1. Visit Buda Castle:

   Buda Castle, formerly known as the Royal Palace, is today the location of the National Gallery. The National Gallery is an Art Gallery that houses famous works by artists such as Claude Monet and Camille Pissarro.
   
   If art is not your cup of tea, visiting Buda Castle also offers STUNNING panoramic views of Budapest.
   
   To read more about the history of Buda Castle click here.

   To see what famous paintings are located in the National Gallery click here.

2. Relax in Széchenyi Thermal Bath:

   Budapest is world-renowned for its Thermal Baths. Thermal Baths date back centuries and have claims of ‘healing properties’. The original formation of thermal baths was from drilling into natural Hot Springs embedded throughout Budapest with some wealthy Hungarians including a thermal bath within their home. Present-day Thermal Baths, are accessible via commercial bath houses each with their own individual vibe.

   One of the most famous Bathhouse is Széchenyi Thermal Bath, which offers three large outdoor baths and many indoor pools as well. The exterior of Széchenyi Thermal Bath boasts a grand architectural entrance.
   
   During our visit to Széchenyi Thermal Bath, we rented lockers, changed in the male/ female locker rooms, enjoyed a glass of wine, and explored both the indoor and outdoor baths.

   Do be sure to bring with you: shower shoes and a towel!
   

   To book directly with Széchenyi Bath House, click here.
   
   To book a pálinka tasting Széchenyi Bath House click here.

   Back up option: Gellért Thermal Bath is a close second that we almost went to. The interior of this thermal bath is perfect and looks luxurious.
   

3. Stroll along the Danube Promenade & Visit Parliament:

   The Danube Promenade is an area on the East side of the Danube River, near the Hungarian Parliament. This walking area provides picturesque views of Castle Hill and will also be where you can see the Shoes on the Danube Memorial.

   This Memorial is a tribute to Hungarian Jews that were unalived on the banks of the Danube River. Folklores say that in 1944, Jewish Hungarians were told to remove their shoes, prior to being unalived, with their bodies being left to float into the Danube River.

   The Memorial is as chilling as the legend- and a reminder of the stark history in the region.

   While you are in this area - stroll over the Hungarian Parliament where you find the incredible architectural masterpiece that makes up the Parliament building.

4. Discover Matthias Church & Fisherman’s Bastion

   Matthias Church is located adjacent to Fisherman’s Bastion so you can do two activities within the same area.

   Matthias Church has striking Gothic spindles on top of gorgeously multi-colored tiled roofing.

   While Fishermans Bastion offers some of the most Instagram-worth pics you can get within the rooftop setting. To access the rooftop views, you do have to pay a small fee - and it is well worth it to escape the crowds down below.
   

5. Experience the Great Market Hall:

   The Great Market Hall is a bustling market filled with Hungarian cuisines, traditional souvenirs, and local produce.

   FULL DISCLAIMER: I visited Budapest in January of 2024. During my visit to the Great Market Hall, I found that the prices here were quite high (compared to local street vendors). For a Hungarian meal for two, we paid $60 USD. At local restaurants, we paid on average $40. The same pattern occured with souvenirs we purchased.

   My advice for visiting this market would be, to stop by to take in the lively atmosphere but shop elsewhere for souvenirs to avoid this tourist trap.
   

6. Hike Gellért Hill

   Gellért Hill is near the infamous Cave Church and Gellért Bathhouse. This hill oversees all of Budapest. The hike itself takes about 25 minutes to get to the top. And once you reach the summit you are rewarded with panoramic views of the entire city. There are many rest points along the way where you can stop and take in the views.

   
   Pro tip: Your starting point is from the Cave Church - so if you are in the area- checking out the Cave Church is a chance to step back in time. This church was built inside of a cave with the natural rock formation still being used a church today!
   

7. Visit St Stephen’s Basilica

   This stunning Roman Catholic Church is located in the heart of Budapest and is declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This Basilica is known for its. incredibel architecture, intricate ceiling paintings, impressive done, and for housing the mummified right hand of the first Kind of Hungary.

   The hand is known as, The Holy Right, and is paraded around Budapest on August 20th every year.
   

8. Eat Traditional Hungarian Cuisine

   No trip to Budapest is not complete without indulging in Hungarian cuisines like Goulash, Chimney Cake, Chicken Paprikash … I could go on!

   
   To read my full listing of Hungarian food you must try, click here.

9. Check out the Ruin Bars

   The Ruin Bars are located within the Jewish Quarter of Budapest and are made up of abandoned warehouses and old historic buildings. Today you may find that this is a tourist hotspot - but a unique setting nonetheless.

   My motto is o ttry and see everything once! So ata minimum, stop by and have a drink while sigh-eseeing or for a good time at the end of long day.
   
   

10. Enjoy a Danube River Cruise:

    Sail along the Danube River at sunset for an incredible experience, passing under illuminated bridges and admiring Budapest's landmarks from a different perspective. From your River Cruise you will also float by the Hungarian Parliament and this is a beauty to witness from agar both during the day and at night.
    

11. Visit the grand New York Cafe:

    New York Cafe is known as the ‘Most Beautiful Cafe’ in the world and it very much is so! This grand cafe serves 14k coffee, decadent desserts, and is decorated ornately in an Italian Renaissance style with crystal chandeliers and marbled columns throughout the cafe. You have the option to stop by for tea, breakfast/ lunch.

    • Pro tip: Arrive before 9:30 am if possible to avoid a long wait. We went on a Monday at 9:30am and within 15 minutes a line formed and quickly spilled outside.

There are still so many other options you can partake in during your visit to Budapest. This list are MY top 11 that you MUST see and will span across at least 3 full days of your visit.

Budapest: A Gem of Europe

Budapest is a hidden gem of Europe. I think with architectural staples in places like Paris and London it is easy to overlook other European sites, but do not be mistaken, Budapest is a worthwhile contender for a dive into history.

Budapest is made up of three cities - Buda, Pest, and Óbuda. The three cities officially merged in 1873 to what is now known as Budapest.

This enchanting city is nestled along the Danube River with historical sites located on the West Bank such as Castle Hill, Matthias Church, and Fisherman’s Bastion. While the more.. adventurous sites such as Széchenyi Thermal Baths and many of the old ‘ruins’ bars are located on the East bank.

What to do in Budapest:

Budapest’s history goes back many centuries - and with this kind of history comes an enmeshment of people, cultures, and historical sites. Budapest is a unique mixture of Catholicism, Jewish, Hungarian, and Roman culture. And you will see an imprint of each culture across the many palaces, churches, buildings, monuments, and museums.

I spent four days in Budapest and quickly realized that we would not be able to get to every item on our list.

Here you will find a shortlist of my top 11 sites you MUST see:

Top 11 Things to Do in Budapest:

For an UNFORGETTABLE experience on the Danube River, consider an evening sightseeing cruise where you will cruise along the stunning lights and historic monuments.

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