Top things to do in Budapest
Attractions, tours, and activities in Budapest
Recommended museums in Budapest
Where to find art and culture in Budapest
Budapest: the city's best neighborhoods
Find a great area to stay in Budapest
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01. Budavár
1 miles from downtown
Not so little Buda. This district is dominated by Budavári Palota, a mammoth medieval palace complex. Zip up Castle Hill on the old-time funicular, and stand atop the castle walls to capture sweeping vistas of the Danube River and Pest beyond it. In the high-class Vár area, hop from upscale bar to classy restaurant like you’re modern-day royalty.
Places to stay from $23 a night
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02. Rózsadomb
2.1 miles from downtown
Buda’s “Hill of Roses” is highly affluent. During the Turkish occupation, roses were planted all over these hills. Now it’s home to filmmakers, celebrities, and a new generation of Hungarian movers-and-shakers. Renowned for its open meadows, dense forests and sweeping views of the Danube, it’s also a prime spot for romantic evening walks.
Places to stay from $12 a night
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05. Belváros - Lipótváros
0.1 miles from downtown
Here’s the recipe for Lipótváros - take a genteel neighbourhood; add a litany of uniform neo-classical buildings, a splash of art deco and voilà! You’ve got the historic heart of Budapest. It’s the centre of the finance industry and government. St. Stephen’s Basilica and Freedom Square are all a stone’s throw from each other.
Places to stay from $8 a night
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06. Terézváros
0.6 miles from downtown
Learn the “Hungarian Dances”. The WestEnd City Centre is a mad shuffle to rival Brahms’ famous ditties - pram-wielding dads push through the crowds, friends converse loudly in the food hall and fashion fiends dart from shop-to-shop. It’s an upbeat introduction to an area famed for commerce, as well as the green grounds of City Park.
Places to stay from $6 a night
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07. Erzsébetváros
0.6 miles from downtown
An up-and-coming residential area. The Great Synagogue (Nagy Zsinagóga) attracts crowds by the droves. Yet youth culture is slowly colonising Erzsébetváros, as “ruin bars” – dining areas built between abandoned buildings – increase in popularity. Unless you’re in the mood for crowds, skip the exceedingly hip Szimpla restaurant and dine at low-key Ankert.
Places to stay from $5 a night
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08. Józsefváros
0.9 miles from downtown
Józsefváros is a canvas for the city’s artistic community. This petit neighbourhood of urban parks and charming squares is dotted with cultural institutes like the National Museum and the Academy of Drama and Film in Budapest. At nightfall, it’s the best place to cut a rug – the Art-Nouveau inspired nightclubs here rank among the best in town.
Places to stay from $11 a night
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09. Ferencváros
1.2 miles from downtown
Ferencváros’ Palace of Arts is worth a deep-dive. An amalgam of modern and classical design elements, it’s a venue where Hungarian culture is celebrated in play, opera and theatre. See the Palace’s famed pipe organ, or venture to the Great Market Hall for 1001 cuisines – it’s where you’ll see the area’s students and young profs on any given afternoon.
Places to stay from $8 a night
About Budapest
Including tips for the best time to visit Budapest
It’s easy to see why people fall in love with Budapest. From the eclectic architecture and revitalizing thermal baths to the endless bowls of goulash and all-night “ruin bar” parties, this city always has something to do.
The 1640-foot wide Danube River splits the city into two parts – Buda and Pest. Take a boat tour to get an up-close view of all the landmarks lining the riverbanks, or just cross one of the 8 bridges for a more panoramic view. The Chain Bridge will take you to the grounds of Buda Castle, a huge baroque-style complex dating back to the 13th century. Walk or take the short funicular ride to the top of Castle Hill and check out historic monuments like the Hungarian Parliament Building and St. Stephen’s Basilica, a huge domed church that shimmers when lit up at night.
After all that walking, taking a dip in one of Budapest’s thermal baths is the perfect way to relax and recharge. Choose between Széchenyi Baths and Géllert Spa – both feature indoor and outdoor temperature-controlled pools and massage services.
No trip to the capital of Hungary would be complete without experiencing its exciting nightlife and amazing food. You can find all the best bars and restaurants in District VII— the city’s old Jewish Quarter—where the nightlife fun doesn't stop till dawn.
Tonight
From $112 per night
This weekend
From $76 per night
Next weekend
From $119 per night
| Most popular time to visit | October-December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January-March |
| Local currency | € 1 = $1.07 |
| Language | Hungarian |
| Average weekend price | $100 per night |
| Average weekday price | $104 per night |
| Average stay | 2 nights |
Points of interest in Budapest
Stay near the top sightseeing spots in Budapest
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Aquincum
4.7 miles from downtown
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Chain Bridge
0.6 miles from downtown
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Gellért Thermal Baths
1 miles from downtown
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Citadella
0.9 miles from downtown
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Buda Castle
0.7 miles from downtown
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Széchenyi Thermal Bath
1.9 miles from downtown
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Dohany Street Synagogue
0.2 miles from downtown
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St. Stephen's Basilica
0.2 miles from downtown
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Budapest Sports Arena
2.3 miles from downtown
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Hungarian State Opera House
0.4 miles from downtown
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Budapest reviews
What other travelers say about Budapest
Quite a lot to see culturally and historically which could...
May 30, 2023
Quite a lot to see culturally and historically which could be achieved in 3 full days but we took 5 which enabled us to get to appreciate more of the city and understand its history better. It also meant, for instance, we could spend half a day wandering round Margaret Island which otherwise might have been omitted. The natives are friendly which always makes a difference! English is very widely spoken and understood so no problem there. Buying a Budapest Card is not a no-brainer - it depends whether it's free entrances and extras are worth it to you - but we went for the 72 Plus card which, at £85 each is not cheap, but we used it fully and especially appreciated the free river cruise and airport transfer (which does not have to be used within the 72 hour period). Hopping on and off buses and trams makes getting round the city - and across the Danube - really easy and pleasurable.
The city itself is very interesting and quite lovely .
May 30, 2023
The city itself is very interesting and quite lovely . However , I did not find the people at all friendly, compared to other cities I visited. It’s definitely worth going but I think the people make the city. Travellers also need to know that for various reason the facades of apartments look very old. The inside though can be surprisingly good as was mine.
Budapest is a excellent City to visit.
May 27, 2023
Budapest is a excellent City to visit. There is a lot to see, many interesting shops, lots of super places to eat and drink and the people are very friendly and always willing to help. They also speak very good english and sometimes german as well. The general atmosphere is very good and one does feel safe walking the streets, also at night. Another thing that I found out on this trip was that I could at my age, over 65, travel free on all public transport. (as EU citizen with ID) I have been 6 times to Budapest and have always enjoyed my visits and found something new to look at each time. I thouroughly reccomend it to anyone, young or old.
Great architecture, glorious past, great subway, However...
May 25, 2023
Great architecture, glorious past, great subway, However the main or old subway has too many stairs to climb. I can't understand how it is friendly to the disable when it does not have a lift. Quite confusing with the departure stations becuase most cities have one central station but Budapest has trains leaving from different stations. I spend a major part of my day familiarizing myself how to leave the next day. The hotel I stayed had no subway maps but thankfully I printed my own before arriving at Budapest. Hence, I did not have to carry baggage down to subway, up to street level, catch a train and change, etc. I moved from one subway line to the other.
If you go for five days, then it is possible to see the city...
May 24, 2023
If you go for five days, then it is possible to see the city in two days. Therefore, it is better to plan a sightseeing spot outside Budapest (for example Lake Balaton or a suburb of Budapest) in time. We did not use public transport, all major tourist destinations can be reached without using it. I definitely recommend the boat trip.
Beautiful buildings .
May 24, 2023
Beautiful buildings . Historic landmarks to visit. Interesting history. Very Walkable, good transport, friendly people, Hungarian Florints , a wide variety of eateries. Cheaper than some of its neighbouring countries!. Gluten free vegan eatery (GF A KONYA in West End mall!). Loved it. Should have spent more time here. A few days is not enough to sit and soak up the culture. All our accomodation hosts were good. It felt safe.
Popular places to stay in Budapest
Stay in some of the best accommodations Budapest has to offer
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Vista Suites 1-2 05. Belváros - Lipótváros, Budapest
From $289 per night
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Paskal-Lux Apartments 14. Zugló, Budapest
From $103 per night
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Emerald Downtown Suites 05. Belváros - Lipótváros, Budapest
From $181 per night
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Maison Bistro & Hotel 01. Budavár, Budapest
From $145 per night
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Hotel Vision 05. Belváros - Lipótváros, Budapest
From $170 per night
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Other accommodations in Budapest
Pick from a wide variety of places to stay in Budapest
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Apartments
From $10 per night
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Villas
From $74 per night
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Cabins
From $19 per night
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Cottages
From $29 per night
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Serviced Apartments
From $27 per night
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Vacation Homes
From $29 per night
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Guest houses
From $5 per night
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Hostels
From $6 per night
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B&Bs
From $15 per night
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Homestays
From $12 per night
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Boats
From $39 per night
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Self-catering Accommodations
From $7 per night
