Beautiful, defiant Budapest sports nicknames like “Pearl of the Danube” and the “Heart of Europe.” You’re reading this because you’re already thinking about visiting, but I’ll reiterate that it’s an unmissable city in Central Europe.
These 20 essential things to see in Budapest are for travelers like myself who enjoy cultural highlights, museums and history. You can also read my full blog on seeing Budapest, Vienna and Prague in less than ten days.
1. Central Market Hall
Get your bearings in Central Pest on a walk to Central Market Hall for a plate of traditional fried langos. Expect crowds.
2. Vaci Utca
This tourist-lined shopping street is at least worth a stroll for its gorgeous facades, and as a route toward a cafe break.
3. Cafe Central
Decadent and ornate, this cafe transports you to last century’s Budapest. Order espresso and dobos, a chocolate wafer cake.
4. Hungarian National Museum
Immerse yourself in the country’s historical turbulence and triumphant nationalism through artifacts and English descriptions.
5. Ruin pubs
If you’ve got energy left, head to the famous ruin pubs in the Jewish Quarter, bedecked with kitschy decorations and options for local beer. Szimpla Kert is the granddaddy of them all, a labyrinth of haphazard rooms, junk, sharpie scrawlings and Christmas lights.
6. Hungarian Parliament Building
Book online in advance for an English-language tour of this landmark of architecture, built in the surge of national pride following Budapest’s 1896 celebration of the country’s millennium milestone.
7. Danube Promenade
Take a stroll and snap some pics of bronze statues such as the Little Princess, Shoes on the Danube and pensive Hungarian poet Attila Jozsef, or just enjoy the waterfront views.
8. Liberty Square
Read up in advance on the historical importance and controversy of monuments in this park, from a beloved statue of leader Imre Nagy to a highly-contested German occupation memorial.
9. Hold Utca Market
Head upstairs to lunch on everything from schnitzels to seafood (a superior and offbeat alternative to Central Market Hall).
10. St. Stephen’s Basilica
Another point of architectural pride from 1896, St. Stephen’s offers an outstanding view from the observation deck.
11. Heroes’ Square
Take the metro up Andrassy Ut. This massive tiled court pays respect to the nation’s revered heroes, immortalized in statues. Get a guide on your phone to explain who’s who. Side note: It was kind of hard to admire Hungary’s great leaders while boozy English hen parties clambered up on the pedestals, brandishing sun hats and wine bottles, and pedal carts rolled by powered by chanting stag parties. Budapest is becoming a hotspot for cheap beer and flights. But did you need to blast Miley Cyrus at the feet of kings?!
12. City Park
Admire the lush lawns, lake and Vajdahunyad Castle (built in—you guessed it—1896). We sat and enjoyed a beer at an outdoor cafe.
13. Szechenyi Baths
We had carried around a drawstring bag with our suits and flip-flops all day for chance to enjoy a famous public thermal bath. I loved everything about this, from the grumpy bath attendants, to the sulfury heated outdoor pools, to the old men playing chess.
14. Danube night cruise
Cruise the Danube at night to see Budapest’s famous castle, Parliament, and bridges illuminated while you sip wine.
15. Buda Castle
Take the funicular up the hillside. After cycles of war, destruction and repossession, there is no true castle or royal residences to see, but museums, courtyards, fountains and a walk along the edge overlooking residences on the Buda side of town.
16. Matthias Church
Snag a tour to go up in the tower for a closer look at the church’s bells and panorama at the top. The inside is beautiful, and we managed to catch a free choir performance.
17. Fisherman’s Bastion
The beautiful white-stoned bastion was built in you-know-when and sports statues, an open terrace and lovely city views.
18. Aquincum
This was a personal quest born of our love for Roman history that took us on a commuter train up north. You can explore the residential and bathhouse ruins of an ancient city in the Roman Empire. Tip: The coliseum is right across from the tram stop.
19. Margaret Island
Rent a bright-red canopied bike to mob around beautiful Margaret Island. Watch the energetic dancing fountain at its southern tip, and refuel with beer and langos at Hármas Büfé. We almost didn’t make time for this, but it ended up being one of my favorite activities of my entire Central Europe trip.
20. Gellert Hill
When the sun sets, make your way up the steep paths of Gellert Hill for outstanding nighttime views.
Traveling to Budapest and need a recommendation, or want to share something I missed? Post a comment!
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