BEST THINGS TO DO IN BUDAPEST
Budapest is the capital of Hungary and is made up of two cities: Buda and Pest. River Danube divides these 2 beautiful cities. Although several spectacular bridges join them, they are two very different places, each with a unique character and each offering plenty of things to see and do.
UNESCO granted Hungary capital city as world heritage site status, and many visitors consider Budapest to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
We stayed for 5 nights, and due to this, we couldn’t see all that the city had to offer. However, we recommend that you spend 6 or 7 days in Budapest to explore and enjoy this beautiful city fully.
In this post, we would like to share with you our top experiences. This will include favourite tourist sites, where we stayed, our favourite restaurants and also a couple of places you can take great photos for your Instagram. We hope our experiences will help make your visit a memory of a lifetime!
OUR TOP ATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO IN BUDAPEST
St Stephens Basilica
Named after the first king of Hungary, St. Stephen’s Basilica is one of the tallest buildings in Budapest, standing at 96 meters tall. What we found interesting was that this is intentional. It represents the balance between the church and the state in Hungary.
This building took over half a century to build because, in 1868, the dome collapsed during a terrible storm, and the entire thing had to be torn down and rebuilt again from scratch. Construction completed in 1905, with the Roman Catholic Basilica built in the neoclassical style and the building has stood tall ever since.
The interior has beautiful gold details, intricate decorations, and spectacular paintings and its central dome is home to a panoramic lookout point that is well worth the small entrance fee.
Chain Bridge
The second spot we hit up was the Chain bridge. For a city divided by a river, bridges are significant.
The iconic Chain Bridge, also known as Szechenyi bridge, was the first permanent bridge in Budapest in 1849. Before that, the closest bridge was in Vienna. So, people either used their boats or walked across when the river froze.
The problem was that when the river thawed while you were on either side, you would have to wait again until the river froze. This once happened to Szechenyi: An important man in Budapest’s history, missed his father’s funeral because he was stuck on the wrong side for a week. This made him mad so much that he set to work on getting a permanent bridge built.
It is now the city’s most famous bridge that connects Buda and Pest, the Western and Eastern sides of Budapest. The bridge is not only known for its historical significance but also, for its beautiful architecture. A footpath allows pedestrians to walk across the suspension bridge, enjoying views over the Danube.
This is an excellent lookout point, and all along the river, you’ll find a few different departure points for a boat tour down the Danube.
Hungarian Parliament House
Our next stop was the Hungarian parliament house. Like many of the key attractions, the parliament building was built as a celebration of 1000 years of Hungary. And what the architects came up with is one of the most beautiful buildings in all of Europe.
In the 1800s, a contest was held for the design, and if it reminds you a bit of the British parliament building, then you’re spot on. The winning architect- a Hungarian named Imre Steindl, found inspiration there. It took 17 years to build, but sadly, Steindl went blind before it was completed. He died in 1902, which was the same year the building was constructed, and the first session took place. The parliament has 691 rooms, 20 kilometres of stairs, and it is not only the largest building in Hungary, but it is also the world’s third-largest parliament.
Of course, no visit to Budapest will be complete without glimpsing the Hungarian parliament house. You’ll be able to spot it from numerous vantage points as you explore the city, but note that you can only visit the interior as part of a guided tour, and you’ll need to book that in advance.
It was a pleasure to be able to walk around the parliament building and to enjoy it from all different angles. The parliament is beautiful at any time of the day, but especially at sunset when it seems to float on the river.
Fisherman’s Bastion
It is a nice little walk through the pretty streets, as we walked away from the castle towards our favourite part of the Buda side: Fisherman’s Bastion. This is a beautiful terrace that offers views of the Danube river and Pest over the east bank. This is one of the most iconic attractions in Budapest. There are 7 turrets here, with each representing one of the 7 Hungarian tribes who founded Hungary in 1895.
The name comes from the fact that the fish market was just below here in the middle ages and this stretch of a castle wall was protected by fishermen then. There is an incredible view from there, one of the best in the city.
Fisherman’s Bastion was built by the same architect who built the Mattias Building right behind it.
New York Cafe
To charge up some energy for our day, we visited the famous New York cafe. Perhaps the most charming cafe we have ever been to. Inside of the ground level of the New York palace hotel, the New York cafe has been in operation for over 120 years.
The interior decoration is beautiful, and the food and drinks were delicious. This coffee house voted one of the most beautiful in the whole world, and it hasn’t lost its luxurious look since the 1800s.
At New York cafe you need to book in advance because it gets jam-packed. We visited the cafe with no reservation, and there was a huge line there, so we waited for around 30 minutes.
It is also a great spot to take some fresh Instagram photos, and if you want to do so, we recommend you go before or after lunchtime to avoid the lunch rush. By booking in advance, you can choose which table you prefer, that way you get to choose what appears in the background for your shot. Moreover, it has a beautiful mezzanine level, which you can go up and take a few photos there as well.
WHERE TO STAY IN BUDAPEST
Budapest is a large city with 500 km2 divided into over 23 districts which do seem to blend seamlessly. So, you can walk over from one to the other without even realising it, but each district has its unique vibe and characteristic.
We decided to make this section a short district guide to help you pick which area in Budapest is suitable for you to stay depending on your travel style.
Firstly, you need to understand how Budapest is structured. As you already know, it is split down the middle by the river Danube. On the West side of the city is Buda which is more of a hilly and a residential area. On the Eastside, you have Pest which is a flat commercial area, where the city center is.
Perhaps you want to see Budapest’s historic and cultural sites. You might want to experience nightlife or visit the ruin bars. Maybe you even want to be near the trendiest hotspots, or you want to explore the non-tourist side of Budapest. Well, depending on your interest, there is an area of Budapest that will be best suited to you.
If you want to have a little romantic getaway, as a first-timer to Budapest, then we will recommend you lodge at the 1st district, the Castle district of Budapest, as it is an iconic neighbourhood. Located on the Buda side of the river Danube and it offers grand medieval architecture and picturesque views of the city. Connected to the center via public transportation and it is an ideal base for visitors. You also get to enjoy the city’s top attractions, great restaurants and panoramic views right from this district.
District 5 is the city center, the downtown of Budapest. It is the home of the beautiful Hungarian parliament house, the Basilica, along with many other beautiful sites, government ministries, restaurants, cafes, and many hotels.
District 5 was the district we chose to stay and would highly recommend, having in mind that we did not use any public transportation!
BEST CAFES – RESTAURANTS & THINGS TO DO IN BUDAPEST
Akademia Italia – Our Top Pick
This is the restaurant we will go to anytime we visit Budapest again. We loved everything, from the elegant ambiance to the food. Akademia Italia brings everything Italian to the heart of Budapest. Enjoy your favourite Italian pizza, spaghetti, and panini with an indigenous Italian taste in a modern yet medieval atmosphere. All, are made from original Italian recipes and ingredients that are gotten from Italian families who still observe Italian heritage and tradition, and a single bite of their food takes you straight back to Italy.
They offer food for breakfast, lunch, and supper. Beyond serving you mouthwatering foods, Akademia Italia is an event center which also offers language programs to those who want to learn Italian. Do not leave this place without trying out our favourite dish which is the ” Maccheroni Pomodoro e basilico”.
Moreover, what impressed us the most is the warm welcome from the stuff each time we visited. They made our visit feel a little bit more like home, as we both come from mediterranean countries. If we would have to choose one restaurant out of all, this would be our Top Pick hands down!!!
Mazel Tov Restaurant
Looking for the perfect restaurant with so much culture in their food? Then we recommend the Mazel Tov restaurant. This is the best Jewish restaurant in Budapest with sumptuous foods which smell, look and tastes fantastic.
The open space, with a beautiful overhead garden comprising of herbs and trees makes the environment serene and relaxing. Enjoy drinks ranging from soft drinks, champagne, beer, coffee and more. When it comes to food they have it all, from Israeli fusion kitchen to salads, vegetarian dishes, street food, and classics. They just have it all!
We ordered a mixed salad plate, shawarma for meat lovers like me (Antonis), Mazel Tov veggie burger thus if you are a vegetarian like me (Angelina) and a hummus bowl. Their meal is something you will want the whole world to see, so, do not forget to pick up your phone, stand up above the center of the table, and take a great picture for Instagram. We bet the picture will be flooded with likes, just because the food looks so so so good even in photos and in reality everything tastes sensational!
Hummus Bar
Hummus bar should be your number one-stop-shop for quick hummus on the go or just a quick lunch. The must-try foods include chicken shawarma and Falafel. Their service was quick, and their sauces were amazing. Besides that, they had a clean environment and the kitchen was neat.
Nobu Restaurant
Nobu Budapest is the first central European member of Nobu’s worldwide dining empire. It is located in the chic Kempinski Hotel Corvinus, in the very heart of Budapest. Chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa’s new style of Japanese cuisine remains one of the most sought-after culinary experiences in the world.
In Budapest, Head Chef Gábor Schreiner is in charge of presenting Japanese-Peruvian flavors in both Nobu- style and Nobu-niveau style and adding unique Hungarian touches to the menu, such as foie gras with seared salmon salad, which is served alongside Nobu’s world-famous signature dishes like yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno, tuna sashimi salad with Matsuhisa dressing and black cod in miso.
Sushi for us is their specialty. We ordered a variety of sushi selection and not only the taste was amazing and refreshing but also, all the ingredients were freshly prepared and cooked. Although, in general the restaurant it is on the pricier side, we would 100% recommend visiting for a special night out!
TG Italian
TG Italian is a restaurant worth every penny. Enjoy each Italian meal infused with international flavours that creates a whole new taste. The whole atmosphere is coloured in brown and cream, making it the perfect place for a date night, or family a dinner. We recommend you go at night and sit outside to have a beautiful view of the St.Basilica. Ow and their pizzas are a must-try.
Gelarto Rosa
Located in the center of Budapest, Gelarto Rosa is one of the most unusual and tasty ice cream in this town! Owner, the charismatic Niki Szokron studied the secrets of old Italian family recipes straight from the source in Italy and brought it back to her city. The philosophy behind it: fresh and true quality ingredients, old Italian traditions and as a final touch, add artistic creativity.
The pretty ice cream girls at Niki’s shop “create” each portion or cone as a unique artwork using ice cream as an art material. It’s simply amazing!
We ordered an ice cream which looked just like ROSE FLOWER! The artwork was so perfect that we couldn’t resist but to take a picture of it and post it on our Instagram page. Trust me you can never get enough of their ice creams, and our Budapest experience wouldn’t be complete without us visiting this ice cream restaurant.
INSTAGRAMMABLE SPOTS & THINGS TO DO IN BUDAPEST
Fisherman’s Bastion
As stated earlier, this site has incredible views of the city and it looks great in winter when it is snowing and great in the summer as well. To get the best picture for your Instagram, we recommend you get there an hour or two before 8 am. This is because, at 8 am, that is when all the tour buses come in and the place gets mobbed with people everywhere.
You do not want to get there at 8 am when everyone has their selfie sticks up and wandering about, which will interrupt your photo. So, we recommend you get there as early as 6 am or 7 am depending on the light and what time of the year it is for the best shot.
St. Stephen Basilica
I guess all has been said about the beauty and elegance of this magnificent building. To get the perfect shot you need to get to the top of the building so you can get an amazing shot of the city. You can also stand in front of the building at the center of the small circles and take a great Instagram photo and with such a picture, anyone who sees it will have no option than to hit the like button.
Our final most Instagramable spot to check out in Budapest is the Parliament house. It has beautiful gothic architecture. There are three ways you can shoot this building. You need to go early during sunrise and place your tripod in a position where you can see both the parliament and the Ferenc with horses and boom, you have an Instagram picture. Or, you can either go across the river to shoot it, that way you can get the whole of the building in or you can go to where the parliament house is and shoot it with the building in the background.
One thing we will say is that the changing of the guards is at 4 pm which is a cool thing to see but it wasn’t something we wanted to get in the photo.
OTHER MUST SEES & THINGS TO DO IN BUDAPEST
There are some other attractions we recommend visiting, that we didn’t have enough time to visit ourselves.
- Buda Castle
- Gellert Hill and Citadella
- Margaret Island
- Széchenyi Thermal Bath
- Rudas Bath
- Gellért Thermal Bath
- Heroes Square
We hope this blog post will help make your visit in Budapest a little bit more fun and unforgettable.
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