Things To Do In Budapest

A romantic charm permeates the air against a fairy-tale background, in a city that is known for its art nouveau architecture. Among all the famous Hungary tourist places, Budapest is undeniably one of the most preferred destinations among all kinds of travellers. Whether you are visiting for the first time or the tenth, whether you are on a luxury trip to pamper yourself or are travelling on a budget, there is no dearth of places to visit, experiences to be had, and things to do in Budapest.

Budapest in a Nutshell

Budapest, the capital and one of the most populous cities in Hungary, majorly has three towns, namely Buda, Obuda, and Pest. Buda is the part of the city that sits on the western bands of Danube, while Pest is located to its east. Obuda on the other hand covers a part of District III in Buda. Another distinguishing factor is that Buda is the hillier area, housing Buda Castle, while Pest, the relatively flatter region, is home to the Hungarian Parliament and State Opera House. These three towns were unified and named Budapest in 1873.

The central area of the city, lying on either side of the Danube, has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the best region to stay in for travellers, allowing easy access to all major attractions in Budapest.

Getting the Visa

Hungary is one of the Member States of the Schengen Area, so all you need to do is apply for a Schengen Visa. The visa will also allow you to visit other countries that are part of the Schengen Area. It is recommended to put in your visa application, with the necessary documents, well in time in order to avoid any hassles. If you are planning to book Hungary packages for your vacation, your travel partner will be the one to take care of the formalities and paperwork, but you need to ensure you submit the documents they ask for in time.

The Best Time to Visit Budapest

September-October, or early autumn, and April-May, or late spring, boast of ideal climate conditions and are shoulder seasons in Budapest, which makes them a good option that you can consider for your visit. You will find the city much less crowded and the weather will be quite pleasant, making visits to the best tourist attractions in Budapest much more enjoyable.

Other than this, here’s more information about the weather you can expect during other months:

• Spring: Lasting from March to May, Spring is a highly preferred time to visit Hungary. Your list of things to do in Budapest during springtime can also include some of the popular festivals, like the Rosalia Festival, Budapest Beer Week, etc.
• Summer: The peak tourist season, summers in Budapest last from June to August and are the hottest and busiest time of the year. If your aim is to spend some time sightseeing in Budapest in peace, you may want to avoid visiting in the summer.
• Autumn: The heat of the summer starts dissipating, as do the crowds of visitors, which makes autumn (September to November) another good option for you to consider. Apart from the famous Oktoberfest, there are several festivals being held in the city that you can attend, while the colours of the fall add a whole new level to sightseeing in Budapest.
• Winters: Winters in Budapest last from December to February and can get very cold. Snowfall is extremely common across the city. While the snow helps make the best tourist places in Budapest even more picturesque, tourist crowds tend to get thicker around Christmas time, which is another peak season for the city.

Top Tourist Places in Budapest that You Can Visit

When it comes to sightseeing, Budapest’s tourist attractions are counted among some of the best in Europe. Popular tourist places in Budapest that you can include in your itinerary include:

Varnegyed

Varnegyed (Castle Quarter) is the oldest part of the city and is also one of the most well-known attractions in Budapest. It is located in Buda’s District I, atop Castle Hill, and houses the royal palace, Buda Castle, Fisherman’s Bastion, and Matthias Church.

The Hungarian Parliament

One of the best attractions of Budapest that tourists adore are the amazing, architecturally stunning buildings that cover the city. But only a few of those are more awe-inspiring than the building of the Hungarian Parliament. Tours of the building are extremely popular, so if you plan to visit, make sure you make your bookings in advance.

Shoes on the Banks of Danube

Among the most haunting attractions in Budapest, this memorial depicts cast iron shoes of different sizes and styles. They represent the thousands of Jews who were shot during World War II by the Arrow Cross Party. Back then, shoes were quite valuable, so the victims were forced to remove them before they were shot on the banks, falling straight into the Danube River.

St Stephen’s Basilica

The biggest and most sacred Catholic church in Hungary, St Stephen’s Basilica houses the mummified hand of Hungary’s first king, Stephen I.

Dohany Street Synagogue

Also called the Great Synagogue, this is the biggest synagogue in Europe. Built in 1859, showcasing inspiration from Gothic, Romantic, and Byzantine styles of architecture, the synagogue is an important tourist spot in the city.

The Great Market Hall

Inside a beautiful 19^th-century structure, a short walk from the National Museum is the oldest and biggest indoor market in Budapest. Here, you can explore numerous souvenir and food stalls that are spread across two floors.

House of Terror

A building located along Andrassy Avenue, which once upon a time was used as a headquarter by Hungary’s Arrow Cross Party as well as by the AVH/AVO Communist Terrorist Organisations, has now been converted into a museum called the House of Terror.

The museum houses numerous exhibits that recount the history of the Hungarian Nazi Party and the atrocities committed by them, many of which even occurred within that very building.

Things to Do in Budapest, Hungary

Enjoy the Thermal Baths

Thermal baths are very popular in Budapest. There are several facilities that you can head to for a soak in the hot, mineral-rich waters of these thermal pools.

Cruise Over the Waters of the Danube

Taking a ferry over Danube River is a common way of commuting for tourists as well as locals. But one thing that you can consider adding to your plans is a proper cruise across the river, which is an experience in itself.

Visit the Ruin Bars

Ruin pubs or romkocsma, as they are called in Hungarian, are becoming increasingly popular and are almost synonymous with the nightlife of Budapest. Basically, these pubs are drinking establishments that are located inside abandoned buildings.

Go on a Walking Tour

Joining a walking tour is undeniably one of the best ways to explore the tourist places of Budapest. Apart from walking tours, there are Segway tours, bike tours, hop-on hop-off tours, and many others that you can consider.

Getting Around the City

Commuting within the city poses no trouble for travellers as not only is Budapest an extremely walkable city, but it also has a well-planned tram, bus, ferry, and metro system. The public transportation infrastructure of Budapest is efficient and very extensive, comprising of suburban railway, buses, trams, ferries and the metro. Here are some tips that you can keep in mind in regard to using Budapest’s public transportation system:

• Tickets for public transportation can be bought at the airport, from the arrival terminal, from most metro station ticket offices, and from BKK Ticket vending machines.
• Tickets can also be purchased on the spot after you board the bus as well, but they will cost more. In fact, if you buy blocks of 10 tickets at once, they will cost you less.
• It is crucial that you get your ticket validated as soon as you board.
• Single tickets are valid for a single trip only (uninterrupted) on the trams, buses, and rail. No transfers are allowed with single tickets. Transfers are only allowed within the metro system.
• For a trip that includes transfers, you will need to buy a transfer ticket.
• You can consider buying a Budapest Travel Card, which allows you to take multiple trips via public transportation and is valid for varying periods, like 24 hours, 72 hours, and even 1 week. These are different from ‘Budapest Cards’, which entitles you to unlimited public transportation travel for a period of 1-5 days, but also come with additional perks like a thermal bath or restaurant discounts, free museum entries, luggage storage, free walking tours, etc.

Whatever type of trip you plan for visiting Budapest, you can look forward to a memorable vacation, from which you will bring home the most wonderful memories!