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How to spend a day in Budapest

Budapest bound? Here are the best things to do.
Budapest boasts a solid reputation as one of Europe’s biggest and best cities, drawing in millions of visitors every year with its bubbling thermal baths, iconic architecture and legendary cuisine. A few of our Danube River cruises drop anchor in Hungary’s high-class capital, giving you a full day – and sometimes even a little longer – to check out its main draws. And, you can book a city break there with us. Here’s a handy guide on how to spend a day in Budapest.

Ready to set sail? Book your river cruise to Budapest. Or, check out our Budapest city breaks.
 

START WITH A WALK AROUND CITY PARK

It’s the morning, if you’re on a river cruise, your ship is all moored up along the banks of the Danube – on the eastern side of the city – and the gangways been lowered, so you’re all set to start exploring. A good place to get to grips with Budapest is City Park. If you want to stretch your legs, it takes about 50 minutes to walk there – by taxi, you can slash up to 30 minutes off the journey.

City Park’s the biggest piece of public greenery in Budapest, with over 302 acres of well-preened gardens and tree-lined paths for you to stroll through. It’s also home to the Szechenyi Thermal Baths, which is Europe’s biggest set of medicinal baths. The spring-sourced waters here constantly simmer between 74oC and 77oC, so you could easily spend an hour or two relaxing and playing chess – the boards are set up so you can play during your dip.
 
Aerial of the Szechenyi thermal bath in the city park of Budapest.

SAMPLE SOME HUNGARIAN STREET FOOD

City park’s one of Budapest’s biggest landmarks, so expect to find plenty of street-food stalls scattered around the outskirts of the gardens. Langos, a kind of fried bread dough that usually comes topped with cheese and sour cream, is a particular favourite in the capital. That being said, you’ll find options with sausage, ham, onions, goat cheese, Nutella and even jam dotted around Budapest.

 
Traditional Hungarian Langos

HEAD ACROSS THE SZECHENYI CHAIN BRIDGE TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CITY

For the next part of your day trip in Budapest, head back to the Danube River – along some of the city’s souvenir-shop-lined streets – and cross over one of the city’s signature bridges, the Szechenyi Chain Bridge. This 150-year-old crossing links the two sides of the city – Buda and Pest – and is dotted right in the centre of the action, so you can expect great views of the riverbanks and nearby hilltop landmarks. It’s a sight to see in itself, too, so don’t forget to pose for a selfie in front of one of its two arches.
 
Night View of the Szechenyi Chain Bridge and church St. Stephen's in Budapest

EXPLORE THE CITY’S MAIN STAR – BUDA CASTLE

No trip to Budapest is complete without visiting Buda Castle, a hilltop fort that looks out over the city centre and Danube River. To reach this 14th-century masterpiece, you can hop onto the Buda Castle Funicular, which starts at the foot of the Szechenyi Chain Bridge and climbs up the hillside the castle nestles on.

Aside from the castle’s collection of sculptures, statues and water fountains, the two main attractions here are the Budapest History Museum and Budapest National Gallery. The former shows off the city’s 2,000-year-plus history using exhibits loaded with portraits, huge silk tapestries and stone-carved coats of arms. The National Gallery, meanwhile, hosts a collection of 6,000 paintings and 11,000 drawings, including by legendary artists like Monet.
 
Buda Castle Royal Palace on Hill Hungary Budapest

TIME FOR A TRADITIONAL HUNGARIAN LUNCH

Before seeing another side of Budapest’s UNESCO-backed castle district, treat yourself to another helping of authentic Hungarian fare at one of the traditional restaurants scattered around the area. The national dish, goulash, is a must-try. This meaty stew is made with beef, onions, paprika, tomatoes and pepper, and usually comes served with white bread for dipping. You’ll find it headlining café and restaurant menus all over Budapest.
 
Goulash served in a ceramic bowl with a side of fresh bread

VISIT FISHERMAN’S BASTION

The other major attraction you won’t want to miss in Budapest is Fisherman’s Bastion. Just like Buda Castle, this place rocks a postcode at the top of a hill, so expect sweeping views of the entire city. And, best of all, the edge facing the Danube River is lined with Roman-era lookout terraces, meaning top-class profile pictures are easy to collect here. You can visit these balconies for free, and for a fee, you can head to the top of some of the fort’s upper towers, which double down on fab views.
 
The famous Fisherman's Bastion at sunrise with statue of King Stephen I and Parliament of Hungary at background

SHOP FOR SOUVENIRS AND DESSERT ALONG THE BANKS OF THE DANUBE

By this point in the day, if you’re on a river cruise, it’s time to start thinking about returning to the ship. The best way back to your ship waiting on the other side of the river is over the bridge you crossed over, the Szechenyi Chain Bridge. Before you head over the river, your way back can take you along the Danube’s west bank, where you’ll find a selection of souvenir shops. Budapest’s gift game lines up everything from hand-painted porcelain goods, sweet tokaji white wine and traditionally woven tablecloths.

And, to add one last treat to your Budapest city break, pick up a helping of Budapest’s signature dessert, chimney cake. Sugary dough’s wrapped around a cone-shaped spit and cooked until it’s golden and crispy, before being sprinkled with cinnamon or ground walnuts.
 
Couple shopping for Souvenirs in Budapest
Ready to see Budapest?

Take a look at our Danube river cruises or Budapest city breaks. And, for inspiration, take a look at our highlights of a Danube river cruise.

Pssst. Head to the Discover homepage for our latest articles.

Author: Ben Staff

Last updated: 25.11.2022

Holiday Type

Destination

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