What to Do in Budapest: 15 Must-Visits

Budapest is a city of contrasts, where rich history meets vibrant modernity. Home to one of Europe’s largest parliaments, deeply connected to the legendary Empress Sissi, and boasting one of the world’s biggest synagogues, the Hungarian capital is as captivating as it is diverse. From its famous thermal baths to its buzzing nightlife, Budapest has something for every traveler.

If you’re planning a trip, and you don’t know what to do in Budapest, you’ve come to the right place! Today at Civitatis, we’ve put together a list of the top things to do in the city. Whether you’re exploring the historic streets of Buda, soaking up the energy of Pest, or uncovering hidden gems along the way, we’ve got you covered.

1. Visit the Parliament of Budapest

No trip to the capital of Hungary is complete without visiting the Parliament of Budapest. Did you know it’s the second largest in Europe, second only to the Parliament of Bucharest? The building, which stretches along the banks of the Danube River, is one of the country’s most recognizable monuments.

The building was intended to represent authority and power after Hungary’s independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It dates back to the 19th century and fuses different architectural styles, such as Neo-Gothic, Neo-Baroque, and Neo-Romanesque. It truly stands out, both for its exquisite interiors and its façade—it never fails to wow! To admire it in all of its glory, we recommend booking a Danube River cruise. Our favorite time to admire the Parliament building is in the evening when its golden lighting reflects on the river. See it for yourself by joining our Danube evening cruise.

If you want to explore the must-see sights in one day, this guided tour of Budapest and the Parliament is the best option for a thorough introduction to the city.

2. See the Shoes on the Danube Bank

Less than a 10-minute walk from the Parliament, you’ll find one of Budapest’s most powerful monuments: the sculptural ensemble titled ‘Shoes on the Danube Bank’. This group of bronze shoes, made in 2005, is a tribute to the victims of the Holocaust.

The shoes reflect a tragic event that took place at the end of the Second World War when fascist Hungarian militia shot hundreds of Jews by the river. Before committing this massacre, they forced them to take off their shoes so they could steal them for their personal use or sell them. The memorial is a stark reminder of the horrors of the past.

If you’d like to learn more about the city’s history, we recommend joining one of our free tours in Budapest. On these tours, you’ll get to learn about the communist and imperial eras, as well as the city’s mysteries and legends.

3. Stroll Along the Széchenyi Chain Bridge

While at the Danube River, you’re sure to spot the Széchenyi Chain Bridge, an impressive construction that joins the districts of Buda and Pest. Did you know that the city’s name is the fusion of these two districts? They used to be independent until their annexation around 1873. The Chain Bridge marks a before and after. Before, the only way to cross the Danube was by boat.

You can cross the bridge on foot, by public transport, in a private vehicle, or on board the Big Bus or the Budapest City Sightseeing bus. As beautiful as the bridge is during the day, we recommend checking it out at night when it lights up with golden lights. Trust us, it’s a true spectacle!

4. Marvel at St. Stephen’s Basilica

If there’s one thing you shouldn’t miss in Budapest, it’s a visit to St. Stephen’s Basilica. Dedicated to the patron saint of Hungary, this basilica will take your breath away. Did you know that it was only built between 1851 and 1905?

Fun fact: it stands at 314 feet tall (96 meters), which happens to be the same height as the Parliament. These two iconic buildings are the tallest in Budapest. As a matter of fact, it’s against the law to build a taller building in the historic center! Inside the basilica, you’ll find works by some of the best Hungarian artists. As well as that, the church is home to the mummified right hand of Saint Stephen!

To visit this shrine, we recommend booking your ticket to St. Stephen’s Basilica online. This way, you’ll avoid the queues at the church’s ticket offices, and you’ll be able to go straight in. You can also extend your visit by going to the top of the building, where incredible panoramic views await. If you’d like to visit in a more unique way, you can attend a concert in St. Stephen’s Basilica. What better way to feel the basilica’s atmosphere?

5. Spend an Evening at the Hungarian State Opera House

The Hungarian State Opera House is home to one of Europe’s largest stages. However, it was actually designed to be the eternal second. Franz Joseph I of Austria, who funded it, explicitly requested that it be smaller than the Vienna State Opera. He wanted to clearly show the primacy of the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Nevertheless, the story goes that during the inauguration, he said “I asked that it should not be bigger than the Vienna Opera, but I forgot to say that it should not be prettier.” You can be the judge of it yourself when you visit!

Access to the foyer of this temple of the arts is completely free and well worth it. From here you can admire the beautiful decoration and the flirtatious staircases. However, if you have enough time, we highly recommend taking a guided tour of the Budapest Opera House. It even includes a short musical performance!

6. Admire Budapest’s Great Synagogue

Interestingly, Hungary’s capital is full of monuments that were destined to be number two. The historic center of Pest has a very special Jewish quarter, home to the Great Synagogue of Budapest, the second-largest synagogue in the world, second only to the one in Jerusalem!

The Great Synagogue has a capacity of about 3,000 people and is notable for its clear influences from other religions. The organ, for example, is reminiscent of Christian basilicas, while the neo-Moorish decoration is reminiscent of Islamic culture. It also has its own museum and a Jewish cemetery where several victims of the Second World War are buried.

To discover all the secrets of the former Jewish ghetto, here are two essential things to do in Budapest:

• Great Synagogue Guided Tour
• Jewish Quarter Free Tour

7. Have a Drink at a Ruin Bar

Have you ever heard of a ruin bar? Ruin bars are venues set up in former factories or warehouses that have been abandoned and disused. Many of these buildings, most of them dating back to the Soviet era, have been brought back to life and have become a tourist attraction thanks to their transformation into snazzy bars and restaurants. The rooms are the definition of cool and have everything from vintage furniture to bizarre sculptures and computer parts—the perfect location for a cocktail!

Most of Budapest’s ruin bars are located near the Great Synagogue and have given a new lease of life to areas that were once considered run-down. Although they are busiest at night, many of these venues are open in the afternoon too, so you can visit them during the day or party in the evening. The choice is yours!

8. Explore Buda Castle

Now that we’ve covered the best things to see and do in Pest, let’s cross over to the other side of the Danube to explore the Buda district. What better introduction to Buda than with a free tour of Buda Castle? The castle quarter is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, little remains of the old fortress. What we see today are a few buildings on Várhegy Hill, on the site of the main defensive system.

Nowadays, Buda Castle is home to the most important exhibitions to see in Budapest: the Hungarian National Gallery and the Budapest Historical Museum. Its spaces are so large because these buildings used to be the residence of kings and emperors, forming the Royal Palace of Budapest. You can get here on foot, by bus, or aboard the Budavári Sikló funicular.

9. Delve into History at the Fisherman’s Bastion

Without a doubt, the Fisherman’s Bastion is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Budapest. It’s located on Buda Castle Hill, but given its popularity, it deserves a separate mention. It was completed in the early 20th century with strong medieval inspiration and is striking for its pristine white color and its seven towers. These towers have a symbolic value, as they pay homage to the different founding tribes of Hungary.

The Fisherman’s Bastion is one of the best viewpoints in Budapest and one of the best places to watch the sunset and see the illuminated Parliament from above. To top it all off, there is usually a street musician or two in the area to liven up the evening.

Touring the monument is completely free, and there are several bars located in the arcades of the complex. However, to climb the towers during the high season, which is usually from mid-March to mid-October, there is a small fee, payable directly at the ticket office.

10. Visit Matthias Church

Next to the Fisherman’s Bastion stands the Matthias Church, where the coronation of Franz Joseph I of Austria and Elisabeth of Bavaria, the mythical Empress Sissi, took place. The origins of this religious monument date back to the 13th century, although its structure was remodeled several times until it acquired its current neo-Gothic appearance.

Tickets to the Church of Matthias are available for purchase at the ticket office or through the official website. There are tickets to visit the sanctuary, others to climb the tower, and others combined for both areas. We recommend getting a single ticket, which includes access to the first floor of the church to see the altar and chapels from a privileged perspective.

A quick sprinkle of history: Empress Sissi was presented with the Gödöllö Palace after her coronation in Matthias Church. This residence is still standing and is located less than an hour by train from the center of Budapest. To visit the complex, you can book a guided tour of the Gödöllö Royal Palace.

11. Enjoy a Meal at Budapest Central Market

It wouldn’t be a Civitatis blog without a mention of the best place to taste some authentic local food! In the southern part of Pest, about a 30-minute walk from the Parliament, you’ll find the Central Market. This gastronomic space is very popular with tourists arriving on cruise ships that connect Vienna, Prague, and Budapest, as the ships usually stop in this area. If you’re a true foodie, be sure to join our food tour of the Central Market.

Visiting the market, you can try some local delicacies, such as lángos, or buy some culinary delights as souvenirs, such as paprika, an essential condiment in Hungarian cuisine. As you leave the market, you’ll see the Liberty Bridge. Like the rest of the bridges, it was destroyed by the Nazis during the Second World War and the one you see now is a later reconstruction.

12. Walk through Heroes’ Square

Taking a walk through Heroes’ Square is another top thing to do in Budapest. It was built to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of the foundation of the Hungarian state. Just like Buda Castle, this square is listed as a World Heritage Site.

In the center of the square stands the Millennium Monument, which is striking for its 118-foot-high (36 meters) column crowned by the image of the archangel Gabriel. Around it are numerous sculptures commemorating the country’s heroes, as well as tribal leaders and a series of allegories of war, peace, work, and welfare. Be sure to take some photos!

13. Relax at Széchenyi Spa

It goes without saying that one of the best things to do when visiting Budapest is visiting one of its famous spas, but do you know what makes them so special? Budapest’s thermal waters are known for their beneficial properties due to their richness in dissolved minerals like magnesium, calcium, hydrogen carbonate, and more! These mineral-rich waters are said to provide relief for ailments such as muscle pain, nerve pain, respiratory problems… The list goes on!

If you want to see for yourself if all of these benefits are real, the most popular spa to visit is the Széchenyi Spa, where you can enjoy a few hours of absolute peace and relaxation. Széchenyi has heated outdoor and indoor pools, which is especially interesting if you’re visiting in winter. There are also saunas, Turkish baths, and other spaces designed for rejuvenating both your body and mind. The facilities are open all year round and are especially beautiful at sunset when the neo-Gothic buildings begin to light up.

Although many tourists opt to book a ticket to the Széchenyi Spa, another good option is to buy tickets for the Gellért Spa, another of Europe’s most prestigious spas. Both are easily accessible by metro, tram, or bus and are located less than 20 minutes from the Parliament.

14. See Vajdahunyad Castle

The Széchenyi Spa is located within the Városliget Park but, beyond this spa, there are many other interesting places in this green lung. Of particular note is the Vajdahunyad Castle, which, for many, is reminiscent of Dracula’s house. In fact, it was inspired by the medieval monuments of Transylvania!

Curiously, it was never used for residential or defensive purposes, but rather for decoration and exhibition purposes. It was erected for the Millennial Exhibition of 1896 and was originally made of wood and cardboard. However, its success led to its reconstruction in stone and brick. Its purpose was to showcase the agricultural might of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and since then, it has housed the Agricultural Museum.

In the vicinity of the building, we can see other recreations that show the evolution of Hungarian architecture, such as the Ják Church. All are surrounded by a thick layer of trees and even ponds. A fun way to explore this area is to take part in a bike tour of Budapest.

15. Visit Margaret Island

Last on our list of recommendations for what to do in Budapest is a visit to one of the most relaxing places in the city, Margaret Island. This 1.5-mile (2.5-kilometer) stretch of land lies in the middle of the Danube, between Buda and Pest. For years, it was inhabited by a community of nuns with special links to nobility and royalty. The reason? After the Mongol invasion of the 13th century, King Bela IV of Hungary swore that he would offer his daughter to God if the city was liberated and not attacked again. A convent was founded and began to receive some of the most illustrious devotees.

Today, this area is a haven of peace. Many locals come here to run or enjoy a leisurely stroll along the river. Wandering around the island, you’ll come across a Japanese-style garden, a monument commemorating the unification of the city, and even a musical fountain. Don’t miss it!

Day Trips from Budapest

Before we wrap up our list of what to do in Budapest, let’s cover what you can do if you’re spending more time in the city. If you want to explore nearby towns, we recommend joining this day trip to the Danube Bend. You’ll get to visit the towns of Esztergom, Visegrád, and Szentendre.

If you’d like to travel somewhere more scenic, we recommend booking this day trip to Lake Balaton, Central Europe’s largest freshwater lake. The landscapes along the way will leave you speechless! For a more exclusive day trip, you can check out our selection of private day trips from Budapest. This way, you’ll have an English-speaking guide, and be able to tailor the trip to your liking.

So, there you have it! Our top recommendations for what to do in Budapest to make the most of your visit. Of course, there’s a lot to see in Budapest, but until you’re there, you won’t realize just how beautiful it is. We can’t say it’s an unknown gem, because it’s very popular with tourists, but it’s a surprising place that surpasses all expectations. If you want more inspiration for your trip, you can browse our full catalog of experiences in Budapest. Jó utat!