Must SeeFree
Buda Castle
Castle Hill
A hilltop palace complex of museums and gardens, with views over the Danube.
- Suggested time: 2 hrs
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers · Photographers
Grounds open daily; museums have their own hours
Budapest
A grand Danube capital of thermal baths, ruin bars and castle views.
Plan your Budapest trip
- Flight + Hotel PackageRecommended Best option if you want the trip arranged together. View Packages Packages
- Hotels Prefer to book accommodation separately? View Hotels Hotels
- Flights Already have accommodation? View Flights Flights
- Things To Do Tours, attractions and experiences. View Activities Activities
Overview
Why go to Budapest
Budapest is two cities in one: hilly Buda with its castle and Pest’s wide boulevards, joined by beautiful bridges. Add thermal baths, ruin bars and great value.
- Where
- Central Hungary, Hungary
- Recommended stay
- 3–4 nights
- Best time to go
- April–June and September–October; Christmas markets in December.
- Approx. daily budget
- £50–105 a dayPer person, excluding flights. Indicative.
What does Budapest cost?
Full cost guide- Budget traveller£45–65a day
- Mid-range traveller£95–135a day
- Luxury traveller£190+a day
Approximate per person per day, including a share of a twin room, and excluding flights. Not live prices.
Things To Do
See all 32 Top picks in Budapest
Must See~£5
Fisherman’s Bastion
Castle Hill
A fairy-tale terrace of white turrets with a panorama of the Danube and Parliament.
- Suggested time: 45 min
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples · Photographers
Open daily; upper terrace has a small fee
Must See~£18
Hungarian Parliament
Pest
A neo-Gothic riverside landmark, with a gilded interior and the Holy Crown of Hungary.
- Suggested time: 1 hr
- Book ahead
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily by guided tour
Local FavouritesFree
Chain Bridge
Danube
A graceful suspension bridge linking Buda and Pest, especially pretty when lit at night.
- Suggested time: 30 min
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples
Open-air; always accessible
Hidden Gems
See all 10 Beyond the checklist
ViewpointsFree
Gellért Hill and Citadella
Gellért Hill
A hill with a fortress and a huge statue, the best panorama over the city.
- Suggested time: 2 hrs
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples · Photographers
Open daily
Hidden GemsFree
Shoes on the Danube Memorial
Danube Bank
A moving memorial of 60 iron shoes on the riverbank, honouring Jewish victims of WWII.
- Suggested time: 20 min
- No booking needed
- Suits: Everyone
Open-air; always accessible
Day Trips~£5
Szentendre Day Trip
Szentendre (20 km)
A cobbled riverside town of galleries, museums and marzipan, an easy trip by train.
- Suggested time: 5 hrs
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples
Trains run frequently
Hidden Gems~£6
Memento Park
Tétény
An open-air collection of giant Communist-era statues, moved from the streets after the fall of the regime.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily; hours vary
Hotels
All 3 hotels Best-value hotels in Budapest
Well reviewed and fairly priced for what you get: not simply the cheapest.
Best ValueBest Luxury Value
Example listingDanube Pearl Hotel
Pest, Budapest
Excellent valueValue score 89 out of 100
Rated 9.0/10, priced in line with similar 5★ hotels in Budapest, in a central location.
From £130 per night · check current availability
Best Mid-Range HotelBest for Couples
Example listingBuda Castle Hotel
Castle Hill, Budapest
Very good valueValue score 71 out of 100
Rated 8.8/10, priced in line with similar 4★ hotels in Budapest, in a central location.
From £95 per night · check current availability
Best Budget Choice
Example listingJewish Quarter Ruin Rooms
Jewish Quarter, Budapest
Very good valueValue score 70 out of 100
Rated 8.5/10, priced in line with similar 3★ hotels in Budapest, in a central location.
From £55 per night · check current availability
Food & Restaurants
See all 12 Where to eat
Ruszwurm Cukrászda
A tiny historic pastry shop in Buda Castle, open since 1827, with a Biedermeier interior.
Known for: Cream slice (krémes), cakes
Under about £10 per person
Local favourite Good for Couples · Families
Café Kör
A small, popular bistro near St Stephen’s Basilica with a daily menu of Hungarian dishes.
Known for: Hungarian daily specials
About £10–20 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
Első Pesti Rétesház
A bakery and café famous for its strudel, made in a window where you can watch.
Known for: Strudel with apple, cherry or cheese
Under about £10 per person
Local favourite Good for Couples · Families
Bors Gasztrobár
A tiny soup, sandwich and salad bar with a daily changing menu, popular at lunchtime.
Known for: Soups and sandwiches
Under about £10 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
A suggested Budapest itinerary
3 nights Couple
Budapest · Highlights
Budapest in 3 nights
A balanced first-visit plan built from our Budapest picks: the headline sights, a local favourite or two and time to breathe.
- Day 1 · Hungarian Parliament, Dohány Street Synagogue, Széchenyi Thermal Baths, Danube Evening Cruise
- Day 2 · Szentendre Day Trip, Chain Bridge
- Day 3 · Gellért Thermal Bath, Rudas Baths, Hungarian State Opera House, Fisherman’s Bastion
Plan Budapest your way
Tell us your dates, who’s travelling and what you enjoy. We’ll build a first draft you can edit.