10 Essential Things to Do in Budapest
You’re getting ready for a trip to Budapest, so you’re checking dates, saving TikToks and filling your laptop or phone with tabs open for hotels and flights. Before you get completely lost in all those tabs, it’s worth taking a moment to look at the city itself: on one side of the river, Buda climbs up into the hills, with castle walls and quiet cobbled streets. On the other, Pest never really slows down, with trams, cafés, markets and bars that never seem in a hurry to close. And you, somewhere between the two, are trying to work out how to fit everything into just a few days.
If you’re planning a trip and wondering which things to do in Budapest are actually worth your time once you land, stay with us. Whether you’re building a Budapest itinerary from scratch or just adding a few highlights, the ideas below will help you turn that half-formed idea of visiting Budapest into a city break that feels like it was designed around the way you like to travel.
1. Soak Up the View from Fisherman’s Bastion
If you want the classic Budapest view, head straight to Fisherman’s Bastion on Castle Hill. This neo-Romanesque terrace was built around 1900 and its seven fairy-tale towers overlook the Danube, the Parliament Building and the rooftops of Pest.
Much of the bastion is free to wander, and you can enjoy the panorama any time of day. Only the upper lookout terraces charge a small fee during peak hours. For fewer crowds and softer light, go early in the morning, then pop next door to Matthias Church before you head back down into the city.
2. Experience Budapest’s Legendary Ruin Bars
Budapest’s ruin bars are unlike anywhere else in Europe and are often at the top of lists of things to do in Budapest: crumbling pre-war buildings and courtyards in the old Jewish Quarter (District VII) turned into creative pubs filled with mismatched furniture, street art and plants.
The pioneer was Szimpla Kert, opened in the early 2000s in an abandoned building on Kazinczy Street, and it’s still the best place to get a feel for the scene, with cheap drinks, live music, markets and a wonderfully bohemian crowd.
Go earlier in the evening if you want to wander around, take photos and soak up the details. Head there later if you’re after the full buzzing nightlife experience.
3. Unwind in Budapest’s Thermal Baths
Budapest isn’t called a “City of Spas” for nothing. It sits on top of more than a hundred thermal springs, and soaking in the mineral-rich waters is part of everyday life here.
If you only visit one bath, make it Széchenyi, the huge neo-baroque complex in City Park with steaming outdoor pools open year-round. For something more ornate and old-world, Gellért Baths combine thermal pools with beautiful art nouveau tiles and stained glass.
Whichever you choose, keep it simple: bring flip flops, shower before you get in, start with the medium-warm pools and go early in the morning if you’d like to avoid the biggest crowds.
4. Find Your Perfect Hotel in Budapest with Travelmyth
With so much going on and so many things to do in Budapest, where you stay can really shape the kind of trip you have – and that’s exactly the part we try to make easier at Travelmyth. Our hotel search engine lets you filter places to stay by more than 60 specific categories, so you can match your hotel to the kind of city break you have in mind.
Instead of scrolling endlessly, you can tell us what you’re looking for in Budapest, for example, family-friendly, spa, rooms with jacuzzi or hot tub, dog-friendly. We then show you only the stays that tick all of those boxes, so you can go straight to comparing locations, reviews and prices for places that genuinely fit your plans. And if you care about being close to the Danube or the ruin bars, you can use our map feature to see exactly where each hotel is and pick the spot that suits you best.
And if you have a more specific idea in mind, you can combine several filters in one search. For instance, dog-friendly hotels with parking and EV charging stations, family-friendly places with a pool and spa, or boutique-style stays in historic buildings. By layering categories like this, you end up with a shortlist of hotels that match the kind of Budapest trip you actually want to have, not just “somewhere in the centre.”
5. Take a Night Cruise on the Danube
Seeing Budapest from the water after dark is a completely different experience. On a night cruise along the Danube you glide past the floodlit Parliament, Buda Castle and the Chain Bridge, with their reflections shimmering on the river.
Many standard night cruises on the Danube last about an hour and often include at least one welcome drink, with the option to upgrade to cocktail or dinner cruises if you’d like something more elaborate. Aim for just after sunset so you catch the sky changing colour and the lights coming on along the UNESCO-listed riverbanks.
6. Walk Across the Széchenyi Chain Bridge
The Széchenyi Chain Bridge is Budapest’s most iconic crossing, and the first permanent bridge that ever linked Buda and Pest across the Danube, opened in 1849. Its stone lions, elegant chains and sweeping views have made it a symbol of the city.
Stroll across to take in classic views of the river, the Parliament and Castle Hill from both sides. Check local updates before you go, as renovation works in recent years have changed how traffic and pedestrians access the bridge, but even just viewing it from the embankment is a Budapest must-do.
7. Marvel at the Hungarian Parliament Building
The Hungarian Parliament Building is Budapest’s showstopper: a vast neo-Gothic masterpiece right on the Danube, with spires, arches and a huge central dome that dominates the skyline. It’s one of the most photographed buildings in the country and a classic entry on many lists of things to do in Budapest, looking especially dramatic when lit up at night.
You can admire it from the river, from Fisherman’s Bastion on the Buda side, or up close along the riverside promenade. If you have time, book a 45-minute guided tour to see the grand halls and learn a bit more about Hungary’s political history.
8. Reflect at the Shoes on the Danube Bank
Just a short walk from Parliament, you’ll find one of Budapest’s most powerful memorials: Shoes on the Danube Bank. Sixty pairs of iron shoes line the river’s edge, honouring Jewish victims who were shot into the Danube by the Arrow Cross militia in 1944–45 and forced to leave their shoes behind.
It’s a simple, haunting place – no tickets and no formal queues, just a stretch of riverbank where you can pause, read the plaques and reflect on what happened here. It does get busy, so you may need to wait a moment to walk right up to the shoes, but go quietly, take your time, and treat it with the same respect you would any place of remembrance.
9. Taste Budapest at the Central Market Hall
Budapest’s Central Market Hall (also called Great Market Hall) is where sightseeing meets snacking. Under its huge steel-and-glass roof you’ll find stalls piled with paprika, salamis, fresh produce, local cheeses, wines and pálinka, plus counters serving ready-to-eat dishes like goulash and lángos.
The ground floor is best for food and ingredients, while the upper level leans more towards souvenirs and simple eateries. It can get busy and a bit touristy, but it’s still a fun way to dip into everyday Hungarian flavours in between more traditional sightseeing.
10. Sip Coffee in Style at the New York Café
To end on a grand note, settle in for a coffee at New York Café, often described as one of the most beautiful cafés in the world and one of the most atmospheric things to do in Budapest. Opened in the 1890s, it’s all gilded ceilings, frescoes, marble columns and chandeliers, more like a miniature palace than a coffee shop, and historically a favourite hangout for writers and artists.
It’s undeniably pricey and usually busy (more of a “special occasion” than everyday stop) but even one coffee or dessert here feels like stepping into Budapest’s Belle Époque past. If you can, go at a quieter time of day to enjoy the setting without a long wait.
Where to Stay in Budapest
Budapest does hotels very well – from riverside palaces to small design hotels and comfortable mid-range bases. Here are four options at different budgets and styles. For many more, you can always plug your exact filters (spa, dog-friendly, family rooms, jacuzzi, etc.) into Travelmyth and refine from there.
1. Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest (Chain Bridge Area) – Luxury Riverside Icon
A restored Art Nouveau palace on the banks of the Danube, directly opposite the Chain Bridge, with many rooms and suites facing the river or the city centre. Facilities of this 5-star hotel in Budapest include a top-floor spa with an infinity-edge indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna and steam rooms, plus a well-equipped fitness centre. Guests also have access to fine-dining and more casual restaurants, a lobby bar, afternoon tea, concierge services and paid extras such as airport transfers and valet parking.
2. Hotel Rum Budapest (Near Great Market Hall) – Boutique-style with a Rooftop Twist
A compact boutique-style hotel in a historic townhouse close to the Great Market Hall, the river and the Hungarian National Museum, with bold contemporary interiors and individually styled rooms. Breakfast is served in SOLID, the rooftop restaurant and bar with floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic city views, which also hosts brunch and evening service. On the ground floor, the Michelin-starred SALT offers a modern Hungarian tasting menu, making the property particularly strong on food and drink.
3. Bo33 Hotel Family & Suites (Near Jewish Quarter / New York Café) – Family-Friendly Comfort
Located on a quieter street within walking distance of the Jewish Quarter and New York Café, this four-star property focuses on space and comfort, with a mix of standard rooms and larger suites, many equipped with kitchenettes. A rooftop wellness area offers a jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and small fitness corner, while families benefit from features such as a games corner and child-friendly facilities. There is also a generous buffet breakfast, a lobby bar and on-site parking, alongside free Wi-Fi throughout.
4. Roombach Hotel Budapest Center (Jewish Quarter / Deák Ferenc tér) – Central & Budget-Friendly
A modern three-star hotel on a side street in the Jewish Quarter, a short walk from Deák Ferenc tér, where three metro lines and the airport bus meet, and close to Gozsdu Courtyard’s bars and restaurants. Rooms are compact and colourful with air conditioning, free Wi-Fi and in-room safes. The hotel offers a daily buffet breakfast, 24-hour reception and bar, ticket and tour desk, luggage storage, and on-site paid parking, giving it a full set of essentials in a very central location.
Conclusion
By the time you’ve crossed the river a few times, steamed in at least one thermal bath and found “your” corner of the city, Budapest starts to make sense in its own way. In the end, it’s the small scenes that stick: the view from Castle Hill, chatter in a market queue, the first glimpse of Parliament lit up from the river.
Somewhere between your growing list of things to do in Budapest and all those hotel tabs, your trip already has a rhythm – and where you stay quietly sets a lot of that tone. On Travelmyth, you start from how you like to travel (slow mornings in a spa, late nights near bars, or a base that works for kids and dogs) and let the filters do the heavy lifting in the background. Instead of another endless page of generic results, you end up with a small set of places that actually fit your version of Budapest, and then, it’s just a matter of choosing one and letting the city take it from there.
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