Choosing a city break in Budapest allows you to visit two cities in one. The capital city of Hungary straddles the glorious River Danube with Buda, home to medieval architecture and splendid palaces, to the west, and Pest, the political and commercial hub of modern Hungary, to the east. Connected by the magnificent Chain Bridge, one of the country’s most iconic landmarks, they combine to create one of Europe’s most attractive urban landscapes packed full of places of historical significance and a social scene to rival any European capital.
One of Budapest’s most appealing characteristics is that its cultural wealth isn’t hidden away but is displayed within architecture visible when strolling through the streets, enabling you to drink in the history of a city that was once the centre of the Hapsburg Empire and Christendom’s last stronghold against the mighty Ottomans.
We’ve suggested some of our favourite places to visit and things to see on your weekend city break in Budapest, from the grandeur of Buda to the buzz of Pest. With so much to see and do, it’ll be a whirlwind visit, but you’re guaranteed to fall in love with Hungary’s fascinating capital city and want to come back again.
A cultural hub
Visit UNESCO World Heritage site Castle District
Any short break in Budapest must allow time to explore the Castle District, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the place where Budapest and Hungary itself began. Located in Buda, you will see the evolution of the city from its 13th-century origins to today, with its beauty making it one of the city’s most exclusive residential districts.
Ride the Castle Hill Funicular and at the top take time to admire the striking exterior of the Sandor Palace, the official residence of the Hungarian president, before taking a stroll around the grounds of the majestic Royal Palace that towers above the city. The palace houses the Budapest History Museum and Hungarian National Gallery with fascinating collections of Gothic artefacts and Secession paintings that can be enjoyed in a few hours with some careful planning.
Explore architecture and history
A further stroll leads you to the Baroque and Gothic facades of Lords’ Street that runs the full length of Caste Hill; continue heading east to Fisherman’s Bastion for spectacular views of the Danube and across to Pest. The historic Mátyás Church sits next door and has a colourful past dating back to the Middle Ages, and the road continues to the enchanting ruins of the Church of St Mary Magdalene where you can sit and plot your next moves in the peaceful square.
Pest also has its fair share of stunning architecture, with the highlight undoubtedly being the Hungarian Parliament building, the largest of its kind when built and still one of the finest Neo-Gothic buildings in Europe. Best seen from across the river in Buda, it’s home to the Crown Jewels and the Domed Hall, but you’ll need to book a guided tour when Parliament is not in session to see all the delights up close.
Visit the stunning 96m Neo-Renaissance dome of St Stephen’s Basilica
Visible throughout the city is St Stephen’s Basilica with its splendid 96m Neo-Renaissance dome, a stunning sight and perhaps the most photographed in Budapest. The Hungarian National Museum is home to a treasure-trove of exhibits from every period of the country’s history and is well worth a visit, as is the Hungarian State Opera, built to rival the great European opera houses and home to some world-class performances. The largest of its kind in Europe, Budapest’s Great Synagogue dates from the 1850s and can accommodate an impressive 3,000 worshippers as well as a museum packed with Jewish relics.
Head to Margaret Island, a tranquil, green oasis
Last of the must-see sights on your city break in Budapest is Margaret Island, a tranquil, green oasis in the middle of the Danube. Named after the daughter of King Béla IV who spent most of her life in the island’s convent during the 13th century, the ruins of which are one of the island’s most important monuments. Margaret Island holds many other delights, among them the Japanese Garden, the UNESCO-protected Water Tower, and the Palatinus Strand where the island’s thermal springs erupt into the city’s largest outdoor pool complex opened in 1919.
Time to relax
Famous for its thermal baths and pools, many housed in artistic and historic surroundings, Budapest offers a wealth of opportunities to relax in between the city’s many cultural sights. Perhaps the finest and most well-known are Gellert Hotel and Baths, a pioneer of the artificial wave machine, and Széchenyi Baths. Plenty of others provide wonderful surroundings to unwind, including the Magnolia Day Spa, which offers over 100 exclusive therapeutic massages and the 16th-century Rudas Baths with six steam rooms and a swimming pool.
If retail therapy is more to your taste, Váci utca remains the city’s main shopping hub and the majority of it is pedestrianised, so you shouldn’t be distracted by traffic when browsing. Strolling along The Promenade you will encounter celebrated florist Philanthia and the Central Market Hall, Budapest’s largest market selling local specialities such as spicy Kolbász salami. The WestEnd City Center is a three-level complex offering a vast selection of popular brands, while Deák Ferenc utca and Andrássy út appeal to fans of expensive designer labels.
Enjoy the culinary delights
There’s much more to Hungarian cuisine than goulash, and while paprika remains a favourite ingredient, Budapest is home to many unique delicacies that will delight your palate and fill your belly.
Breakfast & lunch in Budapest
To set you up for a day of sightseeing you’d perhaps do well to visit the Blue Bird Café to enjoy a big American-style breakfast and an award-winning coffee to wash it down with. Depending on where you wander, you could pop into the elegant Gerbeaud Cukrászda, the city’s legendary and richly decorated coffee house, for delicious cakes, or 1000 Tea to enjoy a relaxing oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the crowds.
Dinner in Budapest
After the sun goes down, the nightlife in Budapest is as abundant as it is varied, with lots of restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets, and bars that open into the small hours to entertain late-night revellers.
Enjoy local specialities such as Töltött Káposzta (stuffed cabbage) or Bélszínszelet Budapest Módra (beef and paprika) at traditional Budapest restaurants such as Arany Kaviár or Alabárdos Étterem, or push the boat out with some fine dining at Kollázs or Baraka. In this part of the world, it would not be unusual to wash down your meal with something strong and popular choices include Pálinka and Unicum, both of which it’s fair to say are an acquired taste.
Nightlife in Budapest
If you want to sample the bars and clubs, you can delight in Hungarian wines at Doblo, see what cocktails the mixologists are creating at Boutiq’Bar, or relax in Tóth Kocsma which has the look and feel of a proper local Budapest pub. A taste of the familiar can be found at Blue Tomato, where you can enjoy a draught Guinness before heading to the music zone in the cellar where DJs and bands provide the tunes into the night.
Contemporary Budapest has also gained notoriety for its unique ruin bars, which are impossibly cool drinking joints situated inside neglected pre-war buildings that have taken the city by storm in recent years. Szimpla Kert and Csendes Vintage Bar & Café are two popular spots to soak up the ruin bar vibe.
Where to stay
Budapest offers a broad range of places to stay and is particularly blessed with luxury hotels, with many residing in what were once some of the city’s finest 19th-century palaces. Don’t worry, there’s a wide selection of mid-range and budget accommodation available too. Before selecting your hotel, first choose which part of the city you want to stay in, remembering that places in Pest will be close to attractions and the nightlife, whereas Buda represents a quieter option.
At the higher end of the scale, you will find a selection of globally branded hotels to choose from, but in addition, you have a choice of historic and boutique places that include the Hotel Palazzo Zichy, Danubius Hotel Gellért, and Aria Hotel Budapest that each have their own character and will add to your memories of your weekend break in Budapest.
More affordable yet still very comfortable and charming options exist at the Corvin Hotel Sissi Wings or Manzárd Panzió, among many others, and those on a smaller budget have their pick from several hotels and hostels offering simpler accommodation.
Time it right
Given the extremes in weather, consideration should be given to when you book your city break in Budapest. Summer temperatures can hit well above 30°C and make for uncomfortable days seeing the sights, but the winter months can be bitterly cold, and snow is not uncommon. Late spring sees the heaviest rainfall, so we suggest perhaps booking in late summer or the autumn to get the best of the weather.
