The capital of Hungary is unlike any other European city I have ever visited. Budapest has a grittier feel to it than nearby Vienna or Prague, but its streets overflow with history, culture, and plenty of charm. I recently visited the city on a multi-country trip through the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Austria during my semester abroad. Over the course of our two-day stay in Budapest, my friend and I found ourselves enthralled by all that this underrated (but definitely up-and-coming) city had to offer. This place should definitely be on your Europe bucket list. So, here’s how to make the most of 2 days in Budapest.
Where to Stay
Budapest is one of the most budget-friendly destinations in Europe. My friend and I were able to stay two nights in an Airbnb a few blocks away from Parliament for just over 84 USD. Not only was this in one of the safest parts of the city, but it was also located within walking distance of everything we wanted to visit. We had a fantastic experience and plenty of options to choose from with Airbnb, but hotel prices in the city center are also quite reasonable.
Day 1:
Cross Széchenyi Chain Bridge
The Danube River cuts right through the heart of Budapest, dividing the city into hilly Buda to the West and flatter Pest in the East. Buda and Pest actually used to be their own, distinct settlements until 1849, when the Chain Bridge became the first bridge to unite modern Budapest’s two halves. Get an early start and admire the view in both directions as you cross from Pest to Buda.
Climb the hill to Fisherman’s Bastion
Whimsically perched atop Castle Hill, the Fisherman’s Bastion provides the ultimate view of the Hungarian Parliament building and the rest of Pest when it’s not swarming with tourists. Arrive early before the crowds and bring a camera.
Storm Buda Castle
Take a peek at Matthias Church near the Bastion, then make your way over to Buda Castle. The castle itself has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times over the course of Budapest’s history. The building now houses the Hungarian National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum.
Hike to the Citadella and admire the Liberty Statue
This climb provides yet another stunning vantage point from which to drink in Budapest’s expansive skyline. At the top of the hill, you’ll also find the Liberty Statue, a monument erected to commemorate the expulsion of Nazi forces from Hungary by the Soviets at the end of World War II. Although no longer known by its original name (The Liberation Monument), the Liberty Statue represents one of the last Communist-era icons left in the city.
Wander through Central Market Hall
Spend at least a few minutes winding your way through the best people-watching spot in Budapest. This immense market hall holds three floors packed to the rafters with produce, spices, souvenirs, and local specialties. Grab a langos (fried dough topped with sour cream, shredded cheese, and onions: Hungary’s most famous street food), find a place to sit, and watch the world go by.
Visit Dohány Street Synagogue
Budapest is home to one of Europe’s most vibrant Jewish quarters and what used to be one of Europe’s largest ghettos. The Dohány Street Synagogue sits right at its center. Surpassed in size only by the Belz Great Synagogue in Israel, the Dohány Street Synagogue seats up to 3,000 people. Take a tour to take a look inside and be sure to visit the Hero’s Temple and the Emmanuel Tree of Life: sobering monuments to commemorate the Jews who lost their lives during World War I and the Holocaust.
Explore Budapest’s ruin bars
Budapest’s Jewish Quarter remained pockmarked by crumbling ruins long after World War II deportations. Recently, locals have incorporated the ruins into the city’s thriving nightlife. During the day, visitors can wander the empty, knicknack-encrusted shells of pubs like Szimpla Kert. Only once the sun goes down do the ruins truly come back to life.
Admire St. Stephen’s Basilica
Come for the architecture and stay for St. Stephen’s mummified hand. Entry into the largest church in the city is free, but a small donation of 200 HUF (about 0.70 USD) is encouraged.
Indulge at Mazi’s Greek Kitchen
Upscale yet affordable, my friend and I loved this place so much that we ate here twice. Everything on the menu looked delicious and tasted beyond my wildest imaginings, from the kebab to Mazi’s signature ice cream made from creamy Greek yogurt. You know a restaurant is good when you can’t help but order dessert.
Take a nighttime stroll
If the Hungarian Parliament Building stuns visitors during the day, its spiralling turrets and grand central dome look downright ethereal illuminated after sundown. Wrap up a long day of walking with a taste of Budapest nightlife. (Consider revisiting those ruin bars for a once-in-a-lifetime experience).
Day 2:
Marvel at the Hungarian Parliament Building
The tallest building in Budapest, the Hungarian Parliament building is absolutely stunning any time of day. Head over first thing in the morning to admire the Neo-Gothic architecture and to see if you can recognize which other famous European Parliament building Hungary’s was modeled after.
Honor WWII firing squad victims at the Shoes on the Danube Bank Memorial
This memorial commemorates those who lost their lives during one of the most horrible periods of Hungarian history. After Hitler deposed the Hungarian government in 1944, the new fascist regime executed thousands along the Danube. Victims of the firing squads were required to remove their shoes, (a valuable commodity at the time), before they were shot into the water. Today, 60 pairs of cast iron shoes line the riverbank outside Parliament: a sobering reminder of Budapest’s darker past and a wartime atrocity we should never forget.
Walk around St. Margaret’s Island
Make a leisurely loop around this park in the middle of the river and enjoy the island’s gardens, bike paths, and musical fountains.
Stop by Heroes Square
Spend some time wandering Heroes Square: one of the largest public plazas in Budapest. Here, swarming crowds find themselves dwarved by the palatial Millenium Monument. The monument’s pillared archways feature statues of the seven Magyar chieftains who led their people to Hungary a thousand years ago. The Archangel Gabriel holds court atop the central column, which also memorializes those who gave their lives for Hungarian freedom.
Tour Vajdahunyad Castle
The fact that Hungarian nobility never called Vajdahunyad Castle home in no way diminishes the building’s status as an architectural mecca. The overall structure includes sections built in the Baroque, Gothic, and Romanesque styles. As legend has it, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula originated with Vlad the Impaler’s imprisonment within Vajdahunyad’s Gothic façade.
Today, however, the castle hosts attracts tourists than vampires. The Baroque wing is home to Budapest’s Museum of Architecture.
Relax and unwind at one of Budapest’s famous thermal baths
After two very full days of exploring Budapest, soak in one final cultural experience at one of the city’s many thermal baths. Budapest sits on a network of natural hot springs. As a result, locals and tourists alike have a wealth of baths to choose between. Here are some of the best:
- Széchenyi Thermal Baths: Perhaps the grandest and most well-known baths in Budapest, Széchenyi is famous for its Saturday night “sparties” featuring music, light shows, and films.
- Gellért Baths: Another popular destination for tourists. This art-noveau bath house takes visitors back to the height of the Roman Empire.
- Rudas Baths: Slightly more off the beaten path, these baths date all the way back to Ottoman occupation of the city and exemplify a Turkish style of construction.
- Lukács Baths: My friend and I ended up choosing Lukács for our thermal bath experience and absolutely loved it. Like many of the others, Lukács includes both indoor and outdoor facilities. The thermal spring on site has been home to various bath houses since the 12th century and is one of the most popular local spots. Like Széchenyi, Lukács hosts Saturday night pool parties during the winter months.
- Király Baths: Another Turkish bath house dating back to the 1500’s, Király provides a traditional experience without the crowds.