BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
Budapest is a city cut in half by the distinguished Danube River - Buda lying on the west bank and Pest sitting on the east bank. With nearly 2 million inhabitants this city is quite large - and yes, there is a boatload to see! Visitors from across the globe marvel at this city’s majestic architecture, unique culture, and palpable energy; it’s truly a city unlike any other. As the locals say, “Egészségedre” (Cheers)!
Attractions:
Széchenyi Baths: If you only do one thing in Budapest, it has to be this! This Neo-baroque style palace is one of the largest bathhouses in Europe. There are 15 indoor baths and 3 huge outdoor pools (in addition to 10 sauna cabins and plenty of private rooms for massages and facial treatments). It is open from 9:00am-7:00pm daily. Full-day tickets cost 6,800 HUF ($22 USD) on weekdays and 7,200 HUF on weekends. If you want to learn more about the building’s 100+ year history, tours are offered daily at 10:30am & 4:00pm (20 minutes; 3,000 HUF).
Széchenyi Chain Bridge: This famous bridge spans across the Danube connecting the city’s two parts - Buda (W) and Pest (E).
Fisherman’s Bastion: There are many picturesque sightseeing spots in Budapest but this one takes the cake! The lower level is open all day and free to enter. The upper level is open from 9:00am-7:00pm and costs 1,000 HUF ($3 USD) to enter; per its name it sits up high serving the city up to you on a silver platter!
Matthias Church: As I’ve said, Hungary is the place for Gothic-style architecture. My favorite example? This church! The roof is stunning with its magnificent, vibrant colors and intricate detail. Located in Trinity Square, the church is open from 9:00am-5:00pm Monday-Friday, 9:00am-1:00pm on Saturdays, and 1:00pm-5:00pm on Sundays. Entrance costs 1,800 HUF ($6 USD).
Free Walking Tours: Budapest has plenty of fantastic, tip-based walking tours. My favorites are the General Budapest Walk (10:30am & 2:30pm) and the Jewish District Walk (10:00am & 3:30pm). Both give great insight to this city’s rich history and pick up daily at Elizabeth Square. Expect the tours to last 2-3 hours.
Caving Tour: After spending time exploring the city streets, it only makes sense to spend 2-3 hours underneath them! This tour costs 10,000 HUF ($32 USD) which includes a highly-trained guide and headlamp. I really enjoyed this (be prepared to crawl)!
St. Stephen’s Basilica: Another iconic Budapest landmark. The church is open from 9:00am-5:00pm Monday-Friday, 9:00am-1:00pm on Saturdays, and 1:00pm-5:00pm on Sundays. To enter, a 200 HUF donation ($0.70 USD) is requested. Climbing the tower costs an additional 1,000 HUF ($3 USD).
Central Market Hall: Who doesn’t love a good, old-fashioned indoor market? From vegetables to souvenirs to wine, they’ve got you covered! It’s free to enter and is open from 6:00am-5:00pm on Mondays, 6:00am-6:00pm on Tuesday-Friday, and 6:00am-3:00pm on Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays (and located here).
Hungarian Parliament Building: Look familiar? This famous building is built in the likeness of London’s House of Parliament. Located on the banks of the Danube, this is a sight you’ll definitely want to soak in and take some photos of! If you want to see the inside, you must visit with a tour (1 hour; 6,400 HUF).
Shoes on the Danube Bank Monument: This extremely powerful memorial commemorates and honors those killed by Arrow Cross (the far-right Hungarian political party) fascist militiamen in Budapest during WWII. Before their murders, thousands of victims (a large portion of them Jewish) were ordered to take off their shoes before walking up to the bank’s edge. After being shot, their bodies were carried away in the current. These iron sculptures of shoes represent the lives and shoes left behind.
Buda Castle: Hungary’s Royal Palace sits on top of Castle Hill giving visitors a prime view of the city! The castle itself is free to enter and open daily from 10:00am-5:00pm. Once inside, you will find the castle houses three noteworthy buildings: National Széchenyi Library (free entry), Hungarian National Museum (2,600 HUF entry), and Budapest History Museum (3,000 HUF entry). There is also a courtyard surrounding the castle that is open 24/7 and free to walk around. Guided tours are 2 hours and cost 4,000 HUF ($14 USD). If you don’t feel like walking up the hill, you can take the Castle Hill Funicular which picks up just west of Chain Bridge; it runs daily from 7:30am-10:00pm and costs 1,200 HUF ($4 USD) one-way.
Gellért Hill: For yet another terrific view (and to see the Citadella and Liberty Statue), make this steep, 20-minute walk up to the top. To avoid walking, you can take Bus 27 for 350 HUF. Stop by Veganlove Street Food afterwards for a quick bite!
Heroes’ Square & City Park: Budapest’s major square is located on the border of its main park. This area is well worth a visit; it’s historic, green, and beautiful! You can find Vajdahunyad Castle here, too!
Lake Balaton: Central Europe’s largest lake can be visited as a day trip from Budapest. Although there are many towns around the lake, I recommend traveling through Balatonfüred. From Budapest-Déli Station, the train ride is 2 hours and costs 2,725 HUF ($9 USD). From Népliget Station, the bus ride is 2-3 hours and costs 2,725 HUF.
Margaret Island: An island in a land-locked country, huh? Well, it’s more of a green oasis and it is in the middle of the Danube. The perimeter can be walked in 90 minutes and it’s free to enter. Take the D12 public riverboat for 750 HUF ($2.50 USD) or make the 45-minute walk from city center.
Budapest Boat Party: Hoping to party Hungarian-style? There are plenty of booze cruises on the Danube. Most are 2-3 hours and cost $20-$35 USD.
Other attractions include: Dohány Street Synagogue, Hungarian State Opera, and Gellért Thermal Bath.
Accommodation:
Hostel One Budapest: Stay here! This hostel is social, clean, and centrally-located. It is 15 minutes walking from Chain Bridge, 10 minutes from St. Stephen's Basilica, 7 minutes from an ALDI, and 5 minutes from Metro Line 2 (Astoria). Additionally, it is a 20-minute bus ride (Bus 914, 914A, or 950) from Népliget Station (where FlixBus picks up/drops off) and a 15-minute bus ride (Bus 907, 931, 973, or 990) from Keleti Station (where Rail Europe trains travel in/out of).
Transportation:
Budapest’s main bus station is Népliget Bus Station; all buses below leave from here. The main train station is Budapest-Keleti Railway Station; all trains below leave from here.
Bratislava, Slovakia is 3 hours by bus from Budapest and costs $7 USD. The train ride is 3 hours and costs $54 USD.
Vienna, Austria is 3 hours by bus from Budapest and costs $14 USD. The train ride is 3 hours and costs $23 USD.
Zagreb, Croatia is 5 hours by bus from Budapest and costs $25 USD. The train ride is 6 hours and costs $71 USD.
Salzburg, Austria is 6.5 hours by bus from Budapest and costs $40 USD. The train ride is 5 hours and costs $59 USD.
Prague, Czechia is 7 hours by bus from Budapest and costs $22 USD. The train ride is 7 hours and costs $102 USD.
Munich, Germany is 8 hours by bus from Budapest and costs $41 USD. The train ride is 7 hours and costs $101 USD.
Krakow, Poland is 8.5 hours by bus from Budapest and costs $21 USD. The train ride is 10 hours and costs $111 USD.
Budapest Airport (BUD) is 25km (15 miles) outside the city center and accessible via two separate buses and taxi.
Bus 100E: This route runs from Terminal 2 to Deák Ferenc Square; buses leave every 20 minutes from 5:00am-1:20am. The ride is 45 minutes and costs 900 HUF ($3 USD).
Bus 200E: This route runs from Terminal 2 to Kőbánya-Kispest Railway Station; buses leave every 10 minutes from 4:00am-11:00pm. The ride is 45 minutes and costs 900 HUF ($3 USD).
Taxi: The 30-minute taxi ride costs 8,000-9,000 HUF ($27-$30 USD) depending on the time of day.
