The Best of Budapest: How to Spend 4 Days in the Hungarian Capital

Located on the eastern bank of the Danube River, the Pest side is considered the heart of the city. Pest is known for its major attractions, bustling nightlife and numerous restaurants. Start your day with a city walking tour. Our walking tour started in Heroes Square and guided us along to City Park towards the famous thermal baths and Danube promenade. A walking tour is a fantastic way to see the city. The local guides love sharing unique details like notable history to immerse you into your surroundings.

Take a tour of the Hungarian Parliament Building. This massive Gothic-style building is hard to miss, and the interior is just as magnificent as the exterior. As one of the largest and most beautiful parliament buildings in the world, I was amazed by the opulence of this iconic landmark. The Parliament building offers guided tours (audioguide or professional guide), which is well worth your time and money. Be sure to book your tickets in advance. Same-day tickets can be purchased at the Visitor Center; however, there’s a limited quantity.

Before sunset, visit the Szent István Bazilika. If your mobility allows, I recommend opting for the combined ticket to climb to the top to get a panoramic view of the city. This is a must when visiting Budapest and definitely worth the steps up the stairs. After soaking in the views, enjoy dinner at a quaint Hungarian restaurant like Pörc & Prézli Étterem.

Cross the Széchenyi Chain Bridge heading towards the Buda Castle. Trek up towards Castle Hill and explore Fisherman’s Bastion and The Church of Our Lady of Buda Castle. From here, you’ll get one of the best views of the Pest side. Depending on the time of day and time of year, this area can be really crowded. Tip: You can also opt to take the funicular up to the level of Buda Castle and walk over to Fisherman’s Bastion.

Walk over to Buda Castle, which is the home of the National Hungarian Gallery. You can learn more about the rich history of Budapest and take in the impressive beauty of this massive castle and complex.

If you want to check out a more off-the-beaten-path museum, then I highly recommend exploring the Hospital in the Rock. This place wasn’t even on my trip bucket list, but I’m so glad we went. This is a unique museum in an underground WWII hospital and Cold War nuclear shelter. To get the most out of your visit, this museum provides a timed guided tour with your ticket purchase. I truly enjoyed learning about this once classified nuclear bunker hospital, which takes you through some dark Hungarian history.

After a day of exploring, enjoy dinner at Marischka Restaurant in Buda or head across the Széchenyi Chain Bridge and have dinner at Hungarikum Bisztró.

Spend the day relaxing at one of the healing thermal baths. Fun fact: Budapest sits on a large network of hot springs, which is where the spa water is sourced from and are said to aid in recovery in ailments like joint pain and back pain. If you only have time to visit one thermal bath, then I highly recommend the ornate Széchenyi Thermal Bath. With a big complex, there are numerous pools with different temperatures in addition to saunas and steam rooms. In the summer, the crowds were surprisingly manageable on a weekday. As someone who is generally not a huge fan of spas, I truly enjoyed my experience here. Another great thermal bath to consider is the Gellért Thermal Bath, which is part of the famous Hotel Gellert complex. The architecture is beautiful, and you’ll likely find a peaceful experience with fewer crowds.

After a relaxing day of thermal baths, grab dinner at one of the eateries in Gozsdu Udvar (or Gozdu Court) and then check out one of the ruin bars. Budapest’s run bars were once old abandoned buildings transformed into unique, bohemian hang outs. The oldest and most popular one is Szimpla Kert. I loved this multilevel bar with quirky decorations and a lively atmosphere with a DJ at night. Another favorite of mine is Csendes Létterem, which has a more cafe atmosphere that welcomes quieter conversation with friends.

Start your day off with a visit to the Central Market Hall. If you love exploring markets, this huge market checks this box on your travel list. It has everything - fresh produce and meats, Hungarian dishes and crafts. This is your chance to purchase any souvenirs to bring back to friends and family. It’s important to know that most of the vendors prefer cash, so make sure to bring Hungarian forint in addition to your appetite.

Explore the Hungarian State Opera House. This stunning neoclassical masterpiece with an interior just as impressive as its exterior. Entry requires a guided tour, which is offered in multiple languages. On my next trip back to Budapest, I look forward to attending a live performance here.

To end your last day in Budapest, see the city from one of the best viewpoints: The Danube River. Take a sunset river cruise and soak in all the sights on both sides of Danube. There are various ones to choose from depending on your style - there is something for everyone. No matter which one you choose, you’ll get amazing views of the city with its architectural beauty and iconic sights lit up at night. Ending my first time in Budapest with a river cruise was the best way to finish off the trip because it highlighted all of the Hungarian capital’s beauty, history and culture. I loved it so much that I returned to Budapest a second time and look forward to returning again someday.