All citiesBudapest Things to do and walking itinerary
Hungary Budapest travel guide
31 things to do in Budapest, where to stay, airport transfers, 7 MICHELIN-starred restaurants. Pick places on the map and get a day-by-day walking route from your hotel with steps, kilometres and minutes.
Top things to do in Budapest
- Váci Street — Pedestrian street from Vörösmarty Square to the Great Market Hall, the spine of a walk through central Pest. (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Buda Castle — castle and palace complex of the Hungarian kings in Budapest (visit ≈ 75 min)
- Széchenyi Chain Bridge — the oldest bridge in Budapest (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Heroes' Square — major square in district 14 of Budapest, Hungary (visit ≈ 15 min)
- St. Stephen's Basilica — Roman Catholic basilica in Budapest, Hungary (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Hungarian State Opera House — Neo-Renaissance opera house in Budapest (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Matthias Church — Roman Catholic church in Budapest, Hungary (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest — art museum in Budapest, Hungary (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Dohány Street Synagogue — Synagogue in Budapest, Hungary (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Liberty Bridge — bridge over the Danube in Budapest (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Hungarian National Museum — national museum for the history, art and archaeology of Hungary (visit ≈ 120 min)
- House of Terror Museum — Museum on the fascist and communist regimes in Hungary (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Sándor Palace — building in Budapest and official residence of the President of Hungary (visit ≈ 90 min)
- Elisabeth Bridge — bridge over Danube in Budapest (visit ≈ 15 min)
- City Park — public park in Budapest, Hungary (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Margaret Bridge — bridge in Budapest (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Vajdahunyad Castle — castle (visit ≈ 75 min)
- National Theatre — drama theatre in Budapest, Hungary (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Hall of Arts — art museum in Budapest, Hungary (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Shoes on the Danube Bank — Memorial in Budapest, Hungary (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Vörösmarty tér — square in Budapest, Hungary (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden — zoo in Hungary (visit ≈ 150 min)
- Citadella — Citadel in Budapest, Hungary (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Gresham Palace — house in Hungary (visit ≈ 90 min)
- Hungarian Natural History Museum — natural history museum in Budapest, Hungary (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Gellért Hill Cave — church (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Müpa Budapest — art museum and concert hall in Budapest, Hungary (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Deák Ferenc tér — square in Budapest, Hungary (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Museum of Ethnography — national ethnographic museum in Budapest, Hungary (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Kossuth Square — square in Budapest District V (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Szabadság tér — public place in Budapest (visit ≈ 15 min)
2-day Budapest walking itinerary
Starting point: Belváros (District V). The top 8 places at a normal pace (up to ~10 km of walking a day), in this order. Change places or your hotel on the map and the route is recalculated; distances are estimates with a street allowance.
- Day 1 (≈ 6.2 km · 8,410 steps · 1 h 24 min on the way): Váci Street → Buda Castle → Matthias Church → Széchenyi Chain Bridge → St. Stephen's Basilica → Hungarian State Opera House
- Day 2 (≈ 7.8 km · 10,500 steps · 1 h 44 min on the way): Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest → Heroes' Square
Hidden gems and overlooked spots in Budapest
- Hungarian Parliament Building — Grand neo-Gothic parliament on the Danube; guided tours include the Holy Crown. (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Great Market Hall — Historic covered market under a Zsolnay-tiled roof; stalls of paprika, salami and lángos. (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Hospital in the Rock — Secret wartime and Cold War hospital and bunker in the caves beneath Castle Hill. (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Széchenyi Thermal Bath — Huge spa in City Park with yellow neo-Baroque outdoor pools that steam even in winter. (visit ≈ 150 min)
- Gellért Baths — Historic Art Nouveau thermal baths with mosaics and a columned indoor pool. (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Rudas Baths — Ottoman-era bath with a domed octagonal pool and a rooftop hot tub over the Danube. (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Tomb of Gül Baba — Octagonal tomb of a 16th-century Ottoman dervish, surrounded by rose gardens. (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Andrássy Avenue — UNESCO-listed boulevard of mansions running from the Opera to Heroes' Square. (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Buda Castle Funicular — Short funicular running since 1870 from Clark Ádám Square up to Castle Hill, with Danube views on the way. (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Pinball Museum — Basement full of vintage pinball and arcade machines; the entry ticket lets you play them all freely. (visit ≈ 90 min)
- Liszt Academy — Art Nouveau concert building opened in 1907; see its gilded main hall at a concert or on a guided tour. (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Buda Castle Labyrinth — Dimly lit underground passages of natural caves and cellars beneath Castle Hill. (visit ≈ 45 min)
- House of Houdini — Small museum on the life of the famous Budapest-born escape artist, including a short magic show. (visit ≈ 40 min)
- Úri Street — Longest street of the Castle District: pastel baroque houses, courtyard gates and a walk away from the crowds. (visit ≈ 25 min)
- Gozsdu Courtyard — Passage of seven linked courtyards in the Jewish Quarter, with a small crafts market at weekends. (visit ≈ 20 min)
Where to stay in Budapest
- Belváros (District V): Danube bank and Váci Street; next to the Deák tér hub.
- Jewish Quarter (District VII): Ruin bars and restaurants; the heart of nightlife.
- Lipótváros / Parliament: Elegant and calm, near Parliament and the Basilica.
- Castle District (Buda): Historic and quiet on the hill; great views, calm evenings.
- Józsefváros: Budget hotels and local cafés; close to metro lines.
- Újlipótváros: Local, leafy area near Margaret Island.
Getting from the airport to Budapest
- Budapest Ferenc Liszt (BUD): 100E express bus, non-stop ≈ 40 min
Getting around
Metro, trams and buses run often; tram 2 along the Danube is scenic. Get a 24 or 72-hour pass for a few days.
Classic places to eat
- Gerbeaud: Patisserie since 1858; Gerbeaud slice and Dobos cake.
- New York Café: One of the world’s grandest cafés; expect a queue.
- Ruszwurm: Tiny Castle District pastry shop since 1827; try the krémes.
- Centrál Kávéház: A writers’ coffee house since 1887.
- Szimpla Kert: The first and most famous ruin bar; worth a daytime look too.
- Gundel: Classic restaurant since 1894, famous for Gundel pancakes.
- Frici Papa: Cheap home cooking; goulash and chicken paprikash.
- Első Pesti Rétesház: Hand-stretched strudel (rétes); sour cherry and curd cheese.
MICHELIN-starred restaurants
Last known stars; check the MICHELIN Guide before you go.
- Stand — 2 MICHELIN stars, Modern Hungarian
- Babel — 1 MICHELIN star, Creative
- Borkonyha Winekitchen — 1 MICHELIN star, Hungarian
- Costes — 1 MICHELIN star, Creative
- Salt — 1 MICHELIN star, Hungarian
- Essência — 1 MICHELIN star, Hungarian, Portuguese
- Arany Kaviár — 1 MICHELIN star, Russian, caviar
Romantic views
- Fisherman's Bastion (Early morning): The Danube and Parliament appear between fairy-tale turrets.
- Gellért Hill (Sunset): From the top you see both banks of the Danube and its bridges.
- Chain Bridge (Evening): The bridge, lit at night, links Buda and Pest.
- Margaret Island (Afternoon): A park mid-Danube with a rose garden and a musical fountain.
- Danube Promenade (Evening): A walk on the Pest side facing the lit-up castle.
Football stadiums in Budapest
- Groupama Arena: Home of Ferencvárosi TC
- Hidegkuti Nándor Stadion: Home of MTK Budapest FC
- Ferenc Szusza Stadium: Home of Újpest FC
- Illovszky Rudolf Stadion: Home of Vasas FC
Good to know before visiting Budapest
- Fine: In Budapest validate paper tickets; each transfer needs a new one and inspectors fine.
- Fine: Drinking in public places is generally banned in Budapest.
- Fine: Zero tolerance for drugs, including small amounts.
- Fine: Zero tolerance for drink-driving; motorways need an e-vignette.
- Fine: Smoking is banned indoors and near entrances and public transport stops.
- Warning: The currency is the forint; paying in euros gives poor rates — check bills for service charges.
- Emergency: 112 (police 107, ambulance 104, fire 105)
- Plugs: C/F, 230V
- Tap water: Tap water is safe to drink.
- Tipping: Tip 10–15%, but first check whether a service charge (szervizdíj) is already on the bill.
Sources: UK FCDO — Foreign travel advice: Hungary, Wikivoyage — Hungary, T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı — Türk vatandaşlarının tabi olduğu vize uygulamaları · For information only; rules change, check official sources before you go. Last checked: 2026-10
Budapest travel FAQ
- How many days do you need in Budapest?
- The top 8 places in the centre take about 2 days at a normal pace on a walking route from your hotel. Allow 4 days for the top 20 places within walking distance.
- What are the top things to do in Budapest?
- Highlights: Váci Street, Buda Castle, Széchenyi Chain Bridge, Heroes' Square and St. Stephen's Basilica. The map has 31 things to do in total.
- Where to stay in Budapest?
- Belváros (District V): Danube bank and Váci Street; next to the Deák tér hub. Other options: Jewish Quarter (District VII), Lipótváros / Parliament, Castle District (Buda), Józsefváros and Újlipótváros.
- How do you get from the airport to Budapest city centre?
- Budapest Ferenc Liszt (BUD): 100E express bus, non-stop ≈ 40 min
- How do you get around Budapest?
- Metro, trams and buses run often; tram 2 along the Danube is scenic. Get a 24 or 72-hour pass for a few days.
- Which MICHELIN-starred restaurants are in Budapest?
- According to the last known data there are 7 starred restaurants: Stand (2 stars), Babel (1 star), Borkonyha Winekitchen (1 star), Costes (1 star), Salt (1 star) and 2 more. Check the MICHELIN Guide before you go.
- What is the emergency number in Budapest?
- Emergency: 112 (police 107, ambulance 104, fire 105).
- Do you tip in Budapest?
- Tip 10–15%, but first check whether a service charge (szervizdíj) is already on the bill.
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