Top Things to Do in Budapest, Hungary
Curated By
Lindsay Vaughn
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Hungary
Budapest
Adventure Travel
Arts & Culture
City Travel
City Travel
Arts & Culture
Adventure Travel
Curator’s statement
My best friend lives in Budapest and her family has lived in Hungary for years, so when I had the opportunity to go visit her, I did. While Budapest is split by the Danube River, each side of the city has its own historical approach to adventure. Budapest is a hidden gem in Central Europe that has beautiful architecture, outstanding cultural influences and is welcome to all types of visitors.
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Where to stay in Budapest
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Things to do in Budapest
Buda Castle: Walk around the grounds of the old Buda Castle, where you will find fabulous views of the Hungarian Parliament.
Matthias Church: I believe this is one of Europe’s most unique churches, and you don’t want to miss going inside while you are in Budapest.
Hungarian Parliament: Walk through the beautiful parliament of Hungary and learn the full history of the building.
Central Market Hall: This is Budapest’s largest indoor market, where you can buy vegetables, meat, candy and even wine.
St. Stephen’s Basilica: This is Budapest’s largest church, and the largest church in all of Hungary. You can climb to the cupola and see the best views of the Danube River with Buda on the other side.
Gellért Hill: This hill is where you can view the Danube and see the site where Saint Gerard was thrown to death. The best time to visit Gellért Hill is around sunset, when you can see the beautiful sunsets over the Danube.
Spas: Visit either Széchenyi Thermal Bath or Gellért Thermal Bath to experience a thermal spring bath where you can relax in warm mineral water after adventuring all over Budapest.
River Cruise: Ride an evening cruise along the Danube to see the beautifully lit historic buildings of Budapest.
Places to eat & drink in Budapest
Breakfast
Café Brunch - Enjoy some vegetarian brunch and lunch options at Café Brunch Budapest. I recommend the omelette with spinach & goat cheese.
Briós - Delicious breakfast with American dishes. I recommend the American pancake with strawberry mascarpone.
Törökméz - Super cute café where you can grab a coffee and bagel.
Dinner
Cucina the Italian Kitchen - Looking for a great Italian-style dinner? Enjoy Cucina’s tortelloni and a dreher.
EscoBar & Café - Beautiful restaurant and bar along the Danube River with plenty of choices. I recommend the pizzas!
Hungarikum Bisztró - Best Hungarian goulash soup in all of Budapest.
Drinks
Akvárium Klub - Best bar in the city, where you can drink and listen to live music from bands from all around the world.
MONYO Tap House - A super cozy bar with 10 Hungarian beers on tap and 30 different beers in the bottle.
Need to Know
Craving more travel tips? Check out this guide on the Top Things to Do in Prague, Czech Republic.
Travel Advisor
Lindsay Vaughn
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This guide is part of our ongoing series on travel to Europe.