We were lucky enough to spend a month in Budapest in October 2022, (this article summarises our adventures) and I would now like to share the things you don’t want to miss in the Hungarian capital 🙂

 It is an increasingly popular travel destination, and for good reasons! In addition to the many things to see, it is possible to find relatively affordable flights and accommodation. 

First of all, it is important to know that the Danube river divides the capital in two parts: on one side Buda (in the west) and on the other Pest (in the east).
It is a city rich in history!

1- The Castle district

Located on the hill that dominates the city, you can get there with a little physical effort or with the funicular, for the sum of 7,60€ per adult for the round trip.

The castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was built in 1265 and was destroyed and rebuilt several times. The palace as it stands today dates from the 18th century, although the interiors were completed in the 1980s.
Buda Castle contains the national library and two museums: one for history and the other for art.

In this district, you should also see the Fisherman’s Bastion, which in addition to being very beautiful offers a magnificent view of the city and the Danube.

Finally, the Matthias church, a Catholic neo-Gothic church with a colourful roof, is also worth a visit.

2- The Parliament

Well, this one is pretty hard to miss if you go to Budapest. Located on the Pest side by the Danube, this impressive building was inaugurated in 1902. It’s worth seeing up close so you don’t miss any of the architectural details and facades, and seeing it from afar to get a sense of the building’s scale.

3- Vajdahunyad Castle and Városliget Park

This one we came across completely by fluke and it is worth a visit!

Also located on the Pest side in the 14th district, this castle is in the centre of the large Városliget Park, on the bank of a pond. It was opened in 1896.

The park itself is very well laid out and big enough to spend a few hours if you want to see everything it has to offer. The House of Music also happens to be in this park.

4- Heroes’ Square (Hősök tere)

Right next to Vajdahunyad Castle is the Heroes’ Square, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was created to celebrate the 1000 years of settlement of the Hungarian people in the Hungarian plain.

As you may have guessed, this square features several emblematic heroes of Hungarian history, including sovereigns. Honestly, facing the grandeur of this square, you feel very small! A little tip: at sunset, this square is particularly beautiful to admire!

5- The Citadella

The Citadella is a fortress built on Gellert Hill, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the top of the Citadel – 235 metres high – is the Statue of Liberty, which can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. The statue commemorates the liberation of Budapest in 1945 by the Red Army.

It will take some effort to climb the steps to the top, but the view is worth it! You will see Pest, the Danube and the various bridges. And of course, you will be able to admire the statue up close!

6- The thermal baths

The thermal baths are a must in Budapest.

The Széchenyi thermal baths are the main ones in the capital and are located in the Városliget park. There are saunas, steam rooms, various indoor and outdoor baths and pools. There are also so-called “medical” baths with water of a different composition (enriched with minerals), which are only available on prescription. It costs €24 per adult for an entry with a simple locker. 

There are many other spas in Budapest of different sizes and renovated differently. We have heard good reviews of the Rudas thermal baths for example.

7- Eating a chimney cake

Although chimney cakes are originally Romanian, you can find those on every street corner in Budapest, and it would be a shame to miss that! It is a caramelised brioche baked on a spit over a fire. They can be plain or filled with just about anything sweet you can imagine. It’s really, really good.

8- Margaret Island

Margaret Island is located in the middle of the Danube to the north of the capital. It has several gardens, including a Japanese garden, which is a great place to walk around and get some fresh air.

9- The different bridges of the city (even if impossible to miss)

It’s all in the title: the city is home to several bridges that are the very symbols of the city and connect Buda and Pest. One of these bridges is a chain bridge (Széchenyi Lánchíd) which was opened in 1849 and was the first to connect the two sides of the capital. At the time, it was one of the largest chain bridges in the world! 
It was unfortunately destroyed during the Second World War but reconstructed later on in 1946.
There are 7 other bridges in the city, all of which were destroyed during the Second World War and rebuilt a few years later.

Of course there are many other things to see in Budapest, if you like museums for example, you will have many choices ! There is the Buda Castle for history and art, the Budapest Holocaust Memorial Centre for remembrance, the Pinball Museum for something lighter, and much more!
In short, whether you are in Budapest for a weekend or several weeks, you will have plenty to do and there will be no room for boredom!