Budapest in 2 to 4 days
Pre-Bookings:
- Reserve a table at Regős Vendéglő
- Book your ticket 🎟️for a free street art walking tour 🎨
There on the weekend?: Get tickets for the Sparty, a party in the biggest thermal bath in Budapest
Day 1 - Sightseeing
8:00 - Start your day early with a coffee ☕️ and some breakfast 🥞at Kelet Kávézó és Galéria, where you can enjoy the atmosphere of city district Buda at its finest.
10:00 - Go to the Central Market hall, which will be buzzing with people and full of energy. There you can buy fruit 🍎 and vegetables 🥕 for a picnic later in the day.
Don’t forget to check out the basement where you can get traditional pickles which you should totally try!!!
11:00 - Buy the rest of your Picknick lunch at Aldi in the market hall.
11:30 - Head to the Citadella 🗽by crossing the bridge next to the hall and ascending up through the nice park hill around the statue.
12:30 - When you’ve reached the top get out your Picknick things, enjoy the view, and recharge.
13:00 - Full of energy you can start your descent now and up again to the Buda castle 🏰 . (Make sure to pass the Gellert Hill Waterfall and the Várkert Bazár)
14:00 - Explore the castle (you can also do a guided tour or visit the Hungarian National Gallery Magyar Nemzeti Galéria, which are supposed to be worth it)
14:45 - Now head to the Fisherman's Bastion while strolling around and exploring the area.
15:30 - After walking up to the Bastion enjoy the view 🌁 from there and then head to the Magrit hid.
!! Try not to buy any food or drinks at the castle or Bastille, it’s not worth the money, rather go to one of the cute cafes around the city!!
Some recommendations: Pitém pite, Kazetta Cafe, Klasszikbymanetti, Mosolygós Büfé, Hello Pá Cafe & Bar, Bereg Embassy Bar & Cafe or Walzer Café
- these will all be linked in the separate map as well! :)
16:00/17:00 - If you still have energy you should either go to Margit 🏝️ (an island) or to another viewpoint (not locals go there), József-hegyi kilátó. Otherwise go back to your accommodation and rest for a while to be ready for the night 🎇!
20:00 - Go to the greatest traditional Hungarian restaurant, Regős Vendéglő. The atmosphere is so cozy, the decoration great and the food delicious (they also have many great vegetarian options) 😍😋
!! Book a table in advance, it can get very busy !!
22:00 - Go get yourself a drink at Szimpla Kert and dance the night away 💃! This bar is built in an old ruin and it is decorated really colorful and pretty. 100% worth a visit (the entry is free btw).
23:30 - If you’re still up for more partying continue to Instant, the biggest club in Budapest. I didn’t enjoy the music that much but it’s probably still the best here …
Day 2 - Lazy Brunch and more sights
11:00 - Treat yourself to an unbelievable Brunch at Cookie Beacon Brunch 🍪. Probably everything is delicious, however, I can totally recommend the Grilled-Cheese Waffle Sandwich, the Eggs Benedict, the Cookie Berry Bowl, and definitely the Banana Bread French Toast! 🍞🧇🍓(the cookies weren’t worth it for me though, too dense and sweet, but if that’s your thing, go for it :))
13:30 - Start your sightseeing tour at the Parlament building 🏫, then make your way to the St. Stephen’s Basilica (make sure to walk through the Liberty Square, it’s quite pretty).
14:00 - Go up the Basilica ⛪️ if it’s something you are interested in. The view is very nice.
14:30 - After the basilica head to Vörösmarty tér ⛲️.
15:00 - Before immersing yourself in the street art of Budapest relax a little in the cafe Naspolya Nassolda (they have great raw cakes).
16:00 - Start your street art tour 🎨 and get lost in the Jewish district. You can either do a free walking tour or just explore yourself.
Free Tour: Https://www.guruwalk.com/walks/42783-alternative-street-art-tour-budapest-free-walking-tour
Dinner Options:
1.
18:00 Buy yourself your favorite picnic foods and some wine, sangria, beer, or anything else you like.
19:00 Sit at the Danube (the location is linked on the map) and enjoy the sunset 🌅 🌉 You can even bring your speaker and listen to some music. The atmosphere here is just great!
2.
19:30 Visit the vegan restaurant Kozmosz Vegan Restaurant and try Bean Gulash and Cottage cheese pasta (two very traditional Hungarian dishes)
21:00 After dinner get a chimney cake as Dessert. The best place to do that (in my opinion) is Kató Néni Finomságai Downtown. While you can get really fancy toppings and fillings there (even ice cream 🍦) the most delicious is just the classic cinnamon and sugar 😍.
Btw.: It’s very pretty to sit down by the Danube at night and enjoy it there. 🌉
Day 3 - Thermal Bath and cake
9:00/10:00 Do a breakfast Picnic on the Elizabeth Square beneath the Ferris Wheel. 🎡🧺🍉 (There is a good supermarket right next to it, it’s called CBA)
11:00 Walk to the biggest Thermal bath in Budapest, the Széchenyi Thermal Bath 🛁.
To go there follow the Andrássy út from the Ferris Wheel directly up to the Heroe’s square (Hősök tere). 🦸♀️ On your way you will pass the Oktogon and the impressive Opera house (which you can even enter partly for free), so go in and take a look 👀!!
12:00 Enjoy the Thermal bath (The food there sadly is very expensive so if you can power through there is cake coming 🍰, or else go ahead and treat yourself with some fries 🍟)
16:00 Now take the metro (or walk) to one of the most beautiful cafes in Budapest, Geraldine - Auguszt a Múzeumkertben. It’s located in a very nice park and has many great cakes 🥮 baked according to very old and traditional recipes 🏛️🌸.
17:00 Go back to your apartment and rest for another night out 👯♀️🪅!
19:00 For Dinner, go and get a Lángos, a very traditional Hungarian food made of fried dough most commonly topped with garlic, sour cream and, cheese. However, you could get more toppings as well 😋.
There are two places I would recommend either one with very nice topics and long history, Retró Lángos Budapest. Or a smaller, less popular one with huge and really delicious ones 🤤🧀, Langos Papi'. (If you can’t eat that much like me though I would recommend sharing one)
20:00 For tonight I have a couple of different bar recommendations, so just decide on your favs or visit all if you want:
- Backyard
- Mika Tivadar Kert
- Viadukt Terasz (it’s only open on the weekends but it’s soooooo nice 🍹)
OR Do a Party boat trip (there are a couple of different options online)
Day 4 - Vintage shopping spree, cake and Tapas
11:00 Get your Brunch at Bechamel, a very cute spot in the Jewish quarter ☕️ (the Eggs Benedict and the Shakshuka are great 🤤)
12:30 Explore all the great vintage shops 🛍️in the Jewish district:
- Szputnyik shop D-20
- Ludovika shop
- Retrock Designer Vintage Store
- Komondors Vintage Shop
- Dressing Room
- Ever After Budapest
15:00 When you’re tired take a break at a the very cute bakery VAJ. They have very good tasting pastries and tarts/ cakes 🧁🥐.
OR if you are willing to spend more visit the famous New York Café and enjoy delicious cake and coffee ☕️.
(If you don’t go there take a sneak peak inside though, it’s very pretty 😍🏛️)
19:00 End your day with delicious tapas and a nice glass of wine at Bontxo Tapas. The owners are so sweet 🥹 and the wine tastes great as well 🍷.
21:00 Still hungry? Enjoy another chimney cake ooooor get some ice cream at Giandó Budapest (it’s almost as good as in Italy and that means something 😌🤤).
21:30 On your last night enjoy the dark Danube one last time and sit or walk along it. You can definitely also visit another bar and enjoy a last cocktail 🍹 or beer 🍻 (look at the ones I recommended earlier).
I hope this guide will help you to maneuver in such a huge city as Budapest and you will be able to relax while having a great time. 🌇
Please let me know if you have any suggestions for future guides and I would be so happy if you’d leave a tip :) 💁♀️
Also, make sure to purchase my Budapest map 🗺️ for the full help on your vacation!
PS:
Don’t go to the 8th district, especially by night, it’s pretty sketchy!
Another tip is to visit the Flippermuzeum which was sadly closed when I was there.
Where to stay?
For the Budget travelers:
A little bit of luxury:
Less expensive, but just as extra:
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