Budapest is hands down one of our favorite cities in Europe. We always recommend it to our friends and families because there’s so much going on, it’s easy to get around, the food scene is fantastic and the nightlife is truly unique. Our advice is to spend one day in Buda and three days in Pest, so you can tick off the top highlights at a nice pace but without breaking the bank.
In this guide we walk you through the perfect 4 days in Budapest itinerary for a first visit, based on our experiences.
Our Experience
We spent 4 unforgettable days exploring Budapest in July 2018 during our 3 month backpacking trip through Europe. It was hot and busy, but we thought the city had a great vibe and it was still extremely affordable despite being peak season. We did all the top touristy things, ate too much delicious food and drank too many beers in the famous ruin bars. So a great trip overall!
What we love most is the perfect balance Budapest has between activities, size and cost. There’s plenty to do but it’s not overwhelming, it’s big but things are close together, and everything is reasonably priced. Mark’s been back since on a boozy boys trip which was a whole different experience but still so much fun. Read more about us.
Okay, let’s get right into the itinerary!
Day 1: Buda
Buda Castle
After breakfast, start by walking over the Danube along the iconic Széchenyi Chain Bridge, admiring its elegant design as you cross. At the far side, look for a footpath leading up to Buda Castle. A historic funicular also runs up to the castle every 10 minutes if you don’t fancy the walk. From the top, look back across the bridge you just crossed, along with much of the Danube and Pest.
Buda Castle was originally completed in 1265 but the eye catching Baroque style you’ll see today was built between 1749 and 1769. It has an intriguing history, which you can learn about at the Budapest History Museum. Or if you’re more of an art aficionado, a visit to the Hungarian National Gallery is a must. Alternatively, you could check out the National Library of Hungary inside the castle.
Castle grounds are open 24 hours a day, but the museums are open Tuesdays to Sundays 10:00am-6:00pm, closed on Mondays. From November through February the museums closes at the earlier time of 4:00pm. Art Gallery tickets are 5,400 HUF and History Museum tickets are 3,800 HUF.
Tour: If you’d rather see Buda Castle at night you can take a popular evening walking tour which covers vampires, tales and myths.
Matthias Church
Head north and keep the river to your right until you spot the stunning Matthias Church with its huge tower on one corner. It’s located in Holy Trinity square right in front of Fisherman’s Bastion at the center of the Castle District. The church is not named after a Saint, but after King Matthias who remodeled and expanded the building in Gothic style in the 15th century.
Both Franz Joseph I of Hungary and Charles IV of Hungary were crowned inside Matthias Church. The church was also once occupied by Ottoman Turks who turned it into a Mosque for 150 years. Its captivating history and changing styles have left the interior of the church with a fascinating design that sets it apart from many other churches.
Opening hours for Matthias Church are Mon-Fri 9:00am-5:00pm, Saturdays from 9:00am-12:00pm and Sundays from 1:00pm-5:00pm. Matthias Church tickets are 2,900 HUF
Fisherman’s Bastion
At the back of the church you’ll find excitable swarms of tourists flocking to Fisherman’s Bastion. It’s easy to see why this popular landmark is one of Budapest’s finest. Not only does it have a photogenic Walt Disney-esque facade, it also has one of the best elevated views over the city so this really is one of the best stops you’ll make on your Budapest itinerary.
The name Fisherman’s Bastion derives from the area being protected by the Fisherman’s Guild during the Middle Ages (here’s more information about its history). When you arrive, you’ll find a total of 7 turrets, each representing one of the seven tribes who founded Hungary.
The balconies and terraces are always open and free to visit. But it costs 1,200 HUF if you want to reach any of the upper towers (pay at vending machines). Even if you don’t pay to go up, Fisherman’s Bastion is a place you shouldn’t miss. Next time we’re in Budapest we’ll head up here for both sunrise and sunset photography.
Castle District
Okay, that’s the top attractions around Buda Castle covered. But we encourage you to stick around and explore further. Head northwest along cobbled streets flanked by colorful houses and vintage cars, and stop in at Walzer Cafe for a coffee or hot chocolate. It was probably our favorite cafe in Budapest.
Loop around to the west and climb 170 stairs to the top of the Church of Saint Mary Magdalene for outstanding views over the city. It’s open every day 10:00am-6:pm and costs 1,500 HUF. It was closed when we visited but we would have gone up.
Another popular tourist site near Buda Castle is the Labyrinth, a network of underground caves which is said to have housed Count Dracula. The dark maze is open every day from 10:00am-7:00pm and costs 3,000 HUF. We thought it was definitely a tourist trap and nothing to shout home about, but it was still fun enough.
Hospital In The Rock
In between the church tower and the Labyrinth is a fantastic museum that we highly recommend you visit called Hospital in the Rock. It’s an old WWII hospital turned Cold War nuclear bunker. Sounds intriguing, right? Well, it’s even better than it sounds.
There’s a 10k underground network of tunnels below Buda Castle and this museum gives you a taste for life under the surface in a hospital setting. It was completed in 1944 just in time for the siege of Budapest, which meant it got a lot of use almost immediately. After the war, the hospital became a prison and then a nuclear bunker designed to withstand any chemical or nuclear attack.
We loved our guided tour through the tunnels and halls. They’ve done a great job with the exhibits to show the circumstances during each phase of its life. No photos are allowed of the waxworks inside. It’s open every day 10:00am-7:00pm and the compulsory guided tour tickets costs 7,620 HUF.
Gellert Hill
Once you’re done with Buda Castle District, it’s time to make your way to Gellert Hill. Fair warning, walking up to the Citadella Fortress where you’ll find the Liberty Statue is all uphill. So you might want to ride share up to the top instead, it wouldn’t cost much.
It’s a great viewpoint but that’s all it is. If you’re not too bothered about seeing the view, your alternatives at this point include going back into Pest for dinner and drinks or going to Rudas Thermal Bath to relax before heading out for dinner later.
Ideally you’ll arrive to the Citadel vista point in good time before sunset so you can see the city glow under soft light and then stay to see it light up at night. We didn’t make it up to Gellert Hill because we spent so long in the Buda Castle area. But it’s open 24 hours a day and there’s no entry fee.
Note: The Citadella has been closed for a few years for renovations but it should reopen in future.
Day 2: North Pest
Hungarian Parliament Building
The enormous Gothic style Hungarian Parliament Building is Budapest’s most striking building by some distance. It sits on the banks of the Danube and it’s visible from all vantage points around the city, as well as being the main attraction on a river cruise. On rare occasions when the river is calm, you can see a pristine mirror-like reflection of the building. And it looks even better at night.
From Kossuth Lajos Square on the east side of the building (opposite side to the river), the building looks majestic and intricately detailed. It was designed in a Gothic style, loosely based on London’s Palace of Westminster, and was opened in 1902. It has 691 rooms, 12.5 miles (20km) of stairs and stands at 96m tall, which is the same height as St. Stephen’s Basilica.
We highly recommend taking a 45 minute guided walking tour through some of the most spectacular rooms and staircases inside the building when you visit Budapest. After breakfast, book a morning entry time to start off your second day (here’s ticket information).
Shoes On The Danube Memorial
After the Parliament tour, head to the river bank and walk 300m south. In late 1944 and early 1945 during the time of the Holocaust, several Hungarian Jews were lined up along the bank where you now stand. They were forced to take their shoes off and then were shot into the river, where the current carried them away.
The Shoes on the Danube Memorial is a moving tribute to remember those who lost their lives in Budapest during this tragic time. We thought the design of 60 old fashioned pairs of cast iron shoes of all sizes and styles was simple but eerily effective. Look for three plaques on a bench just behind the memorial reading the following in Hungarian, English and Hebrew:
“To the memory of the victim’s shot into the Danube by Arrow Cross militiamen 1944-1945. Erected 16 April 2005.”
Lunch At Mazi Greek Kitchen
Budapest is brimming with affordable culinary wonders so you should spend some time researching where to eat. We love Greek food, and we found a wonderful place called Mazi Green Kitchen just a few streets away from the memorial. Trust us, this is a place you shouldn’t miss if you like Greek food. It was one of our favorites from our entire Europe trip.
Mazi opens for lunch at 11:30am weekdays and midday on weekends, perfect timing after a slow morning. The food is to die for, the interior is chic, the ambience is relaxing and it’s superb value for money. Here are recent comments on Tripadvisor.
Margaret Island
After lunch, take a 20 minute walk or 10 minute ride share northwest to Margaret Bridge. Walk half way across and you’ll find the entrance to Margaret Island, a 1.5-mile long and 500m wide island in the middle of the Danube. Immediately after entering, we hired a quad go-kart with Go Mobility and spent a few hours slowly exploring the island.
There’s loads to see including a mini zoo, big open grassy areas, a musical well, a Japanese garden, an aquatic center, a famous water tower, a Franciscan monastery and so much more. It’s a nice and easy hour or two escaping from the city. This is also where the popular annual Sziget Music Festival takes place if you’ll be in town during August.
Flippermuzeum
Next, head back to northern Pest and visit the Flippermuzeum. How can you go wrong with unlimited use of over 100 pinball machines and classic games spanning the ages of arcade entertainment like Pacman, Mario, Terminator, Mortal Combat and Street Fighter. Come on, who isn’t sold?!
Tickets are pretty steep at 5,000 HUF but that covers you for as long as you want to stay, which makes it a great option for families with kids or big groups of friends. If you’re still not sure, take a look at the reviews on Google. It has a 4.9/5 with thousands of ratings. Make sure you try the Lord of the Rings and Rocky pinball machines.
It’s open Wed-Fri 4:00pm-midnight, Sat 1:00pm-midnight and Sun 11:00am-10:00pm. But it’s closed Mon-Tue.
Danube River Cruise
No first time Budapest itinerary would be complete without taking a cruise along the Danube River. You simply have to admire the magnificent architecture in both Buda and Pest from the water. It’s probably the most popular thing to do in the city.
You can take a budget daytime cruise, a high end private cruise, or a cruise with dinner and music. And they even have a good old booze cruise if you want to liven things up! We took a daytime cruise because it worked better for us at the time, but next time we’d definitely take an evening or night cruise.
One option is to walk 30 minutes (or 5 minutes ride share) from the Flippermuzeum to Legenda city cruises, which is located centrally in Pest. Or you could take one of the following top rated tours:
Day 3: South Pest
Central Market Hall
Do you like visiting markets when you travel to new cities? If the answer is yes, you should definitely make the effort to experience Budapest’s Central Market Hall. We enjoyed walking around three floors overflowing with fresh produce, dairy, meats, fish, Hungarian spices, souvenirs, clothes and more. It was well laid out, clean, spacious and great for people watching.
It’s also known as the great market hall, which we think it a more appropriate name because it’s certainly not central. It’s a 20-30 minute walk south from Pest, or you can take blue metro M3 from Deak Ferenc to Kalvin Ter and walk a few minutes southwest.
The market is open 6:00am-6:00pm weekdays (except Monday when it closes at 5:00pm), Saturdays 6:00am-4:00pm and Sundays 10:00am-4:00pm. We recommend visiting early in the morning when vendors are active and locals are shopping for the full experience.
St. Stephen’s Basilica
Hop back on the M3 metro to Deak Ferenc station (or walk if you want to get those steps in!) and continue 5 minutes north to St Stephen’s Basilica, which was named after Stephen, the first King of Hungary.
The Basilica is yet another beautifully designed building in Budapest. Standing 96m high, it equals the height of the Hungarian Parliament Building. No building can be higher than either of the two as they symbolize the balance between state and church. The Basilica has 2 bell towers, one of which weighs a whopping 9 tonnes.
We think the best view of the Basilica is from the west in Szent István Square. This is also where the Christmas markets will be if you’re visiting Budapest in December. Inside the church, you’ll find fine arts and sculptures. But we recommend going up to the dome’s observation deck for amazing city views. Tickets vary in price but it’s open daily from 9:00am-7:00pm.
Budapest Eye
Okay, we know a ferris wheel might sound a bit gimmicky, but the Budapest Eye is a great option if you have kids because it has some of the best views of the Basilica and the city. It has a maximum height of 65m, so the views are far reaching from the top.
It’s open Sun-Thu 11:00am-11:00pm and Fri-Sat 11:00am-midnight. Tickets are actually fairly reasonable at 4,300 HUF.
Dohany Street Synagogue
A short 10 minute walk southeast will lead you to the Dohany Street Synagogue. Built in the 1850’s in a Moorish style, it’s the second largest synagogue in the world (after New York City) and the largest in Europe.
Once Hungary returned to democracy in the 1990’s, renovation began on the building and the vast majority of the money was provided by American Jews Estee Lauder and Tony Curtis in 1996.
We think the Synagogue is well worth visiting to discover the lives of Hungarian Jews before and after WWII. It has various opening times throughout the year so be sure to check it’s open when you visit. The Hungarian Jewish Museum is also located in the same building.
Jewish Quarter
Budapest’s cosmopolitan Jewish Quarter is our favorite neighborhood in the city. It has style, character and cool vibes in abundance by day or by night. It’s the smallest neighborhood with the highest population density and it’s overflowing with ruin pubs, quirky restaurants and street art.
We could easily spend a full day just meandering around the narrow streets, passages and hidden courtyards drinking cheap beer and eating awesome street food. There’s a great mix of locals and expats, so you just have to turn up and be friendly to fit right in.
The place we recommend for street food is Karavan. It’s a small courtyard with fairy lights and food stalls built into old camper vans and shipping containers featuring a wide range of food to taste. Bors Gastrobar is a highly rated sandwich, soup and dessert cheap eats spot. Or if want high class, head to Konyvbar for a tasting menu with wine pairings to suit.
Szimpla Kert
Now it’s time to step your Budapest itinerary up a level. The Jewish Quarter is home to the city’s famous ruin bar nightlife scene. You’ll naturally stumble across a bunch of awesome indoor and outdoor bars in derelict buildings, but the one you should prioritize is called Szimpla Kert. It’s the original, most popular and best ruin bar in Budapest.
We went both during the day and at night. It was calm around lunch time, but it was bouncing at night. The ruin bars are free to enter and stay open late every night. In fact, Szimpla Kert is open until 4:00am every single night of the week.
If you’re visiting Budapest with your friends, you might want to consider going back to your accommodation after dinner for a quick snooze, shower and refresh before heading back out a bit later for a night on the pop. Szimpla Kert was frequented each and every night on Mark’s boys trip!
Tour: If you want to meet other people and have a lively night out, take this highly rated guided ruin bars tour.
Day 4: East Pest
Széchenyi Thermal Baths
What’s the perfect hangover cure after a few too many in the ruin bars? That’s right, spending the morning relaxing in Budapest’s most popular thermal spa Szechenyi Baths. You’ll find indoor pools with medicinal properties, plunge pools, outdoor thermal pools, saunas, steam rooms and even a beer spa if last night wasn’t enough.
It’s located in the city park, so you can either walk around 45 minutes or take the subway from Deak Ferenc to Szechenyi Furdo on the M1 yellow line. There are varying ticket prices depending on time of day and day of week, plus you need to take a towel an flip-flops otherwise you have to buy them on site. Entry is cheaper if you arrive before 9:00am.
We used the steam rooms and quickly tried out the indoor pools, before heading outside to the main attraction. It’s busy, touristy, not the cleanest place in the world and prices are inflated. But we still think it’s worth adding Europe’s largest thermal baths to your Budapest itinerary.
Heroes Square
Immediately after leaving the baths you could make a stop at Budapest zoo, the Museum of Fine Arts or romantic Vajdahunyad Castle just a few minutes walk past the metro station. Or if you’re hungry, head to Városliget Cafe on the far side of the lake for yet more excellent food.
When you’re ready to walk down Andrassy Utca, make a stop at Heroes Square, the largest square in Budapest. It was constructed in 1896 to mark the 1,000th anniversary of Hungary. The Millennium Monument stands in the middle of the square with Archangel Gabriel standing atop the central pillar.
House Of Terror Museum
Half way back to town along Andrassy Utca you’ll see a tall building with a strange looking metal rim around the top and the word TERROR stenciled out of it on 2 sides. This is the House of Terror Museum and it’s absolutely worth a few hours of your mid-afternoon time.
Towards the end of WWII, the Arrow Cross Party seized power over Budapest and made this building at number 60, Andrassy their headquarters. This was the very building that their terror reigned from. In just a few short months they murdered countless Jews and sent thousands to concentration camps for extermination.
It was here the orders came to shoot the Jews on the banks of the Danube. Following Budapest’s liberation at the end of WWII, this building then served as the State Security Authority. The cellars were extended so that anyone who rebelled could be imprisoned, tortured or executed right underneath the building itself.
The museum here was opened in 2002, and it tells a heartbreaking story of life in Hungary throughout Nazi and Communist rule. It’s open every day except Monday from 10:00am-6:00pm. Tickets are 4,000 HUF but they can only be bought in person when you arrive. There might be a line to get in, but it’s worth it.
Hungarian State Opera House
Budapest’s hottest shopping street is the tree-lined Andrassy Utca and you’ve already walked half of it from the baths to the museum. But between the museum and the opera house you’ll find trendy designer boutiques, high-end shops and elevated restaurants. Eventually, you’ll stumble across the Hungarian State Opera House near the end of Andrassy utca.
Budapest’s opera house isn’t the biggest, but it’s beautifully designed and is regarded as having some of the best acoustics of any opera house in the world. The Grand staircase is exquisite and the horseshoe shaped auditorium seats people across 3 beautifully designed floors. Clapping eyes on the ceiling fresco is worth visiting alone.
Check the schedule to see if there are any shows on when you visit, but don’t worry if not because you can always take a tour of the opera house instead. Daily 60-minute guided tours of the opera house are run at 1:30pm, 3:00pm and 4:30pm in English for 9,000 HUF. This includes 10-15 minutes listening to arias or sopranos rehearsing at the end of the tour.
4 Days In Budapest Itinerary Map
Click or touch the map below to activate. Zoom in and out, move around the map and you’ll see the attractions for each day. You can also click on the view larger map icon in the top right to expand the map, which is much easier to see.
Map key:
- Red – Day 1
- Blue – Day 2
- Purple – Day 3
- Yellow – Day 4
As you can see, we’ve clustered attractions into different days to create an efficient Budapest itinerary. You shouldn’t need to take too many metros or ride shares by following along with the routes each day.
Top Tips
Here are some important things to keep in mind for your trip to Budapest:
- Hungary’s currency is the Hungarian Forint (HUF)
- The exchange rate is roughly 364 HUF to US $1 and 476 HUF to £1.
- Budapest is a relatively safe city, we had no problems.
- Walk as much as you can, it’s the best way to see Budapest.
- Use this metro map to help with navigating around the city.
- Or take the Hop On Hop Off Bus to see the highlights more easily.
- Make the most of excellent food and lodging at affordable prices.
- Lake Balaton is a popular day trip option if you want to leave the city.
- Lots of attractions and restaurants are closed on Monday.
The Morgan Conclusion
What we like: It’s easy to get around, it’s an affordable place to visit, the attractions are diverse and the atmosphere is chilled. And it’s nowhere near as touristy as other major European capitals. We think 4 days is the perfect amount of time for a first visit to Budapest to see the city’s top highlights at a relaxed pace.
What we don’t like: Prices have definitely gone up since we visited, like a lot of places after covid. It’s still affordable but not like it once was. Otherwise we’re struggling to think of any negatives, it’s a superb place to visit.
Is Budapest worth visiting? Yes, Budapest is a fantastic city filled with fun things to do, excellent places to eat and a unique nightlife scene. It’s great for families, solo travelers, couples and groups of friends alike. We’re confident Budapest will surpass your expectations!
More From Budapest
Want more Hungary content? Head to our Hungary Travel Guides to discover more about Budapest and beyond.
We hope our 4 days in Budapest itinerary helps with planning your visit to Hungary!
Please let us know if you have any questions in the comments below.
Happy Travels,
Mark and Kristen
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Mark and Kristen Morgan are travel, hiking and photography experts. Over the last 6 years traveling full time, they have explored more than 40 countries and 30 US states.
Where Are Those Morgans has been featured in USA Today, Gestalten, Get Your Guide, CityPASS and Condé Nast Traveler along with various other publications. Read more about us.
Enjoyed the post guys.. keep them coming. Budapest was great.. cheap, safe and plenty to do over the 4 days.
Thanks NOB, we’re glad you enjoyed the post! Yep, 4 days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Budapest and it is SO cheap! Fantastic European city break destination.
Great post guys.. keep them coming. Budapest was great.. cheap, safe and plenty to do over the 4 days.