Julie Hungary 41 Comments

Budapest is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Visit the exquisite Parliament building, walk across the Szechenyi Chain Bridge, dine in the opulent New York Café, and admire the Art Noveau grandeur of Gresham Palace. This is a city with a tumultuous history but an optimistic view of the future. With two days in Budapest, you have plenty of time to explore this gorgeous city, try new foods, and immerse yourself in an essential part of European history. Get all of the details on how to plan your perfect trip with this Budapest itinerary.

An Overview of Budapest

Budapest is a combination of two cities, Buda and Pest, which were united with a much smaller third city, Obuda, in 1873.

Buda sits on the west side of the Danube River. In Buda, the popular places to visit are Fisherman’s Bastion, Matthias Church, and Castle Hill. It is from here that you get that legendary view of Parliament and the Danube River.

Pest sits on the east side of the Danube River. This is where you will spend most of your time. On the Pest side, take a tour of Parliament, visit St. Stephen’s Basilica, take a dip at the Szechenyi Baths, and go shopping in the Great Market Hall.

Two Days in Budapest Itinerary

Budapest Itinerary: Day 1

Castle Hill, Pest Town, and Gellert Hill


Walking distance: 6 miles (10 km)

How to Use This Map: Click the tab in the top left hand corner of the map to view the layers (points of interest, restaurants, hotel recommendations, and the walking route). You can click the check marks to hide or show layers. If you click the icons on the map, you can get more information about each point of interest.
 
If you click the star next to the title of the map, this map will be added to your Google Maps account. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the menu button, go to “Your Places,” click Maps, and you will see this map on your list.

9 am: Fisherman’s Bastion (Halaszbastya)

With its views of Budapest, this is the perfect place to start your tour of the city.

Fisherman’s Bastion was built between 1895 and 1902. Its seven pointy towers represent the seven Magyar chieftains who led their tribes to this area and established the country of Hungary.

From Fisherman’s Bastion, you have one of the best views of Budapest.

Fishermans Bastion

Parliament Hungary

 

Nearby is the Statue of St. Stephen, the first Hungarian king.

St Stephen Statue

9:45 am: Matthias Church (Matyas-Templom)

Sitting next to Fisherman’s Bastion is Matthias Church. This church has been destroyed and rebuilt several times in the past 800 years. Today’s version dates back to 1970. For twenty years, between 1950 and 1970, it underwent a major renovation to repair the damage sustained during WWII.

This church is considered to be Budapest’s best. Colorful tile work adorns the roof and the interior of the church.

Matthias Church

Get updated pricing and hours on the official website.

10:30 am: Stroll through Castle Hill

From Matthias Church, it’s a short stroll through the Royal Palace until you get to the top of the funicular (Budavari Siklo). Enjoy the view from the terrace. From here, you get another iconic Budapest view, the trio of the Szechenyi Chain Bridge, Gresham Palace, and St. Stephen’s Basilica all in a perfect line.

Budapest Itinerary

You can either walk down the trails to the river’s edge or take the pricey funicular to the bottom (get pricing on the official website).

11 am: Szenchenyi Chain Bridge

Built in the 1800’s, this was the first bridge to unite Buda and Pest. It was completely destroyed by the Nazis in World War II but was quickly rebuilt. The stone lions that guard the entrance to the bridge are the original statues dating back to the 1800’s.

Take a stroll over this historic bridge, ending in Pest.

Budapest View

11:30 am: Gresham Palace

Gresham Palace, which is also the Four Seasons Hotel, is a symbol of the opulence of older Budapest. This grand, Art Nouveau building was refurbished in 1999 and it is gorgeous on the inside. If you are not staying here, it’s worth at least a quick peek.

Gresham Palace

12:00 Lunch

From Gresham Palace, walk up Zrinyi Utca towards St. Stephen’s Basilica. Feel free to take your pick from restaurants in the area or choose from these three restaurants that get high reviews.

KOLLAZS – Brasserie & Bar. This upscale restaurant is located right around the corner from Gresham Palace. They serve Hungarian and Central European cuisine.

0,75 Bistro. This restaurant serves European and Hungarian dishes with a view of St. Stephen’s Basilica.

Meatology Budapest. If you are looking for more of a budget meal and like the idea of burgers and fries, this is your spot. Located behind St. Stephen’s Basilica.

St Stephens Basilica

Looking up Zrinyi Utca to St. Stephen’s Basilica

1 pm: St. Stephen’s Basilica (Szent Istvan Bazilika)

St. Stephen’s Basilica is the largest Roman Catholic Church in Hungary. It was completed in 1905, after 54 years of construction. The long delay was due to the dome collapsing in 1868, requiring a complete demolition and rebuild of the dome.

Inside St Stephens Basilica

If you want to see something unusual and somewhat morbid, check out St. Stephen’s mummified right hand that is preserved in a jeweled, glass case. Yes, this is a 1000-year old hand. Every August 20th, which is Saint Stephen’s Day, this famous right hand is taken out of the basilica and joins the parade in Budapest.

For the best view of Budapest from the Pest side, climb the 364 steps to the top of the Panorama Tower.

Pest View

Get updated hours and pricing on the official website.

2 pm: Stroll through Pest

From St. Stephen’s Basilica, walk to Vorosmarty Ter. This square is the town center of Pest.

I know that it hasn’t been that long since lunch, but if you want to take a quick break, stop into Gerbeaud’s. This fancy coffee and pastry shop sells wonderful desserts and coffee if you need a little pick-me-up for an afternoon of sightseeing.

Gerbeaud Cafe

It’s just a short walk back to the Danube Promenade. From here, enjoy one of the best views of Buda. Stretched out in front of you are Castle Hill, Matthias Church, and the Fisherman’s Bastion, where our day began.

On your walk along the promenade, you may stumble upon this cute statue called “The Little Princess.” This statue has no real historical significance. It’s just a fun, lighthearted statue that attracts a lot of photographers and Instagrammers.

Little Princess Budapest

Continue the walk through Pest towards the Great Market Hall. Along the way, a notable spot to see is the McDonalds, of all places. Why McDonalds? This was the first McDonalds behind the Iron Curtain. In the 1980’s, people would line up around the block for burgers, fries, and a taste of “western” food.

Vaci Utca is Budapest’s tourism artery. Lined with mediocre Hungarian restaurants and souvenir shops, this is a very skippable road in Budapest.

Parisi Udvar was once an elegant shopping mall. Then, for years, it was an almost abandoned arcade. During our visit in 2011, this building was a deserted, almost forlorn place. Now, it is the Parisi Udvar Hotel Budapest, an exclusive luxury hotel. This is just an example of how rapidly things are changing in this city.

Parisi Udvar 2011

Parisi Udvar in 2011

3 pm: The Great Market Hall (Nagyvasarcsarnok)

Occupying a building that resembles a train station, both in size and grandeur, is Budapest’s largest market. Join the mix of tourists and locals and do a little shopping. Popular things to try (and buy), are paprika, painted eggs, Tokaji wine, and Palinka (Hungarian fruit brandy). You can also try Unicum, a Hungarian liquor that is stronger and harsher than Jaigermeister. Try some and you will find out just how tough these Hungarians are!

While in the market, try langos, fried flat bread that looks like an elephant’s ear and is covered with sweet or savory toppings. Yum!

Great Market Hall

Hungarian Paprika

4:30 pm: View from the Citadel on Gellert Hill

From the Great Market Hall, take the tram across the Liberty Bridge to the base of Gellert Hill. At the base of the hill are the Gellert Baths, one of Budapest’s most famous thermal pools.

Now it’s time to walk off the pastries, Unicum, and langos, for a walk up to the Citadel. Follow the shady trails uphill to the Citadel, located on top of Gellert Hill.

The view from up here rivals that of the Fisherman’s Bastion. Almost all of Budapest stretches out in front of you in one giant panorama.

My view of Budapest

Two Days in Budapest

Szent Istvan Bazilika

 

After enjoying the view, walk along the top of Gellert Hill towards Elisabeth Bridge, the white bridge that crosses the Danube River. As you get closer to the bridge, you are treated to a wonderful view of the Szechenyi Chain Bridge spanning the Danube River.

Gellert Hill View

Walk down the hill towards the Danube Promenade. From here, trams link you to the metro and to the rest of Budapest.

Optional Excursion: If the sun is getting low and photography is a hobby of yours, consider taking the tram along the Danube Promenade to Batthyany ter for sunset or evening views of Parliament.

Dinner and Drinks

End the day with dinner and drinks. Notable restaurants include Onyx (an exceptional fine dining restaurant), Hungarikum Bisztro (a very popular Hungarian restaurant), Comme Chez Soi (French), and Bors GasztroBar (budget Hungarian street food).

Ruin bars, derelict buildings that have been transformed into cheap yet interesting places to grab a drink, are a unique Budapest experience. For a list of bars to try, check out this list on CNN Travel.


Budapest Itinerary Day 2

Parliament, New York Palace, Szechenyi Baths


Walking distance: 3 miles (5 km)

9 am: Danube Promenade

Enjoy another stroll along the Danube promenade, but make sure you pay a visit to Shoes on the Danube.

Shoes on the Danube

Shoes on the Danube is a chilling memorial to the numerous Jews who were murdered in Budapest during Nazi occupation. Between 1944 and 1945, many murders took place along the Danube River. Victims were instructed to take off their shoes before being shot, their bodies falling into the river. Take a moment to reflect on this tragic history.

Buda View

10:00 Tour of Parliament

Parliament is Budapest’s grandest building. The only way to see it is on a tour and tours sell out far in advance. Make sure you book your tickets well before you visit Budapest.

Tours last 45 minutes and cover the history of the building with a visit to the crown jewels and the House of Lords.

Parliament Building

Inside Parliament

Parliament Ceiling

Hours and Pricing: Get updated hours and pricing on the official website.
Book your tickets in advance: jegymester.hu is the authorized website for purchasing your tickets in advance
Book your tickets same day: You can purchase your tickets the same day at the ticket office (if they are still available)

11 am: Andrassy-Ut

Andrassy-Ut is Budapest’s answer to the Champs-Elysees in Paris. It may not be quite as grand as the Champs-Elysees, but it is still a beautiful place to go for a walk.

To get here from Parliament: From Kossuth Lajos Square, take the M2 line to Deak Ferenc Ter. You can transfer to the M1 line, taking it one stop to Bajcsy-Zsilinszky ut, or walk three minutes from Deak Ferenc ter to the start of Andrassy-Ut.

Budapest Opera

The most famous place to visit on Andrassy-Ut is the Budapest Opera House (Magyar Allami Operahaz). This opera house was built to compete with the State Opera House of Vienna. Though smaller on the outside, it is more ornately decorated than its Viennese counterpart. High quality performances are offered at discount prices, so many people in Vienna will actually travel here for a night at the opera.

12:00: Lunch at the New York Cafe

Stroll up Andrassy-Ut until you reach the Oktogon, the intersection of Andrassy-Ut and Terez krt. Take the tram to the New York Palace.

This is an over-the-top dining experience at one of Budapest’s most opulent restaurants. In 2011, it was awarded with the title of “Most Beautiful Café in the World.” Sounds like something you can’t miss, right?

New York Cafe

New York Cafe Budapest

Meals and drinks can be a little pricey and making a reservation before your visit to Budapest is recommended.

1:30 House of Terror Museum

For the best history lesson on Budapest from World War II through the Soviet occupation, visit the House of Terror Museum. This is a very informative and sobering look at the atrocities that occurred during these times. The museum is located in the same building that the communist regime used to torture and imprison Hungarian dissidents.

House of Terror Museum

House of Terror Budapest

Renting the audio guide is a must. You would be lost in the museum without the commentary and the history it provides. Visits here last approximately 2 to 3 hours. Lines to enter the museum can be long midday.

If you are here with kids, have no interest in WWII history, or the line is absurdly long, consider skipping this museum. However, this really is an eye-opening look into this important piece of Budapest history and Tim and I think a visit to Budapest would not be complete without a visit here.

Website: Get hours and pricing on the official website.

4:30 pm Heroes Square and City Park

From the House of Terror Museum, take the M1 metro line 3 stops to Heroes Square (Vorosmarty utca to Hosok tere).

Heroes Square (Hosok tere) is the “who’s who” of Hungarian history. Standing in the colonnades are 14 important Hungarian leaders.

Heroes Square

Beyond Heroes Square is the City Park (Varosliget). This is a pretty place to go for a stroll, depending upon how much energy you have left. I do recommend walking over to Vajdahunyad Castle, a castle that was built in 1896 to resemble the castles of Transylvania, Romania.

Transylvania Castle

5 pm: Szechenyi Baths

Touristy? Yes. Worth it? We think so!

Budapest is built over thermal hot springs and all over the city these springs have been turned into thermal pools. Szechenyi is the most popular and most iconic in Budapest.

Join the crowds, relax in the healing, warm waters, and maybe even play a game of chess on the floating chess boards. Our favorite part was swimming in the circular whirlpool.

Szechenyi Baths

Finding an attendant who speaks English can be a challenge and you will have to rent a towel as part of your admission fee.

Fast-Track tickets: If you are visiting from May to October, consider purchasing fast-track tickets. These tickets are a little more expensive but they will let you skip the line if there is one.

Get all of the details, including hours and pricing, on the official Szechenyi Baths website.

7:00 pm Dinner at Gundel

End the day with a gourmet dinner at Gundel, one of Budapest’s most famous restaurants. It is located just a short walk from the Szechenyi Baths.

Gundel


How to Get Around Budapest

Budapest has an excellent transportation network, the one good thing that communism did for this city. Every site on this itinerary can be reached by tram, bus, or metro.

For a detailed run-down on how to use the public transportation, read this post.

Budapest Tram

Should I Buy the Budapest Card?

The 48-hour Budapest Card costs €33 (about 13,000 HUF). It provides unlimited travel on Budapest’s public transportation network, two free walking tours, free admission to several museums (none of which are part of this itinerary), and minimal discounts to places such as the Szechenyi Baths and the House of Terror Museum. The only benefit of the Budapest Card is the unlimited use of the public transportation network for “free.”

A one-day travel card costs HUF 2,500. Two of these cards cost a grand total of HUF 5,000. This is a savings of HUF 8,000 off of the Budapest Card. Click here for full details on the travel card.

Skip the Budapest Card and purchase two one-day travel cards. If you are staying longer, consider purchasing a three-day travel card for HUF 5,500.

When to go to Budapest

The best time to visit Budapest is during the spring and fall months. The weather is pleasant with occasional rain showers and comfortable temperatures. The summer months are crowded and hot. It can get up to 100°F (35°C) in July and August. The winter months can be bitterly cold with snow but this season gets the fewest amount of tourists.

We visited Budapest at the end of April. Daytime temperatures were in the high 60’s to low 70’s and cooler at night.

Where to Stay

LUXURY: Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace. For the ultimate in luxury and service, book a room at Gresham Palace. It’s hard to beat the location since you will be within walking distance of most sites in Budapest. Ask for a room overlooking the Danube River.

MID-RANGE: The Hilton Budapest. This is where we stayed. We chose this hotel for its location on Castle Hill and its stunning view of Parliament. It was amazing beginning and ending each day with this view, our favorite in Budapest. The Hilton also has an important history in Budapest. It was built in the 1970’s, during Communist rule, and it was a symbol of western freedom during a very gloomy time for Hungary.

BUDGET: Flow Spaces. Located next to the Great Market Hall, this hostel gets rave reviews for its well-equipped kitchen, common areas, staff, and cleanliness.


If you have any questions about this Budapest itinerary, let us know in the comment section below.

Where are You Going Next?

If you plan to continue your tour of Europe, check these out:

CENTRAL EUROPE ITINERARY: Learn how to put together Budapest, Vienna, and Prague together in our

AUSTRIA: Learn how to spend one day in Hallstatt, one day in Salzburg, and get a list of the top 10 things to do in Vienna. We also have a guide to the best things to do in Innsbruck.

CZECH REPUBLIC: Learn how to day trip to Cesky Krumlov and get a list of the best things to do in Prague.

SLOVAKIA: Learn about the best things to do in Bratislava and how to plan your visit to the High Tatras of Slovakia.

EUROPE ITINERARIES: Check out our article 10 Days in Europe: 10 Amazing Itineraries for 10 different ways to visit the best places in Europe. And if you have less time, check out our guide to 25 Ways to Spend One Week in Europe.

 

 

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All rights reserved © Earth Trekkers. Republishing this article and/or any of its contents (text, photography, etc.), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited.

Comments 41

  1. Avatar for Caroline Finn
    Caroline Finn

    Love your blog and it is so informative – Unfortunately like other comments it is very hard to use when site seeing. Is there anyway I could print this information to have a hard copy when moving around.
    It would make sightseeing so much easier.
    Or could you email me a copy of this itinerary Please….

    1. Avatar for Julie Post
      Author
      Julie

      Hello Carolin. You can print a copy of our posts from your browser by pressing CTRL+P. It will be a lot of pages since our website is not optimized for printing. Cheers, Julie

  2. Avatar for Leyzer
    Leyzer

    I loved the blog. We are using it for our trip to Vienna Budapest and Prague . We did pretty much all the places you recommended and we feel that we did everything . Very informative
    The restaurants you recommended in Budapest are very good . 100% happy with your blog

    1. Avatar for Julie Post
      Author
  3. Avatar for Debbie
    Debbie

    Julie I followed the link to look at tickets for the Budapest Parliament Buildings but that site is all in Hungarian and there seems to be no way to get an English version on it like there is on other sites. I haven’t run into this before.
    Thoughts?

    1. Avatar for Julie Post
      Author
      Julie

      On the jegymester website, on the very top dark gray bar, are the letters “HU.” This is the Hungarian version. If you click “HU,” you’ll get a drop down that says “EN” which will change the site to English. This should make it a lot easier. 😊 Have a great time in Budapest! Cheers, Julie

      1. Avatar for Debbie
  4. Avatar for Alice
    Alice

    I’m not usually a big fan of nightlife, but Budapest’s ruin bars are something else entirely. I had so much fun exploring them and meeting new people.

  5. Avatar for Margaretha
    Margaretha

    Great recommendations! If you don’t mind, here are a couple of other options to consider:
    1) The fountain on Margitsziget (Margaret Island, an island in the Danube in the center of Budapest, reachable by bridge) has a 30-minute water-light-and-music show every evening at 7, 8, and 9 pm, when they light the individual waterjets in different colors and have them spray at different heights and to the beat of a variety of classical and rock pieces. Free of charge and especially fun with children on a hot summer evening. Take tram line 4 or 6 and get off at “Margit hid”.
    2) If you’ve got an extra day, take the HEV (the suburban train) to Szentendre, a small artists’ town on the Danube north of Budapest chockfull of traditional Serbian architecture. Very touristy, but worth it! There’s an open-air museum as well, with traditional Hungarian dwellings; if you’re more into ancient history you can stop on the way at the ancient Roman fort of Aquincum.
    3) If you want to escape the busy city for just a few hours, you can take a cable car up to the Buda Hills (the “Zugligeti Libego”). It leaves from Zugligeti ut (take bus line 291 from Nyugati Station to get there) and takes you up to Janoshegy (“John’s Hill”). From there it is a short walk to the Erzsebet Kilato, an outlook tower in the same style as the Fisherman’s Bastion which provides you with 360 degree views of Budapest and the surrounding hills. (Tip: the steep rocky trail starting on your right soon after the road to the tower commences is more fun than following the road itself!) There are a number of hiking trails in the area as well.
    4) Keeping with the theme of Day 2 in your itinerary, the Synagogue on Dohany Street and the Raoul Wallenberg Memorial Park in its courtyard are well worth a visit. The memorial of Jews murdered under the Nazi regime during WW II takes the form of a weeping willow, with the names of the victims engraved on its leaves.
    Enjoy!

    1. Avatar for Julie Post
      Author
  6. Avatar for Maureen
    Maureen

    Your itinerary takes us from the bottom of the Funicular across the Chain Bridge – but that has been closed since June 2021. Have you got an updated itinerary that maybe does the city in 2 halves – we will be staying on the Pest side

    1. Avatar for Julie Post
      Author
      Julie

      Thanks for letting us know, I see that now, that the Chain Bridge is under renovation until 2023. To get across the Danube River, you could take a taxi. You could ride the tram from Clark Adam ter (at the base of the funicular) to Rudas Gyógyfürdő, walk across the Elisabeth Bridge, and then resume the itnerary, which will add a lot of walking. Or you could ride the ferry across the Danube from Bethany Ter to Kossuth Lajos ter. Cheers, Julie

      1. Avatar for Maureen
        1. Avatar for Julie Post
          Author
  7. Avatar for Alexandra
    Alexandra

    Hey Julie, thanks for such a great article! Unfortunately I cannot use it as I’d love to, since it looks like selecting text is disabled 😟 Hopefully you could fix that? The thing is that I usually copy-paste some parts to my Maps.me app and then I have the info I need on the go. I can’t afford the time to go in my app and type manually everything I’d like to read when I get to the location and while offline.

    1. Avatar for Julie Post
      Author
      Julie

      Unfortunately, there is no way to fix that and I am sorry. We have had issues with people plagiarizing our content and we did this to try to stop it. Cheers, Julie

      1. Avatar for Ryan
        Ryan

        Hi Julie,

        I have the same comment. All of the info is great, but there is no way to use it via copying the text or offering a ‘Print’ version. I’m not sure how you expect folks traveling overseas to use it? Because of this, I’ve decided to visit other sites for travel information so I can bring the guides with me to Europe for our Sept trip which is where I’ll need them.

        This is unfortunate because it makes your product much less useful.

        1. Avatar for Julie Post
          Author
          Julie

          We are aware of this and may be changing our policy. We had been away all summer and didn’t want to make a major change to our website while traveling. Thanks for letting me know. Cheers, Julie

  8. Avatar for Richie
    Richie

    Awesome Post Thank You So Much… Love the details especially the hourly itinerary thats helps a lot especially in a big city like Budapest. Love it…

  9. Avatar for Anand
    Anand

    The Budapest travel card is for people who travel a lot within the city. Besides, the places here are not that intriguing that you need to go and visit everything.i have been traveling a lot recently like to Salzburg, Rome, Paris, Prague. After seeing some of the great architectural buildings there, we visited only a few places in Budapest. So we just had to take 3 or 4 bus trips a day – 350HUF/adult (1.06 Euro). Hence we did not take the travel card and we visited the places at our own pace. So take the Budapest travel card only if you really need it. We visited during December. Christmas markets were nice. The food was expensive at some places, so choose the right places.

  10. Avatar for Hrishikesh Soman
    Hrishikesh Soman

    Loved your Blog….Super detailed description and mainly the route explained very well !!! Hoping to use your experience for my upcoming trip to Budapest…

    Regards,
    Hrishikesh
    Mumbai, India

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