Budapest

Ruin-bar nights, thermal baths & Danube panoramas

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Budapest is one of the most rewarding places to explore, and this local guide brings together the best things to do, where to eat and where to stay in one place. Highlights include Hungarian Parliament, Buda Castle and Szechenyi Thermal Baths. Food lovers should not miss Blind Mice Exchange Pub and Bors GasztroBar. Below you will find 44 hand-picked local recommendations across sights, restaurants, hotels and tours, which you can filter by category and budget to plan the perfect trip, whether you have a weekend or a week.

Budapest at a glance

Ideal stay: 2 to 3 days
Best time to visit: spring and autumn
Highlights: Hungarian Parliament and Buda Castle
Where to stay: District VIII and District V
Local picks: 44 hand-chosen recommendations
Getting around: walkable, plus easy public transport

Local tips for Budapest

Stories and neighbourhood know-how from our local guides.

Local tipsWhere to Stay in Budapest: Best Neighborhoods for First-TimersWhere to stay in Budapest? A local guide to the best districts, from central District V to the ruin-bar nightlife…

Local tipsHow Many Days Do You Need in Budapest? A Local’s GuideHow many days do you need in Budapest? A local guide to the ideal trip length, the thermal baths and…

Local tipsA Perfect Sunday in BudapestHow a local spends a slow Sunday in Budapest: thermal baths, a ruin-bar farmers market, island walks and a Danube…

Where to stay in Budapest

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District VII

Anantara New York Palace

An opulent palace hotel on the Grand Boulevard, home to the jaw-dropping New York Cafe, once called the most beautiful cafe in the world. Gilded, grand and a destination in itself.

★ 4.7

$$$

Terezvaros

Andrassy Avenue

Budapest’s grand, UNESCO-listed boulevard, lined with belle-epoque mansions, cafes, the Opera House and luxury shops, running arrow-straight from the centre to Heroes’ Square. Stroll it, or ride the little historic M1 metro beneath.

★ 4.5

Lipotvaros

Aria Hotel Budapest

A playful music-themed five-star by St Stephen’s Basilica, with rooms grouped by genre and the excellent High Note rooftop bar looking over the basilica dome. Consistently rated among the best in the city.

★ 4.8

$$$

District VI

Blind Mice Exchange Pub

A gimmicky-in-the-best-way bar where drink prices rise and fall like a stock ticker on the screen – buy low, drink well. Rooms upon rooms mean a proper dancefloor plus quieter corners, and the calendar is full of themed nights, from costume parties to karaoke.

★ 4.1

District VII

Bors GasztroBar

A tiny, wildly popular hole-in-the-wall on Kazinczy street doing inventive soups and stuffed baguettes at pocket-money prices. A local go-to in the ruin-bar quarter; there is almost always a queue, and it is worth it.

★ 4.6

District VIII

Brody House

A wonderfully bohemian townhouse hotel in an old aristocratic mansion, each room designed with a local artist and hung with their work, plus a members’-club buzz. Creative, characterful and unlike anywhere else in the city.

★ 4.5

Castle District

Buda Castle

The grand hilltop palace crowning the Buda side, now home to the Hungarian National Gallery and Budapest History Museum, with sweeping views over the river and Pest. Ride the old funicular up from the Chain Bridge.

★ 4.6

Buda

Budapest Caves Tour

Beneath the Buda hills lies a surprising network of caves. Easy walking tours visit the dripstone-decorated Palvolgy and Szemlohegy caves, while adventure caving trips have you scrambling through tunnels in overalls. A cool, unusual break.

★ 4.6

District VII

Budapest Ruin Bar Crawl

A guided night out through the Jewish Quarter’s famous ruin bars, the eclectic, junk-filled courtyards led by Szimpla Kert, with drinks and a local showing you the best spots. The definitive Budapest night out.

★ 4.6

Castle District

Castle District Walking Tour

A guided stroll around cobbled Castle Hill, taking in Buda Castle, Matthias Church, Fishermans Bastion and the medieval old town, with the thousand-year story of the city and its views over the Danube.

★ 4.6

Day trip

Communist Budapest & Memento Park

A fascinating look at Budapest’s communist decades, usually finishing at Memento Park on the edge of town, where the giant Lenin, Marx and worker statues toppled in 1989 now stand together. Strange and thought-provoking.

★ 4.5

District VII

Continental Hotel Budapest

A handsome four-star built around a restored early-1900s bathhouse in the Jewish Quarter, with a spa, a rooftop pool and garden and elegant Art Nouveau touches. Comfortable, central and full of character.

★ 4.6

Danube

Danube Evening Cruise

Budapest is arguably the most beautiful capital seen from the water at night, when Parliament, the castle and the bridges glow gold. Evening cruises range from simple sightseeing to dinner or a drink on deck.

★ 4.7

District VII

Dohany Street Synagogue

The largest synagogue in Europe and the heart of the old Jewish Quarter, a Moorish-Revival masterpiece with a poignant memorial garden and the silver Tree of Life. A ticket includes the museum and cemetery; visit thoughtfully.

★ 4.7

Castle District

Fishermans Bastion

A whimsical white neo-Romanesque terrace of turrets and arches on Castle Hill, framing a postcard view over the Danube to Parliament. The lower terraces are free; a small fee for the very top at busy times. Come at dawn for the light and the quiet.

★ 4.7

Lipotvaros

Four Seasons Gresham Palace

Budapest’s most beautiful hotel, a gloriously restored Art Nouveau palace at the foot of the Chain Bridge, with peacock gates, mosaics and rooms looking across to the castle. The definitive Budapest splurge.

★ 4.8

$$$

District VII

Frici Papa

A no-frills, dirt-cheap canteen on Kiraly utca ladling out big plates of Hungarian classics, schnitzel, stews, stuffed cabbage, to students, workers and thrifty travellers. Order at the counter and dig in.

★ 4.3

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Budapest travel FAQ

How many days do you need in Budapest?

Two to three days is enough to enjoy the highlights of Budapest at a relaxed pace. See our Budapest itinerary guide for a day-by-day plan.

Where is the best area to stay in Budapest?

Stay central and walkable to the main sights for a first visit. Our where to stay in Budapest guide breaks down the best neighbourhoods.

What are the best things to do in Budapest?

Browse the local picks above, from top sights and museums to where to eat and stay.

What is the best time to visit Budapest?

Spring and autumn usually bring the most comfortable weather and thinner crowds, though Budapest is worth visiting year-round.