Hungary Travelers Recommend

The Danube River winds through the heart of Budapest, showcasing the Hungarian capital’s rich history and bold architecture. Here are a few ways to explore Budapest—from the Danube Promenade to the historic Castle District—by scenic river cruise.

Sightseeing Cruises

One of the best ways to explore Budapest by river is the hop-on hop-off boat tour. Departing from downtown Budapest’s Vigado Square, the route takes in top attractions including the Castle District, Szechenyi Chain Bridge, the Hungarian Parliament Building, the Fisherman’s Bastion, and Margaret Island. Frequent boats allow you to explore the UNESCO World Heritage–listed city at your own pace.

Alternatively, take in the best of Budapest by land and by water on a floating bus tour. Another option is to cruise out onto the waves on an evening sightseeing cruise and watch the city lights dancing on the Danube River.

Dining Cruises

Board a dining cruise and savor traditional Hungarian cuisine, such as Alfold-style goulash and hearty soups, while floating past beautiful riverside scenery. Cruises depart central Budapest for afternoon lunches and evening dinners on the water, with diverse menus showcasing the best local cuisine. Scenic night cruises typically include live music on board, adding a touch of glamour to a romantic meal on the river.

Combo Tours

A great way to delve into Budapest’s rich history and culture, combo tours are popular among travelers short on time. Options include a Hungarian folklore show at Danube Palace, a hop-on hop-off bus sightseeing tour, and a city walking tour—all followed by a sightseeing cruise on the Danube River. For a truly special experience, see the Danube Symphony Orchestra play the Vigado Concert Hall or take in an organ concert at St. Stephen’s Basilica, then finish with a late-night dinner cruise.

Dripping with history and culture, Budapest is a dream city-break destination filled with architectural treasures, opulent spas, and ornate coffeehouses. From Danube cruises and art nouveau bathhouses to hearty cuisine and classical music concerts, here’s how to make the most of a 2-day break in the Hungarian capital.

Day 1: The Best of Budapest

**Morning:**Beat the crowds with a convenient morning sightseeing tour focused on Budapest’s top landmarks. See sights such as the Budapest Parliament, Heroes’ Square, Buda Castle, and St. Stephen’s Basilica via coach or tuk-tuk tour—both of which ensure no time is wasted traveling between attractions. Alternatively, set your own pace with a hop-on hop-off bus tour.

**Afternoon:**Hot springs bubble up across Budapest, providing thermal waters for the city’s many historic bathhouses. Spend the afternoon soaking in the pools of the Gellért Baths, whose art nouveau interior makes it among the most aesthetically pleasing bathhouse complexes in town. 

**Night:**Floating down the Danube is a quintessential Budapest experience—and one that is best done after sunset when the elegant riverside architecture is illuminated. Options include basic sightseeing cruises as well as dinner, wine-tasting, and craft-beer cruises. 

Day 2: Hungarian Cuisine and Culture

**Morning:**Start your second day with a deep-dive culinary tour that goes far beyond goulash. Sample cured meats and other delicacies at the Central Market Hall and get a basic introduction to Hungarian wines during a guided tasting session. 

**Afternoon:**If your stomach can accommodate more food, follow up with a dessert-themed tour that makes stops in the city’s grand coffeehouses for sweet pastries paired with steaming brews. If you’re too full, opt for a walking tour of the Jewish Quarter instead. Learn about the city’s Jewish heritage as you visit sights including the Dohány Street Synagogue and the Jewish Museum.

**Night:**After a day of snacking and sightseeing, unwind with an evening of music. Watch folk music and dance performances while dining on a traditional Hungarian feast in the Buda Hills, or attend classical or folk music recitals in Danube Palace or Vigadó Concert Hall.

With some smart planning, one day in Budapest will give you a delicious taste of the Hungarian capital, its remarkable history, and its rich culture. From viewing architectural treasures to soaking in thermal baths to cruising the Danube, here are the essential Budapest experiences to incorporate into your daylong visit.

Morning: Explore Historic Budapest

Budapest is stuffed to the brim with historic attractions and architectural eye candy, from the Moorish-influenced Dohány Street Synagogue to the neoclassical St. Stephen’s Basilica. Sightseeing tours, whether by coach, Segway, bike, or on foot, show off the city’s landmark structures as well as provide some historical context in the form of guide commentary. To sightsee at your own pace, choose a hop-on hop-off bus tour. Either way, you won’t want to miss the monument-lined Andrássy Avenue, the expansive Heroes’ Square, the hulking Citadella, and the neo-Gothic Budapest Parliament building.

Afternoon: Take to the Water

Fuel up with lunch in the historic Central Market Hall, then grab your bathing suit for an afternoon of relaxation. No trip to Budapest—no matter how fleeting—would be complete without taking a dip in one of the city’s world-famous thermal baths. Though there are lots to choose from, Széchenyi is one of the biggest and most well-known. Booking skip-the-line entry ensures that you get in quickly, so you can maximize your time in the outdoor pools, indoor baths, steam rooms, and saunas. If you’re feeling indulgent, treat yourself to a short massage to help you shake off any residual stress.

Night: Concerts, Cruises, and Ruin Bars

Budapest offers both sophistication and grit, and it’s easy to experience both sides of the city in one evening. Start with a classical music concert held in the magnificent St. Stephen’s Basilica or an authentic folk performance showcasing Hungarian traditions. Follow up the show with a dinner cruise along the Danube River, during which you can admire the elegant riverside architecture. After, head to the Jewish Quarter to see the city’s so-called ruin bars—derelict and abandoned spaces that enterprising locals have transformed into drinking spots.

With three days in Budapest, you can experience the main sights and then some. Delve into the local culinary scene, step back into the city’s rich history, take advantage of money-saving sightseeing passes, and squeeze in side trips to the Danube Bend or the Etyek wine region. Here’s a 3-day itinerary that packs it all in.

Day 1: Discover the City

Spend the first day checking off quintessential Budapest experiences. A hop-on hop-off bus tour takes you around the top sights, allowing you to get off and explore landmarks such as Heroes’ Square, the Budapest Parliament, and St. Stephen’s Basilica. Then board a lunch cruise down the Danube and dine on a traditional buffet as you float under Chain Bridge (Széchenyi Lanchid).

After lunch, waste no time waiting in line at Budapest’s famous thermal baths by booking a priority access ticket to Széchenyi Baths. Submerge yourself in hot thermal pools and destress with a massage. Now that you’re revitalized, spend the evening hopping between Budapest’s ruin bars, which occupy abandoned, disused, and often crumbling spaces. Many serve casual bar bites, such as sandwiches and sausages, alongside beer, cider, and Hungarian wines. Alternatively, make a pit stop at a street side stall for lángos (deep-fried bread topped with sour cream and cheese).

Day 2: Take a Day Trip

Venture outside the city for a day in the Hungarian countryside. Travel to Etyek to taste the region’s renowned white and sparkling wines, many of which are produced by small-scale, family-run wineries. Other popular day trip destinations include the Danube Bend, where you can wander the galleries and museums of riverside Szentendre and explore the medieval castle and Renaissance palace of Visegrád.

Farther away and less explored by tourists is the Great Plain region, known as the puszta. Spend a day here to learn about pastoral folk traditions and explore historical cities, such as the art nouveau–influenced Kecskemét and the culture-rich university town of Szeged.

Back in Budapest, head for the Castle District, where you’ll find a high concentration of quality restaurants with terraces for warmer-weather alfresco dining.

Day 3: Experience Hungarian Culture and Cuisine

Spend your final morning museum-hopping. The Budapest Museum of History provides a comprehensive overview of the city’s past, while the Hungarian National Gallery specializes in fine arts. Housed in a converted 18th-century monastery, the Kiscelli Museum is another worthwhile option, with quirky and eclectic displays ranging from exhibits of baroque sculptures to a re-created 18th-century pharmacy.

Having worked up an appetite, spend the afternoon snacking on a guided food tour that covers the Great Market Hall and the Jewish Quarter. Sample various dishes and delicacies, from piping hot goulash and paprika-spiced sausage to artisan chocolate and kosher pastries.

That evening, continue your cultural quest by attending a live folk performance. Watch traditional dancers and musicians in action at historical venues such as Danube Palace or Budai Vigadó.

Describe your time in Budapest.

I lived there for a year and opened a writing school for both expats and locals. 

What was your favorite attraction?

Although it's less famous than some of the major attractions, I loved going to the Hungarian House of Photography (also known as Mai Manó House or Mai Manó Haz). Many of the photos on display provide a unique perspective into Hungarian history. Plus, the museum is centrally located just off busy Andrássy Avenue, making it an easy stop between places you may already be visiting.

What are three things a first-time visitor can't miss?

1. Take a dip in the baths.

Budapest's thermal baths are famous, and for good reason. The top two are Gellert, with its Art Nouveau style, and Szechenyi, which feels like a palace. Both are beautiful, have indoor and outdoor pools with varying temperatures, and offer spa treatments for an extra luxurious experience. Although other bathhouses may be more popular with locals, you'll still see some Hungarians at Gellert and Szechenyi, lounging and playing chess.

2. Spend a night out at the Ruin bars.

These bars in Budapest's old Jewish Quarter aren't your average watering holes. Instead, they're abandoned buildings and outdoor spaces that have been brought back to life with eclectic furniture, decorations, and clientele. While they certainly retain their alternative vibe, some are becoming a bit more posh, so there's something for everyone.

3. Make time for both Buda and Pest.

Until the late 1800s, Budapest was two separate cities divided by the Danube River. Although now united, each side has sites you can't miss. In hilly Buda on the west bank, you have the Castle District, Fisherman's Bastion, and incredible views over Pest below. On the Pest side, be sure to visit Parliament, St. Stephen's Basilica, Great Market Hall, and Hero Square. And to get a good sense of both sides at once, book a river cruise. My husband and I went on one during our last week in town and it was a great way to say farewell to this beautiful city.

What's the best insider tip you can offer future visitors to Budapest?

Most people don't think of Hungary as a wine destination, but there are quite a few vineyards in the region, many of which specialize in a dessert wine called Tokaji. You can take a day trip into the countryside to visit the cellars, or stay local and book a wine tasting tour in the city.

Hungary is home to 22 wine-making regions in which varied wineries produce rich reds and sweet whites. The country’s volcanic soil and dry summers combine to provide ideal conditions for the vineyards to thrive. Here are a few ways to savor the flavors of Hungarian wine in and around Budapest.

Must-Try Varietals

Many of Hungary’s most popular wines are produced in the fertile hills north of Budapest, where conditions are perfect for a diverse range of grape varietals to flourish. With subtle and delicate honey flavors, the white dessert wines from Tokaj blend furmint harslevelu and muskotaly grape varieties beautifully, and rank among the most popular wines produced in Hungary. Full-bodied reds from Eger—featuring varietals including bibor kadarka, blauburger, kadarka, and kekfrankos —are also often found on the capital’s restaurant tables.

Must-Do Experiences

• Spin through the Etyek wine region, visiting family-run cellars to sample the delicate white wines in production and learn of traditional wine-making techniques

• Take to the Danube River on a wine-tasting cruise, and sample wines from Hungarian wineries like Szajki as you drift past sights such as the Buda Castle

• Combine a wine-tasting experience with a visit to Budapest’s bustling food market, where vendors hawk ultra-fresh ingredients with local and regional flavors

• Explore Somlo and Lake Balaton on a day trip from Budapest, and visit some of the traditional wineries for which the region is famous

Delving into Hungary’s Jewish history, which dates back to the medieval era, makes a fascinating addition to any Budapest city tour. Here are some experiences and sights—like the impressive Dohany Street Synagogue—not to miss while on a Jewish heritage walking tour of the capital city.

Highlights

• Explore Budapest’s Jewish Quarter on a guided tour, and visit synagogues such as the Dohany Street Synagogue—one of the great synagogues of Europe—the Kazinczy Street Synagogue, and the Rumbach Street Synagogue, and learn of their important role in the Jewish community.

• Walk around the former World War II Jewish ghetto and Holocaust Memorial Park, and gain insight into the struggles Jews faced in wartime.

• Admire local landmarks like the Carl Lutz Memorial, the Gozsdu Courtyard, and the Tree of Life.

• Sample tasty treats such as palinka (fruit brandy) and flodni (apple, poppy seed, and walnut pastries) in some of the city’s popular kosher bakeries.

• Learn about Jewish history and culture at the Jewish Museum.

• Enjoy a traditional Hungarian buffet lunch with fine views over the Budapest skyline on a Danube River cruise.