhoto via Stephanie

After exploring Castle Hill and the Buda side of Budapest, you can cross the bridge back to the Pest side of the city. This is a view of the Széchenyi Chain Bridge from the Buda side, with the Four Seasons Budapest Hotel in the background.

Budapest Hungary

And this is the view from the Pest side, with Buda Castle in the background.

Budapest HungaryPhoto via Stephanie

Best Sunset View In Budapest

The Széchenyi Chain Bridge is one of the best places in Budapest Hungary to watch the sunset!

Budapest Hungary

Read More: My Favorite Travel Camera

Breathtaking photos that prove Budapest is one of the most stunning cities in Europe! I never knew how amazing Budapest is!

Free Walking Tour Budapest

Budapest Hungary is such a beautiful city. We took a walking tour with Discover Budapest to see all the best things to do in Budapest and learn some of the history of Budapest. Did you know the Rubik’s Cube and the ball point pen were invented in Hungary?

Breathtaking photos that prove Budapest is one of the most stunning cities in Europe! I never knew how amazing Budapest is!

St. Stephen’s Basilica

If you’re looking for the best things to do in Budapest, you’ll definitely want to visit St. Stephen’s Basilica. It’s the tallest building in Budapest, tied with the Hungarian Parliament building, representing that church and state are equal. 

Breathtaking photos that prove Budapest is one of the most stunning cities in Europe! I never knew how amazing Budapest is!

Best View in Budapest Hungary — Part 2

You can go up to the top of St. Stephen’s Basilica for an absolutely incredible 360 degree view of Budapest!! From here you can see all over Budapest. Can you pick out Buda Castle, Matthais Church, and Fisherman’s Bastion in the background?

Breathtaking photos that prove Budapest is one of the most stunning cities in Europe! I never knew how amazing Budapest is!

Here’s a better view of Buda castle!

Breathtaking photos that prove Budapest is one of the most stunning cities in Europe! I never knew how amazing Budapest is!

You can also see the Budapest Eye, Budapest’s giant ferris wheel.

Breathtaking photos that prove Budapest is one of the most stunning cities in Europe! I never knew how amazing Budapest is!

And looking the other way you can see  thered domes of the Hungarian Parliament Building and the vibrant green tiled roof of the Hungarian State Treasury.

Breathtaking photos that prove Budapest is one of the most stunning cities in Europe! I never knew how amazing Budapest is!

Budapest Baths

Going to a thermal bath is one of the most popular things to do in Budapest. The Széchenyi Spa is definitely one of the most famous Turkish bath houses in Budapest. The water is supplied by two hot springs, and it’s the largest thermal bath in all of Europe. Going to the spa is totally a thing in Budapest!

Breathtaking photos that prove Budapest is one of the most stunning cities in Europe! I never knew how amazing Budapest is!Photo via Stephanie

Heroes’ Square

Heroes’ Square is one of my favorite historic monuments in Budapest. It was built in 1896 to celebrate the 1000-year anniversary of the founding of Budapest. Behind the tall columns are two matching colonnades, each with seven statues featuring famous figures of Hungarian history. 

Breathtaking photos that prove Budapest is one of the most stunning cities in Europe! I never knew how amazing Budapest is!

Vajdahunyad Castle

If you have some extra time in Budapest, be sure to visit the fairytale-like Vajdahunyad Castle. It’s one of the most beautiful things to do in Budapest. During the summer and fall, you can take a romantic boat ride around the lake, and in winter it turns into an ice skating rink.

Breathtaking photos that prove Budapest is one of the most stunning cities in Europe! I never knew how amazing Budapest is!

Vajdahunyad Castle hosts various festivals and events throughout the year.

Breathtaking photos that prove Budapest is one of the most stunning cities in Europe! I never knew how amazing Budapest is!

We just happened to be there during a food festival! We were in heaven running around to all the different booths checking out the local fare.

Breathtaking photos that prove Budapest is one of the most stunning cities in Europe! I never knew how amazing Budapest is!

New York Cafe at the Boscolo Budapest Hotel

After walking around all day, the famous New York Cafe inside the Boscolo Budapest Hotel is the perfect place to stop for a break to rest your feet and get some free WiFi. As you can see from the picture above, this is not your typical coffee shop! How fun would it be to spend an afternoon here with a pastry and cup of coffee and chat with your best friend?

Breathtaking photos that prove Budapest is one of the most stunning cities in Europe! I never knew how amazing Budapest is!

Váci Street

This beautiful pedestrian shopping street lined with small boutiques and colorful cafes is definitely worth strolling down.

Breathtaking photos that prove Budapest is one of the most stunning cities in Europe! I never knew how amazing Budapest is!

How fun is this cute cafe with colorful hanging lanterns??

Breathtaking photos that prove Budapest is one of the most stunning cities in Europe! I never knew how amazing Budapest is!

Ruin Bars in Budapest

Ruin bars are definitely one of the most popular things to do in Budapest. We could not leave Budapest Hungary without checking out a ruin bar! Szimpla Kert is Budapest’s oldest and most famous ruin pub.

Breathtaking photos that prove Budapest is one of the most stunning cities in Europe! I never knew how amazing Budapest is!

Ruin Bars are one of Budapest’s most unique attractions. They are bars that pop up in formerly abandoned buildings and are decorated with a hodgepodge of retro decor. The live music and unique atmosphere make ruin bars in Budapest extremely popular hot spots!

Breathtaking photos that prove Budapest is one of the most stunning cities in Europe! I never knew how amazing Budapest is!

We went at 2pm on a Sunday afternoon so the party was not quite happening yet. ;)


Best Things To Do In Budapest Hungary?

Did I miss any of the best things to do in Budapest? Let me know in the comments!


See more posts from our Gate 1 Travel cruise!


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Budapest Hungary

Budapest Hungary

Budapest Hungary

Budapest Hungary

Budapest Hungary

Budapest Hungary

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22 Responses
  1. memarchoabudapest

    Hi, your photos are amazing! Budapest is just a marvellous place to spend several weeks on it! It’s one of my favourite places in Europa because of their spectacular touristic places.

  2. Sangeeta

    Thank You for this beautiful presentation. I traveled with you through Budapest; awesome clicks. I have 3 days in Budapest this September and this is my travel guide.

  3. Ratheesh R Nath

    This post perfectly showcases Budapest. I haven’t been to Budapest yet, but it always looks great in photos!

  4. Jeanette

    Heading to Budapest next week! Took notes on all the locations you visited, especially looking forward to sunset in the chain bridge. Thanks!

  5. Andrea

    Absolutely love your photos! So glad you enjoyed Budapest. My fiance and I have just returned from our trip there – we are getting married in the Fisherman Bastion next year! :-)

  6. Megan {Country Cleaver}

    How absolutely beautiful!! When my mom escaped the Soviet occupation of the Czech Republic in the late 60’s, she escaped through to Hungary. It’s been a dream of mine to visit the country that became her salvation one day, that is before she made it to the States and had me! You and Steph totally reinvigorated my waderlust for Hungary!

  7. Mallorie

    Loved, loved, loved all that you shared about Budapest~ One of my best friends and I are going in less than two months (also starting out on a cruise – Viking) … but will be spending two extra days in Budapest on our own. I’ve been working on our itinerary and your posts, and Stephanie’s too, have given me everything I need! Thanks!!!! :D

  8. Debbie Carter

    Absolutely breathtaking photos. My husband and I have been blessed to travel to Budapest twice and seeing these pictures brings back so many memories. I think we saw everything you did, but certainly did not get the shots you did. Thank you for showing Budapest to me again through a different lens.

  9. Lisa

    I went on a cruise down the Danube from Budapest to Amsterdam four years ago. I was surprised at how beautiful Budapest was. I took pictures from some of the same vantage points, but mine definitely do not look like these. That is a great camera.

    I am looking forward to seeing more about your cruise.

  10. Lindsay

    YES! Budapest is amazing. My husband and I were there 2 years ago and fell in love with every bit of it. We always joke that it’s no coincidence that Budapest rhymes with “You da’ best!” (Also, have you been to Croatia? It’s another hidden gem that we LOVE!) #wanderlust

  11. Bonnie Morgan

    Photos are breathtaking. Makes me want to visit there. Loved this post.

    I am so interested in the smaller and lighter weight camera. Just took a trip to France and lugged my heavy camera and tamron lens that is heavy too. Would love more info.

    A great post would be how to pack all the camera gear. Also clothes for that long of a trip. I was gone 14 days and my luggage weighed 43 lbs in U. S. and I was on the nose for weight limit coming back. Because of the AF strike we had to take a train from Bordeaux to Paris for our return home. Lifting our luggage on the train was difficult up the stairs. I will pack lighter next time.

    Your trip sounds wonderful. Thanks for sharing.

  12. Susan

    Beautiful photos. I’ve been curious about Budapest for a long time and have been considering adding it to my travel wish list. This sealed the deal!!
    I’m curious, though. Was your cruise with Gate 1 Travel a free trip and sponsored? Or did you purchase the cruise. I’d like to learn more about it because a friend is looking into river cruises in Europe and wants to know more about them because we don’t know anyone who has been on a river cruise. Thanks.

  13. Sybil

    Gorgeous, gorgeous photos!! I gave up looking for a really good, portable camera to travel with and you have my interest piqued about that Sony DSC-RX100M III! I am so curious about how it takes close ups … as in food pics. You should know! Would you recommend that camera for close up/food pics, too??? Thank you!!

  14. Andrea

    I was in Budapest maybe three weeks before you and was so pleasantly surprised by the city! I fell in love with the scenery and amazing food- and loved that it is like a hidden gem of Europe. It was fantastic to not have huge crowds, and to feel like we got to be immersed in the culture since we weren’t running into tourist everywhere we turned! I probably took over a 100 photos just of the bridge and those lions! Can’t wait to see more of your photos!

  15. Stephanie @ Plain Chicken

    LOVE all our photos! Makes me want to go back – right now.

    Budapest was so surprisingly beautiful. I absolutely LOVED it! Can’t wait for the rest of your posts!

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Meet Kevin & Amanda

Kevin and Amanda

We love to travel and to eat! Here we share our favorite quick and easy recipes, plus travel tips and guides for our favorite places around the world. If you have any questions about what camera I use or how I edit my photos, check out my photography tutorials.

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