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Budapest Travel Guide: Days and Budget

Schengen AreaHungaryCity guide

Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is split by the Danube into hilly Buda and flat Pest, and three days are enough for the main sights. We spent five nights there, from the Parliament and Buda Castle to the thermal baths and the cave under the city. This Budapest, Hungary travel guide covers what a day costs, getting in from the airport, where we ate and stayed, and the Christmas market dates. Every stop from our video is in our things to do in Budapest guide .

Budapest Quick Facts
Weather10°C
Local time09:16
VisaSchengen Area
Hungary visa guide 
LanguageHungarian; English is widely spoken in tourism
Hungarian phrase guide 
InterneteSIM guide 
CurrencyHungarian forint (HUF); €1 is about 369 HUF (ECB, 2 October 2026)
PlugsType C and F, 230 V
Country code+36
Best Time to Visit Budapest: Weather by Season
Apr-MayBest
12-23°C
Jun-AugGood
27-29°C
Sep-OctBest
11-23°C
Nov-MarGood
5-7°C

Budapest Airport to City Centre, Public Transport and Trains

By Air

You land at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD), about 16 km from the centre. The easiest and cheapest way in is the 100E express bus to Deák Ferenc tér, and you can pay by card on board. In the video we said €6; today’s ticket is 2,500 Ft, about €6.80 (official information, October 2026).

We landed very late at night, so we took a taxi, which came to about €25.

By Bus

Budapest public transport (metro, trams and buses, run by BKK) uses one fare system. A single ticket is 500 Ft, a 30-minute ticket 600 Ft, a 90-minute ticket 850 Ft, a 24-hour pass 2,750 Ft and a 72-hour pass 5,750 Ft (official information, October 2026).

Validate a paper single ticket in the machine by the door as soon as you board; an unvalidated ticket counts as invalid.

The centre is easy on foot; we used the M1 metro for Heroes’ Square and Széchenyi Baths, and the funicular up to the castle.

By Train

Budapest is easy to reach by train from the rest of Central Europe, with direct services from Vienna and Prague and Bratislava on the same line. If you are touring the region, fly into one city and take the train to the next.

Vienna to Budapest by train: about 214 km; the fastest train takes 2 hours 22 minutes, the average journey 2 hours 54 minutes (Omio, October 2026). Vienna to Budapest train times  Ad

Prague to Budapest: about 444 km; the fastest train takes 6 hours 22 minutes (Omio, October 2026). Prague to Budapest train and bus times  Ad

By Car

You do not need a car in Budapest; the centre works on foot, metro and tram. A car is useful for trips out of the city, such as the Danube Bend and Szentendre or Lake Balaton.

Top Sights in Budapest: Parliament, Fisherman's Bastion and Buda Castle

29 stops
Inside the Hungarian Parliament in Budapest: the chamber we saw on the guided tour
1

Hungarian Parliament Building

The Guided Tour and the Holy Crown

Historic siteDistrict VHistoric building
Price
Guided tour, ticketed

The symbol of the city. It was completed in 1902 after 20 years of work and has 691 rooms. It is 96 metres high, a nod to 896, the year the Magyars are said to have arrived, which is also why nothing in Budapest may be built taller. The architect died before it was finished.

  • Guided tour only
  • 691 rooms
  • Kossuth Lajos tér
More about this stop

The Hungarian Holy Crown is on display inside; the cross on top is bent, and that tilt has become a national symbol. You can only go in on a guided tour and the slots fill up, so check ahead. The best outside view is from the Buda bank and from the Chain Bridge in the evening.

When you come out, walk south along the river; the Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial is on the way.

Watch in the video · 24:30Hungarian Parliament Building tickets and tours Ad See District V hotels Ad District V area guide
Széchenyi Thermal Baths in Budapest from above: the yellow building and the outdoor pools
2

Széchenyi Baths

Prices, Hours and Why We Did Not Go In

NatureDistrict VIThermal bath
Price
13,200-14,800 Ft

Opened in 1913, one of the largest thermal baths in Europe. The yellow building has indoor and outdoor hot pools, and swimming outside in the steam on a cold day is the picture everyone knows.

  • Weekdays 13,200 Ft
  • Mon-Thu 7am-8pm
  • City Park
More about this stop

We did not go in: the big central outdoor pool was closed that day, only the side pools and the indoor pools were open, and I do not enjoy crowded hot water anyway. If you want somewhere calmer, look at Lukács.

A day ticket with a locker is 13,200 Ft Monday to Thursday and 14,800 Ft Friday to Sunday. Opening hours are 7am-8pm Monday to Thursday, 7am-10pm on Friday and 8am-8pm at weekends (official information, October 2026). Check which pools are open before you go, and bring a swimsuit, towel and flip-flops.

Watch in the video · 39:23Széchenyi Baths tickets and tours Ad See District VI hotels Ad District VI area guide
St. Stephen's Basilica in Budapest: the facade and the square in front
3

St. Stephen's Basilica and the Dome Terrace

Church / mosqueDistrict VBasilica and viewpoint
Price
Church and terrace ticketed

One of the biggest churches in Budapest. Building started in 1851 but the dome collapsed, so it was only finished in 1905. The dome is 96 metres high, the same as the Parliament, meant to show church and state as equals. Inside, the mummified right hand of St. Stephen, Hungary's first king, is kept in a reliquary.

  • Dome 96 m
  • Terrace daily 9am-7pm
  • Lift to the top
More about this stop

We took the lift up to the dome terrace and walked all the way round: the Parliament, Fisherman's Bastion, Gellért Hill and the Opera all in one circle. The church is open 9am-6pm Monday to Saturday and 1pm-6pm on Sunday; the panorama terrace is open 9am-7pm every day (official information, October 2026).

From mid-November to early January a Christmas market fills the square in front.

Watch in the video · 4:07See District V hotels Ad District V area guide
Fisherman's Bastion in Budapest: the terraces with the Danube behind
4

Fisherman's Bastion

The View, and Which Part Is Free

ViewpointDistrict IViewpoint
Price
Lower terraces free, upper towers ticketed

The bastion takes its name from the fish market that stood here in the Middle Ages. Its seven towers stand for the seven Magyar tribes, and together with the Castle District it is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The equestrian statue next to it is King Stephen, who brought Christianity to Hungary.

  • Lower terraces free
  • Upper towers ticketed
  • Castle District
More about this stop

You pay to go up the upper towers, but the view from the lower terraces is almost the same and it is free; that is where we stood. The terrace café was closed the day we went because it was cold. In the video I said it was built in 895, which is wrong: the bastion was built at the end of the 19th century.

We walked across the Chain Bridge from Pest and took the funicular up; Matthias Church is right next door.

Watch in the video · 18:05See District I hotels Ad District I area guide
29stopsThings to Do in Budapest: 29 Places We Visited, Tickets and HoursSee all 29 places 

Plan Your Budapest Itinerary

All 29 stops from our video, with tickets and opening hours, are in our things to do in Budapest guide .

We built this itinerary in the order we travelled it. We move fast, so adjust it to your own pace: split a day in two or drop a few stops.

1 How many days are you staying?
2 Which meals?

Day 1 Central Pest, the Parliament and an evening river cruise

Nearest station M1, M2, M3 Deák Ferenc tér

  1. St. Stephen's Basilica and the dome terrace
  2. Párisi Udvar
  3. Váci Street
  4. Vörösmarty Square
  5. Hungarian Parliament Building
  6. Shoes on the Danube Bank
  7. Danube river cruise (Vigadó pier)

Places to eat near these stops

Day 2 Chain Bridge, funicular, Buda Castle, Fisherman's Bastion, Matthias Church and Gül Baba

Nearest station Clark Ádám tér (funicular lower station)

  1. Chain Bridge
  2. Budavári Sikló funicular
  3. Buda Castle
  4. Fisherman's Bastion
  5. Matthias Church
  6. Tomb of Gül Baba

Day 3 Andrássy Avenue, the M1, Heroes' Square, City Park, Széchenyi and the House of Music; the Opera in the evening (museums closed on Monday)

Nearest station M1 Opera

  1. Andrássy Avenue
  2. The M1 metro
  3. Heroes' Square
  4. Vajdahunyad Castle and City Park
  5. House of Music Hungary
  6. Széchenyi Thermal Baths
  7. Hungarian State Opera House (evening performance)

Places to eat near these stops

Day 4 Margaret Island, Lukács Baths and Pálvölgyi Cave; the Jewish Quarter in the evening

Nearest station Trams 4 and 6, Margit híd

  1. Margaret Island
  2. Lukács Thermal Baths
  3. Pálvölgyi Cave
  4. Dohány Street Synagogue and the Jewish Quarter
  5. Gozsdu Udvar

Budapest Travel Map

Every stop on this page is on one map. Each section has its own layer, so you can switch them on and off.

Save the map to your Google account and use it offline while you explore.Open the map full screen 

What to Eat in Budapest: Goulash, Lángos and Chimney Cake

12 food stops

The best-known Hungarian dishes are goulash (gulyás), the paprika beef soup-stew; lángos, deep-fried dough with sour cream and cheese; chimney cake (kürtőskalács), baked turning over the coals; and chicken paprikash.

We ate lángos in two places, chimney cake in three flavours, goulash twice and three breakfasts. We did not try halászlé (fisherman’s soup) or stuffed cabbage this time. Every place we ate is in our what to eat in Budapest guide .

New York Café in Budapest: sitting at a table in the ornate gilded hall
1

New York Café

Called the Most Beautiful Café in the World

CafésDistrict VII
What to order
goulash soup, cakes
Address
Erzsébet körút 9-11, District VII

Its 19th-century gilded interior is why it gets called the most beautiful café in the world; it was built as the ground floor of an insurance company's palace. The writer Ferenc Molnár is said to have thrown the key into the Danube so it could never close, and a tiny bronze statue of someone fishing that key out sits in the side street.

  • Booking: recommended at busy times
More about this place

We ordered the goulash soup and the house chicken dish, then cakes. Everything was very good, and the waiter who looked after us was lovely. It is a genuine recommendation from us: the room and the food were both worth it.

Our notes on the menu, booking and the queue are in our full guide: New York Café Budapest .

Watch in the video · 45:43See District VII hotels Ad District VII area guide
Cinnamon chimney cake (kürtőskalács) in hand at Molnár's in Budapest
2

Molnár's

Lángos and Chimney Cake (Kürtőskalács)

Street foodDistrict V
What to order
lángos, cinnamon chimney cake
Address
Váci Street

We liked the lángos here more than our first one. Next to it, chimney cake (kürtőskalács) turns over the coals. We had not found a good one at the Prague Christmas markets, so in its homeland we tried almond first, then came back one evening for pistachio and cinnamon.

More about this place

Because we found the best one here, we did not try anywhere else. For us cinnamon wins; there are pistachio and chocolate versions too.

Watch in the video · 9:35See District V hotels Ad District V area guide
A plate of goulash at Rosenstein in Budapest
3

Rosenstein

Goulash and a Hungarian Starter Platter

RestaurantsDistrict VII
What to order
goulash, house salamis, beef tartare
Address
near Keleti station

We came here to try proper Hungarian cooking. The starter platter had the house spicy salamis, beef tartare, duck liver, crispy fried duck skin and an egg dish, with tomato, cucumber and onion. The beef tartare was the highlight.

More about this place

We also tried pálinka, the local fruit brandy: not bad, but very strong, like a plum spirit. Then the goulash arrived, well spiced, with meat that fell apart and potato and carrot in the broth. If you want traditional Hungarian food in one sitting, this is a good address.

Watch in the video · 41:12See District VII hotels Ad District VII area guide
Burrata and salad at Trattoria Pomo D'Oro in Budapest
4

Trattoria Pomo D'Oro

The Italian Place We Went Back To

RestaurantsDistrict V
What to order
burrata, pizza, penne all'arrabbiata
Address
Arany János utca, District V

We had been before and came back on this trip because it is genuinely good. We ordered burrata, pizza and penne all'arrabbiata; the olive oils on the table were excellent and the arrabbiata was not as fiery as we feared.

  • Slow service
More about this place

The staff are attentive but slow: our mains took an hour. Our dish-by-dish notes are in Trattoria Pomo D'Oro Budapest .

Watch in the video · 12:59See District V hotels Ad District V area guide
12placesWhat to Eat in Budapest: Lángos, Goulash, Chimney Cake and Where We AteSee all 12 food stops 

Where to Stay in Budapest: Pest or Buda?

Most visitors should stay on the Pest side: District V around the Basilica and Váci Street, District VII with the Jewish Quarter, or District VI along Andrássy Avenue. Buda has the views but the streets are steep. We spent five nights in an apartment on Király utca in District VII; the location and the room were great, the building's entrance less so.

5areasCompare every Budapest areaArea by area, five-star picks, the apartment we stayed in and Christmas market basesFind your area 

Choose

Which Budapest area suits you

five areas · decide in 30 seconds

First visit: District V. Value and the Opera: District VI. Food and cafés: District VII. Longer, quieter stay: District XIII. Views: the Castle District. Area by area detail, the apartment we stayed in and the five-star hotels are in our where to stay in Budapest guide . See all Budapest hotels  Ad

1

District V (Belváros-Lipótváros)

the Basilica, Váci Street and the Parliament

Walk everywhereFirst-timers

Best for: a first visit of two or three nights. The Parliament, the Basilica, Váci Street and the Danube bank are all walkable, and the M1, M2 and M3 meet at Deák Ferenc tér.

Nearby: the Parliament , St. Stephen's Basilica , Váci Street , the Chain Bridge ; to eat, Molnár's , Pomo D'Oro  and Gerbeaud .

Keep in mind: the most expensive area in the city, and the restaurants on Váci Street are pricey too.

See District V hotels Ad
3

District VII (Erzsébetváros)

the Jewish Quarter, Gozsdu and Király utca

Where we stayedCafés and food

Best for: eating out in the evening and staying close to the breakfast places and street food.

Where we stayed: five nights at Kiraly 31 Boutique Apartments on Király utca. The location and our room were great; the building itself is a bit run-down and the corridor can feel spooky at night. Twentysix and Stika were steps away.

Nearby: Dohány Street Synagogue , Gozsdu Udvar ; to eat, New York Café , Karaván  and Stika .

Keep in mind: the streets are busy in the evening; if you sleep lightly, ask for a room facing the courtyard.

Kiraly 31 Boutique Apartments prices Ad See District VII hotels Ad
4

District XIII (Újlipótváros)

across from Margaret Island

Quiet neighbourhoodApartments with kitchens

Best for: longer stays, a quiet neighbourhood and an apartment with a kitchen, just north of the Parliament.

Nearby: Margaret Island ; the centre is a short ride on the M3 or trams 4 and 6.

Keep in mind: you take the tram or metro to most sights rather than walking.

See District XIII hotels Ad
5

District I (Castle District, Budavár)

on the hill, by the castle and Fisherman's Bastion

ViewsQuiet evenings

Best for: the views, and seeing Fisherman's Bastion in the morning before the crowds arrive.

Nearby: Buda Castle , Fisherman's Bastion , Matthias Church .

Keep in mind: steep streets and cobblestones; for dinner you usually cross the bridge back to Pest.

See Castle District hotels Ad
★

Five-star hotels in Budapest

we did not stay; picked by location and Booking scores

Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace: District V, right opposite the Chain Bridge, in an Art Nouveau palace.

Aria Hotel Budapest: District V, next to the Basilica, a music-themed hotel.

The full list, and which suits whom, is in the five-star hotels section .

Gresham Palace prices Ad Aria Hotel prices Ad
Plan your trip to Budapest
  1. FlightsAdFind cheap flights
  2. HotelsAdFind a good-value hotel in Budapest
  3. Tours & ticketsAdBook tours and tickets ahead

How Many Days in Budapest?

We stayed five nights. Three days are enough for the centre: one day in Pest, one in Buda, and one for Andrássy Avenue, City Park and a bath. Allow four or five days for stops like Margaret Island, Pálvölgyi Cave and Lukács Baths.

Build a day-by-day plan with the route tool 

Is Budapest Expensive? Daily Budget in Forint and Euros

On a Budget
12,000-16,000 HUF (€33-43)

A 24-hour transport pass, the free stops (the Chain Bridge, the lower terraces of Fisherman's Bastion, Gellért Hill, Margaret Island), lángos and chimney cake on the street, and lunch upstairs at the Great Market Hall.

Mid-Range
25,000-32,000 HUF (€68-87)

Half a day at Lukács Baths, breakfast at a café and goulash at a restaurant in the evening. A classic Budapest day lands in this band.

Luxury
40,000-50,000 HUF (€108-135)

A day at Széchenyi Baths, the River Ride or an evening river cruise, and a meal at New York Café. Baths and tours push the price up most.

Per person, for one day. Food is included; accommodation and flights are not.

Transport and ticket prices are from the official fares; the food band is an estimate from our own bills. Euro amounts are rounded at €1 = 369.18 HUF (European Central Bank, 2 October 2026).

Budapest is good value compared with Western European capitals; the biggest costs are the baths and tours. Figures are from official fares and our own bills.

Public transport: a single ticket is 500 Ft and a 24-hour pass 2,750 Ft (official information, October 2026). The airport bus is in the getting there section.

Tickets and tours: prices are on each place card. A weekday at Széchenyi plus the full River Ride tour comes to 24,700 Ft, about €67. Budapest tours and tickets with current prices  Ad

Food: after Scandinavia the food felt good value to us. Food and souvenirs on Váci Street are pricier; eat one street back.

Free: the Chain Bridge, the courtyards of Buda Castle, the lower terraces of Fisherman’s Bastion, Gellért Hill, the Shoes on the Danube Bank, Margaret Island, Váci Street, Andrássy Avenue, Heroes’ Square and City Park.

Budapest Travel Tips: Mondays, Tickets and the Cold

Tips

Budapest travel tips

six things

Monday closures, tickets and the cold are what change your plan most.

1

Most museums close on Monday

plan around it

We could not go into Vajdahunyad

Most museums in Budapest are closed on Mondays. We went to City Park on a Monday and could not go inside Vajdahunyad Castle. Keep Monday for bridges, hills, the island and the baths.

Watch the video 39:00
2

Buy souvenirs at the market, not on Váci Street

a small handmade figurine was €17.50

Great Market Hall upstairs

In the big souvenir shop on Váci Street they asked €17.50 for a small handmade figurine. Upstairs at the Great Market Hall prices were much better.

Watch the video 8:17
3

Validate paper tickets

an unvalidated ticket is invalid

Machine by the door

Validate a paper single ticket in the machine by the door as soon as you board. Ticket prices are in the budget section.

4

Dress for the cold and pack for the baths

January averages -1 to 5 °C

Swimsuit, towel, flip-flops

It was cold when we went. In January the average low is -1.2 °C and the high 4.7 °C (NOAA NCEI, 1991-2020); bring a warm coat, hat and gloves. For the baths take a swimsuit, towel and flip-flops; some outdoor pools can be closed in winter.

Watch the video 39:23
5

Visas

Hungary is in the Schengen Area

Schengen

Hungary is in the Schengen Area, so whether you need a visa depends on your passport. Vienna, Bratislava and Prague are in Schengen too, so there is no border control on the train, but keep your passport with you.

6

Hungary does not use the euro

card payment is widespread

Forint (HUF)

The currency is the forint. We paid by card almost everywhere, even on the 100E bus.

Watch the video 1:41

Festivals and Events in Budapest

Xmas

Budapest Christmas markets

Vörösmarty Square and St. Stephen’s Basilica

Free entryBasilica: 13 November 2026 – 1 January 2027

The two best-known markets are on Vörösmarty Square, at the start of Váci Street, and in front of St. Stephen’s Basilica, within walking distance of each other. The Advent market at the Basilica opens on 13 November 2026 and closes on 1 January 2027 (official page , October 2026).

The 2026 dates for Vörösmarty Square had not been announced when we checked in October 2026; dates can change, so confirm on the official pages before you go. We did not visit at Christmas; when we were on Vörösmarty Square there were a few small market stalls selling local food and souvenirs.

Budapest Card, Forint and Train Times: Your Questions

How many days do you need in Budapest?

Three days cover the main sights: central Pest and the Parliament, the Castle District, and Andrássy Avenue with Heroes' Square and the baths. We stayed five nights and added Margaret Island, Gellért Hill, Pálvölgyi Cave and the River Ride.

Is Budapest expensive?

Compared with Western Europe it is good value. Without the hotel, a budget day is about 12,000-16,000 HUF (€33-43) per person, a classic day 25,000-32,000 HUF (€68-87), and a day with the baths and a river tour 40,000-50,000 HUF (€108-135).

How do I get from Budapest Airport to the city centre?

The 100E express bus runs to Deák Ferenc tér; a ticket is 2,500 Ft and you can pay by card on board (official information, October 2026). We landed late at night and took a taxi for about €25.

Is the Budapest Card worth it?

Since 1 May 2026 the 24-hour card is 17,990 Ft, 48 hours 23,990 Ft and 72 hours 29,990 Ft (official information, October 2026). What it covers changes from time to time, so check before you buy; it is worth doing the maths if you plan several museums and a bath in two days.

How far is Budapest from Vienna and Prague?

Vienna is about 214 km, 2 hours 22 minutes on the fastest train; Prague is about 444 km, 6 hours 22 minutes on the fastest train (Omio, October 2026).

Does Budapest use the euro?

No. Hungary uses the forint (HUF); €1 is about 369 HUF (ECB, 2 October 2026). Card payment is accepted almost everywhere.

More from Hungary
Hungary travel guide badge: Budapest Parliament, the Chain Bridge, Fisherman's Bastion and the Hungarian flag
Budapest
Where to stay Accommodation guideThings to do What to Eat in Budapest Where to eatTrattoria Pomo D’Oro Budapest Restaurant or caféNew York Café Budapest Restaurant or café
Across Hungary
Hungary travel guide Country guideHungary Visa Visa guideHungarian Phrases for Travel Language guideWhat Is an eSIM? Mobile data
Budapest Travel Vlog: Best Moments on YouTube
1:34From the airport to the city · the 100E bus and a taxi4:07St. Stephen's Basilica · a 360-degree view from the dome6:52Lángos · our first stop for Hungarian street food9:35Chimney cake · kürtőskalács at Molnár's14:29Chain Bridge and the funicular · from Pest to Buda18:05Fisherman's Bastion · the free view21:47Tomb of Gül Baba · an Ottoman corner of Buda24:30Hungarian Parliament · 691 rooms, 96 metres36:03The M1 metro · continental Europe's oldest39:23Széchenyi Baths · why we did not go in41:12Rosenstein · goulash and a Hungarian starter platter43:30Gellért Hill · the Citadella and the Liberty Statue45:03Pálvölgyi Cave · the Budapest underneath Budapest45:43New York Café · the key thrown into the Danube50:42River Ride · the bus that drives into the Danube Watch the full Budapest vlog
How We Made This Guide

Prices were checked on site or with official sources. Prices and opening hours can change, so confirm with official sources before you go.

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