The 12 most beautiful places you must see in Budapest and the activities to do!

15 years. 15 years since I’d last been back to Budapest. I was already completely under its spell back then, but I wasn’t the same kind of traveller — I took less time. This time, boom! Nearly 4 full days on site to really enjoy the city, to take the time to discover its little corners (and the big touristy ones too, of course).

And honestly, the charm still works. The city has changed quite a bit, but it’s still gorgeous. Maybe even more so, because so many things have been renovated, iconic buildings cleaned up, neighbourhoods redone. It’s a real pleasure to wander around, and in complete safety on top of that. And people speak more English than before, which makes things easier (because let’s be honest, Hungarian is a slightly complicated language!).

In this article, I want to share my favourites with you, the places you absolutely must see. I’ve tried not to pile it on, to stay objective, to include something for every taste. These are what I consider the most beautiful spots in the city, but there are others, some of which I list at the end of the article and which also deserve to be seen.

Anyway, enough chit-chat, let’s go!

Visiting the Hungarian Parliament in Budapest

Impossible not to start with it. It’s the emblem of the city, magnificent, one of the most beautiful buildings in the world (especially since it’s been renovated and looks brand new!).

The Hungarian Parliament in Budapest is an architectural marvel. It was built between 1885 and 1902, and it’s the largest Gothic building in the world, no less! It was designed by Hungarian architect Imre Steindl, who drew inspiration from Westminster in London and the Bundestag in Berlin. Well, the resemblance to London is clear, but I struggle a bit to see the Bundestag. But if the architect says so 😀

There are several ways to admire it. The best is to stand opposite, on the other bank of the Danube, especially at sunset when the light hits its superb façade at the end of the day. But you also have to walk around it and get as close as possible to admire its details — it’s really incredibly well crafted!

Finally, I can’t recommend enough a guided tour, because the interiors are also very beautiful and the history is fascinating. Especially the crown jewels and the dome hall, which is magical (and can’t be photographed).

Take a guided tour of Budapest and the Parliament!

Watching the sunset over Buda Hill

It’s super easy to say “you have to visit Buda Hill!”, because it’s obvious. There are several things to see up there, you should spend several hours, and above all be there for sunset in my opinion.

Buda Hill is made up of a first part with the Buda Castle, which people call the Royal Palace of Budapest. Super elegant, it houses a large museum (the Hungarian National Gallery, which I haven’t visited yet) but above all, on top of its magnificent architecture, it offers a stunning view over the city. You can go up via the little funicular (not cheap, but worth it!).

Next to Buda Castle, you’ll find one of the most surprising (and most beautiful) spots in the city: Fisherman’s Bastion. It’s a small, ultra-photogenic fortress with 7 neo-Romanesque turrets (well, I prefer to say it doesn’t look like anything else, because it’s true! it’s unique).

It’s perhaps the most beautiful view over the city and the Parliament, top for sunset. Plus the setting is superb, with a lovely statue of St Stephen and the magnificent Matthias Church. Don’t laugh, but in 3 visits to Budapest, I’ve never managed to get inside it — always under renovation!

Note that Buda Hill is undergoing major works for quite a while yet. They’ve decided to rebuild the period buildings that were notably destroyed during the war, to recreate the whole complex that existed before. It doesn’t get in the way of visiting these two main spots, and it should be even nicer afterwards!

So here I’d advise you to spend several hours, easily! Come in mid-afternoon, wander around the hill, the castle’s exterior, see the bastion, and calmly wait for sunset until “real night” when you see Budapest light up. It’s superb, truly.

• And what if you discovered Buda Hill with a specialist? Take advantage of this free tour!

Taking a walk along the Danube

The banks of the Danube in Budapest are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it’s easy to understand why. Between the Margaret and Elisabeth bridges (and why not Liberty Bridge too), strolling along the banks will fill your eyes on both sides of the Danube. You’ll come across a jumble of historic buildings like the Parliament (of course), plenty of little bronze statues especially near the pretty Vigadó park, and beautiful churches.

On the other side of the Danube, you’ll be at the foot of Buda Hill. After crossing the Elisabeth Bridge, you can easily see the Saint Gellért statue, the Liberty Monument, and continue along the bank until you reach the castle steps. Personally, I’d keep going until I’m opposite the Parliament.

But I’d say the best way to discover the banks of the Danube is ON A SHORT ONE-HOUR CRUISE, really enjoyable (and not expensive at all!). I’ll explain all that below.

A must-do cruise on the Danube

Because yes, the Danube is so lovely in Budapest, but above all the city’s embankments are so beautiful that you absolutely have to enjoy them with a little cruise. It’s genuinely a must here!

Especially since it really doesn’t cost much and there are loads of options. Basically, it’s an hour cruising between the most beautiful buildings, the Parliament, Buda Castle, the bridges which are magnificent… And it starts from just €9 for the basic cruise!

After that you have various options, with drinks, dinner, a DJ to party, by day or by night… in the following article I point out the best cruises on the Danube to help you see things more clearly.

• the classic daytime cruise at €9
• the cruise with unlimited prosecco and spritz for €25
• the one on a wooden boat with a glass of Tokaji at €11
• or the dinner with Hungarian music to do things in style

Városliget Park to escape the city buzz

A place I’d loved the first time and that still works just as well 🙂 Városliget park is Budapest’s dose of freshness, but it’s much more than a large wooded park in which it’s lovely to stroll (enjoying the cool air and the various stretches of water). People come here for quite a few other things too:

Heroes’ Square, at the park entrance, is a magnificent square dedicated to national heroes such as István Széchenyi and Ferenc Deák. This square is made up of two curved sets of columns with plenty of statues representing these heroes, preceded by a monumental Roman column.
This square is flanked by two magnificent buildings: the Museum of Fine Arts and Műcsarnok, a very beautiful art gallery.
The only snag is that during my last visit, this square was inaccessible because of a football match for the Europa League final. So the photos are very old, sorry!

In Városliget park, you’ll also find the Széchenyi thermal baths, the most famous in the city. An essential and relaxing activity that you can book on this site.

Vajdahunyad Castle is also one of the park’s most beautiful spots! Halfway between the typical Eastern European castle with a Dracula-style vibe and other Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance buildings. You really find a bit of everything — it’s a tribute to the country’s history and the conquest of the region.

Nearby, you’ll find a nice funfair with little restaurants, games and entertainment. If you have time, why not, but it also depends on the season.

Relaxing at the Széchenyi thermal baths

Now this is the activity I recommend to absolutely everyone. After wearing out my soles for several days in the streets of Budapest, coming to rest my legs in 38°C water was clearly no luxury. And it feels amazing! I was really sceptical at first, which is why I hadn’t come during my previous stays in Budapest, but that was a mistake.

The Széchenyi baths (which I still can’t spell correctly) are the largest thermal complex in Europe, and just the architecture of the big yellow building is worth a look. But the best part is the huge outdoor pools that steam, with the local old-timers playing chess in the water without ever looking up. I could have stayed an hour just watching the regulars go about their business.

But in the end, you don’t notice time passing, and you soak it up, laze around, watch everyone a little, switch from one water jet to another, from pool to pool. Really, it’s super pleasant, a simple pleasure (simple but not cheap, I’ll admit!).

A couple of tips all the same: book your ticket in advance (it sells out fast), and avoid weekend afternoons if you don’t want to swim in the middle of the crowd. And if Széchenyi is packed, there are the Gellért baths, more upscale, or the Rudas with their little rooftop pool overlooking the Danube. But for a first time, I’d say Széchenyi with my eyes closed.

Seeing Vajdahunyad Castle

Continuing the walk through the park, you come across something really nice: Vajdahunyad Castle. And here, guaranteed surprise effect, you’d think you were on a film set. It very much looks like Dracula’s castle with its pointed towers and dark walls, and personally I love that kind of slightly Gothic atmosphere.

In fact, it’s a cheerful mix: one part really looks like a Transylvanian castle, and the rest goes off in all directions — Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance. And it’s completely intentional, since it was built for the Millennium Exhibition in 1896 as a sort of “best of” Hungarian architecture. The funniest thing is that at first it was made of papier-mâché and wood… but people loved it so much that they rebuilt it in solid materials!

We wandered around it at leisure (access to the courtyard is free, and that alone is worth a look). It’s also here that you’ll come across the famous statue of Anonymus, a seated monk whose face stays hidden under his hood: nobody knows who he was, he’s the anonymous chronicler who wrote the first history of Hungary. Touch his quill for luck — it’s all shiny from people rubbing it! That said, I confess I never quite managed to figure out what you could visit inside the castle. I vaguely recall a tower you could climb… After checking: the castle houses the Hungarian Museum of Agriculture (the largest of its kind in Europe), and yes, you can climb a tower for the view. But even without going in, simply looking around the grounds is clearly worth the detour.

Having a drink at Szimpla Kert, the most astonishing bar in the city

Watch out, this is completely bonkers! During my previous visit (that is, a good 15 years ago), Budapest was a pretty city, quite lively but with plenty of ruined buildings. Since then, some of these magnificent, typical buildings have been renovated, while others have been converted into… huge bars! These are the ruin bars. Makes sense.

In these bars, there’s the good and the less good. Szimpla Kert is quite simply a bar unlike any other in the world. It’s obviously enormous, full of bars within the bar, striking, vintage decor, where you can put whatever you like on the wall.

And there’s also music, which is excellent. Let me be clear that I’m not at all a clubber, a king of the dancefloor or a nightclub fan. But I loved this place. On the downside, at the weekend there’s just a wee bit of a crowd! But you can come in the late afternoon for a drink (they have a very pleasant open area), it’s around 10pm that it gets a bit hectic.

Anyway, I’d rather have you discover Szimpla Kert in photos, so you can get an idea 😀

• and if you’re in a festive mood, then you can do a group tour of the Ruin Bars!

The shoes on the bank of the Danube

Here, it’s less fun. Budapest and Hungary share a very long history with the Jewish people. In 1940, it’s estimated there were 800,000 Jews, close to 10% of the population. And although we talk little about it on our side of Europe — we mostly think of Poland — Hungary was severely affected. It was part of the Axis with Germany and was run by the Nazi party. In total, more than 500,000 deaths are estimated among the Jewish population, or two thirds.

A little south of the Parliament, you’ll find this poignant memorial. About sixty pairs of metal shoes, on the bank of the Danube, symbolising the victims of mass executions. Towards the end of the war, the Nazi Arrow Cross militia shot Jews and opponents, but first asked them to take off their shoes so they could be reused. Their bodies then fell into the Danube.

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The lovely village of Szentendre, worth seeing 30 minutes from Budapest

When I arrived in Budapest, one of the first things I was recommended to see was… the town of Szentendre, north of Budapest. I’d heard of it but had forgotten to include it in the itinerary (or at least in what vaguely resembled an itinerary). So the next day we set off for a half-day visit to this large village 30 minutes north of the city, a village with very pretty architecture, plenty of Serbian churches, on the bank of the Danube.

Honestly, it’s a very pleasant outing! (well, at the weekend it’s the outing for all of Budapest so there’s a bit of a crowd), very easy to reach by train, and you can admire nicely coloured houses, very beautiful churches and even a craft area.

All the little shops are packed with typical local souvenirs: lots of embroidery, porcelain… unfortunately for my wife’s credit card.

To get there, it’s by train from Budapest, on the H5 line from Batthyány tér. Or else a tour with an agency that includes 2 other little villages besides Szentendre: Esztergom and Visegrád, with a possible return by boat.

• Discover this tour through the 3 lovely villages!

Visiting the transformed Jewish quarter

The last time I went to Budapest, so a very very long time ago, the Jewish quarter was one of the most neglected in the city. Some of the most beautiful architecture, but quite simply abandoned, dilapidated, dusty buildings. But since then it’s changed a lot!

Budapest’s Jews settled here at the end of the 18th century, at the heart of what is now the 7th district. So you’ll find a huge amount of evidence of this history here, several synagogues and notably the largest in Europe, on Dohány Street. There’s another very important one on Rumbach Street.
On top of that, here and there you’ll find works of art in memory of the massacre, several kosher restaurants, all coexisting surprisingly well with the quarter’s other face.

Indeed, the Jewish quarter has become as hipster as can be, where vegan restaurants and hummus have replaced the traditional eateries, with a very large number of trendy bars. It’s genuinely surprising!
What’s more, it’s at the heart of this quarter that you’ll find the ruin bars I mentioned earlier. But also lots of really nice bars, some lovely terraces.

Finally, this quarter has also become the place to be for partying, and probably a bit too much so. Notably the tiny Gozsdu Udvar street and its countless bars and clubs.

Honestly, it’s worth discovering! A nice quarter to visit (quite a bit of street art), surprising, which can meet plenty of needs when it comes to nightlife.

• Discover the Jewish quarter and its heritage on a guided tour!

Discovering the Aquincum ruins, Budapest’s astonishing Roman past

In the middle of Hungary, you wouldn’t expect to stumble upon the ruins of the Roman Empire. And yet! The Romans had settled rather nicely in Central Europe, notably between year 0 and 300. The city of Aquincum was built on a former Celtic settlement (handy for recycling), first serving as a garrison to protect the borders of the Roman Empire. Then it eventually developed into a town, numbering up to 40,000 people. In the end, the Romans were driven out of the region by Attila and the Alans.

Which means you’ll find everything that makes up a normal Roman town there: amphitheatres, baths, and above all plenty of ruins that make up the archaeological site of Aquincum.

It can be visited every day, but allow 2 hours. Don’t do what I did and arrive less than an hour before closing, because it’s big! There are very lovely remains in the museum and gallery, statues behind, and mosaics too.

• More info on Aquincum on the official website

A chance visit to the Parisi hotel, the most beautiful in Budapest

A big favourite discovered totally by chance. Heading towards Buda from the Jewish quarter, you pass the corner of Kossuth Lajos and Ferenciek tere. Perhaps the most beautiful building in the city. It’s the Parisi Udvar hotel (Hyatt group, so it costs an arm and a leg! but it’s gorgeous). Set within a former Art Nouveau shopping arcade, you feel like you’ve jumped 100 years back in time, truly.

So no, I didn’t stay there (otherwise my banker would have struck me off), but you can visit it and above all you can have a drink or even dine there (though for that you need to book).
To sleep there, it’s from €270 all the same.

And even this simple visit is very nice and a feast for the eyes.

Discovering St Stephen’s Basilica in Pest

So let me be clear, to avoid disappointment, that St Stephen’s Basilica, or St István, is very nice, with a very beautiful interior but it doesn’t exactly blow you away either. It has to be said that shortly before I’d been in Rome, and just after I was in Vienna, where the churches and cathedrals are insane. In Budapest, it’s very nice, it’s very beautiful, but we’re not at those standards, so I understand that some people might be slightly disappointed. Personally, I still really liked it.

St Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest is one of the city’s oldest Christian churches and was built between 1851 and 1905. It sits close to the historic centre of Pest, a stone’s throw from Deák Tér or the Opera. Romanesque in style, it’s known for its richly ornamented façade and its golden domes. It’s the only religious building constructed during the 19th century in Budapest that wasn’t damaged by the American bombings in 1945 (as a reminder, Hungary was part of the Axis with Germany and Italy).

Inside, its walls are decorated with a large number of white marble sculptures representing biblical figures and religious scenes, some dating from the 18th century. The basilica also houses the tomb of King Stephen I, founder of Hungary.

Visiting the basilica has a fee, around €5, and I’d say it’s worth doing because it stays enjoyable but above all you can climb the towers (in the literal sense) and the view over Budapest is magnificent!

• Visit the Basilica with a guide and skip the queue, for only €18! Discover this tour here!

Getting lost in the streets with their unique architecture!

This is genuinely what I most enjoyed doing in Budapest, even if it hurts the legs by the end of the day (well, you console yourself with the cheap, refreshing beers!), even if the city is huge. Discovering Budapest’s fantastic architecture street by street is a real feast for the eyes. Rococo, Art Nouveau, columns, a replica of the Champs-Élysées, the embassy district, magnificent buildings nearing the end of their life… you’ll see absolutely everything. And it really has its charm! Well, I’m speaking for myself, I genuinely love this city and walking around it.

We just talked about the Jewish quarter so I won’t go back over it here. But if you go to Városliget, walk back down Andrássy, take the side streets now and then because there are loads of gems. Pay attention to the details on the façades, to the sculptures. You’ll reach the Opera, and finally St István.

You’ll also have a blast in the streets of the very centre such as Váci Utca, on Kossuth Lajos Utca, or around the Parliament. No really, there are beautiful buildings absolutely everywhere!

Finally, there was a period of architectural revolution in Budapest called “szecesszió“, very characteristic, especially at roof level. These roofs of coloured tiles, generally green/yellow (for example on the Museum of Applied Arts, on religious buildings like in Buda), a style that blends Art Nouveau with Oriental influence.

Discovering the local cuisine and wines

You eat well in Hungary. Granted it’s not exactly light, the notion of vegetables is rather relative, but it’s tasty with all those spices and especially plenty of paprika, and lots of cabbage (ideal when you’re in a couple!). If you know Poland, the Czech Republic or the other Eastern countries a bit, you won’t be entirely lost.

And watch out, the wine is magnificent. The safe bets: in red, it’s Egri Bikavér. In white, or rather sweet, it’s the famous and magnificent Tokaji Aszú. You can pick some up in the supermarket, it doesn’t cost especially much. At a restaurant you can have more choice and we notably drank a wonderful one (and not cheap) at the excellent Kacsa Étterem restaurant.

A few specialities to try, with a little recommendation, knowing that we tested quite a few restaurants like Gettó Gulyás or Kacsa Étterem. On top of the dishes below, they also cook duck superbly and make top-notch stews:

• The goulash (gulyás). Careful, in Hungary it’s a soup, not a stew! Hearty, with beef and paprika. → Gettó Gulyás, Jewish quarter, rated 4.6/5, around ten euros.
• The pörkölt. The real stew simmered with paprika, with little pasta (nokedli). → also at Gettó Gulyás.
• The paprikás csirke (paprika chicken). Chicken in a creamy paprika sauce. → Hungarikum Bisztró, near the Parliament, 4.7/5, live music and complimentary pálinka (but book, it’s always full!).
• The lángos. The guilty street food: fried flatbread, sour cream, garlic and cheese. → Retro Lángos.
• The paprikás krumpli. A potato stew with paprika and slices of sausage (kolbász). Simple, cheap, the real dish Hungarians eat at home — and a treat. → tasted by chance, super good.
• The kürtőskalács (chimney cake). A cylindrical pastry caramelised over the embers. → Molnár’s Kürtőskalács, near Váci utca.
• The rétes (strudel) and cakes. Apple/sour cherry strudel and the must-have Dobos torte. → Első Pesti Rétesház, near the basilica.
• The halászlé (fish soup). A fiery red paprika soup. → worth a try at the Great Market Hall (Nagyvásárcsarnok).

You could also mention…

• the cave church of Saint Gellért, a pretty little church with surprising architecture, whose recent part is carved into the rock
• the citadel and the Liberty Monument, a large esplanade and a statue of liberty dedicated to the liberation of Budapest after the war
• the view from the Saint Gellért statue, very nice for the view over the bridges
• Margaret Island, a very nice and refreshing park, reached via the magnificent Margaret Bridge
• the Market Hall, the oldest and largest covered market in Hungary. Honestly nice! You find absolutely all the local specialities, it lets you eat for not too much and do your shopping
• the various bridges (Chain Bridge, Margaret, Liberty), but for that I mainly recommend A BOAT TRIP on the Danube to see them up close.