10 things every traveller must experience in Budapest
By Dilvin Yasa|
Budapest is coming in hot as a leading travel destination for 2025 and why not?
Significantly cheaper than its western European neighbours, this is a buzzing city where surprises are around every charming corner.
Not sure where to get started? You can start building the dream holiday list with the following inclusions.
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Lock in a tour of Buda Castle
Perched atop Castle Hill and housing both the Hungarian National Gallery and Budapest History Museum, a visit to this UNESCO World Heritage site is a must (if only to enjoy the spectacular views of the city below.
While you can walk up to the Baroque-styled 18th-century castle and palace complex, taking the funicular is recommended, as is stopping by for a goulash at Lanchid Söröző, a traditional eatery located just around the corner. Interested in Buda's history? Be sure to book a guided tour to make the most of your visit, and make time to walk around the cobblestone streets of Castle Hill.
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Enjoy a soak in a thermal bath
Home to over 100 thermal springs, it's likely you're planning to visit either Széchenyi Baths or Gellért Baths, two of the city's most celebrated swim spots but here's the thing: they might be impressive, but they're also significantly more expensive than other options such as Veli Bej and the Dandár. Do your research before you go and remember to leave plenty of time for spa treatments (if you so wish) and be sure to pack a swimsuit, towel and thongs.
Visit the Dohány Street Synagogue
No visit to Budapest is complete without dropping by the Dohány Street Synagogue, Europe's largest, seating some 3,000 people. Located in the city's Jewish Quarter and built in 1859, the synagogue features a Holocaust Memorial in its garden, while the adjacent Jewish Museum offers a moving tribute to the country's Jewish heritage. Private tours of both the synagogue and the Jewish District are available.
Drink in a Ruin Bar
You can't deny it's a brilliant concept: take an abandoned building slated for demolition and transform it into a bar, or in this case a 'ruin bar' featuring live music, art installations and more graffiti than you've ever seen in your life. Although the most popular among tourists continues to be Szimpla Kert (which is fantastic), ruin bars can be found across the city, with most located in and around the Jewish Quarter. Go with an open mind and get set for an evening to remember.
Have a bite at the Great Market Hall
Fancy a little Hungarian sausage or a chimney cake? No matter your craving, you can find it at Central Market Hall (also known as the Great Market Hall. Built towards the end of the 19th century, the neogothic market - located near Liberty Bridge - is home to more than 100 stalls across three floors, each one a showcase of final local flavours. Can you book a guided food tour? You know it.
See Shoes on the Danube Bank
Walk along the Pest side of the Danube River and you'll come across a large cluster of cast iron 1940s-style shoes set into the concrete of the embankment. This 2005 installation by film director Can Togay and sculptor Gyula Pauer is a haunting memorial dedicated to the Hungarian Jews, young and old, who were asked to remove their shoes before being shot by members of the Arrow Cross Party during WWIII.
Talk a walk around the Hungarian Parliament Building
With its Gothic Revival and Renaissance Revival architecture, the spectacular Hungarian Parliament Building is hard to miss and for some 700,000 visitors each year, it isn't. Joining the throngs to check out the building (or take a happy snap or two) is easily done if you plan on keeping your tour to the ground, but if you're keen to see the venue in detail, you'll have to check the times that it's opened to the general public. Long queues are part of the adventure but you can save time by booking your tickets online in advance.
Enjoy a stroll along Andrássy Avenue
After all those cakes you're going to need to get moving and the most scenic part of town to do exactly that is Andrássy Avenue, Budapest's answer to the Champs Elysee. A UNESCO World Heritage-listed site filled with Neo-Renaissance mansion, designer stores and the Hungarian State Opera House, this is THE place to people-watch, go shopping or simply sit at one of the cafes and watch the world go by.
Visit Margaret Island
Sometimes you need a brief escape from city life and Margaret Island - smack bang in the middle of the Danube - offers a tranquil oasis with lush gardens, medieval ruins, thermal baths and even a musical fountain. Make it a day trip and rent a bike, take a walk around its shaded baths, have a swim or simply relax and enjoy a lazy riverside picnic.
Stay in W Budapest
History meets modern luxury on iconic Andrássy Avenue and it all comes together in the shape of W Budapest, which threw open its chic doors in late 2023. Featuring 151 contemporary rooms, unforgettable dining and drinking options (including Nightingale by Beefbar) and an indoor pool, you're only hop, skip and jump to landmarks such as the Opera House, as well as the Jewish Quarter. The perfect Budapest stay.
Don't forget to buy a Budapest Card, which has unlimited free public transportation, free entry to over 30 museums and attractions, free cruise on the Danube, free entry to a thermal bath and more.
